MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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An Application of the Gibbs Sampling to the Battleship Game
No full textBattleship is a classic two player game where the goal is to sink the opponent’s ships. Programming a winning strategy for this game is difficult because the state space representing the possible coordinates for the opponent’s ships is huge. To solve this issue, we implemented an algorithm based on the Gibbs sampling to estimate the probability of each coordinate to contain a ship. Simulation results regarding the number of guesses to sink each ship and to complete a game are presented along with strategy insights.
Faculty Mentor: Cristina Anton
Department: Mathematics and Statistic
Language Barriers: The Construction and Deconstruction of Language in Indigenous Communities and Non-native English Speakers.
No full textIndigenous peoples have repeatedly mentioned that it is hard for them to make connections to this country because of the language barriers they face, and have been facing, since the colonization period. This is also due to the fact that Indigenous Peoples have to deconstruct the English language in order to be able to understand/process the input they are receiving. This is why it is hard for them to make meaningful connections to Canada; Language for Indigenous peoples is used as a base foundation that they build their society on and around. Communication is used to pass on important information from generation to generation and constructs their religion, culture, and beliefs. It would be of benefit to Indigenous peoples if research focused on how they construct and deconstruct the English language in order to make sense of what others are trying to communicate; what are their techniques or strategies, and how could we help them make this whole constructing/deconstructing process easier on them. This could theoretically be beneficial not only for Indigenous peoples, but for immigrants as well.
Faculty Mentor: Erin Cowling
Department: Interdisciplinary Dialogue Project
 
(De)colonizing two spirit identities
No full textOur digital story explores the concept of two-spirit among Indigenous peoples in North America. Following a review of different two spirit identities amongst a variety of First Nations, we highlight the violence against two-spirit peoples as a result of colonization and contemporary movements to reclaim two-spirit identities within the broader contexts of healing and decolonization.
Faculty Mentor: Leslie Dawson
Department: Anthropolog
Challenges and Support for LGBTQ+ At-Risk Youth
No full textThe number of people who identify as LGBTQ+ has been increasing, especially amongst young people. The LGBTQ+ community faces many challenges. This paper examines responses to at-risk youth who identify as LGBTQ+ in Edmonton, Canada and L’viv, Ukraine from a family structure level, social support structure level, and governmental programs or policies. It also explores how different reactions - such as feminism or patriarchy – have specific implications for these youth. Finally, it looks at how support, activism, advocacy and acceptance, or fear and anger, can create a change within society
Expression of Spaetzle Homologs 2-6 in Drosophila Larvae Hemocytes
No full textIn Drosophila, the gene spaetzle (Spz) encodes a protein involved in the production of an immune cell called a hemocyte. Specifically, this protein triggers a signal transduction cascade (a series of intracellular chain reactions) in order to produce the immune cell. However, there are 5 other Spz homologs (genes that are similar to one another), and little is known about their role in hemocyte production. My goal was to specifically examine the expression of each Spz homolog in hemocyte cells. Using RNA extracted from hemocytes of Drosophila larvae, a RT-PCR (a method of amplifying RNA via a DNA intermediate) was conducted using primers specific to each homolog, and the PCR products were then run out through gel electrophoresis. The bands produced on the gel were then compared to the expected cDNA sizes of each Spz homolog from flybase to determine if there was expression of the homologs in hemocytes. The Spz homologs 2, and 3 consistently showed expression in Drosophila larvae hemocytes, while the homologs Spz 4, Spz 5 and Spz 6 also showed expression. However, the expression seen with these three homologs was not as consistent compared to the others. Therefore, the homologs Spz 2 and Spz 3 are clearly expressed in Drosophila larvae hemocyte cells.
Faculty Mentor: Agata Becalska
Department: Biological Scienc
Eco-Anxiety and Psychological Experience
No full textIn past research, nature connectedness has been associated with higher levels of psychological health (Howell, Dopko, Passmore, & Buro, 2011), and meaning in life (Howell, Passmore, & Buro, 2013). Eco-anxiety, or the experience of anxiety in relation to global climate change, has not been studied previously in relation to nature connectedness, meaning in life, or psychological well-being. Moreover, no prior research has examined implicit theories of environmentally responsible behaviour (ERB); that is, fixed and growth mindsets regarding one’s ability to engage in ERB. In an ongoing study with undergraduate participants, we hypothesized that nature connectedness and fixed mindsets regarding ERB would predict eco-anxiety which, in turn, would predict low meaning in life and low well-being. Results showed a strong positive correlation between eco-anxiety and total nature connectedness. When correlated with the nature connectedness subscales, eco-anxiety was significantly associated with the self and perspective subscales, but not the experience subscale. In addition, eco-anxiety did not significantly correlate with the remaining variables. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Faculty Mentor: Andrew Howell
Department: Psycholog
Spatial Memory in the North American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
No full textFor animals, it is important to use spatial information in their environment in order to survive and reproduce. Spatial memory is important for animals that rely on caching and recovering food during times of scarcity. We explored two questions. First, whether squirrels are capable of spatial memory through the use of an associative-learning task. Here we spent time training individuals to approach and find the reward in a spatial array. Second, whether squirrels can recall a specific location with which they associated food recovery. If the duration and precision of memory are the mechanism underlying cache recovery, squirrels should learn to associate recovery of food with a specific location. We predict that squirrels will (a) learn the task, by approaching and recovering from a precise location, and (b) show evidence of long-term memory for the precise location after intervals of one, two, four, and six days.
Faculty Mentor: Shannon Digweed
Department: Psychology (Honours)
 
The Consequences One Can Face Upon Leaving The Religion of Islam In the West
No full textReligion is defined as the belief in a superhuman controlling power. For many, religion assists in providing an outlet to express personal connections with the natural world and deep and spiritual connections to oneself. In some religions, sects, and individuals; however, religion goes beyond the personal spiritual journey and begins to influence one’s diet, hobbies, wardrobe, and approach to the family unit. Because of these significant influences, leaving a religion may cause families to be break apart, and as a result, deeply adverse psychological effects can be observed. This manifestation of trauma as a result of leaving is very prevalent in the religion of Islam. Many Muslims, or rather ex-Muslims that suffer from a crisis in faith fear for the consequences that may arise from leaving the religion. These potential consequences may include involuntary emancipation from the nuclear and extended family, divorce, and in certain extreme circumstances, even death. One would think that these punishments would not really exist in the West yet, there are clear with the last twenty years of individuals being abused and murdered simply because of a lapse in their personal connection with Islam.
Faculty Mentor: Leo Wong
Department: Busines
Hit Me with Your Best Shot: Sexuality, Threat, and Instigation in Intimate Partner Violence Culpability
No full textIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a considered one of the most pervasive forms of gender-based violence. In Canada, approximately 4% of Canadians report severe forms of IPV, such as being physically, sexually, or emotionally victimized by their partner. That said, these rates are a drastic underrepresentation of the true rate of IPV that is not reported to the police, including violence within same-sex relationships. Statistical data indicates that those in gay, lesbian, or bisexual relationships are more likely to be victims of violent crimes such as IPV relative to those in heterosexual relationships. Further, public surveys indicate that members of same-sex couples often refrain from reporting IPV due to threats related to their sexual identities. Research also has demonstrated that our perceptions of violence are moderated by extralegal factors, such as sexual orientation. Specifically, violence against women is viewed as more severe and taken more seriously by the criminal justice system than violence against men, across both same-sex and opposite-sex relationships. As such, the seriousness and criminal justice response to IPV incidents may be minimized or misinterpreted based on views about sexuality and gender identity, as well as levels of homophobia. Given that pre-existing biases and beliefs can lead to judicial bias concerning judgments of severity, culpability, and blame, this study was designed to examine how views concerning sexual orientation, use of threats, and instigator gender influence judgments of IPV.
Faculty Mentor: Kristine Peace
Department: Psycholog
‘Wondering How the Feminists Will Twist This to Play Victim Yet Again’:: A content analysis of a Men’s Rights Activist Group
No full textThis study examined themes in a Men Right’s Activists (MRA’s) group page on Facebook. A content analysis of 73 comments revealed key themes of men-centered issues and responses to women/feminist issues. In particular, most comments focused on critiquing feminist discourse and revealed a hostile and threatening overall stance towards feminism and women’s issues.
Faculty Mentor: Diane Symbaluk
Department: Sociology