MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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The Systematic Pattern of Cultural Hegemony (In Alternative Beliefs)
No full textLooking at cultural hegemony with alternative beliefs (namely the Jehovah Witnesses) through theories of enculturation, structural function and the idea of acquired vs maintained culture. The two theorists that were used throughout this research project are Ruth Benedict and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown from the early 20th century. The material used for this research project involves only those individuals from one organized religious group. The conclusion drawn through this study are by no means to be a judgment on the Jehovah\u27s Witness organization or its members.
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Long
Department: Anthropolog
The effect of video game type on social affiliation
No full textBrief periods of interpersonal synchrony—moving together with others in the same way and at the same time, as in music-making and dance—have been shown to increase group bonding and prosociality (emotions and behaviours that benefit others, such as empathy and helping; Rennung & Göritz, 2016). However, no studies have examined the effect of longer-term participation in music and dance video games on social bonding and prosociality in adults using a true experimental design (i.e., one involving random assignment to group). In the proposed study, we will randomly assign participants to play one of four Nintendo Switch video games: two that involve interpersonal synchrony (Let\u27s Sing; Just Dance), and two that do not (Sports Party; Mario Kart). Participants will complete a battery of measures at weeks 1 and 4, and they will complete short questionnaires before and after group classes during weeks 1 and 4. We expect to find that individuals assigned to classes involving synchronous movement (Let\u27s Sing; Just Dance) will show faster social bonding and increased prosociality over the four weeks compared to those in the other classes (Sports Party; Mario Kart).
Faculty Mentor: Kathleen Corrigall
Department: Psycholog
Reduction of Plastic Waste through the Development of a 3D-Printed Water Filter
No full textAccompanying the accumulation of plastic waste is the growing demand for reusable and biodegradable alternatives. In addition, many commercial water filters consist of a plastic outer shell and replacement of these filters contribute to the progress of plastic pollution. Not only does plastic in the environment negatively and physically impact wildlife, additives of the plastic, including phthalates, can leach into waterways and end up in tap or drinking water. As contaminants in water pose a risk to wildlife and human health, more efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives must be considered. To combat these waste related issues, a 3D-printed water filter is proposed here. The structure of this filter is comprised of polylactic acid (PLA), which is a biodegradable polyester and is comparable in strength and toughness to petroleum-based plastics. A composite mixture of graphene oxide and nanocellulose is added to the inside of the PLA cartridge, supplying its filtration properties. These materials allow the refinement of commercial water filters into a device that is biodegradable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. The purpose of this study is to find an alternative method to commercially purify water and reduce the growth of plastic waste in the environment.
Faculty Mentor: Samuel Mugo
Department: Biological Scienc
Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Use of the Model Plant Arabidopsis thaliana in Molecular Biology Research
No full textArabidopsis thaliana is a model plant used to study molecular processes that control plant growth and development. It is popularly studied due to its easy maintenance, short generation time, fully sequenced genome and high offspring yield. However, plants can be sensitive to environmental changes and require proper handling. Therefore, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for maintaining Arabidopsis must be optimised for the location that they are being maintained. This project was conducted to develop custom SOPs for MacEwan University for future undergraduate molecular biology research with Arabidopsis thaliana. The SOPs define optimal plant growing conditions and provide step-by-step instruction for seed harvest and storage. In addition, techniques necessary for genetic engineering of Arabidopsis were also tested. SOPs regarding plasmid DNA cloning, purification, quantification and remodelling using Escherichia coli were created. Seeds were also harvested and sterilized throughout the course of the study, providing MacEwan University with a dedicated Arabidopsis seed bank. Researchers at MacEwan University interested in using Arabidopsis thaliana now have immediate access to viable seeds and the information necessary for ensuring plant health and proper plasmid DNA preparation.
Faculty Mentor: Melissa Hills
Department: Biological Scienc
Nature Of - The Mean Album Cover
No full textThis project was created for the band Nature Of for their upcoming album "The Mean." This project used illustrative elements showing the transition between day and night, or the mean of the day.
Faculty Mentor: Constanza Pacher
Department: Design Studie
Primordial Sulfur and the Origin of Life
No full textSulfur is one of the essential elements of life; therefore life as we know it would not be possible had sulfur not been present in the prebiotic broth on the ancient Earth. One of the prevailing theories for the origin of life posits that S2- was the primordial energy source for life. The S2- could have been formed either by low energy chemical processes in hot water on planets or by high energy photolytic processes in interstellar space. The goal of this project is to determine which of these two processes created the fundamental form of sulfur necessary for the creation of life. This project entails the separation, isolation, and determination of the isotope ratios for indigenous sulfur-bearing species in carbonaceous meteorites. The Physical Sciences department houses the MacEwan Meteorite collection, which includes several carbonaceous chondrites. To carry out this project we will use methods developed in our department by the CHEM 498 student Amanda Coyle to extract the sulfide from the previously mentioned carbonaceous chondrites. These extracts will then be analyzed to quantify the amount of sulfide in each stone. Then, through collaboration with Dr. Farquhar, a professor of Geology at the University of Maryland, we will determine the ratios for all of the sulfur isotopes in the stones using his state-of-the-art instrument. This project will make new contributions to the understanding of how prebiotic sulfur arose during the first billion years of the solar system’s existence and how it potentially led to life on Earth.
Faculty Mentor: Robert Hilts
Department: Chemistr
Designing a new, inexpensive, all-in-one microplastics extraction device
No full textMicroplastics are small plastic particles, 0.1 μm–5 mm in size, and are an ill understood pollutant in Earth’s environment. Their small size makes reliable extraction from water and sediment samples difficult, and requires a variety of techniques such as filtration, peroxide digestion, and density separation to make them accessible for identification. Extractions can introduce contaminants or leave behind microplastics as the sample is transferred from the original container to subsequent glassware and filtration devices. The goal of this project is to develop a device in which the majority of the necessary extraction steps could be performed in a single chamber which would limit the introduction of contaminants or loss of microplastics. This device will be easier to use and is made from local, inexpensive materials for ease of building. The device features a series of smooth, 2” plastic tubes attached to removable ball valves so that liquids may be retained or drained as needed. The smooth interior aids in cleaning, and the fact that various parts of the device are removable allows customization depending on required extraction techniques. The device will be compared with the current extraction methods by looking at how it performs in total contamination and in recovery of samples spiked with homemade microplastic fragments, fibres, and beads. If the device can show an increase in recovery or a decrease in total contamination then it will be used in future microplastic projects working with environmental samples.
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Ross
Department: Chemistry
 
The Historiographical Afterlives of Maximilien Robespierre
No full textBased on the Independent Study I am completing, my presentation will explore how interpretations of the French Revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre have varied across time and place. I attempt to tease out some of the connections between scholarly and popular interpretations and their respective historical and historiographical contexts. Should Robespierre be counted among the French Revolution’s greatest villains or tragic victims? His dramatic rise to power and controversial legacy have piqued interest both in academia (from Marxists, revisionists, etc.) and beyond. Influential film and literary portraits of Robespierre, such as those featured in Hilary Mantel’s epic novel A Place of Greater Safety and Andrzej Wajda’s movie Danton, have imaginatively attempted to fill the gaps where archival evidence is absent. Spanning his early campaign against the death penalty through his ruthless defence of political Terror, this presentation will not only chart the evolution of scholarly interpretations of Robespierre, but also shed light on how non-academic commentators have made sense of the divisive leader known as “the Incorruptible.”
Faculty Mentor: Kelly Summers
Department: Histor
Populist Attitudes in Spanish Academics
No full textThe rise in populism across European Union Member States has led to varying degrees of polarization regarding who fits into the populist box. Contention around the definition and practice of populism leaves the conversation void. Through the input of previous populist measuring surveys this paper developed a new survey to measure the degree of populist attitudes in Spain’s academic elites. This survey was sent out to over 10,000 Spanish professors and received over 1,500 responses. Through this data, this paper approaches populism through a new perspective. The connection to populism with the general, often lower class citizens is refuted through displaying the prominence of populist desires in some of Spain’s most highly educated and financially secure elite.
Faculty Mentor: Andrea Wagner
Department: Political Science (Honours
A Look at Legendre Polynomials via Non-Autonomous Evolution Differential Models
No full textAn introduction to Legendre polynomials will be presented. Next the Legendre equation will be viewed as a non-autonomous evolution differential model, and some of its properties and behavior will be presented. For discussions a particular case for the Legendre equation will be considered.
Faculty Mentor: Ion Bica and Sunil Barran
Department: Mathematics