MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Immunity, Sex and Parasites: Does Sex of Sand-Field Cricket (Gryllus firmus) Affect Immune Response to Eugregarine Parasites?
No full textThere is controversy about the effects gut-dwelling eugregarine parasites have on their invertebrate hosts. If crickets (Gryllus firmus) apportion resources to reproduction differently in males vs. females, then resources used to mount immune responses to parasites may also differ – especially if the parasites are pathogenic. I investigated the possible differences in immune response between male and female crickets and attempted to determine whether these differences are related to intensity of parasitic infection. To do this, pieces of nylon filament were implanted into the hemocoel of crickets which tested the immune response where hemocytes surround the filament (encapsulation). These responses were compared to intensity of parasitic infection. No statistically significant relationship between sex and melanisation, or sex and parasite load were found. I found that the duration of melanization was negatively correlated to parasite abundance and that there was a positive correlation between body size and parasite number. This result suggests the existence of a relationship between the parasite and host that could be conflicting with sexual selection theory, such as host manipulation by the parasite
Nutritional Communications across Climates: A comparative research study between Ecuador and the Netherlands
No full textA study in May 2014 analyzed food labels in Quito, Ecuador, to better understand the culture’s nutritional communication. The study explored what is considered to be a healthy diet in Ecuadorian culture and how this is communicated, and also to what extent nutrients in packaged food are effectively communicated via labelling. Data was gathered using a mixed methods approach; first using quantitative methods with a survey administrated to students at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Following the completion of the survey, participants were then asked to volunteer for a questionnaire containing open-ended questions, administered in one-on-one interviews, in order to collect qualitative data to enhance survey responses. Finally, an analysis of nutritional labels in local grocery store completed the research. This same study was then conducted in May of 2016 at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, Netherlands, to explore the results from another country and act as a comparative study between the two cultures. Research from both cultures led to the identification of similar and different trends, themes, and outliers in the collected data. Both Ecuador and Dutch participants report receiving little to no formal education regarding diet and nutrition. This leads to participants building their model of a healthy diet from various inconsistent sources. Participants also express frustration and confusion with inconsistent labelling. Simple and measurable food labels in the Netherlands proved to have more importance and value to consumers than labels that are believed to hold false claims.
Trend of Parental Refusal or Delay of Childhood Vaccinations
No full textThe healthcare trend of parental refusal or delay of childhood vaccinations will be investigated through a complex Cynefin Framework component in an economic and educational context, allowing patterns to emerge that suggest recommendations of change for the RN role and healthcare system. As a major contributing factor adding complexity to this trend, social media is heavily used for health related knowledge, making it is difficult to determine which information is most trustworthy. Missed opportunities for immunization can result, leading to economic and health consequences for the healthcare system and population. Through analysis of the powerful impact social media has on this evolving trend and public health, an upstream recommendation for RNs to respond with is to utilize reliable social media to the parents’ advantage within practice. The healthcare system should focus on incorporating vaccine-related education into existing programs and classes offered to parents, and implementing new vaccine classes for the public
Role of the Painted Study
No full textThe role of the study in painting is to capture the initial impression of a situation, scene, or subject. It is a small, quickly done painting (often 30-60 minutes), acutely observed from the subject. The purpose of this is to capture the essence of an image, which can be often lost when doing a sustained painting. A study is prepatory research for a sustained painting that can help identify potential challenges in a subject as well as allow for one’s fresh perspective on the subject to be recorded. Interesting or essential details that may be captured in the study can often be destroyed in a sustained painting, particularly if exhaustion or anxiety sets in and causes a painting to be overworked. In painting, often a great amount of visual information can be expressed in very few, intentional brushstrokes. The handling of the paint and how it is applied describes much of the forms in painting, so a study is essential for having a visual notebook of sorts. A study is like notes taken during a presentation, quickly and summarizing the general idea of each point. Understanding the role of studies in painting can help emphasize the importance of recording one’s fresh perception of a topic. In fine arts this is essential to knowing how to approach and fully understand the subject at hand, while still retaining the life and essence of a subject in one’s work. It keeps it from becoming stale, like a speech repeated too often. This holds true for other research and pursuits, as while researching on subjects, topics, or situations, one can often lose focus in the details or lose direction. In this sense, it is like the study: one must have a succinct, fresh reminder of the goals of one’s research while aiming to understand it comprehensively
Respecting Diversity on Two Sides of the Coin: A Qualitative Course- Based Study of the Lived Experiences of Culturally Diverse Child and Youth Care Students
No full textA Tale of Garbage
No full textIn 1973, an American archaeologist named Dr. William Rathje sought to create a method that would help his students understand the intricacies of archaeological fieldwork. Dr. Rathje recognized that his students at the University of Arizona were having a difficult time understanding cultural remains from the past (Rathje, 1979, p. 4), so his idea was to use contemporary cultural material waste as a study tool. He named this method “The Garbage Project.” Given that the project took place during 1970s and students of the time were far removed from potsherds and post holes, it made sense to articulate archaeological sites in a contemporary way. Over time, this process would come to be known as garbology, which has come to inform both past research and present-day disciplines such as economics and public policy. This paper will outline the cross-discipline benefits that archaeology brings to modern society, including how it informs us about sustainability issues and how human societies interact and identify with their waste
Indian Horse
No full textType as Image: Eliciting Emotions is a project of VCDE233 Typography II (Constanza Pacher) and VCDI223 Design and Pre-Press Production (Jess Dupuis), both courses in the Design Studies Diploma Program at MacEwan University. Students were asked to capture the essence of the book Indian Horse, by Richard Wagamese, and translate it into a three-poster series using typography as the main element. Under the premise that the visual form is dictated by the content, students were encouraged to analyze plot, characters, point of view, imagery, tone, themes and symbolism to extract key words, sentences and passages as the basis for their designs. Students were asked to challenge literal interpretations by exploring the use of expressive typography and text and image relationships
