The modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) equation is an integrable nonlinear evolution equation which has applications in modeling various physical phenomena. It also describes the curvature of curve which undergoes a certain non-stretching geometrical evolution in the Euclidean plane. This curve motion finds applications in various areas, such as describing the dynamics of inelastic rope, modeling the evolution of the boundary of vortex patch (swirling region) in thin, sheet-like layer of incompressible fluid, and understanding the behavior of electrons quantized in thin-layered materials by studying the boundaries of electron cloud densities under strong electromagnetic fields. This study focuses on mKdV curve motions called loop solutions. One class arises from soliton, heavy-tail (rational), and periodic solutions of the mKdV equation. These loop solutions exhibit intriguing symmetrical shapes: the soliton and heavy-tail cases describe a single loop which is open, and asymptotically straight or circular, respectively; the periodic case describes both open and closed loops which can have multiple crossings. Additionally, a class of colliding loop solutions are obtained from the 2-soliton solution of the mKdV equation. The collisions show interesting interaction patterns. A summary of different types of patterns will be given by categorizing the various shapes that occur during the interaction, which depend on the speed ratio of the initial two loops. Analytical and numerical methods are employed to determine the loop solutions for both classes, as well as the conditions determining interaction type in the case of collision. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the mKdV equation and solitons.

This research explores the experiences of Iranian women athletes in inter-university sports, with a particular focus on gender. Utilizing a descriptive, narratively informed approach and the concept of the gender regime, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the gendered experiences of these athletes. The research addresses two primary questions: (1) What are the lived experiences of Iranian women athletes in inter-university sport? and (2) How do these athletes explore and navigate barriers, supports, and points of resistance in their sporting lives? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six current women student-athletes from Azad University, and thematic, narrative-informed analysis was used to analyze the data. This method enabled the identification of key themes within and across the participants' stories, highlighting their unique challenges and achievements. The study identified three major themes: Barriers, Norms, and Discrepancies; Resistance, Solidarity, and Support; and Personal Growth and Development. These themes reflect the experiences of Iranian women athletes in university sports, revealing the challenges they face due to inadequate facilities, cultural restrictions, and gender inequality, their acts of defiance and support systems that empower them, and the personal growth that arises from navigating these obstacles. Together, these themes provide a clear picture of the many struggles and successes of women athletes in a sports environment shaped by gender. Despite facing significant barriers, these athletes demonstrate resilience and adaptability, leveraging support networks and personal determination to pursue their athletic goals. The findings emphasize the importance of supportive environments and inclusive policies in promoting gender equity in sports. This research contributes to the broader discourse on gender and sport by providing valuable insights into the specific cultural and contextual factors affecting women athletes in Iran. It underscores the need for further comparative studies in different Muslim-majority countries to explore how varying cultural contexts influence women's experiences in sports. By addressing the unique challenges faced by women athletes in different regions, future research can inform policies and practices that enhance gender equity in sports globally.

The Press, Volume 23, Issue 22 includes: Art or Trash?; CAUT Changes; DES Effects; Depressed?; Toxic Trouble; Science for Peace; Just say no.

Weight stigma represents discrimination associated with the social beliefs that people in larger bodies have low willpower, are unmotivated, and are personally responsible for their elevated weight. Internalized weight stigma is the extent to which social perceptions of weight stigma are attributed to the self by people in larger bodies. Dual process models may be uniquely situated to help us understand how weight stigma becomes internalized and whether this impacts (physical activity) PA participation. Within dual process models two systems regulate how we think; the associative system reflects automatic associations and feelings, whereas the propositional system represents deliberate and controlled reasoning. Past research has examined social perceptions of explicit weight stigma alongside implicit measures, rather than examining the internalized form of weight bias. The purpose of this study was to examine whether implicit weight bias (an associative process) and internalized weight bias (a propositional process) are significantly associated with the expectation of experiencing weight stigma, self-regulatory efficacy, the tendency to avoid PA, PA intention, and PA. All eligible participants (n = 154) were over 18, self identified as a woman, had a BMI over 25 and self-identified as a person living in a larger body. Implicit weight bias was measured using a single category Implicit Association Test, while the other study variables were measured using validated survey measures. We conducted a series of hierarchical multiple regression analysis, entering covariates in step 1, implicit weight bias in step 2, and internalized weight bias in step 3. In step 3, both implicit and internalized weight bias were significantly associated with self-regulatory efficacy (p <.001, r2 = .183) and light past PA (p < .05, r2 = .065). Contrarily, the expectation of experiencing weight stigma (p <.05, r2 =.120) and the tendency to avoid PA (p <.001, r2 = .297) were both significantly associated with implicit weight bias in step 2. However, once internalised weight bias was added into the equation in step 3, the implicit association became not significant. No relationship was observed between PA intention, implicit weight bias and internalized weight bias. Similarly, there was no relationship observed between moderate to vigorous physical activity, implicit weight bias and internalized weight bias (p > .05). Implicit weight bias and explicitly measured internalized weight bias were associated with psychological cognitions that may deter PA. They seemed to be more strongly related to cognitions than behaviours, which might suggest that they have indirect relationships with PA. Examining both implicit and internalized weight bias together, through a dual process lens provided insight into the nuanced relationship that people in larger bodies have with PA participation. Future health promotion strategies should consider these findings and must work to shift away from their weight centric approach that may exacerbate internalized weight bias and instead, adopt a more weight-neutral approach towards PA participation.

Mast cells are sentinel immune cells and the main drivers of allergic inflammation. Upon allergen exposure mast cells initiate immediate degranulation in the early-phase of the response, followed by de novo production and secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators in the late-phase. Co-stimulating with allergen and SCF results in the amplification of the pro-inflammatory response launched by allergically-activated mast cells, and a connection between the two signalling pathways is the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Therefore, this dissertation includes 3 studies that focussed on MAP3K proteins, TAK1 and ASK1, that are potential nexus points in the signaling mechanisms of the allergic inflammatory response. Our previous work identified TAK1 as a central regulator in co-stimulated mast cells, and study 1 found that TAK1 regulates signaling through both the FcERI and ckit receptor individually as well as supporting that the MAP3K level is an appropriate target for therapeutic development of mast cell stabilizers. Study 2 was carried out to determine if other MAP3Ks, specifically ASK1 also exhibited the regulation observed with TAK1 in allergically-activated mast cells. We found that despite ASK1 sharing the same level in the MAPK cascade, its inhibition did not have as significant an impact in activated mast cells, suggesting that TAK1 is unique in its ability to regulate mast cell function following allergic stimulation. Study 3 was an explorative study to determine how TAK1 is able to exert its regulatory effect on the allergic inflammatory response. We identified a novel interaction between TAK1 and the lipid kinase PIP4K2B. This discovery elucidates the mechanistic placement of TAK1 in mast cells and increases our understanding of the regulation of mast cell inflammatory mechanisms. Taken together, the following research shows that different MAP3Ks exert varying levels of regulatory control in allergically activated mast cells, with TAK1 appearing to be robustly influential, especially compared to ASK1 under the same conditions. Furthermore, we present evidence to support a novel interaction between TAK1 and mechanisms supporting the generation of PIP2, which has the potential to lay the foundation for a new field of study looking into the relationship between the canonical MAPK pathway and lipid metabolism in mast cells.

The Press, Volume 23, Issue 19 includes: Ontario Premier David Peterson came to Brock to answer student queries; Saanich Indigenous people have declared title to more than 1,500 squre kilometers of land, possibly including the University of Victoria campus.

The Press, Volume 23, Issue 17 includes: Canada should cancel cruise missile testing in response to the recent U.S. violation of the 1979 strategic arms treaty; The current wave of persecution against the Baha’i people of Iran cannot be viewed as an isolated phenomenon or a recent development created by the present state of affairs in Iran; Pornographic magazines like Playboy are being sold in the General Brock store. Some students are not pleased.

The Press, Volume 23, Issue 15 (mislabeled as 14) includes: B.C. provincial court of appeal ruled that holders of visas and work permits now qualify for government medical insurance; A professor at Queen’s has discovered an effective way to treat women for fibrocystic breast disease; Racism is a large problem in Canada, with surveys stating that one half of the population holds discriminatory attitudes; The Committee on the Presidency has begun the process of selecting the new President of Brock University.

Outbreaks like the recent COVID-19 pandemic underscore the importance of quick and informed responses to control and mitigate the epidemic. This thesis aims to develop a model that can provide deeper insights into how epidemics progress and behave. Accurate epidemic simulation can provide valuable insights into how an epidemic affects the population. This thesis considers both epidemic spread and epidemic severity, and integrates fading immunity into the epidemic model, creating a more realistic representation of real-life scenarios. This research also extends the model by considering diverse population structures in the contact network where different age groups have different levels of immunity strength. An evolutionary algorithm was used to generate and evolve personal contact networks. We analyzed the epidemic dynamics within these networks, focusing on how different proportions of young and old individuals impact the spread and severity of the epidemic. Results reveal that older populations with weaker immunity experience more severe infections, while younger populations with stronger immunity mitigate both spread and severity. The thesis also explores the impact on variant generation, showing that when using the epidemic spread fitness function there is a tendency to produce more variants than when using the epidemic severity fitness function, highlighting the virus's need to mutate in response to existing immunity. When the population is dominated by younger individuals, even though fewer variants are being generated, successful variants tend to exhibit a higher mutation distance to overcome the robust immunity present in the community.

The Press, Volume 23, Issue 13 includes: Should Brock students follow 230,000 other Ontario University students and join the Ontario Federation of Students? Two B.C. astronomers have found evidence that there may be planets outside our solar system; The Canadian government seems to be having a hard time making the distinction between refugees and immigrants.