StFX SCHOLAR
StFX Scholar is the official repository of St. Francis Xavier University (StFX), offering a secure and free platform to share publications, academic outputs, and other works of StFX faculty, staff, and students.
StFX Scholar is also the hub for exploring our digitized and digital collections. Our mission is to preserve and highlight the intellectual and creative achievements of the StFX community and the broader Antigonish region.
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- StFX-affiliated works, including open-access (aka free) journal articles, books, and more!
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Recent Submissions
Exploring the Potential to Non-Invasively Assess Lactate Threshold Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)
(St. Francis Xavier University, 2024) Collins, Melina; Kane, Daniel
Lactate is a versatile molecule that plays a pivotal role in whole-body energy metabolism — a process wherein fuel sources are burned down and converted into energy. Our understanding of lactate has changed considerably over time, notably, low oxygen (O2) was once considered to be the primary driver of lactate accumulation in human cells, however, lactate accumulation has been found to occur in the absence or presence of O2; and yet, a relationship between tissue O2 availability exists. The relationship between skeletal muscle oxygenation (SmO2) and thresholds of blood lactate concentration (BLC) constitutes the basis of previous attempts to use changes in SmO2 via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a proxy for BLC. The objective of this study was to 1) confirm the relationship between changes in muscle oxygenation (SmO2) using NIRS and the lactate threshold (LT) determined via traditional blood sampling; and 2) further explore the relationship between SmO2 kinetics and exercise thresholds of respiratory gas exchange. Sixteen recreationally active runners (n = 16; age 25.4 ± 8.3yrs; body fat 14.9 ± 5.5%) performed an incremental, progressive treadmill running protocol consisting of 4-min running stages, separated by 1-min rest intervals. Heart rate, 𝑉̇ O2, 𝑉̇ CO2, 𝑉̇ E, total hemoglobin, and SmO2 were continuously monitored; blood lactate concentration and rating of perceived exertion were obtained during rest intervals and following each exercise stage, respectively. The SmO2 control ratio revealed a distinct breakpoint near, but not necessarily coincident with, the lactate and gas exchange thresholds. Bland-Altman analysis resulted in a mean bias of 2.3 bpm HR and 0.1 L/min 𝑉̇ O2 between the blood lactate-determined LT and NIRS-determined LT, suggesting an acceptable level of agreement between methods. These findings suggest that NIRS may be a valid non-invasive and practical alternative to estimate lactate threshold intensity in endurance athletes.
Seasonal trends in cold and hypoxia tolerance in three groups of winter active pond insects
(St. Francis Xavier University, 2024) Burton, Lucas; Toxopeus, Jantina; Rodela, Tammy
Winter poses harsh physiological challenges for insects living in temperate ponds due to the combination of low temperatures and reduced oxygen levels (hypoxia). Despite these stressors, water boatmen (Hesperocorixa sp.), backswimmers (Notonecta sp.) and diving beetles (Laccophillus sp.) remain active year-round in eastern Nova Scotia, including when ice forms on top of these ponds. However, the underlying mechanisms that allow pond insects to survive overwintering have not been widely studied. I hypothesized that cold and hypoxia tolerance would improve from September to March in these insects and predicted changes in whole-animal and biochemical correlates of tolerance to both stressors. I collected insects from the field and stocked them in outdoor mesocosms. Every two months, between September 2023 and April 2024, I characterized whole animal responses and biochemical changes. Results of whole insect cold tolerance assays indicate a trend of improved ability to sustain voluntary muscle control (CTmin) at lower temperatures in winter collected insects, but also higher internal fluid freezing temperatures (SCP) in the same period. There were no changes in whole animal correlates of hypoxia tolerance over time (surface respiration frequency, submersion and surface time). Potential cryoprotectants like proline, myo-inositol and trehalose increased in concentration in multiple insect groups during winter but were relatively low compared to other terrestrial insect studies and did not drive a decrease in SCP. Based on the activity of lactate dehydrogenase, I found no evidence of anaerobic metabolism, suggesting, along with the whole-insect results, that the insects may not have been experiencing significant hypoxia stress. Overall, this research has established a baseline cold and hypoxia tolerance dataset in understudied pond insects.
Beginning mathematics teachers’ perceptions of preparedness for an oecs teacher education program
(St. Francis Xavier University, 2024) Porter, Samantha; Mitton, Jennifer
The primary objective of this qualitative case study was to investigate the perceptions of elementary Beginning Mathematics Teachers (BMTs) regarding an OECS teacher education program. This exploration specifically focused on the impact of the program on their mathematics pedagogy and teaching practices, with an emphasis on their preparedness to teach in the practical context of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The study employed theoretical frameworks such as pedagogical content knowledge, signature pedagogies, and problem-based learning to interpret and understand the beliefs and practices of BMTs. Concentrating on the personal experiences of voluntarily participating Beginning Teachers (BTs) who completed the Division of Teacher Education program in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the study utilized 18 semi-structured interviews, 27 classroom observations, 21 artifacts, and 27 BT reflections to gauge participants' perceptions based on their lived experiences. Through coding and analysis, the data were examined to comprehend participants' experiences. The study revealed that although beginning teachers (BTs) generally viewed their Teacher Education Program positively, they faced unanticipated challenges such as insufficient preparation for issues like resource scarcity, large class sizes, diverse student abilities, limited technology integration opportunities, and inevitable classroom management problems. Despite a 10-week teaching practicum, participants unanimously advocated for more microteaching activities integrated into all coursework to enhance their teaching skills. The recommendations for a more effective transition of BTs to full-time classroom teachers involve incorporating an internship period along with a mandatory induction program as they enter the teaching profession.
Learners in a Canadian Diagnostic-Focused Competency-Based Medical Education Program: A Qualitative Case Study
(St. Francis Xavier University, 2025) Garnier-Liot, Margaret; English, Leona
This dissertation explores the experiences of medical residents within a diagnostic-focused specialty, Pathology, who are undergoing training in a competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum in Canada. Through an instrumental case study design, the research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the learner experience in a mandated outcomes-based education (OBE) curriculum, with a particular focus on the implications for learner-centered education from an adult learning perspective. The study involved six participants across various stages of their residency - three in their first year, two in their third year, and one in their fourth year. Data collection methods included document analysis of relevant program and Royal College materials related to competence by design, a focus group, individual semi-structured interviews, and researcher journaling. The analysis revealed several key themes: the benefits of an outcomes-based approach, the identification of gaps between prior skills and mandated objectives, the balance between learner autonomy and the need for structured support, the critical role of community practice, and the importance of shared understanding between faculty and learners. The findings suggest that while CBME and OBE programs offer significant advantages in aligning educational outcomes with professional competencies, challenges remain in its implementation, particularly in ensuring that all stakeholders - learners and educators alike - share a common understanding of the curriculum’s goals and expectations. The study contributes to educational theory by reinforcing the importance of learner-centered approaches and the role of communities of practice in professional education. It also offers practical implications for enhancing the design and delivery of CBME programs, highlighting the need for tailored learning approaches, structured support mechanisms, and robust faculty development initiatives. This research adds to the existing literature, underscoring the complexity of transitioning to a CBME framework in medical education and calls for further exploration into the long-term impacts of this approach on both learners and educators. It affirms that OBE often presents as a reductionist approach to education, with mandated outcomes becoming a checklist for learners to complete. It does, however, also affirm that there is merit in learners having a roadmap to their educational program in the form of outcomes lists. The study challenges the concept of OBE in the form of CBME being a learner-centred approach to education and illuminates how the construct of a diagnostic-focused residency training program falls short in providing a holistic competency-focused curricula. The findings have broad relevance for the ongoing evolution of medical and professional education programs.
Women Deans: Carving a Unique Path in Academic Medicine
(St. Francis Xavier University, 2025) Cohen, Elissa; English, Leona
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to identify and describe the essence of the lived experience of women deans in the leadership of academic medicine in Canada. The scholarly literature documents a multitude of complex career disadvantages that limit women physician’s ascension through the hierarchy of academic medicine. According to Robb (1999), it was not until 1999 that the first woman became dean of a Canadian medical school. There have only been eight women full deans of medicine in the 174 year history of medical schools in Canada (Tricco et al., 2021). At this current glacial pace it would take 50 years to reach gender parity among deans of medicine (Jacobson et al., 2021). Prior strategies to ameliorate the career trajectories for women in academic medicine have been deemed insufficient as the gender gap in senior leadership has persisted (Larson et al., 2019) despite decades of women comprising greater than 50% of medical school graduates. Eight women deans were selected via criterion-based purposeful sampling, followed by snowball sampling. Four were full dean and four were vice, assistant, or associate deans. Semi-structured, in-depth phenomenological interviews were conducted, digitally recorded, and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Six themes were elucidated: authentic self, building a support team, sexism and the culture of medicine, woman dean as agent of change, becoming a dean and getting the job, and success on the job. The participants shared that they presented their authentic selves in all contexts while having a carefully cultivated team of supportive people in their lives. They were successful at walking the fine gender line and navigating a unique path through academic medicine. These features of their lived experience allowed the women to be an agent of change and to attain their decanal position while also being exceedingly successful in their role as dean.