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Empiricism Versus Rationalism: Understanding the Acquisition of Knowledge
Full text linkTheories of knowledge, certainty, and skepticism in philosophy are of particular importance to learning, as these theories quite literally explain how we are able to perceive the world around us. Two specific theories have been identified as strong arguments in philosophy, the first is termed “Empiricism” and the second “Rationalism”. Using both materials provided in this course, as well as some external arguments that have been considered by Max Hocutt, Tom Stoneham, John Turri and Wesley Buckwalter, the arguments of Locke, Berkeley, and Hume in regard to anti-skepticism, and Descartes’ skeptical, rationalist argument will be compared and contrasted. In this paper, I will consider the three empiricist conceptions on knowledge posed in Locke’s “Representational Theory of Perception”, Berkeley’s “Idealist Theory of Knowledge”, and Hume’s “Problem of Induction”, and how these perspectives relate and differ to one another, then I will consider Descartes’ rationalist approach illustrated in his Meditations. In addition, I will conclude by stating my opinion of these different theories and whether I believe Rationalism or Empiricism to be better, as well as why I consider one theory to be stronger than the others
Determination of Thymol in Mouthwash by Capillary Electrophoresis
Full text linkThymol is a natural monoterpene phenol derivative of p-cymene found in oil of thyme and extracted from various plants which has strong antiseptic properties. Thymol is listed as a medical ingredient in mouthwash and some toothpastes as it contains active antiseptic ingredients. Many brands of mouthwash state that thymol fights tooth decay and infections, and it was found that mouthwash containing thymol was effective at preventing the initiation of dental caries – a pathological process of destruction of tooth structure by microorganisms. Thymols antibacterial activity is caused by inhibiting growth and lactate production and by decreasing cellular glucose uptake. This study was conducted to separate and quantify the amount of thymol (C10H14O) present in mouthwash by capillary electrophoresis (CE), and to compare the results obtained to the manufacturers claim. Nine samples of mouthwash from four companies (Listerine, Crest, Equate, and Life) were measured to determine their concentration of thymol. Quantifying the amount of thymol contained in mouthwash could aid in ensuring the appropriate amount is present to effectively prevent dental decay. CE was chosen as it is an extremely sensitive instrument that is proficient at separating analytes. Analytes are separated according to ionic mobility via an applied voltage; an ions mobility depends on its size, charge and viscosity. Data is collected as electropherograms which plot the absorbance of the analytes against their migration time which allows for the quantification of the amount of thymol present in the samples
The Relationship Between Cognitive Decline, Inhibition and Anxiety
No full textResearch studies have identified links between lower inhibitory attentional control and anxiety vulnerability. This is in accordance with the Attentional Control Theory, which suggests that stimulus-driven attentional mechanisms take over when high anxiety is exhibited.
We aim to examine how cognitive function and anxiety are correlated by investigating inhibitory control in older and younger adults with differing cognitive abilities and anxiety levels. We will recruit 30 younger (18-25 years of age) and 30 older adults (65 years of age or older) from Canada. Participants will complete three questionnaires; a Demographics questionnaire, the short version of the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) to control for depression, and the short version of the Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Attentional control is tested using the Go/No-Go paradigm and the Posner Cueing task. Both tasks include threatening animal images. Working memory is tested using a memory task that requires remembering a word list followed by a recognition task.
We hypothesize that highly anxious participants will show more errors in inhibition and working memory tasks than less anxious participants. Second, we hypothesize that highly anxious participants will show more inhibition errors in threat conditions compared with less anxious participants. Finally, we predict that the older adults will show weaker performance on all the tasks than younger participants, due to lower cognitive functioning. Anxiety’s effects on cognitive functions have clinical implications because today’s cognitive assessments might induce anxiety, thus leading to a possible misdiagnosis. Therefore, understanding the relationship between anxiety and cognition can help prevent misdiagnoses as well as improve identification of normal cognitive aging
What a Surprise: Challenges of Alternate Delivery Modes in Graduate Education
Full text linkIn this self-study of teacher educator practices (S-STEP) I follow my journey with the alternate delivery mode during four semesters of graduate education in Educational Studies. I encountered many surprises, that came in the form of tensions around engaging students in online delivery. The surprises were grounded in my teacher identity, I had been teaching online for 13 years and I identify as a strong online pedagogue. However, I encountered many challenges in the sudden pivot to alternate delivery mode required due to the COVID19 Pandemic. This study applies a reflective process through a collection and thematic analysis of data from four lenses: the lens of students, the lens of colleagues, the lens of self and the lens of the literature (Brookfield, 2010). The purpose of this study is to listen to self and to others to find ways to improve student engagement in the alternate delivery mode of learning. The implications of this study are for both personal and professional practice as well as for other educators who may be experiencing similar challenges
Chill Out on the Way Out: Gratitude matters: How to engage in a practice that improves overall wellness for you and your students
No full textLearn new gratitude practices to benefit you and your students
Asynchronous: Incorporating OBS (open broadcaster studio) into your teach-from-home workflow
No full textOpen Broadcaster Studio (OBS) is an open-source software Swiss Army Knife for creating dynamic video content *in real time*! Most OBS users are gamers who livestream their gaming adventures but its strengths for gaming make it an excellent choice for use in the classroom. While I will focus on its use in a synchronous class setting, it can easily be used to create compelling video content for asynchronous delivery as well. This short session will cover the vocabulary of OBS and provide the viewer with a number of common in-class use cases where it can be leveraged
The Effects of Biosolids on Antibiotic Resistance Gene Abundance and Diversity in Microbial Communities of Mine Tailing Reclamation Sites
No full textMining requires chemical and mechanical methods to extract useful metals from the earth. Mine tailings are the material by-products of this process, and are usually placed into specific surface storage areas. The soil in these areas tend to contain sparse microbial communities and low nutrient content. Biosolids are a resource recovered from treatment of municipal wastewater. The final product is a material similar to soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. It can be used as an alternative to animal manures or chemical fertilizers. The production and use of biosolids in British Columbia are highly regulated and ongoing research continues to inform best practices for land application of biosolids. Some research suggests that biosolids and other soil amendments may promote the distribution and evolution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soils and that antibiotics already present in biosolids may induce antibiotic resistance gene spread. In this study, we quantified the levels of 23 ARGs in soil microbial communities in existing copper mine tailings treated with varying levels of biosolids and those with no biosolids treatments. DNA was extracted from 57 tailing soil samples and ARGs were quantified using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reactions (qPCRs). Most ARGs were below detection across all samples. Three ARGs (ermC, ermB, and mefA) were detected in higher prevalence in the biosolids treatments. The other four ARG targets (aadA1, veb, sfc1, and oxa54) were detected across biosolids and no biosolids treatments. The ARGs that were detected naturally occur in microbial communities. Thus, the increased prevalence in the biosolids treated samples may be related to the higher biomass that is established on those plots. Additional information acquired through further testing of the ARGs will help to improve understanding of potential risks associated with biosolids applications and inform policy on their future use in mine site remediation
In Pursuit of Phase Separation
Full text linkAccording to Anfinsen’s structure-function postulate, the ability of linear chains of amino acids to fold into a 3-D structure governs protein’s function. Therefore, the subsequent recognition of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that fail to form a stable conformation, but yet preserve its biological function, became a “mysterious” phenomenon in protein science. Disorder-based functionality of IDPs is thought to be associated with the amino acid compositional bias, which deprives the protein of its ability to fold but enables it to maintain multivalent interactions with other molecules.
IDPs were shown to participate in regulatory processes such as post translational modifications, transport, and regulation of gene expression by compartmentalizing molecules intracellularly through the process of liquid-to-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Recent discoveries have experimentally shown IDPs as being key regulators of phase separation in vitro and in vivo over the years; however, the molecular processes that govern IDPs to form phase separated droplets in eukaryotic cells remain largely unknown. The purpose of this research work was to establish a relationship between the amino acid composition and natively unfolded conformation of IDPs. Hence, the bioinformatic analysis of intrinsically disordered proteins in Drosophila melanogaster was performed to examine the distribution of disordered content and the amino acid compositional bias. Genetic line diagrams and a primer design strategy for the selected proteins were completed as part of the future work analysis. The findings of bioinformatic screening along with the future laboratory experiment will contribute to our understanding of molecular principles behind IDR-driven phase separation and its application in human disease
The Influence of Covid-19 on Sustainable Urban Food Systems: Recommendations for Kamloops, BC.
Full text linkThis poster outlines sustainable food production in Kamloops, possible improvements, the benefits of urban agriculture, and the impact of COVID-19 on urban agriculture, both globally and in Kamloops. This analysis involves a literature review and general observations. The research shows that while urban agriculture is realistic and highly beneficial to food security, cities such as Kamloops are still in the early stages. While community initiatives are increasing, there is still room for growth. Research and personal observations also show that although the presence of COVID-19 has had plenty of negative consequences, it may be a catalyst in urging cities towards more sustainable food systems. Recommendations include an increase in local food cultivation, processing, distribution, and sourcing. This research concludes that whereas Kamloops is developing as a more sustainable agricultural community, its full potential has not yet been reached
Blindness
Full text linkThe purpose of this interdisciplinary directed studies was to examine how our familiarity with the places we inhabit blinds us to their beauty. Using artistic mapping and creative non-fiction, I explored my own blindness in the landscape I call home, Juniper Ridge. Through writing, I follow my mindset as I explored the natural history of a trail I walk weekly. As each season progressed, I realized that parts of the landscape I had once deemed lackluster hold a great amount of beauty and are worthy of my attention. Additionally, the production of an artistic map entitled Close to Home, allowed me to understand the Juniper Ridge area as a whole. By observing elements individually in the landscape– the towering Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) that coat the hillside in a rich green, the small wolf lichen (Letharia vulpine) that cling to those who have fallen, or the sweet bees (Agapostemon) that pollinate those flowers we love so dearly – I grew a deeper connection to the landscape and learned that all its pieces deserve our respect and attention. Collectively, the two parts of my project – creative writing and artistic mapping – dispersed the blindness cultivated through familiarity. My goal in sharing this work is to inspire others to find beauty in the over-looked places of their own lives