MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Collision Analysis of Driving Scenarios
No full textThe National Collision Database (NCDB) provided by Transport Canada contains information about individuals that have been in traffic accidents. A thorough analysis of this data was performed in order to isolate and identify possible dangerous traffic scenarios that could result in injuries or even death. The purpose of our study was to identify any occurring patterns of injuries or fatalities, and identify any possible preventative safety measures which could ultimately help in reducing these occurrences to a minimum. It also gives the chance to demonstrate the potential of data driven decision making which can result in valuable knowledge for any potential user. Among all the research that was done, one test in particular stands out, with which fatality rates involving streetcars driven by much older drivers being significantly higher than the norm. The results of the research suggests that improvements in road design, and traffic controls could lessen these verities of several scenarios of collisions. Also insurance rates adjustments for risky drivers found in our study could be a potential resolution for passenger and pedestrian safety.
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The Effect of Vitamins D and A on Calcium-Binding Protein Expression in the Chick Cerebellum
No full textCalcium-binding protein 28, or Calbindin, is a protein found within all Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and is important in the regulation of intracellular calcium levels. In the chick cerebellum, Calbindin first appears within Purkinje cells during embryonic development by embryonic day 10 and globally by day 12. Expression of Purkinje cell Calbindin is maintained throughout adulthood and is necessary for signal transmission and motor coordination. Previous studies have indicated that the addition of vitamin D and vitamin A may affect the level of Calbindin expression in neurons. The purpose of this experiment was to determine what effects, if any, vitamin D and vitamin A have on cerebellar Calbindin expression during embryonic chick development. Immunohistochemistry was used to visualize levels of Calbindin expression 48 hours after the addition of either vitamin D or vitamin A in ovo at various embryonic time points.
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Microscopic Analysis of Zebrafish Lenses with Cataracts
No full textThe zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become one of the model organisms of choice for cataract research because it has very similar lens proteins to other vertebrates and is very easy to work with. Cataracts are the opacification of the lens due to the aggregation of insoluble proteins and are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The protein aggregation is typically caused by proteins becoming insoluble due to various post-translational modifications. One type of post-translational modification is oxidation, which is caused by biological free radicals like hydrogen peroxide. Over the years, there have been many studies that examine the effects of hydrogen peroxide in the lens using model organisms like the zebrafish. In this research, hydrogen peroxide-induced cataracts in zebrafish were microscopically analyzed to determine the area of the lens the hydrogen peroxide most affected. The research developed critical procedures of sectioning the layers of the lens and staining protocols that could be used in further research.
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Single Amino Acid Mutations Alter the Excitation and Emission of mCherry Fluorescent Protein
No full textThe second-generation fluorescent protein mCherry has an excitation and emission maximum of 587 nm and 610 nm. The discovery of DsRed in Discosoma sp. and the creation of its second-generation variants marked a significant advance in the field of biology due to its use in microscopy. New and improved proteins will increase the diversity of microscopy experiments. The emission of light in mCherry can be attributed to the excitation of electrons held in four amino acids that form a fluorophore: Tyr-67, Gly-68, Arg-95, and Glu-215. The mCherry fluorophore folds via several post-translational modifications which alter the polypeptide backbone to create an imidazolinone ring. In mCherry, an emission red-shift results from protonation of Glu-215 as it shares a hydrogen bond with the nitrogen of the imidazolinone ring. This interaction modifies the distribution of electron density in the fluorophore. The mRFP variant mStrawberry, with an excitation maximum of 574 nm and emission of 596 nm, differs from mCherry by 6 mutations, including M66T and Q213L. These mutations adjacent to the fluorophore contain significant changes in the size, charge and behavior of the amino acids. We expect mutations near the fluorophore to alter the electron distribution controlling the excitation and emission of the fluorophore. In this paper we use site directed mutagenesis to separately induce these mutations into the plasmid bound mCherry protein and express the protein in Rosetta cells. Using a fluorescent spectrophotometer we expect to observe the blue and red shift previously observed after M66T and Q213L mutations in mStrawberry respectively.
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A delayed choice experiment in quantum optics
No full textAnalyzing which path a particle takes in a two-slit system, or analogously through an interferometer, was traditionally described by the addition of a momentum kick to induce particle properties onto a quantum wave thereby destroying the interference pattern. One method of obtaining which-way information without introducing a momentum kick can be done through assigning distinguishable states through plane polarizations within a two arm system such as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. After the photon leaves the interferometer, the which-way information can be erased using a quantum eraser which will restore the interference pattern. This experiment demonstrated that a polarizer set at an intermediate position erases the which-way information within a Mach-Zehnder interferometer thus acting as a quantum eraser.
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Physiological Study of Prayer Using Electroencephalography (EEG)
No full textSpiritual activities like prayer and meditation are known to influence individuals physically and psychologically. Although there are many studies conducted on meditation and yoga, only several attempts have been made to study the physiology of prayer. Prayer, regularly practiced across many religions, is used extensively by people as a way of communicating with a divine being. Particularly in Christianity, prayer has been used as a mechanism of relaxation and healing. Therefore, this study investigated Christian prayer to gain understanding of the psychosocial and physiological impacts of prayer on a person. A questionnaire was prepared that assessed the general practice and experience of prayer from a total of 70 subjects that included participants from 12 Christian denominations, Hindu, and non-religious individuals. The brain activity of 21 female subjects was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG) with electrode placements in the occipital lobe and parietal lobe. The EEG recording sessions consisted of three minutes of silence, the Lord’s Prayer, and three minutes of personal prayer. The recorded data for brain activity was analyzed based on frequency and amplitude. The mean frequency and amplitude of the distinct sections of the silence, the Lord’s Prayer, and personal prayer were compared to identify any significance difference and pattern. The questionnaire in this study showed experience and practice of prayer to vary among individuals. Furthermore, the EEG recordings indicated some difference in the control and prayer, although further study is necessary to better quantify the difference.
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Effects of Cultural Traditions on Teaching Mathematics: A comparative study on the methods and practices of teaching mathematics under the influence of cultural traditions
No full textThis comparative study sheds light on the role of culture as an important aspect of mathematics teaching and learning. It will explore the underlying issues and key concepts of the impact of culture in mathematics education. This study intends to stimulate discussions on what cultural values or beliefs are relevant to the teachings of mathematics. Our increasingly technological world places a great deal of value on mathematics being a crucial subject in education in many parts of the world. A range of cultural values and beliefs are explored to understand their influences on teaching practices. The information collected helps in the understanding of our own teaching practices and develops a common goal for improvement. The study hopes to provide insight for educators in changing or modifying the math curriculum to better meet the needs of students. The comparative study elaborates on the different cultures and their reform of mathematics teaching – providing an opportunity to reflect on our own practices and beliefs as we gain a better understanding of our mathematical teaching principles. Exploring the latest educational development and cultural influences on mathematical pedagogies will help educators develop a common goal for improvement of the current curriculum.
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Prosodic and Semantic Effects on the Perception of Mixed Emotions in Speech
No full textThe current study examines the perception of mixed happy-sad emotions elicited by a combination of prosodic voice cues (pitch and tempo), and sentence content (semantics) in speech. In the first experiment, participants will rate sentences spoken by a female talker on happiness and sadness using a 7-point Likert scale. In the second experiment, the processing of emotions will be examined using eye-tracking. Participants will watch audio-visual recordings of a female talker speaking a series of sentences and will rate the emotional expressions using the same rating scale. When pitch and tempo cues are consistent with happy and sad expressions, we expect listeners to rate the expressions in accordance with these emotions. However, when voice cues that signal happy and sad emotions are in conflict, they will result in intermediate happiness and sadness ratings, reflecting the perception of mixed happy-sad emotions. We expect that eye-tracking measures will reveal shorter durations of looking time to purely happy or sad emotions in comparison to mixed happy-sad emotions. Furthermore, the semantics of sentence content will reduce the perception of mixed happy-sad emotions evoked in vocal expressions. The findings from the current study are expected to extend our knowledge on the perception of mixed emotions in normal populations and in special populations with social-emotional deficits.
Discipline: Psychology Honours
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tara Vongpaisal
 
Time Estimation During Mutual Eye Gaze
No full textEye contact requires attention both when we send and receive gaze signals. Previous research suggests that when one is attending to something their perception of time is altered, such that time passes by more slowly while watching a pot boil. The disruption of time perception has been shown to happen during face-to-face eye contact but has also been observed (albeit to a lesser extent) if one person is looking at another or being looked at by another [Jarick et al., 2016]. Here, we aimed to tease apart whether eye contact is more attention-capturing when we are sending signals during mutual gaze or receiving the gaze signal, or both. This will be investigated by having pairs of participants (sitting side-by-side) make subjective time estimates of 40, 60, and 80 seconds during the participation of four gaze trials: looking away from one another (baseline), looking at the profile of their partner, being looked at by their partner and making eye contact. If attention is equally attributed to sending and receiving signals, we predict that the degree to which time estimation is disrupted during the profile and looked at trials will sum to the disruption found during eye contact trials. Alternatively, if attention is captured more by sending or receiving gaze signals, then we should see time estimation more disrupted in either the profile or looked at trials. This research will allow us to further understand how attention is allocated during face-to-face eye contact in the wild.
Discipline: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michelle Jaric
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
No full textThis poster will explore the assessment, treatment and health promotion strategies individuals and health care practitioners can employ for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This poster will highlight important background information explaining the nature of GAD, potential risk factors, diagnostic criteria, treatment options and health promotion techniques for GAD using current evidence based research from multiple sources. Lastly, this poster will also discuss individual and healthcare professional team perspectives on available treatment and self care to promote holistic health and person centered care for individuals experiencing anxiety.
Discipline: Nursing
Faculty Mentor: Tracey Eklund-Moore