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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Communities in StFX Scholar

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

1 - Research & Creative Works 171
StFX-affiliated works, including open-access (aka free) journal articles, books, and more!
2 - Theses & Dissertations 1712
Digitized or born-digital theses and dissertations completed at StFX.
3 - StFX Records 1365
Materials about StFX.
4 - Gaelic and Local History Collections 51676
The library's digital collections of Gaelic works and local history material.

Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Exploring the learning experiences and outcomes of healthcare providers who participated in the Canadian Advanced Learning in Bariatric Care (Calibre) course : a single exploratory case study
(St. Francis Xavier University, 2025-11) Flanagan, Sophie; Coady, Maureen
Obesity is a highly prevalent and complex chronic disease, yet healthcare providers often receive limited formal education on its causes, assessment, treatment, and broader contributing factors. There is a gap between evidence-based recommendations, such as those outlined in the Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines, and what occurs in practice, underscoring the importance of continuing professional education (CPE). While prior research suggests obesity-related CPE can improve provider knowledge and confidence, little is known about which pedagogical strategies best support meaningful learning in this field. This study explored the learning experiences and outcomes of healthcare providers who participated in Canadian Advanced Learning in Bariatric Care (Calibre), an online interdisciplinary CPE program that had not previously been evaluated. A qualitative case study design was used, drawing on five semi-structured interviews, course documents, and researcher field notes. Thematic analysis was used to identify key learning outcomes and effective pedagogical strategies in Calibre. Participants valued the interactive and engaging design of the program, which supported the integration of concepts into a cohesive whole, improved communication strategies, fostered a deeper understanding of patient needs, and created opportunities to reflect on aspects of care in ways that encouraged participants to question their own assumptions. Learning was described as gradual and at times integrated into practice in ways that were not immediately visible. These outcomes were shaped by course features, including the flexible multimodal designs, applied learning strategies, incorporation of patient voice, and opportunities for interprofessional learning. This study highlights pedagogical strategies that can strengthen obesity-related CPE by moving beyond knowledge transfer to foster reflection, practical application, and more patient-centered approaches to collaborative learning and care.
Access status: Open Access ,
The effect of warm falls on the development of an insect pest : diapause in the eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana)
(St. Francis Xavier University, 2025) Lopez Pedersen, Jona; Toxopeus, Jantina
The eastern spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Choristoneura fumiferana) overwinters as a second-instar larva. In early fall, larvae enter a dormant state known as diapause and remains dormant during winter. Yet we know little about the physiological processes governing their diapause development. Recent studies (Roe et al., 2024) suggest that temperature in early diapause affects the spruce budworm’s ability to complete diapause during winter. In this thesis, I tested the hypothesis that exposure to warmer temperatures in fall accelerates early diapause development. I predicted that developmental traits in early diapause would be differentially expressed between budworm exposed to cool or warm temperatures. To investigate the effects of temperature on early diapause, I exposed larvae to cool (10 °C) or warm (20 °C) temperatures for up to 10 weeks of fall conditions. Larvae were sampled at eight time points during these 10 weeks to measure gene expression (via transcriptomics) and survival (motility). Additionally, I performed a separate 17-day fall and 18-week winter simulation, to whether the hibernaculum—a silken, cocoon-like structure—affected budworm overwintering survival. Larval motility decreased over time, especially at warm temperatures or in the absence of the hibernaculum. Finally, I identified potential candidates for temperature-dependent gene expression during budworm diapause.
Access status: Open Access ,
Petrology of the Malignant Cove dioritic complex
(1977-05) MacDonal, Michael Alisdair
The Malignant Cove Dioritic intrusion occupies an area of 5 sq km. and is situated on the N. W. shore of Nova Scotia, some 20 km north of Antigonish. Detailed mapping of a section of this intrusion together with subsequent petrographic work, has shown it to comprise various lithologies ranging from minor lherzolites, clinopyroxenites and peridotites, through intermediate stages of diorite (constituting the bulk of the intrusion) to residual porphyritic phases, quartz diorites, anorthosites and pegmatites. The semi-circular stock intrudes actinolitic hornfels and andesitic lithologies thought to be part of the Cambro-Ordivician Brierly Brook Formation of the Brown's Mountain Group (Benson,1970) . Within the intrusion, the widespread occurrences of rhythmic layering mineralogical banding or cumulate textures implies magmatic fractionation and crystal accummulation within the parent magma. Horneblende, frequently poikilitic in texture is intercumulus to olivine and pyroxene in the ultramafics, and plagioclase in the anorthositic phases and porphyritic quartz diorites. The various igneous lithogies are thus considered to have formed through fractionation of a single parental melt, for which an intermediate composition is suggested by relative lithological abundances. The mode of emplacement of the ultramafics varies from in-situ segregation to forceful emplacement following differentiation and settling to form a cumulate sequence. Where forceful emplacement occurred, chilled margins are absent indicating a closed crystal mush system at a temperature similar to that of the melt. Detailed petrographic descriptions of 20 thin sections are included in the appendix.
Access status: Open Access ,
Accompanying Notes to McGregor Family Letter Collection
Access status: Open Access ,
StFX Senate Minutes, 1972-1973, 7th, 1973-Feb-16, Special Meeting
(St. Francis Xavier University, 1973-02-16)
1972-73 Academic Year: 7th meeting, held on February 16, 1973, Special Meeting. Compilation of Senate Minutes and Reports presented in printed format at the meeting. Printed reports are preceded by an agenda item insert. Printed reports, presented at the Senate Meeting that could not be found in original print copy will be referenced with a missing reports insert.