MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Adapting XML Instance Generators for Web Service Testing
No full textAn automated testing framework for web services using generated XML instances is presented. Three existing XML instance generators are TAXI [1], ToXgene [2], and Agoxi [3]. Through the creation of a standardized evaluation framework, the three XML instance generators can be compared. The proposed evaluation framework uses mutation analysis to accurately simulate real world programming faults in order to measure the failure detecting ability of XML instance generators [4]. The development of a module responsible for adapting each of the XML instance generators for use in the evaluation framework is presented. Given a WSDL and a test generator, the module executes the selected generator and collects the output into a standardized file for use in the evaluation framework. The results can then be passed on to the framework’s test execution module which stores the outcome of the analysis in a database. Evaluating the XML instance generators with this framework will assist in choosing the most robust choice for web service testing.
References
[1] D. Barbosa, A. O. Mendelzon, J. Keenleyside, and K. Lyons, ToXgene: An extensible template-based data generator for XML, in IN WEBDB, 2002, pp. 49–54.[2] A. Bertolino, J. Gao, E. Marchetti, and A. Polini, TAXI A Tool for XML-Based Testing, in 29th International Conference on Software Engineering - Companion, 2007. ICSE 2007 Companion, 2007, pp. 53–54.[3] Vanderveen, P., Janzen, M., & Tappenden, A. F. (2014). A Web Service Test Generator. In The Proceeding of the 2014 International Conference on Software Maintenance and Evolution (pp. 516–520). Presented at ICSME 2014, Victoria, BC.[4] Martens, A., & Tappenden, A. F. (2014). A Benchmark for Automated Web Service Testing. Presented at the 1st CCWSR Meeting, Edmonton, Canada.
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Synthesis of Glycosidase Substrates Containing Self-Immolative Linkers
No full textGlycosidases are enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates. The vital role they play in various biological processes makes them an important area of research. This project focuses on the synthesis of specific substrates that may be used to analyze the activity of glycosidases. Previous research in this area has used substrates composed of sugar molecules bonded to a fluorophore indicator to analyze enzyme activity. However, these substrates sometimes lack the selectivity required to discern between different enzymes that act on similar carbohydrates.
Our method will preferentially measure the activity of specific glycosidases by using self-immolative linker molecules to achieve selectivity. The self-immolative linkers will act as a bridge between the sugar and fluorophore, but will spontaneously disintegrate following the hydrolysis of the bond to the sugar. sThis will release the fluorophore and allow for the enzyme’s activity to be measured. Introducing the linkers allows for greater variation in the interactions between the enzyme and substrate. These interactions include, but are not limited to, steric effects, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals contacts. It is hoped that the linkers will interact differently with the various glycosidases and provide the desired selectivity. A library of compounds with various linkers has been synthesized using two different sugars, glucose and galactose. The progress on the creation of the sugar-linker library will be reported.
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Foundations in Curating: Designing a System for Cataloging, Preparing, and Accessing MacEwan’s Invertebrate Fossil Collection
No full textMacEwan University hosts a large collections of hitherto un-curated Upper Ordovician to Upper Mississippian invertebrate fossils, donated to the University in perpetuity by a former faculty member, which are currently housed in temporary storage by the University\u27s Earth Sciences division. While field notes and limited provenience data were included with the donation, no standardized system of documentation or permanent storage plan currently exists in the Earth Sciences division to facilitate management, protection, and further study of these fossil specimens. The primary goal of this research project is to create a curatorial system, including accession, locality, catalog, and preparation forms and protocols, a photographic record of specimens, and an alphanumeric catalog coding system unique to MacEwan University, and to apply this system to the invertebrate fossil collection so that it might serve as a prototype for future curatorial efforts. It is hoped that a detailed analysis of MacEwan University\u27s first cataloged fossil collection, in conjunction with the development of a foundational methodology for curating specimens, will have potential applications for collections held by other divisions within the University, which will in turn make MacEwan\u27s collections accessible and useful to students, faculty, members of other institutions, and the public.
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Syrian Refugee Crisis
No full textThis digital story shows how Syria was before the civil war, during the civil war and after it, it also includes everything they had to deal with from islamophobia to the struggles of fleeing their country to the misconceptions people have about Syrian refugees. The digital story sheds light on some of the issues Muslim Syrian refugees face when resettling in Canada.
Discipline: Anthropology
Faculty mentor: Leslie Dawso
Physiological Effects of Relaxing Stimuli on Heart Rate and Brain Activity with Respect to Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response
No full textTo gain a better understanding of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), brain activity and heart rate were examined under varying auditory ASMR triggers. ASMR, a psychophysiological response which can be brought on by auditory, visual, and touch stimuli, is described as a feeling of deep relaxation that can originate as a tingling sensation in the scalp and can travel down the spine and limbs in some cases. Many people use ASMR as a means of dealing with stress, anxiety, insomnia, and even depression. For this investigation, 25 participants were asked to listen to a 10 minute audio track composed of a variety of ASMR triggers. These triggers and their effects on brain activity and heart rate were recorded via EEG and ECG, respectively. The recorded data was analyzed based on frequency, amplitude, and deviation from the baseline. Comparisons were made between distinct sections of the audio track and special attention was given to segments of the track that participants described as inducing the most relaxing effects for them. The data sets were also divided into groups based on participants’ familiarity with this phenomenon as well as by demographic parameters. Some noteworthy correlations have been identified through this preliminary investigation, an important contribution toward quantitative analysis of the ASMR phenomenon.
*Indicates faculty mentor
Hare Today… Gone Tomorrow: A Methodology for Mapping White-Tailed Jackrabbit Distribution in Edmonton
No full textThe White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii), is native to the open grasslands throughout the interior of North America, yet it has become a common sight in urban settings. Assessed every other year since 1992, data on the approximate locations of White-tailed Jackrabbits (WTJs) in the City of Edmonton have been collected and analysed by various students of The King’s University. This data was used to estimate population densities and study the synurbization of this species as the city expands into former agricultural lands. These data were collected in five land use categories: established residential neighbourhoods, parks, industrial, recent residential developments, and rural areas. A transect-based methodology developed for bird census has been tested to determine whether the distribution of WTJs are clustered or randomly distributed. This poster highlights the challenges associated with synthesising this valuable data set, and proposes a methodology utilizing ArcGIS to map the distribution of WTJs in the City of Edmonton. It provides a digital basis for adding future data and extending the ongoing spatial analysis.
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The Financial Impact of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles on Construction Project Management
No full textUnmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems represent an emerging disruptive technology that has gained attention from progressive construction companies. UAV systems as a data acquisition platform and measurement instrument are becoming attractive for many Construction Project Management (CPM) applications. The application of UAV systems for project layout, progress reporting, building inspection and health and safety control has made this technology a critical tool for advancing Building Information Modeling (BIM) in construction projects.
Despite the potential to reduce costs while maintaining or improving quality, there is currently resistance toward the integration of the UAV systems as a CPM tool into traditionally managed construction projects.
This paper will focus on quantitative and qualitative analysis of collected data regarding the performance evaluation and financial impact of UAV systems on construction projects as an advanced CPM tool.
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Membrane damage-responsive biosensors for the discovery of antimicrobials from Lenzites betulina and Haploporus odorus
No full textAntibiotic resistance of pathogens to antibiotics is a growing concern in medical treatment of infections. Conventional methods for antimicrobial screening relies on using disc diffusion to observe zones of inhibition.
However, this method is not sensitive enough to possibly detect sub-lethal activities. We have developed biosensors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that produce light from transcriptional lux fusions in response to compounds that damage the outer membrane. Sub-lethal exposure to antimicrobial peptides, the antibiotic cycloserine, and cation chelators induces the expression of arnC::lux (PA3553) and speE2::lux (PA4774). These genes encode outer surface modifications that ultimately protect the P. aeruginosa outer membrane from exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of membrane-active compounds. We used high throughput screening in 96 well micro plate format to test the culture supernatants from a panel of fungal species isolated in Alberta. Preliminary results showed a significant induction of both strains of lux biosensors in 23 of the 29 fungal species screened. Due to the significant amount of biosensor induction induced by the supernatants from Lenzites betulina and Haploporus odorus, efforts have been directed to the purification, isolation and classification of the active component of the supernatant. Whole genome sequencing has become necessary in order to properly analyze the mass spectrometry results that have already been obtained. In a short period of time, it has been possible to quickly and more accurately detect sub-lethal concentrations of antimicrobial compounds that might have been over looked if tradition methods, such as disc diffusion, had been employed.
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Role of Chorioallantoic Model in the treatment of renal and bladder carcinoma
No full textNon-invasive bladder cancer cell lines (AY27) and renal cancer cell lines (RCC) are utilized in in vitro models for experimentation. To gain better insight of cancer mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment, in vivo models are more appropriate. The Chorioallantoic Model (CAM) addresses some limitations in vitro and allow for further experimentation. We wished to see whether the CAM could be used with bladder and renal cancer cell lines as a means to examine potential therapies in vivo. The CAM model provides a quick and reproducible means for experimentation. AY27 and RCC with Hippel-Lindau mutated renal cancer cell line (RCC-VHL) were injected as boli into the CAM to investigate tumor development and progression. RCCs were labelled with Green Fluorescent Proteins (GFP) whereas AY27s were non-fluorescent. In ovo models were simultaneously conducted to examine tumor growth in both AY27 and RCC cell lines. Microscopy was used to indirectly monitor tumor growth through degree of fluorescence for RCCs and standard light microscopy were used to monitor tumor growth of AY27s. In AY27-boli injected CAMs, we observed significant increase in tumor size after 9 days. In RCC-VHL injected CAMs, we observed fluorescence and tumor growth to a lesser extent than in AY27 models. The observations are evidence for potential growth of tumors in the in ovo models. Growth of tumors in ovo contradicts previous evidence of scar tissue due to macrophage attack of AY27 and RCC-VHL. Thus, these observations provide potential experimentation model for bladder and renal cancer treatment.
* Indicates faculty mento
Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes into natural environments and Wastewater Treatment Plants - Is there a link?
No full textThe misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), which is of great concern to public health. Normally, wastewaters containing ARB originated from humans and animals are processed in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Although it has been demonstrated that most WWTPs effectively and efficiently remove harmful bacteria and antibiotics from sewage waters before their release into local natural environments, recent molecular-based studies have revealed the unexpected presence of high levels of clinically-relevant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in treated waters. We are conducting a research of the literature to better understand the connections between operations in WWTPs and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into natural environments. Taking cases from different parts of the world, we are analyzing reports describing ARGs originally implicated in hospital infections, such as those encoding for extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL), and their fate in locations surrounding water treatment facilities. Also, we are reviewing the current understanding regarding risk management to limit the potential dissemination of ARGs to natural ecosystems via water treatment facilities. Preliminary results of these analyses will be presented.
* Indicates faculty mentor