MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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The Pursuit of Mathematical Truths: A Rich and Meaningful Aesthetic Experience of Inquiry as an End in Itself
No full textGiven a Deweyan philosophy of mathematics, education, and of the nature of experience, the pursuit of mathematical truths can be classified as rich and meaningful aesthetic experiences that are ends in themselves. My argument is that mathematical experiences of inquiry can have a meaningful impact on an individual that is of similar effect on an individual as a work of art, such as a painting, or a novel, or a piece of music. The nature of mathematical inquiry is to expand an individual’s conscious experience of themselves, their relation to other people, and their relation to the world at large
CRISPR: A Revolutionary Technique... For Humans?
No full textCRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary technique that carries the possibility of altering the genomic sequence of an organism. Discovered in a bacterial immune system, CRISPR/Cas9 has been a popular topic of discussion since its first publication in 2012. In this essay, the opposing arguments on the use of CRISPR/Cas9 are discussed, based on the practical uses in human genetic engineering. First, the technique is described along with the comparison of other successful gene editing techniques. Secondly, the ethical and clinical implications are also discussed, and the effects of CRISPR use on human germline and somatic cells. This essay aims to answer whether CRISPR/Cas9 should be used to edit the genome of humans
A Review of Common Shoulder Injuries: Clavicular Fractures and Anterior Dislocations
No full textThe shoulder complex is an intricate combination of bones, muscles, and ligaments that function synergistically to move the arm. While the shoulder is a very mobile joint, allowing for movement in all planes, it is not an apparatus known for stability. The injuries that can be sustained by the shoulder are often extensive and could give rise to further injuries in other aspects of the body, including the arm, back, and sternum. Two of the most common injuries that can be sustained by the shoulder include clavicular fractures and anterior shoulder dislocations. Clavicular fractures are most commonly sustained by direct compressive force directed towards the sternum and applied to the ipsilateral shoulder, while anterior dislocations commonly occur as a result of direct force projected anteriorly while the arm is externally rotated and abducted. The mechanism of injury for both clavicular fractures and anterior dislocations dictates the injuries\u27 severity which subsequently determines the extent of treatment and rehabilitation that is needed. Both conservative and surgical methods are effective in treating shoulder injuries depending upon an individual\u27s activity level and the extent of the injury. Following treatment, proper rehabilitation of the injury is crucial to regain the shoulder\u27s active pain-free range of motion, strength of surrounding muscles, and neuromuscular control, while ensuring a timely return to daily activities
Weaving Heritage: The Baskets of Iringa, Tanzania
No full textThis exhibition displays the technology of Iringa basket making through various media (i.e. raw materials, individual basket segments) and a variety of finished baskets. These are presented in order to display variation in both weave design and vessel function, while also giving viewers a better understanding of both the craft and ability of Iringa basket weavers. Photographs are used to present the tradition and cultural heritage value of Iringa baskets through the makers actions and abilities. The current poster was shown in combination with spoken word, various photographs capturing basket weaving technology and weaver abilities, and both physical basket components and finished baskets.
Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled.) Exhibition held in the Gray Gallery at MacEwan University.
Faculty Mentor: Katie Biittner
Department: Anthropolog
Narcissism and Scene Perception
No full textWhen people walk into a coffee shop, the amount of information in that scene greatly exceeds what people’s brains can process. Thus, people selectively attend to different information (e.g., the people in the coffee shop vs. the objects around them). The information individuals attend to may differ based on their personality traits. Here, we focus on how narcissistic individuals (those who are egotistical and self-focused) perceive and remember scenes. Previous research suggests that narcissists perform poorly on face recognition tasks, presumably because they care less about others. Research has yet to test narcissists scene recognition memory. Narcissists have an analytic cognitive-perceptual style, where they can easily disembed information from the context. This analytic cognitive-perceptual style may predict better memory for objects within scenes. In the current study, participants will complete a basic recognition memory paradigm for either indoor scenes containing people or indoor scenes without people. We hypothesize that narcissists will be better at remembering objects whereas non-narcissists will be better at remembering people. Specifically, narcissists’ analytic cognitive-perceptual style will predict better memory for objects within scenes. Identifying how narcissists perceive and organize information in their environment presents opportunities to alter such views and enhance narcissists\u27 connection to others.
Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled)
Faculty Mentor: Miranda Giacomin
Department: Psychology 
Warning: Symptoms May Include Racism: A Content Analysis of Anti-Asian Racism and Sentiment Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Digital Media
No full textThis study examined themes present in selected news articles which actively discussed anti-Asian racism and sentiment amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A content analysis was conducted on purposively sampled news articles from various media sources on the search engine, Google, under the “News” section. In total, 20 news articles were examined for how media framed the rise of anti-Asian racism and sentiment during the pandemic. Findings revealed little information on the rise and racialization of the COVID-19 outbreak, but there was a larger tie to the incidents of anti-Asian racism and sentiment and its relationship to the COVID-19 pandemic, the history of racism endemic to North American history, and recent remarks made by President Donald Trump, racializing COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus.”
Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled)
Faculty Mentor: Diane Symbaluk
Department: Sociology 
The Osteological Paradox: Absence of Evidence is not Evidence of Absence
No full textDuring the summer 2019 field season, ten human skeletons were excavated from the ongoing project (PAH-178) at the Hospital Hill Royal Navy Cemetery that was operational between the years of 1793-1822 on the island of Antigua, near English Harbour. As a student of Dr. Treena Swanston, a professor of MacEwan University, and one of the researchers invested in the project, I was hired as a research assistant and excavating archaeologist to assist with analyzing the skeletal remains excavated from a burial site associated with the Royal Navy Hospital for evidence of pathological changes. In studying disease on skeletal remains, paleopathologists look for evidence of skeletal changes or lesions associated with pathological conditions. In order for skeletal changes to occur, an individual must live with a disease or illness for an extended period of time, meaning those who succumb quickly will typically not show any skeletal evidence of bony changes or pathologies. This is known as the osteological paradox. However, we did not find any evidence of pathological changes at site PAH-178 during the 2019 field season.
Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled)
Faculty Mentor: Treena Swanston
Department: Anthropology
 
The Effect of Prior Abuse on Behavioural Responses to Emotional Expression in the Domestic Horse (Equus caballus)
No full textSeveral domestic species have shown discriminatory abilities when judging the level of affect in human faces. In other words, they can distinguish between positive (happy) and negative (angry) human facial expressions. As a species that relies heavily upon humans for survival, such recognition abilities aid domestic species in their interactions with human handlers. What has yet to be explored is whether former experiences of neglect or abuse influences subsequent behaviours in response to varying degrees of human emotion, expressed through facial expressions. Previous research suggests that poor welfare conditions, such as former experiences of abuse and neglect, can affect subsequent judgments of future events. Such that abused horses may have a diminished expectation of positive events, which often leads to an enhanced awareness of threatening stimuli, thereby, eliciting avoidance behaviour. The present study aims to add to the current literature by examining differences in behavioural responses to positive (happy) and negative (angry) human facial expressions, between horses with and without former experiences of abuse and neglect. Eleven horses were assigned to one of two experimental groups; 5 horses with known, prior experiences of abuse, and the remaining 6 horses served as the control group, with no prior experiences of abuse. Horses were presented with counterbalanced photographs of positive and negative human facial expressions, and their behavioural responses were recorded. Our results indicated that horses with previous experiences of abuse were more likely to hold a pessimistic bias, involving a diminished anticipation of positive events (decreased optimism), and an increased occurrence of stress-related behaviours. Alongside the insights that these findings provide into inter-specific communication, they highlight the impact of welfare conditions on domestic horses well-being, cognition, and related behaviours.
Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled)
Faculty Mentor: Shannon Digweed
Department: Psycholog
Chondroitin Sulphate Acts as an \u27Alarm Cue\u27 in Zebrafish
No full textZebrafish are conspecific organisms that are sensitive to the use of ‘alarm cues’, a procedure in behavioural fish research used to create experimental stress responses. We used a commercially available chemical compound, chondroitin sulphate, extracted from shark cartilage, as the possible ‘alarm cue’. This chemical compound controls for standardization errors common with alarm cues extracted from individual fish. We conducted an open field test, followed by a novel object approach test, to assess the behavioural responses consequential of 30 minutes of chondroitin sulphate exposure at different concentrations (ie. 1, 10, and 100 mg/L). Secondly, we locally applied 250 μL of 100 mg/L of chondroitin sulphate to the centre of an open field arena, and again assessed behavioural responses. The time individual fish spent in the centre, transition, and thigmotaxis zones was examined, along with the distance each fish moved and the time spent immobile. There was a significant increase in the time fish spent in the thigmotaxis zone during the novel object approach test after chondroitin sulphate exposure. We also found that fish in the experimental group spent more time in the thigmotaxis zone following the injection of chondroitin sulphate, compared to fish in the control group. These findings suggest this compound can be used as a reliable alarm cue stimulus in zebrafish.
Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled)
Faculty Mentor: Trevor Hamilton
Department: Psychology
NOTE: This work is available to MacEwan users only at https://roam.macewan.ca/islandora/object/gm:204
The Effect of Sex and Education Level on Political Orientation
No full text The present paper examines the effects of gender and sex on political orientation. This topic is important because if a difference is found in gender and political orientation this could be an indication of one genders needs not being met by political parties or the current government. The data that was used for the present paper was from the 2015 Alberta Survey. A sample size of 1,200 households was used and they were chosen by a two stage selection process. Those over 18 of whom lived in a home that could be contacted via phone in Alberta were targeted for this survey. The findings were different from what was originally hypothesized. Gender was not found to play a role in political orientation. This finding differs from previous literature which had reported gender gaps. However education level was found to have an effect on voting behavior.