MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Fabrication of Conductive Graphene Aerogel Membranes with Selective Adsorbent Capabilities
No full textPermeable membranes are useful in multifarious applications, e.g. gas and water filters, sensors, cellular membranes (e.g. artificial skin), drug delivery patches, and high energy density batteries etc. Aerogel is a polymeric material fabricated by removing the liquid phase in a gel, creating a low density 3D scaffold with ultra-porous microstructures. Research has been focused on building several low cost environmentally friendly aerogels based on crosslinking nanocellulose with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDE), followed by a freeze drying and a thermal curing process. Conductive aerogels involving crosslinking nanocellulose and graphene oxide (produced in house using Hummers method) with BDE were also made. Graphene aerogels are also known as aerographene, a unique conductive material with astounding structural robustness, ultra-low density, absorbency (capacity to absorb over 500 times its own weight) and elasticity, easily retaining original shape after numerous compression cycles. Both types of aerogels are highly stable and are capable of rapidly and repeatedly separating oil from water via adsorption, like a sponge. Further work includes the removal of simple cations such as Na+, Ca2+, K+ etc using aerographene under voltage, which could point to its use for water desalination. The combination of adsorption capabilities and ease of use makes the produced aerographene a potential solution to remove a diverse range of contaminants from a water supply.
* Indicates faculty mentor
Escape Theory and Materialism: An Experimental Paradigm for Self-blame
No full textEscape theory proposes a six-step process in which materialists’ forthcoming self-awareness reveals a general dissatisfaction with life, thereby stimulating a pursuit toward the attainment of tangible objects as a form of compensation. Although there is sufficient evidence supporting the overall plausibility of escape theory, Donnelly and colleagues acknowledge that further research regarding specific steps would enhance its strength. Moreover, a significant portion of findings on materialism are correlational, thereby making research utilizing experimental paradigms of particular value. The present study will investigate escape theory’s second step, self-blame, with an experimental design. The participant pool (n=300) will consist of undergraduate students with materialistic orientations. As a cover story, participants will be presented two unrelated studies regarding perceptions of interpersonal conflict and the impact of website design on the psychology of the online shopper. In the first portion, participants will be randomly assigned to a neutral condition or a condition designed to induce self-blame. Both conditions involve exposure to a vignette with a filler questionnaire. In the second portion, participants will explore a fictitious online store and purchase desired items. There will be 30 categories of product. Each category will contain three versions of the product corresponding to different levels of materialistic value. Within a materialistic population, those primed to experience self-blame are predicted to demonstrate significant bias toward products high in materialistic value. If the hypothesis is supported, the proposed study will add experimental evidence for the causal role of self-blame in the maladaptive attitude toward wealth and material objects.
Discipline: Psychology Honours
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Watso
John "drinks"? Or John is "a drinker"? Implying a Disordered Identity Affects Perceived Functioning
No full textUsing noun phrasing to refer to an individual\u27s maladaptive behavioral pattern (e.g., "John is a drinker.") may lead to inferences of lower functioning or poorer adaptation compared with non-noun phrasing (e.g., "John drinks"). Building on research from developmental and social psychology, the current study examines the impact of noun labels in the mental disorder domain. The study will randomly assign 220 undergraduate participants to one of four conditions comprising a 2 (noun label vs non-noun label) x 2 ( alcohol vs gambling) experimental design. While participants read a paragraph about the target individual, "John", they will describe him by actively writing down the noun phrase "is a drinker" (or "is a gambler") or the non-noun phrase, "drinks" (or "gambles"), by filling in several blank spaces within the paragraph. They will then make ratings of John\u27s personal functioning (e.g, the extent to which he feels happy, is successful at school, feels a sense of purpose in life). The prediction is that conceiving John as a being a "drinker" or "a gambler" will lead to lower ratings of personal functioning compared to the non-noun conditions. Findings could broaden our understanding of the effects of language which implies identity in the domain of mental disorders.
Discipline: Psychology Honours
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Andrew Howel
Parasites of Urban Coyotes
No full textInteractions between coyotes (Canis latrans) and humans are an increasing problem, not only because of potential injuries from aggressive coyotes, but also because of potential transmission of zoonotic parasites and infections. Through the Edmonton Urban Coyote Project at the University of Alberta, seventeen coyotes were donated to MacEwan University where they were examined for internal parasites. As well, overall body condition of coyotes was assessed. This work provides data that illustrates how heavily parasitized the coyotes in the metropolitan Edmonton area are as well as data on parasite site-specificity and relationship between the number of parasites and splenic weight to body ratio in coyotes. Similar studies have been done throughout North America, namely Edmonton’s neighboring city to the south, Calgary, which had a much lower species richness than this study. This information will be useful in educating the general population on the dangers of urban coyotes and the importance of exercising caution when walking and cleaning up after pets.
Discipline: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Stoc
Micro-plastics in the North Saskatchewan River
No full textThe scope of this project was to develop the sensor system for the paddle, and to prototype one paddle with a central data collection unit. This collection unit can be used to display the live data coming from the paddle, and store it for later analysis. The system is designed to be scalable for all 20 paddles.
Discipline: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matt Ros
Platonic Self-Knowledge and Democracy: The Best Case Scenario
No full textThere is no shortage of scholarly options regarding Plato’s view of democracy; many of which believe Plato was opposed to democratic regimes. Among the potential problems Plato may have had with democracy the inability of the democratic city to provide its citizens with self-knowledge would be high on the list. The democrats love of freedom and continual satisfaction of unnecessary desires inevitably lead to a contradiction of their words in their deeds. That being said the democratic love of freedom and the institution it leads to are likely the best hope for those hoping to acquire self knowledge.
Discipline: Political Science Honours
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gaelan Murph
Nonlinear Pendulum
No full textMy project involves modeling a nonlinear damping pendulum and constructing sufficient diagrams to illustrate physical properties of that pendulum. In the process of study, I am hoping to test stability of equilibrium and damping properties within the system. Upon the completion of my project, I am anticipating to relate dynamical systems with nonlinear damping pendulum.
Discipline: Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cristina Anton
 
Opening Doors: Examination and Evaluation of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
No full textThis research provides an in-depth examination and evaluation of services provided by Edmonton John Howard Society for deaf and hard of hearing clients. The goal is to identify strengths and weaknesses in service delivery and to solicit solutions to these challenges.
Discipline: Sociology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Gulayet
Carbon dioxide induced freshwater acidification alters anxiety-like behaviour in zebrafish
No full textAtmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are on the rise due to natural and anthropogenic (human generated) causes. As a result, CO2 diffuses into the ocean and is causing a net increase in acidity, termed ocean acidification. Over the last decade many studies have shown that elevated CO2 can alter the behaviour in marine fish, although it is also important to consider that other studies show no effects. There has been much less emphasis on the potential impact of elevated CO2 on freshwater fish. In this study we manipulate CO2 levels in freshwater aquaria for a 4-day period and test the anxiety-like behaviour in zebrafish using a well-validated novel tank diving test and motion-tracking software. Previous studies have shown that in this test drugs that are anxiolytic (anxiety reducing) cause zebrafish to spend more time in the upper zone of the tank whereas anxiogenic (anxiety causing) drugs do the opposite and cause fish to spend more time in the lower zone. We found that an elevation of CO2 levels to 3248 ± 442 μatm caused fish to spend more time in the lower zone of the tank compared to controls (454 ± 49 μatm). There was no difference in distance moved or immobility. These results suggest that with short-term exposures to high levels of CO2 there are significant behavioural changes. Future studies will investigate whether this is reversible and whether fish will adapt to high CO2 levels.
Discipline: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Trevor Hamilto
Shaping Scientific Minds: Promoting Critical and Scientific Thinking Skills in High School Students
No full textFrom primary school to undergraduate training, critical thinking is oft cited as a key component of education. Unfortunately, the term is often poorly defined, and the strategies used to teach critical thinking do not always have empirical support. The goal of this research is to validate short term intervention for high school students designed to enhance critical and scientific thinking skills. In this study, we are employing a mixed factorial design to investigate the impact of a single 60 minute teaching session focused on critical thinking. Following this students in different classes will be tested throughout the term on measures of critical thinking, belief in pseudoscience, and overall trust in science. We expect to see an increase in scores on the critical thinking exam, a decrease in paranormal belief, and an increase in trust in science after the intervention. This intervention is one that could easily be employed by any high school or university instructor.
Discipline: Psychology Honours
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rodney Schmaltz