MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Science’s Need For Philosophy
No full textScience and philosophy are often considered to be in conflict. Certain people in the scientific community tend to crudely deride philosophy as a meaningless endeavour. This view is exemplified by mathematician Mike Alder in his Philosophy Now article “Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword”. Alder makes the claim that only propositions with observable consequences should be debated. Since a majority of philosophy makes propositions that do not have observable consequences it fails to provide meaningful truths. As such, Alder wishes to reduce philosophical questions, like ethical ones, to scientific ones. In my argument against Alder’s reductionist view of philosophy, I argue that ethical questions cannot be reduced to only observable propositions. I use the accounts of sophistry in Plato’s Gorgias and Josef Pieper’s Abuse of Language - Abuse of Power as a basis for my argument. I consider the example of a sophistic scientist who acts immorally, akin to the character of Callicles in the Gorgias, but produces scientific breakthroughs nonetheless. There would be no proposition with observable consequences to convince the scientist to act ethically. Yet our intuition is that the scientist’s conduct requires just the debate Alder rejects. I put forward that Alder’s crude account of philosophy and science offers scientists no meaning or reason as to why the scientist has acted immorally. Thus science alone cannot answer why we ought to care about acting ethically.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Celia Hatherly, Dr. Edvard Lorkovic, & Dr. Susan Mill
Response of Migratory Bird Frequencies to Temperature in Central Alberta
No full textMigratory birds are an excellent indicator of the effects of anthropogenic climate change on biota in the Americas. Increased greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere can contribute to an overall warming on air temperature by trapping longwave radiation and reflecting it back to Earth. As average air temperatures start to increase, more migratory birds are suffering from disturbance to their habitat and potentially changing their migratory behaviours. Using daily estimated bird total data gathered from the Beaverhill Bird Observatory and daily temperature data from the Alberta Climate Information System, this study examined the relationship between the daily frequency of migratory Anseriformes and the daily minimum and maximum temperatures near Tofield, Alberta, Canada, from 2017 to 2021 but did not find sufficient evidence to support a direct response of bird frequencies and air temperature changes. Knowledge gained from this study has potential to help inform further areas of research that may guide conservation practices and resource management strategies in areas in the face of climate change.
Faculty Mentor: John Fedoruk 
Identification of Potential Paralysis Proteins in the Tick Dermacentor andersoni
No full textTicks are blood-sucking arthropods that can act as disease vectors to humans and other animals, resulting in a threat to public health and economic burden within the agricultural sector.
The threat of tick-borne illness is increasing due to the expanding range of many tick species due to Ecosystem and climate changes. Additionally, many species of ticks can induce host paralysis during feeding. Dermacentor andersoni, an ixodid tick found throughout western Canada, can induce potentially lethal host paralysis during feeding. Salivary gland (SG) paralysis proteins have been identified and isolated in several tick species, but in D. andersoni little is known about these proteins and mechanisms of action. This project attempts to elucidate possible candidate paralysis proteins within the SG of D. andersoni. Analysis of the recently published D. andersoni genome using genomic and protein data from other tick species has been implemented to detect the expression of potential paralysis protein genes.
Preliminarily results are limited. However, a histamine-binding salivary protein from D.
andersoni shares homology with the SG protein TSGP4 from the tick Ornithodoros savignyi which is known to be toxic and implicated with paralysis. Additional research will be conducted to determine whether this gene is more strongly expressed in a paralysis virulent strain of D.
andersoni, and if so, will be flagged as a potential paralysis protein. Tick SG proteins may have pharmacological value, and the identification of paralysis proteins may lead to novel treatments
in preventing paralysis in affected animals.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Treena Swanston & Dr. Kevin Friese
Descartes & Medicine: Healing Teleology
No full textDescartes demonstrated a serious interest for health preservation, but does his rejection of teleology in natural philosophy preclude a concept of healthy human bodies?
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Susan Mills 
Community Gardens and Urban Agriculture: Healthy Environment, Healthy Citizens
No full textStudies are showing that urban community gardening can improve people’s psychological and physiological health in myriad ways. Community gardens increase social capital, provide opportunities for altruism, and create accessible and sustainable food sources in urban environments. The purpose of this study was to explore the mental, social, and physical health benefits of participation in an urban community garden in Edmonton, Canada. A focused ethnography was conducted with surveys and semi-structured interviews. Surveys were sent to volunteers and customers of the Green and Gold Garden (GGG). This was followed by focus group interviews with 8 volunteers and 4 customers. The interview format comprised open-ended questions that encouraged participants to share their perceptions of the health and well-being benefits from being at the GGG. Data was coded via inductive coding, and subsequently categorized into themes via an iterative, reflective process. Four health-related themes were generated from thematic analysis: physical health, social health, mental/emotional health, and connection to the global community. Spending time at the GGG improved the respondents’ mental health, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they reported feelings of altruism, serenity, and connection with nature. Their social health was improved through gathering with other garden members in a sheltered urban green space within the city limits. This study supports the idea that participation in an urban community garden confers health benefits and engenders a greater awareness of, and appreciation for, the local environment and expands one’s scope of care to incorporate planetary health.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Zutter 
Intestinal alkaline phosphatase bioautographic analysis of plant extracts
No full textAlkaline phosphatases are key enzymes in human physiology; they catalyze dephosphorylation reactions that are important in functions such as development of skeletal structure and metabolism. They are increasingly studied as targets for pharmacologic inhibition and thus molecules that inhibit Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (IAP) are becoming increasingly relevant. TLC bioautography is a low cost, relatively fast way of coupling complex mixture separation and qualitative bioassay analysis. Screening of complex mixtures involved applying a target mixture to the TLC plate, separating the mixture into components, and then spraying both enzyme and substrate onto a TLC plate. To initially test reaction conditions, napthyl phosphate with fast blue b are used as substrates to yield a blue azide product, and inhibition can therefore be qualitatively analyzed by a lack of colour on the TLC plate. A follow up experiment will subsequently measure IAP inhibition in various plant extracts via TLC bioautography. Extract samples displaying inhibition will be subsequently separated via TLC to examine the nature of inhibitors. Further investigation will involve examining the structural nature of these inhibitors.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tina Bott 
Investigating The Fate and Biodegradation of Resin and Asphaltenes in water
No full textAlberta is known for having one of the largest oil and natural gas reserves in Canada, making it a large industry. CanmetENERGY Devon is a federal government research centre that focuses on innovative solutions to reduce the environmental impacts made by the oil and gas industry. As part of the Chemistry Internship Practicum (CHEM 497), from Jan 2023-April 2023, I interned at CanmetENERGY Devon. In this presentation, I will highlight my internship work on investigating the fate and biodegradation of resin and asphaltenes in water. I will highlight the work done on initial testing and preparation of samples as well as method development. Initial testing includes DNA extractions from soil samples, microbial analysis, and testing water samples for different compounds. Developing methods to carry out these tests involved a lot of repetition which allowed me to gain further experience with GLP and reproducibility. As well as learn how to use new instruments and articulate the methods that were developed and present them. My internship journey will be presented.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Samuel Mugo 
Development of Lactate Biosensor: Chemistry Practicum with NRC company
No full textWearable sensors are extensively studied due to their low-cost, non-invasive, and real time results nature. National Research Centre (NRC) is a government-based research laboratory which focuses on creation of sensors for multiple purposes including the wearable sensors. As a part of the Chemistry Internship Practicum (CHEM 497), from Jan 2023 to April 2023, I interned at NRC. The scope of my internship was synthesis of a biosensor that can detect lactate in sweat. To create the sensor, we modify the surface of the screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE), then we optimize the parameters and finally we would test for the target. This internship has exposed me to a wide range of skill sets including both professional and technical skills. Some of the technical skills I learned through this internship are the use of instruments and detection methods. In terms of professional skills, I learned how to build connections with people who have a background in electrochemistry. On student research day, I would be presenting my project journey, along with the skills I obtained during my internship.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Samuel Mugo 
An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Approach to Social and Emotional Learning
No full textSocial and emotional learning is a core aspect of a child’s development. The goal of social and emotional learning is to support individuals in developing the skills and attitudes necessary to navigate social and emotional challenges and succeed in school, work, and life. This project focuses on investigating social and emotional learning targets that are integrated into classwide educational programs. Many education programs on the market for teachers attempt to teach children to understand and manage their emotions and behaviours. Due to the increasing levels and concerns for mental health, this project summarizes the possible long-term effects of some early childhood school programs that teach and maintain the very processes that underline mental struggles, such as cognitive defusion. A new way of teaching children about emotions and behaviours is proposed using the philosophy, science and perspective that grounds Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Faculty Mentors: Miranda Macauley & Dr. Russ Powel
Does a Growth Mindset Intervention Reduce Perfectionism and Procrastination?
No full textResearch has consistently found a positive relationship between fear of failure (FoF) and both perfectionism and procrastination, which are both positively correlated with stress. Many university students report high levels of perfectionism, procrastination, and stress; thus, interventions to help reduce these characteristics are needed. Individuals who have a growth mindset (GM) are more likely to view challenges and failures as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as obstacles. The present study investigated the effect of a GM intervention on procrastination and negative perfectionism. We hypothesized that students who received the GM intervention would report lower procrastination due to FoF and lower negative perfectionism than students who did not receive the GM intervention. In Part 1, all participants completed questionnaires assessing personality, stress, perfectionism, procrastination, and GM. Participants in the GM intervention group were shown a video and infographic about GM and its benefits and were sent reminder emails about the benefits of GM once a week for four weeks. After four weeks, participants completed all measures again.
Our results show that the GM intervention failed to produce any significant changes in GM, negative perfectionism, and procrastination due to FoF. We further show positive relationships between stress and both procrastination due to FoF and negative perfectionism. Future research will investigate a more effective GM intervention. Our results confirm that university students’ stress is highly associated with negative perfectionism and procrastination due to FoF and that students may benefit from stress reduction methods that specifically target perfectionism and FoF.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michele Moscicki