USURJ: University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Research Journal
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fire
Full text linkfire is about unexpected aesthetic repetition in the urban environment. It explores the recognition of manufactured products through repeated patterns, colours, or designs. This is evident in the distinct bold red of the fire extinguishers and accompanying status tags
Home, In Parting
Full text linkAs a third-year undergraduate student studying Interactive Systems Design, Kate’s art explores a variety of mediums, in which a focus on the creative aspect of perspective is carried throughout her work. With Kate’s complementary interests in art and technology, she primarily experiments with graphic design, digital illustration, photography, and a combination of these mediums in her projects.
“Home, In Parting” is a poem created as part of the USask English 120 Introduction to Creative Writing course. The poem comprises three linked tankas, each following a syllabic pattern of 5-7-5-7-7
"Struggle, Endure, Contend," "Siblings," "Darlene," and "Untitled"
No full textThe intention of my work is to examine the question of “Who Am I?” This question was posed as a prompt by my high school art teacher, and I have been working on a breadth of work under this theme since. This artistic project seeks to analyze my identity as a student, a sister, and a daughter, and it heavily focuses on my cultural background as a biracial person who doesn\u27t live in either of my parents\u27 home countries. As I continue to return to this question, my art becomes a growing, ever-changing body of work, which reflects the very foundation of self-exploration and beginning to understand oneself
Bone Health in Newcomer Children Compared to Canadian-Born Children
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College of Kinesiology Research Theme: Child and Youth Health and Development
Introduction: Bone health is crucial during childhood, as this period is essential for achieving optimal peak bone mass, which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures later in life. While research exists on the determinants of bone health, suggesting newcomer children may be at risk of impaired skeletal development, little is known of the bone health of newcomer children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if there were differences in bone health between newcomer and Canadian-born children.
Methods: Our cross-sectional study recruited forty-five children (12 newcomers, 33 Canadian-born) from 5 to 11 years of age. Bone health was assessed using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) to measure total bone area (Tt.Ar), cortical area (Ct.Ar), trabecular area (Tb.Ar), total volumetric bone mineral density (Tt.vBMD), cortical density (Ct.vBMD), cortical thickness (Ct.Th), trabecular density (Tb.vBMD), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular bone volume fraction (Tb.BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) at the distal radius and tibia. Anthropometric measures were recorded, and physical activity (PA) was evaluated using the Childhood Physical Activity Questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to assess differences in HR-pQCT bone outcomes between groups while controlling for age, sex, height, weight, and PA. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Newcomer children had significantly greater Ct.Ar (p = 0.02), Ct.vBMD (p = 0.02), and Ct.Th (p = 0.01) at the distal tibia compared to their Canadian-born peers. No significant differences were observed at the radius between groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Contrary to previous literature, this pilot study did not find that newcomer children had impaired bone health. Instead, newcomer children demonstrated greater values for cortical bone at the distal tibia. This may be explained by our potentially healthier newcomer sample, which reported higher vitamin D intake, more educated parents, and possibly favourable premigration factors. Future research should explore the impact of refugee status, acculturation, healthcare access, PA, and diet with a larger and more ethnically diverse sample to better understand bone development of newcomer children.
 
Effects of Short-Term Ashwagandha Supplementation on Recovery Following Intense Exercise
Full text linkCollege of Kinesiology Research Theme: Human Performance.
Ashwagandha, an herbal supplement commonly used for stress reduction and general well-being, has gained attention in sports science for its potential role in muscle recovery. This study examined the short-term effects of ashwagandha supplementation on muscle recovery by assessing muscle strength, soreness, and swelling over a 72-hour period following resistance exercise. Ten healthy adults (ages 18–35 years) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Participants were assigned to either a 600 mg/day ashwagandha supplementation group or a placebo group, receiving a vitamin B pill, for seven days before completing an acute resistance exercise protocol targeting the biceps. Muscle recovery was assessed using ultrasound (muscle thickness), a Biodex machine (torque), and subjective soreness ratings (Visual Analog Scale). Follow-up assessments occurred at 24-, 48-, and 72-hours post-exercise. Results of a 2 (group) × 5 (time) repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant group × time interaction for muscle thickness (p = 0.013). Post-hoc analysis indicated that muscle thickness in the ashwagandha group returned to baseline within 24 hours, whereas the placebo group exhibited persistent swelling at 24-, 48-, and 72-hours post-exercise (p < 0.05). No significant interaction was found for torque recovery, though a time main effect (p < 0.01) indicated that strength declined post-exercise and recovered by 48 hours in both groups. Similarly, muscle soreness followed a typical time-dependent recovery pattern, peaking at 24 hours and declining at 48 and 72 hours (p < 0.05), with no significant difference between groups. These findings suggest that short-term ashwagandha supplementation may accelerate muscle swelling reduction but does not significantly impact strength recovery or muscle soreness compared to placebo. Due to the small sample size, further research is necessary to confirm these results and establish a definitive relationship between ashwagandha and muscle recovery.
 
Théodore Vacquer (1824-1899), pionnier de l’archéologie urbaine et figure du Vieux Paris
No full textInternational audienc
Rescaling method for blow-up solutions of nonlinear wave equations
No full text20 pages, 5 figures, 2 tablesInternational audienceWe develop a hybrid scheme based on a finite difference scheme and a rescaling technique to approximate the solution of nonlinear wave equation. In order to numerically reproduce the blow-up phenomena, we propose a rule of scaling transformation, which is a variant of what was successfully used in the case of nonlinear parabolic equations. A careful study of the convergence of the proposed scheme is carried out and several numerical examples are performed in illustration
"My Rendition of Arthur Lismer\u27s Isle of Spruce," "Jackpine," "Goldfinch," "Cardinal," "Blue Jay"
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I am a senior student at the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Psychology. I continue to take history classes and have a love of education. I have always enjoyed painting and have been involved in art since high school. I have submitted my art to various Facebook pages, including the USask Community Art Group as well as SWAA (Saskatchewan Wildlife Artists Association), and have participated in their shows in Prairieland Park, Reflections in Nature and the Fall Saskatoon Exhibition. I have also been involved in VASU Silence Gallery Shows and the 292 Exhibitions of the student-run gallery on campus. I also greatly enjoy participating with the students in in medias res magazine. I have quite a few paintings on display at a local clinical practice. I also contribute to worthwhile charities throughout the city and have paintings displayed in many local businesses and institutions. I have a painting on display at the university\u27s observatory, the Ukrainian Studies Department, and Student Wellness. For me, my art is my contribution to the well-being of others. I have a philanthropy project, which has been a personal journey involving painting for worthwhile charities. I feel that my cheery, bright acrylic paintings provide happiness and goodwill to others. As a child, I was raised by parents who cultivated a sense of hospitality, which has led me down this pathway
"Untitled" (wand), "Untitled" (witch), and "An Unclear Portrait"
No full textUntitled (wand): A wand consisting of a bunch of textured areas, holding a large crystal eye. From top to bottom: wood, rope, moss, cracking sand, fur, magma, and stone.
Untitled (witch): A Halloween portrait of a self-persona as a witch.
An Unclear Portrait: A figure holds a frame with the inside of the frame blurred, while the outside has a cell-shading style to give contrast. It’s unclear who they are because they don’t know themselves. The work speaks to the uncertainty of one’s own identity and the feeling of being stuck in a box of uncertainty. 
Difference in the Arterial Stiffness Measures between Métis Adults with High or Low Connection to Land
Full text linkCollege of Kinesiology Research Theme: Indigenous Wellness
Introduction: Qualitative research identified land connection as a significant determinant of Métis health. Arterial stiffness, a measure of vascular health, may help evaluate the significance of land connection on cardiovascular health. This study aimed to explore how arterial stiffness measures differed between Métis adults with high or low land connection.
Methods: In partnership with Saskatoon Métis Local 126, Métis adults completed an in-person, paper questionnaire about land connection. Four questions measured participants\u27 land connection: 1) time spent on the land; 2) rural land accessibility; 3) feelings of holistic wellness from land connection; and 4) ability to connect with the land anytime. Central and peripheral pulse wave velocities (PWV) were used to measure arterial stiffness and were compared between individuals with high and low land connections.
Results: The 56 participants (35 females, 21 males) had a mean age of 34 ± 13 years. For each question, the central, upper and lower peripheral PWV were similar between those with high and low land connections. For overall scores, central PWV was similar between high and low land connection groups (n = 42 vs. 11; 8.57 ± 3.83 m·s-1 vs. 8.86 ± 4.57 m·s-1; p = 0.42). Upper peripheral PWV was similar between high and low land connection groups (n = 41 vs. 11; 20.44 ± 10.39 m·s-1 vs. 25.50 ± 18.13 m·s-1; p = 0.20). Lower peripheral PWV was similar between high and low land connection groups (n = 39 vs. 11; 9.98 ± 2.35 m·s-1 vs. 10.24 ± 1.52 m·s-1; p = 0.37).
Conclusion: This study found no significant association between land connection and arterial stiffness among Métis adults. Future research with larger sample sizes and appropriate control for physical activity variables is needed