MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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The Social Network of Canadian Foreign Policy Community: The Search for "Invisible Colleges"
No full textMy paper examines the citation network of Canadian Foreign policy scholars. Despite decades of Canadian foreign policy\u27s (CFP) rich contribution to the field of International relations (IR), little is known about the intellectual tradition of the scholarship.The purpose of my thesis is to understand the structure of the discipline using the methodology of co-citation analysis and social network analysis. This network map also allows us to identify clusters of specialization.
Faculty Mentor: Jean-Christophe Boucher
Department: Political Science (Honours)
 
Silicone Wristbands as Personal Passive Samplers for Exposure to Organophosphate Flame Retardants: The Effect of Electronic Use on Exposure
No full textOrganophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are used as additives in a variety of industrial and commercial products, such as furniture and electronics, to meet fire resistance standards. However, OPFRs have been associated with health effects, including neurotoxicity, hormonal changes, and cancer; therefore, insight into levels of exposure are necessary for health and risk assessments. An individual’s exposure to OPFRs can be measured using silicone wristbands as passive samplers, which make use of the tendency for a chemical to equilibrate between the solid phase (the sampler) and air to measure personal exposure to contaminants over time. Because OPFRs are frequently used in electronics, this study aimed to examine correlations between electronic use and personal exposure to OPFRs. Silicone wristbands were cleaned to remove surface contaminants, and then deployed to participants to wear for one week. Following deployment, the adhered compounds were extracted and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. While deployed, participants filled out a questionnaire indicating their weekly electronic use, which was used to draw correlations between electronics and exposure to OPFRs. This project will be one of the first in Canada to use silicone wristbands as personal samplers to address exposure to OPFRs in relation to electronic use, and thus will prove useful in risk assessment due to the increasing use of electronics in society.
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Ross
Department: Chemistr
Delegitimization of Anticorruption Agencies
No full textMy thesis deals with the delegitimization efforts of political actors against successful anticorruption agencies (ACAs). The Romanian National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) will be used as a case study. I ask what kinds of legitimization/delegitimization efforts are made by political actors when an ACA is successful.
Faculty Mentor: Andrea Wagner
Department: Political Science (Honours)
 
A Crime of Fashion: Social Mobility and the Second Hand Clothing Trade in Early Modern England
No full textWith the rise of the Consumer Revolution during the 18th century, England saw an influx of material goods that were not only affordable, but highly disposable. Due to this new found disposability, finer materials made their way throughout all levels of society and eventually found new importance as a form of currency amongst the lower sorts who previously did not have access to these kinds of goods. With this new access came the theoretical possibility of social mobility through the displaying of accumulated fine goods, much to the concern of the elite classes. Despite this, the reality of social mobility was a slim one, and was only realistically attainable to single men who already possessed some degree of wealth.
Faculty Mentor: Rob Falconer
Department: Histor
Locating Buried Ruins in the British Isles
No full textDuring the summer of 2018, the British Isles experienced one of the hottest summers on record resulting in the appearance of crop markings which may indicate the presence of buried ruins. This study investigates the capabilities of satellite imagery and LiDAR-based digital terrain models for detecting new locations of ancient subsurface ruins without relying on extreme weather events. Several sites will be compared to determine if there are consistent, reliable criteria that indicate the presence of subsurface ruins.
Faculty Mentor: Nancy McKeown
Department: Earth and Planetary Science
Preservation of Oral Tradition- Why Monkey Beach Isn\u27t a Gothic Novel
No full textEden Robinson uses a variety of Haisla stories in her novel Monkey Beach. Some critics have viewed her novel as a gothic story, however, the novel is filled with cultural dimension that outshines any gothic elements. These elements and stories, not only preserve Haisla culture; but make it available to a variety of readers.
Faculty Mentor: Jack Robinson
Department: Interdisciplinary Dialogue Projec
Characterization of Meis1b in a Zebrafish Model
No full textMeis gene products are regarded as integral cofactors of Hox developmental genes. Defects in Meis genes often mirror those of their associated Hox genes, reflecting the requisite nature of their interaction. Despite the importance of proper Meis expression, little is understood regarding the nature of various Meis homologs, including Meis1b. Research into the general Meis1 gene has implicated its role in craniofacial structure, hindbrain segmentation, heart and vascular formation, and limb development. Meis homologs frequently function in a redundant fashion, sharing many expression domains and functions. Despite this, Meis homologs have been conserved evolutionarily and thus often reflect some manner of unique functionality. In this study, we will aim to continue the research into Meis1 by determining if Meis1b performs similar functions. To do this, we will present a characterization of Meis1b in a zebrafish model which establishes its role specifically in vascularization and fin formation.
Faculty Mentor: Lisa Prichard
Department: Biological Science (Honours
How Youth Are Defined: Criminal Justice System vs. Social Services Institutions
No full textThis project examines alternative measures to charging at-risk youth and the importance of transitional programs due to the ineffectiveness of punitive approaches. Punitive approaches are known for worsening issues with delinquent youth, such as recidivism. Youth are optimal to examine when tackling socioeconomic issues such as these because they are young enough that intervention can be done to set them on the right path. This intervention can prevent harms that would otherwise define them for the rest of their lives. There are shortcomings in the way society handles delinquent youth, and many are trapped in their criminal label. Because of this, they often continue to offend and ‘rebel’ against the system. Alternative measures to charging youth and transitional programs could make the difference in the way delinquent youth choose to move forward as adult members of society, potentially preventing criminal career formation
Is Trauma a Social Phenomenon That Leads to Gang Involvement?
No full textThis paper examines the effects of trauma on youth gang involvement. It focuses on the repercussions that trauma can have on youth, which may result in them looking for like-minded adolescents who are in gangs. The need for support can stem from the reoccurring trauma that the individuals face at an early age and the gang can appear as a safe haven from their lives. This paper argues that the experiences of direct and indirect trauma can put these adolescents on a different life path compared to their peers. Youth need to be actively supported in their families and in the education system in order to succeed. The way society reacts and responds to adolescents who are experiencing trauma will set the tone on how they develop in the future. These youth should be seen as a societal responsibility, and when they are left behind or fall through the cracks of certain social institutions, it should be seen as a failure by the social system and not the individual being seen as a failure. Because of these failures, trauma is a social phenomenon that can lead to youth gang involvement
Unknown Cost: The Psychological Implications of Animal Rescue
No full textFor the hundreds of thousands of animals abandoned throughout Canada each year (Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, 2017), animal rescue workers are literal life-savers. Rescuers dedicate considerable time and energy to ensure that animals are safe, healthy, and sheltered, often with minimal funding. While the positive implications of animal rescue work are often discussed, the personal costs are under-researched. Our study aims to investigate the relationship between animal rescue work and individual mental health. Workers and volunteers from animal rescue organizations throughout Western Canada will be invited to complete a self-report survey detailing their relevant roles, time spent with animals, approaches to coping and self-care, and perceived social support. The survey will also include various psychological measures of depression, anxiety, trauma, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction. We predict: (1) some rescue-related tasks will have a stronger relationship with psychopathology than others, e.g. individuals who physically retrieve animals from unfavorable circumstances will experience more symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and depression compared to those who are responsible for animal enrichment and training, (2) that individuals with lower levels of perceived support will score more highly on psychopathology measures, and (3) those who spend more time engaged in rescue work will have higher levels of both compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue.
Faculty Mentor: Eric Legge
Department: Psychology (Honours