SFU Undergraduate Research Symposium Journal

Tailoring Immunogens To Steer The Elicitation Of VRC01-Class Neutralizing Antibodies, A Broadly Cross-Reactive Class Of Neutralizing Antibodies To Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1)

2024-02-29T15:23:09-08:00

HIV-1 remains a major global health issue, making the development of an effective vaccine pivotal. Our research focuses on VRC01-class broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) to the conserved CD4-binding site on gp120, a subunit of the HIV-1 spike protein. A promising strategy for eliciting VRC01-class bnAbs involves germline-targeting immunogens designed to activate naïve B cells capable of evolving into VRC01-class-producing cells. A promising germline-targeting immunogen, eOD-GT8, triggers VRC01-class naïve B cells in experimental animals and a phase I clinical trial. However, the antibodies elicited do not neutralize HIV. Efforts are underway to design booster immunogens that help mature the triggered B cells toward producing VRC01-class antibodies. A challenge in this strategy is overcoming a common glycan at position 276 on the periphery of the CD4bs that hinders the binding of early VRC01-class antibodies produced by naïve B cells. eOD-GT8 is, therefore, designed without this glycan. Booster immunogens with the glycan incorporated have not readily yielded affinity-matured antibodies with the capacity to neutralize authentic HIV strains. The Pantophlet Lab is probing whether modifications to eOD-GT8 yield antibodies better poised to evolve into the desired VRC01-class bnAbs. Using human-antibody transgenic mice, we found that animals primed and boosted with two modified immunogens generate antibodies modestly neutralizing HIV-1 strains with the 276-glycan. My research is focused on an in-depth analysis of the antibodies elicited and their sequences to understand these findings and inform further immunization strategies.

Investigating Lenient Policy in Aotearoa-New Zealand: ‘Biculturalism’ in the Parliamentary Record.

2024-03-01T10:55:41-08:00

While aware of the horrors of British colonialism, many twenty-first century Māori first and foremost identify as New Zealanders, rather than as solely Indigenous. A bicultural state implies the acceptance of two distinct cultures; however, scholars of the Southeast Pacific fail to explain the trend. The beginning of this phenomenon lies behind the discussion between Māori parliamentarian, Sir Apirana Ngata, and Prime Minister Gordon Coates, which illuminated a certain lackluster acquiescence of colonial power. While in debate on the nature of an inquiry into the confiscation of native lands, Ngata pleaded that the Indigenous Māori had a special relationship to their land, not only in wealth but in cultural identity. Coates agreed, initiating a significant relationship which continued a movement of colonial condescension while kickstarting cultural acceptance of Māori at a systemic level. Under half-a-century earlier, the island nation had been subsumed by a violent revolt against land dispossession, raising the activist-leverage of Ngata’s plea. Utilizing portions of my knowledge of the Māori language I will investigate the trend towards the recognition and promotion of Māori culture from the embers of violent conflict. Using Aotearoa’s Parliamentary archives, I will review legal documents to pinpoint the meaning of colonial oppression, biculturalism, and the importance of language in a nation set aside from the world stage in colonial trends and geography.

Do Bullying Prevention Programs Reduce Depression and Anxiety Experienced by Students?

2024-02-29T15:30:58-08:00

Bullying prevention interventions have been devised to reduce peer victimization and its negative effects on victims. Many primary research studies have examined the effectiveness of these programs, including some which investigated whether programs enhanced the self-esteem and overall mental well-being of students who participate in the programs, including those who have and have not been victimized. Several systematic reviews (analyses of secondary data) have assessed the overall effectiveness of these interventions. However, to our knowledge, no systematic reviews analyzed the effect of anti-bullying programs on depression and anxiety among program participants. The proposed study is the first systematic review to develop a comprehensive portrayal of the effect of bullying prevention programs on mental health, particularly depression and anxiety.

Our research will be a meta-analysis of the effects of bullying prevention programs on the depression and anxiety of participants. Studies will be selected by conducting literature searches on electronic databases such as ERIC, PsyhInfo, PsycARTICLES, Pubmed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Only randomized clinical trials and pretest and posttest studies measuring the effect of these programs on the participants will be included. A single effect size type, likely standardized mean difference, will be chosen and any different effect size types used in the studies will be converted to that type. All primary studies which meet the selection criteria will be coded for effect size and several other characteristics (e.g., age of participants) for potential use as moderating variables. The results will return a weighted-mean effect size for all relevant studies.

Targeting SARS-CoV-2’s Conserved Regions with Antibodies: A Strategy for Broadly Effective Vaccines and Pandemic Preparedness

2024-03-01T12:48:14-08:00

The global challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgent need for broadly effective vaccine strategies, highlighting viruses like SARS-CoV-2 as formidable threats to society. One promising approach to overcoming this biological peril is the development of antibodies that target a conserved region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, a structure which mediates virus entry into host cells. Our research focuses on the spike protein’s stem-helix region, a conserved or non-mutating area at the base of the S2 subunit that anchors the spike and is crucial for viral entry. To achieve this, we take samples from vaccinated or infected individuals and employ various techniques to isolate antibody producing cells, determined to manufacture antibodies specific to the stem-helix region. The antibody-encoding gene fragments, within these cells, will be used as blueprints to further characterize and produce these unique antibodies, providing insight into their neutralizing capability and utility for vaccine development. Unlike regions of the virus’ spike prone to rapid mutation, targeting this conserved region could enhance vaccine durability and efficacy against various strains, offering a sustainable solution to current and future pandemics. This strategy not only aims to provide broad protection against different variants of SARS-CoV-2 but also serves as a valuable tool in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and in preparing for future pandemics caused by related viruses.

Synthesis and Applications of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Based Ionomers in the Catalyst Layer of CO2 Electrolysers

2024-02-27T16:06:38-08:00

With the rise in global warming, carbon dioxide conversion into valuable chemicals and fuels becomes a higher priority. CO₂ electrolysers are able to produce carbon monoxide, which can in turn be used in the synthesis of various hydrocarbons or alcohols. A key component of zero-gap CO₂ electrolysers is the triple phase boundary (TPB) formed at the catalyst layer. This is where the gaseous phase (CO₂), ion conducting phase (electrolyte), and the electron conducting phase (Ag/C catalyst) come into contact, allowing the reduction of CO₂ into CO, known as the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO2RR). The problem is, a competing reaction at the Ag/C electrocatalyst is the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), producing H₂. As it is more thermodynamically favourable at the overpotential used for the CO2RR, this side reaction reduces the overall Faradaic efficiency (FE) of the cell. It is noteworthy that, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) can form stable covalent bonds with various metals and would be suitable ligands in electrolysers. Through affecting the TPB by binding the NHCs to the Ag/C catalyst, a favourable environment for key intermediates in the CO2RR can be achieved. Corollary, novel NHC-ionomers synthesized will be incorporated into the catalyst layer as binders in order to increase the Faradaic efficiency of CO₂ electrolysers.

Assessing Marine Turtle Bone as a Viable Material for Radiocarbon Dating: Insights from Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry and Stable Isotope Analysis

2024-02-26T11:05:16-08:00

Marine turtles have significant cultural relevance in the Caribbean archaeological record, especially evident at sites like Sabazan on the Grenadine Island of Carriacou. Despite abundance allowing for expediency with regard to dating material within the archaeological record, marine turtle bone is rarely selected for radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating due to a phenomenon known as the marine reservoir effect (MRE) and the impact that it has on carbon-based materials. The marine carbon reservoir not only sees high degrees of spatiotemporal variability but is also subject to slower rates of ¹⁴C activity compared to that of the atmospheric carbon reservoir. This results in deleterious discrepancies between the apparent ¹⁴C ages of contemporaneous materials of marine and terrestrial origin, the former yielding relatively older dates than the latter, thus giving rise to the MRE. This research aims to quantify the MRE through the determination of a local deltaR (∆R) correction factor, establishing marine turtle bone as a suitable material for ¹⁴C dating. Zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS) has identified six specimens to species, comprising four hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and two green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Challenges lie in accounting for the respective ecology of each species and the unique influence that ecology can have on ¹⁴C assay. The application of stable isotope analysis (SIA) unveils intricate ecological relationships, further informing the reliability of previously established cultural chronologies in addition to improving the temporal resolution of prehistoric marine turtle population dynamics, having direct applications to modern marine turtle conservation.

Faculty Supervisor: Christina Giovas, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University

Do European Starlings “Exercise” in Anticipation of Fledging?

2024-02-26T11:45:39-08:00

Humans benefit from physical exercise (e.g. increasing aerobic capacity) in anticipation of increased physical effort or workload (e.g. running a marathon). Given that free-living animals face similar rapid transitions in workload, do they also exercise? Here we predicted that nestling European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) would utilize activity in the nest (as a form of “voluntary exercise”?) in anticipation of the increase in workload (i.e. onset of active flight) associated with the rapid transition from sedentary nestling to volant, active fledgling. We recorded nestling behaviour for 5 days prior to fledging (days 16-20) including a)” active behaviours”, e.g. wing flapping and stretching, walking and jumping, and b) “passive behaviours” e.g. sitting, standing, and perching. Additionally, we measured somatic developmental traits (mass, wing, tarsus) and obtained blood samples from the nestlings one day before their predicted fledge date to assess physiological development. We predicted that a) active behaviours would increase in frequency and duration approaching fledging, b) that if this reflected “voluntary activity” it would be independent of brood size (cf. simple social crowding effects which should correlate with brood size), and c) that, if activity functions as “exercise” then increased nestling activity will positively correlate with somatic and physiological developmental traits at fledging.

Evaluating Nano Materials for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy: Exploring Potential Enhancements

2024-02-29T15:41:51-08:00

Emerging contaminants such as caffeine, artificial sugars, rodenticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been detected at low concentrations in the environment. The contaminants mentioned above may potentially negatively affect humans and ecological systems. It is crucial to be able to identify and analyze the extent of contamination as it can help us understand their potential threats and their respective mitigation methods. However, detection of low-concentration contaminants is a major challenge due to their weak signals as they blend into matrix and background noise of detection instruments.

Raman spectroscopy is a technique used to analyze the molecular composition and structure of substances by measuring their Raman signals. Raman signals are the light signals emitted when molecules scatter light, they can provide structural information to help identify molecules present in a sample. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a technique that can amplify Raman signals by placing the molecules of interest on specially designed surfaces, making it easier to detect and analyze trace contaminants in our environment. The surfaces are usually materials that exhibit surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and a localized SPR (LSPR). SERS has the potential to help overcome the challenges of weak signals.

This project investigates and compares the SERS enhancement of “sandwich” structures (and similar structures) assembled using gold, gold nanoparticles, and graphene oxide. The greatest enhancement was seen in samples with the “sandwich” morphology. The results from this project also demonstrated the importance and challenges in achieving a uniform sample preparation and the purposeful creation of SERS “hotspots”.

Ancient DNA Identification of Salmon Remains

2024-02-27T12:54:05-08:00

Identifying the species of animals represented by zooarchaeological remains is essential in studying past human and animal interactions. Salmon bones are tiny and often fragmented in archaeological contexts, causing difficulty in determining identification to the species level using only the morphological approach. Salmon harvesting practices can be illuminated through the identification of salmon species using ancient DNA (aDNA). This pilot study analyzed aDNA from eight vertebral salmon bone samples that were excavated, in north-central British Columbia, from conditions promoting excellent DNA preservation. These samples were prepared through various laboratory processes in order to clean and extract ancient DNA, which involved procedures that were conducted according to protocols to minimize as much contamination as possible. Sequence results were aligned and two phylogenetic trees were constructed using cytochrome b and D-loop (control region) sequences. Both phylogenetic trees showed consistent results. Current phylogenetic analysis reveals that of the eight samples, seven clustered with sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and one clustered with chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytcha), demonstrating that ancient DNA analysis can serve as a powerful tool in providing an important line of evidence that helps to identify ancient fish remains and to reconstruct past fishery strategy. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences (cytochrome b and D-loop control region) were successfully recovered from all ancient remains, indicating a promising preservation condition for further studies.

Investigation of the role of ‘mobilities of care’ in city transportation planning and practice.

2024-02-27T16:19:56-08:00

Is city transportation design a two-way street? City designs shape how residents interact with the built environment. In the transportation space, designs translate into decisions such as catching buses to reach classes, using rideshare services to commute to work, or cycling to social gatherings. Built environments less supportive of active travel may result in parents driving their children to events, and school buses predominantly serving the neighborhood's school-going children. Therefore, built environments undoubtedly impact the daily routines of city residents. However, how do the needs of city residents influence city planning? The term "mobilities of care" recently coined by Ines Sanchez de Madariaga encompasses the daily travel associated with caregiving. This includes non-paid care provided to other individuals, such as picking up and dropping off children to/from school or helping a friend with grocery. Mobilities of care are care-related, and integral to our daily lives, as care is a fundamental component of human existence. Yet, a question remains: are care-related trips a consideration in cities’ transportation plans? And are caregiver needs sufficiently considered?

This project aims to undertake a policy scan of how cities across Canada address the mobilities of care in their policy and planning activities. In addition to answering this question via a policy scan, it is imperative to explore what mobilities of care entail, identify who is affected by mobilities of care, and discuss how cities can be investigated regarding where and how cities may address mobilities of care in their policy and practice.

CLEWs modelling workflow development to support coherent policy development

2024-02-29T15:18:49-08:00

CLEWs models provide a framework for evaluating the trade-offs between environment, energy infrastructure, water usage, land usage and resource cooperation of a nation or a group of nations.. CLEWs modelling also provides a path for governments to analyse which energy systems they should invest in and how resources, such as land and water should be allocated, to provide the lowest cost for a government’s targeted climate, agricultural and energy goals.

The project documents the current best practice for creating a CLEWs model using the Open Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS). Current best practices create a CLEWs model using OSeMOSYS Global for electricity system details and GeoCLEWS for the land and water use structure. These pieces are then processed to build a CLEWs base model for any country. The project identifies areas where the workflow can be streamlined and automated using Python scripts and snakemake automation.

I applied this workflow to a model of Guyana and provide example results highlighting the benefits and usefulness of the workflow.

Intergenerational Transmission of Emotional Wellbeing: Examining the Socialization of Positive Emotions Across Generations

2024-02-29T15:14:21-08:00

Emotion socialization (ES; i.e., strategies that minimize, dismiss, magnify, or reward emotions) are influenced by parents’ own understanding and expression of emotions, which is shown to be a function of their socialization history (i.e., strategies used by their parents; Leerkes et al., 2020). Intergenerational ES research has focused almost exclusively on negative emotions (e.g., anger, sadness). However, positive emotions are critical for wellbeing and positive relationships (Costa Martins et al., 2018). Importantly, unlike negative emotions that are managed to promote effective regulation, positive emotions (e.g., joy, gratitude, pride) are cultivated primarily in discussions in which they are magnified (i.e., reciprocating the emotion with equal or greater intensity), particularly in Western cultures (Fredrickson, 1998). Our research will explore the role that parental socialization histories play in shaping their own strategies to socialize positive emotions in their children in the context of parent-child conversations. In this study, 80 parent-child pairs will be recruited from the Greater Vancouver Area, focusing on children ages 6-9 years (a critical developmental period for emotion development; Peplak et al., 2023). Parents will complete a questionnaire, in which they will report on their own parents’ ES strategies of positive emotions (including pride). Parent-child pairs will then discuss emotionally evocative stories. We will code conversations for supportive and unsupportive emotion socialization strategies. A correlational analysis will be conducted to examine the association between parents’ emotion socialization history and their socialization of positive emotions, from which intergenerational influence can be inferred. Preliminary findings will be presented and discussed.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Peplak, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Changes in threat/control-override delusions, substance use, and violence

2024-02-27T15:56:37-08:00

Evidence for an association between major mental illness and violence has grown over the past few decades. However, the specific findings on the nature of this relation vary drastically across studies. Given the increase of patients being treated in community settings, it is important inform appropriate decision-making practices in risk assessment. Several studies have suggested that a specific set of psychotic symptoms, threat/control-override (TCO) delusions, may explain the increased risk of violence among those with mental illness. However, studies have also shown that substance use, a significant risk factor for violence among those with and without mental illness, may largely explain relationship between TCO delusions and violence. To explore this issue, the current study will use data from the MacArthur Risk Assessment study, a prospective, longitudinal study that investigated the risk of violence among discharged psychiatric patients. Identifying and understanding the most significant risk factors is important for informing risk prevention, management, and treatment.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Kevin Douglas, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Prevalence of Menstrual Cycle Symptoms and Tracking Methods Among Canadian Female Athletes

2024-02-27T16:15:11-08:00

Purpose: To better understand how Canadian female athletes are tracking their menstrual cycles and how that differs by symptoms experienced, age, and level of education. Methods: A survey was distributed to Canadian female athletes via social media channels, sports organisations, and snowball sampling. The survey inquired about age, ethnicity, level of education, and menstrual cycle history, symptoms, and tracking methods. Results: The survey was completed by 497 athletes aged 17-50 years (75% White/European). Symptoms including headache (75.4%), migraine (55.8%), nausea (65.8%), mood swings (92.0%), irritability (94.0%), depression (79.9%), breast tenderness (86.9%), food cravings (87.9%), acne (84.9%) were prevalent in athletes. A majority of athletes experiencing symptoms intentionally tracked their menstrual cycle. Those who experienced symptoms of headaches, migraines, and nausea, favoured use of tracking methods that did not include an app (p<0.05). Similarly, symptoms felt to negatively impact training, including mood swings, irritability, depression, breast tenderness, food cravings, and acne, were also associated with a preference for non-app-based tracking methods (p<0.05). Tracking method varied with the highest level of education achieved with some preferring using an app tracking method. Age did not significantly affect choice of tracking method. Conclusion: General symptoms, symptoms affecting training, and education level were associated with tracking method(s) utilised by female athletes. Future research should investigate the accuracy and perceived benefits of menstrual cycle tracking methods in the female athlete population and include ethnically diverse populations.

Digital Interactive Agents for SFU Counselling Services

2024-03-01T11:31:39-08:00

In response to the increasing need for accessible mental health resources, particularly among Generation Z individuals, this research investigates how digital interactive agents (i.e., chatbots, voice agents, and conversational avatars) can facilitate the access and use of counselling services, with a specific focus on improving the student experience of the existing Simon Fraser University (SFU) Health & Counselling website.

Our main research questions were: “What are the undergraduate students’ issues in accessing SFU Counselling Services, including: receiving mental health counselling, scheduling an appointment, and obtaining self-help resources and information on counselling services?" “In what way the digital interactive agents can be helpful in completing the tasks?”

To answer these questions, a literature review on the use of digital interactive agents in mental health support was conducted, which revealed common factors that influence the use of interactive agents: anthropomorphism (ability of digital agents to mimic human behaviours), input or output modalities (i.e., text, voice, video) and functionality (i.e., user control, privacy, personalization). Using the data gathered from these previous steps, an online survey was created to ask students’ perception on the importance of these factors in the context of SFU Counselling Services.

61 SFU students replied to online surveys and 2 participated in interviews. Findings revealed a preference for face-to-face counseling sessions and a recognition of the potential benefits of digital interactive agents for difficult administrative tasks, such as booking an appointment and accessing to relevant information. However, concerns exist regarding their inability to provide emotional support and addressing emotional distress.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Ö. Nilay Yalçin, School of Interactive Arts & Technology, Simon Fraser University

Coastal Connections: Exploring the Biology, Ecology, and Geology of the Wild Mile's Intertidal Zone

2024-03-27T20:06:34-07:00

Our study assessed the ecological dynamics of the intertidal zone of the Wild Mile, a rocky beach along Vancouver's English Bay shoreline, facing increasing pressures from urbanization and climate change. Through fieldwork and literature review, we inventoried intertidal flora and fauna, mapped rock formations, and explored interactions between biology, ecology, and geology. We utilized mobile apps like Seek to identify species present in the intertidal zone. We mapped grain size distribution using Field Maps and exported data to QGIS for more detailed mapping. Our results highlight the importance of preserving native species and managing invasive ones, such as bull kelp and Pacific oysters, to maintain ecosystem resilience. Additionally, the role of ecosystem engineer species, like acorn barnacles and Pacific blue mussels, underscores the intricate connections within intertidal habitats. Strategies such as shoreline enhancement through the placement of boulders and comprehensive habitat assessments are vital for mitigating these threats and preserving ecosystem integrity. Collaborative governance involving Indigenous Peoples, federal, provincial, and municipal perspectives, is essential for effective environmental management, particularly regarding stormwater and sewage impacts and adaptation plans for sea level rise.

The Influence of Cultural Norms on Features in Parent-Child Conversations of Moral Pride

2024-02-27T13:09:45-08:00

Moral pride—a positive emotion after engaging in an act of kindness—can serve as a psychological reinforcement for continued moral action. Cross-cultural research on moral pride suggests it emerges from 6 to 9 years of age, with Western countries (e.g., Canada) expressing heightened levels and Eastern countries (e.g., Japan) experiencing dampened levels. Considering the value of modesty and group harmony, collectivistic cultures tend to suppress expressions of pride, whereas this emotion is promoted in individualistic cultures. Yet, there is a dearth of research on how moral pride is socialized in conversations and the role cultural background plays in (in)directly promoting or attenuating pride-related emotions in children. Our study aims to explore (1) parental communication practices within moral pride-discussions between parent-child dyads, and (2) the role of culture in parental socialization strategies of moral pride. We will recruit 80 ethnically diverse parent-child dyads (children ages 6 to 9 years) from the Greater Vancouver Area. Dyads will discuss stories designed to evoke pride following moral and achievement-related accomplishments. Parents will complete the Singelis’s norms subscale to gauge adherence of collectivistic or individualistic cultural norms. We predict that parents who endorse individualistic cultural norms will guide their children towards positive emotions, by emphasizing the importance and benefits of pride within conversations. Conversely, parents endorsing collectivistic norms may direct their children towards the action that leads to accomplishments, while downplaying the significance of pride itself. Preliminary findings will be presented upon the commencement of data collection.

Visions of the past: Mindfulness and cognitions enhance how our positive memories of parents are linked to present-day social relationships

2024-03-01T12:13:02-08:00

Research has consistently demonstrated the effect of positive parenting on young adults’ social outcomes. However, a vast number of factors can moderate this link. The present study examined whether trait mindfulness may be one moderator in the link between young adults’ recollections of parenting and their present-day social relationships. An undergraduate sample (N =580) was surveyed regarding their memories of parents’ positive parenting behaviours during their first 16 years of life, their levels of trait mindfulness, and the quality of current interpersonal relationships with friends, romantic partners, and siblings. Participants also provided narratives on their past vs. present perceptions of a negative parenting event from their childhood, and these narratives are being coded for adaptive cognitive change in perceptions of parenting. Preliminary analyses (N = 580, 83% women, Mage = 19.2 years, SDage = 2.3) indicated that mindfulness enhances the association between recalled positive parenting and positive social relationships. We expect that adaptive cognitive change about perceptions of parenting will serve a similarly enhancing role in this link. Our results are expected to show that both mindfulness and cognitions influence the way that recollections of parents’ parenting are related to young adults’ positive interpersonal relationships.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Hali Kil, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Supporting Transitions: The Role of Prosocial Behaviors in Post-Graduation Well-being

2024-02-29T15:28:16-08:00

Most people go through life transitions, which are defined as a period in life where an individual begins something new and experiences one or many lifestyle changes as a result. Whether it be a minor transition, such as starting a new workout routine or a major transition, such as moving to a new country, life transitions may cause people to experience several negative emotions, barriers, and uncertainty. What can help people through this challenging time? Past research has demonstrated that engaging in behaviors that are intended to help others (prosocial acts) can improve one’s well-being. Yet, little research has examined the salubrious effects of prosociality during life transitions, such as post-graduation. Therefore, we conducted a pre-registered midway examination survey (n = 66) to examine whether graduating students planned to engage in prosocial acts during this life transition and whether they expected these behaviors to support their mental and physical health. Further data on our full intended sample of 150 participants will be collected at the June 2024 convocation. Contrary to our pre-registered hypotheses, most graduates did not plan on engaging in at least one prosocial behavior when thinking about their upcoming life transition of graduating from university. Furthermore, people who anticipated in engaging in more prosocial acts after graduation did not anticipate experiencing better mental health, though they did anticipate experiencing better physical health. These early findings suggest that people may overlook prosocial acts as a route to support their own mental health during their transition out of university.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Laura B. Aknin, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Research Team Member: Tiara Cash, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Comfort in Counsel: Receiving Advice Promotes Well-Being and Feelings of Belonging among Post-Secondary Students

2024-02-26T11:09:59-08:00

Every year, thousands of Canadian students begin their post-secondary education. This major life transition can lead new students to feel anxious, unprepared, and isolated. Here, I consider whether receiving advice from a fellow student can help newcomers in their transition to university. Specifically, I conducted one well-powered, pre-registered field study to investigate whether receiving advice from a previous student leads to greater emotional and social well-being compared to receiving a campus map. In addition, I examined whether students had received advice before starting university, and if not, whether they wished they had. To do so, I recruited 941 SFU students during the start of the Fall 2022 or 2023 semester. Students were assigned to receive either a piece of advice from a former SFU student or a campus map. Afterward, participants reported their current positive emotions, feelings of social connection, belongingness, and appreciation. Participants also indicated whether they had received advice before starting their university studies, and if not, whether they wished they had. Consistent with my pre-registered hypotheses, participants assigned to receive advice (vs. a campus map) reported greater positive emotions, social connection, belonging, and appreciation. Moreover, while most participants reported receiving advice before starting university, the majority of those who did not wished that they had. These findings demonstrate the emotional and social benefits of receiving advice. As such, people, programs, and institutions may consider providing opportunities for the promising power of counsel in enhancing student well-being during a salient life transition.

Faculty Supervisor: Laura B. Aknin, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Untangling the Threads of Singlehood: Examining Relationship Pedestal Beliefs, Attachment Styles and Singlehood Satisfaction

2024-02-27T13:00:53-08:00

People who have relationship related insecurities may struggle with being single – but why? This study aims to explore the association between attachment anxiety and avoidance on singlehood satisfaction, and whether this is mediated by relationship pedestal beliefs (i.e., the belief that people need a romantic partner to be truly happy). It utilized a self-report questionnaire completed by 504 single participants. Overall, the results were mixed. People who were higher in attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were both less likely to be satisfied with singlehood status and were more likely to endorse relationship pedestal beliefs. However, contrary to our hypotheses, relationship pedestal beliefs were not associated with singlehood satisfaction, and thus was not a significant mediator for explaining why insecure individuals were less satisfied with singlehood. Taken together, the results of the mediating model illustrate that other potential variables may be responsible for why highly anxious or avoidant single people tend to report dissatisfaction with their singlehood status.

Faculty Supervisor: Yuthika Girme, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Human Consumption of land snails on Curaçao

2024-02-26T11:40:52-08:00

Cerion uva (commonly known as Peanut snails) are found in archaeological context on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Ethnohistorical data suggests C. uva snails were consumed by Curaçao’s Indigenous peoples. However, there has been no archaeological data to confirm nor deny this claim. Past archaeological studies in Curacao are mostly restricted to settlements and rock art. The Curaçao Cultural Landscape Project is one initiative aiming to broaden our knowledge of the past, bringing together multiple disciplines in archaeological research – zooarchaeology, paleoecology, geoarchaeology. As part of this project, my honours thesis contributes to our understanding of subsistence practices in Curaçao, during the Archaic Period (ca. 5500-1400 BP). Using criteria developed from wider land snail studies (e.g. size, apex presence, burning, and location) my honours thesis tests whether C. uva snails were exploited by people or deposited naturally. By furthering research on lands snails in Curaçao, more information about the palaeo-environmental conditions can be uncovered. This can lead to more insight into the diet of Indigenous peoples of Curaçao. It is important to create a solid foundation in distinguishing dietary from non-dietary materials in the archaeological record.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Christina Giovas, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University

Effects of sleep displacement and fragmentation on hippocampal neurogenesis in mice

2024-02-27T13:36:17-08:00

Deprivation or continuous fragmentation of sleep suppresses the proliferation and maturation of new neurons in the hippocampus of adult rodents. A more common type of sleep disruption occurs in humans working nightshifts, when sleep is displaced from night to day. We evaluated hippocampal neurogenesis in mice (C57BL6/j, ~3 months age) subject to sleep deprivation procedures. A sleep displacement group (n=6, 3 females) was deprived of sleep for 12 hours each day during the typical rest phase (12h lights-on) and left undisturbed during the active phase (lights off) for 7 consecutive days. A sleep fragmentation group (n=8, 4 females) were disturbed every 2 minutes during their rest phase for 7 days. The control group (n=14, 7 females) remained undisturbed in their home cage. Activity during the active phase for all mice was recorded via infrared motion sensors. Mice were injected with 200mg/kg of BrdU 2-hours prior to brain and blood sample collection at the end of the light period on day 7. Preliminary analysis suggests the week-long procedures induced an accumulating sleep deficit, as indicated by a progressive increase in rest bout duration and total rest time at night. Plasma corticosterone quantified by ELISA assay did not differ across conditions or between sexes; effects of the procedures on neurogenesis were independent of this stress hormone. To assess neurogenesis, brain sections spanning the range of the dentate gyrus were stained using immunohistochemistry. All sections have been imaged using a Nikon A1R Laser Scanning Confocal system and cell counting is ongoing.

The Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury on Sleep in Mouse Models of Alzheimer’s Disease

2024-02-26T11:46:55-08:00

Many patients with mild TBI develop sleep-wake disturbances after their injury. Research shows that chronic sleep disruption may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. In this study we investigate the impact of repetitive mild TBIs on sleep in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using an EEG/EMG device. To administer a mild TBI we used the Closed-Head Impact Model of Engineering Rotational Acceleration (CHIMERA). Male and female APP^NL-Ftransgenic mice containing a humanized Aβ region with a Swedish “NL” mutation and the Iberian “F” mutation (n=18) received three mild TBIs 48 hours apart at 12 months of age. After three months, brain electrical activity was recorded using an electroencephalogram (EEG) device with cortical electrodes. The EEG data was analyzed using Sleep Sirenia software. The sleep-wake cycle was divided into three stages: rapid eye movement (REM), non-rapid eye movement (NREM), and wake based on EEG activity and muscle activity (EMG). No significant differences between TBI and Sham mice were found in the total amount of sleep or wake time. However, TBI mice showed a significantly higher power in the delta, theta, and beta frequency bands during NREM sleep. These results suggest that even though time spent asleep did not change after the repetitive mild TBIs, there were quantitative changes in EEG activity that could impact sleep quality and AD disease progression.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Brianne Kent, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

For the worlds we dream of building: On reimagining progress & the aesthetics of gentrification

2024-04-03T12:25:45-07:00

As a method of perpetuating income-based divides, gentrification carries with it the sentiment that urban spaces must progress from being homes for lower-class, racialized communities, into playgrounds and experimental spaces for the rich. How has sustainability permeated the fields of real estate marketing and urban planning in the Metro Vancouver context? How does the relationship between gentrification and sustainable development unfold in peoples’ understandings of progress, and imaginations of the future?

Turning to semi-structured interviews and field observations, this study examines the cyclical relationship between notions of progress and the aesthetics of gentrification. In dissecting the intersections of gentrification and ideas of progress, what is unearthed is the consequences of sustainability when reduced to mere branding for high rises–commoditized and made exclusionary for those affluent enough to afford greener lifestyles.

Mind the gap: Advice givers underestimate how much their advice is appreciated by recipients.

2024-02-26T11:12:04-08:00

People often give advice to others, but are they able to predict how much the recipient appreciates the advice? To explore this question, we conducted a pre-registered study in a common and meaningful context: starting university. In the Summer of 2022 and 2023, Canadian university students on the cusp of graduation were asked to give advice to an incoming university student, and then estimate how much this advice would be appreciated (1 – not at all to 10 – very much). Then, several months later, we gave each piece of advice to up to three new university students. Each advice recipient rated their appreciation on the same scale (1 – not at all to 10 – very much). To understand the appreciation gap, we compared the givers predicted and recipients’ actual appreciation scores. However, findings provided tentative support for the pre-registered hypothesis that givers underestimate how much advice is appreciated by recipients, though this trend was not statistically significant. Therefore, we incorporated a manipulation check at the end of the survey, asking givers to specify who their advice was intended for. By focusing our analysis on participants who accurately recalled that their advice will be given to a new student, the findings were statistically significant. Given past research demonstrating that peoples’ expectations about how their behaviour will be received influences the likelihood of them engaging in a prosocial act. These findings suggest that people may not offer advice as frequently as they could due to the misestimation of recipient appreciation.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Laura Aknin, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Investigating the Impact of Acute Trazodone Administration on Sleep in Mice

2024-02-26T11:44:26-08:00

Trazodone is an anti-depressant in clinical use for 40 years with sleep-promoting properties. Due to its sleep-promoting properties (particularly in slow-wave sleep), trazodone is currently being evaluated as a therapeutic agent in conditions associated with sleep disturbances, notably Alzheimer’s disease. Our study first delineates a methodology for facilitating the administration of trazodone to mice. The acidic nature of trazodone makes injection at a physiological pH level challenging and sleep studies necessitating intracranial electroencephalography (EEG)/electromyography (EMG), make oral gavage injection challenging. We propose administering trazodone with highly palatable food, thereby offering a non-invasive and translational route of administration. We identified the type of food to mix with the trazodone compound to facilitate self-administration of the drug reliably and reproducibly with minimal impacts on the circadian rhythms and sleep in mice (C57BL/6, aged 10-12 months; n=9). Our results suggest that a yogurt-based treat was most effective. Subsequently, the established method was applied to assess the effects of trazodone on sleep in a separate cohort of mice (C57BL/6, aged 10-11 months; n=15). The analysis is ongoing to examine the alterations in sleep architecture, quality, and power spectra through EEG/EMG recordings. The preliminary findings suggest an increase in the duration of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep after the first dose of trazodone, accompanied by a corresponding reduction in wakefulness periods. This study illustrates a translational trazodone administration technique in mice and highlights the potential therapeutic use of trazodone for ameliorating sleep disturbances associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

Analyzing Features of Messages to Old Friends & Peoples’ Willingness to Hit Send

2024-03-01T12:04:42-08:00

Friendship consistently correlates with happiness, and prioritizing one’s friendships has been associated with numerous components of health and well-being (Demir, Cuisinier, & Khoury, 2015; Lu et al., 2021; Taniguchi, 2014). However, people often lose touch with individuals they once called friends (Avalos, 2023; Bowker, White, & Weingarten, 2023). If people are given a chance to reach out to an old friend, do they? What would they say? To examine this question, 410 participants recruited as part of a larger study were asked to think of an old friend or person they care about with whom they had lost touch, and write a “reaching out” message to them. Participants were then given one minute to send their message to their old friend. Approximately one third of participants did so. Wondering if it is possible to predict which notes would be sent, we had six trained undergraduate students code the 410 messages along 14 content-related dimensions (e.g. did the author mention missing their friend, did the author apologize for losing touch). Contrary to most of our pre-registered hypotheses, only two dimensions significantly predicted whether the message was sent: messages in which the author acknowledged they had not spoken to their old friend in a while, and messages in which the author suggested vague future contact with their old friend. Although few coding dimensions predicted which messages were sent, it does seem that taking responsibility (both for losing touch and for initiating future contact) may be a predictor of messages being sent.

Faculty Supervior: Lara B. Aknin, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Research Team Member: Kristina K. Castaneto, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

A Review of Chronic Wasting Disease Management Strategies

2024-03-19T12:25:01-07:00

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a highly infectious, fatal prion disease affecting cervids (deer, elk, moose). CWD has rapidly spread through North America since its discovery in the ‘60’s and is expected to emerge in British Columbia (BC). CWD poses ecological, cultural, and socio-economic risks, making its management complex. To better understand the most strategic and potentially successful management options for BC, we performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature where we searched for the terms “CWD” or “chronic wasting disease” in combination with “management” across three databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed). After reviewing the titles and abstracts, we identified 264 relevant articles after two rounds of screening. The breakdown of papers discussing common topics are: 28.9% harvest/culling strategies, 25.7% human dimensions of management, 25.7% surveillance, and 10.2% environmental management. We used a One Health lens – which recognizes the interconnections between humans, animals, and the environment –to evaluate management strategies. We categorized management strategies into the One Health domains based on their primary focus; the majority of papers targeted animal strategies. Our key findings are 1) many managers consider integrating multiple strategies to manage CWD, 2) understanding local biology and landscape factors are important to identifying appropriate management measures, 3) stakeholder participation is crucial to management success, 4) mathematical models can be used to inform management by projecting potential outcomes, and 5) in many cases, management considerations have been theoretical, not applied in practice. These results reveal important considerations to strengthen CWD management strategies in BC.

Faculty Supervisor: Kaylee Byers, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Research Team Members: Sarah Robinson, Cait Nelson, Caeley Thacker

The Genetic Dissection of Shieldin

2024-02-29T14:48:51-08:00

Multiple DNA repair pathways have evolved over the course of cell evolution. Homology-directed repair (HDR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) are two known pathways that can act in an antagonistic manner when facing DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs). BRCA1 and 53BP1 are DNA repair proteins of the HDR and NHEJ pathways, respectively. In the event of BRCA1 mutation, HDR is rendered defective, allowing the accumulation of carcinogenic mutations that lead to PARPi-sensitive breast and ovarian cancers. PARPi chemotherapeutic drug toxicity in BRCA1-deficient cancer cells is mediated by 53BP1, which in addition to its role in NHEJ, suppresses HDR. Here, we set out to investigate the genetics of shieldin, a four-subunit protein complex downstream of 53BP1 in NHEJ. Specifically, the gene interaction type between individual shieldin subunits, as it relates to their role in HDR suppression, is probed. It is hypothesized that each subunit has a distinct role in contributing to shieldin function, and hence necessary for HDR suppression. The approach involves utilization of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity, and RAD51 focus formation assays. Altogether, the present study aims to assess the mechanistic basis underlying shieldin function and contribution to HDR suppression in PARPi-sensitive BRCA1-deficient cells.

Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Familial Hemiplegic Migraines

2024-02-26T11:02:43-08:00

Voltage-gated sodium channels, situated on cell membranes, are pivotal in initiating and propagating action potentials. An action potential is a crucial electrical signal that enables a neuron to communicate with other neurons, which is essential for our thoughts, movements, and sensations. These processes are particularly vital in the excitable cells of the brain. Any alterations in these channels can lead to significant physiological impacts and are often implicated in various diseases. For instance, Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) arises from mutations in the gene coding for Nav1.1, a specific protein forming voltage-gated sodium channel in neurons. These genetic changes cause increased neuronal excitability, which can trigger migraines.

Addressing this issue, there's a need for an inhibitor to reduce the heightened activity of these mutated Na⁺channels. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive extract from the cannabis plant, has been shown to modulate the activity of hyperexcitable Na⁺channels in several pathophysiological states, such as epilepsy, usually by decreasing their excitability. We hypothesized that CBD could also effectively mitigate the excitability of the ion channels responsible for FHM.

To test for this hypothesis, this research involved electrophysiological studies utilizing the patch-clamp technique. The preliminary data we collected indicates that CBD effectively diminishes the excitability of hyperactive mutated Na⁺channels linked with FHM. These observations propose that CBD may serve as a promising pharmacological treatment for genetically rooted diseases characterized by altered neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Peter Ruben, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University

Research Team Member: Dr. Dana Page, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University

Validation of a Novel Method for Identifying Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Spinal Cord Injury

2024-02-27T13:06:30-08:00

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects the lives of many Canadians. Far beyond limiting movement and sensation, internal processes (including heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing) can be impacted, resulting in severe long-term health complications. Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB: involuntary breath-holds during sleep causing transient reductions in oxygen levels) is a highly prevalent dysfunction seen in individuals with SCI that can progressively worsen functions of daily living and overall health. There is significant need for improved models evaluating SDB in populations with SCI. Clinical sleep disorder diagnoses are necessary for treatment, but current assessments are often prohibitively difficult to obtain and require specialized in-laboratory testing that can be uncomfortable, impractical, and inaccessible for individuals with SCI. Alternative assessments have emerged but remain limited in design. We are developing a protocol to detect and assess SDB using novel wearable technologies, namely Astroskin and Fitbit, that noninvasively record overnight vital signs and sleep staging. This poster showcases our device validation and at-home sleep testing protocol as examined in two individuals with SCI and two healthy controls. We are validating the monitoring capabilities of the Astroskin form-fitting vest and headband by comparing its metrics against simultaneous recordings using relevant gold-standard criteria. Fitbit devices are the most-used wearables in conducting biomedical research, and the recording validity of their sleep staging has been well-established, enabling alignment of vital signs and sleep stages. Application of validated measures to overnight sleep recordings using stacked filters will enable identification and severity assessment of SDB based on expected physiological outcomes.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Victoria Claydon, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
Research Team Member: Rebekah H.Y. Lee, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University

Strategies to gender-sensitize health promotion interventions for men

2024-02-26T11:41:53-08:00

Background: Men are less likely than women to engage in help-seeking health behaviours. To support men, health promotion interventions must be designed to engage them in the first place. Gender-sensitive strategies consider men’s needs and preferences and the influence of gender norms on their engagement with health promotion interventions. The purpose of our study was to identify gender-sensitive strategies that could be applied to design or adapt health promotion interventions for men.

Methods: We used a two-pronged approach to identify gender-sensitive strategies. First, we searched MEDLINE for peer-reviewed articles reporting on health promotion interventions for men. Second, we interviewed 6 academic experts in men’s health promotion via Zoom calls. We summarized data from the literature review and interviews and then coded the recommended strategies using an established adaptation coding framework.

Results: We identified 11 recommendations for gender-sensitive strategies across intervention design and implementation, participant recruitment, and staff training. Recommendations included: co-designing the program with men, incorporating humour and informal communication, adding elements of competition, making the program men-only, promoting and delivering in spaces where men already gather, having a champion to endorse the program, using masculine-friendly language in program and recruitment materials, using health checks as a recruitment strategy, and providing gender-competence training for intervention staff.

Discussion: Men choose health promoting behaviours that are shaped by masculinity and gender norms. Thus, health promotion interventions for men require a nuanced understanding of the barriers they face and a commitment to engaging them in ways that are gender-sensitive, accessible, and relevant.

Research Team Members:
Samantha M. Gray, School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Australia
Angelica Baniqued, Aging and Population Health Lab, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
Dawn C. Mackey, Active Aging Research Team, University of British Columbia

MS characterization of total cellular proteome in responses to exogenous sugar stress

2024-02-27T13:48:01-08:00

Glucosamine (GlcN) and N-Acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) are sugar metabolites of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) in which glucose is converted to the nucleotide sugar uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). The HBP, conserved across all eukaryotes, is involved in many cellular processes such as protein glycosylation, signal transduction, and gene expression regulation. Protein glycosylation, particularly, is a post-translational modification vital for substrate specificity and protein-protein recognition in membrane proteins and receptors, thus critical for immune system regulation. Since both GlcN and GlcNAc are produced from the same pathway and share similar structures and properties, they are often used interchangeably to study the HBP. While GlcN is significantly more studied, there are very few studies focusing on GlcNAc. However, our study provides a different perspective. Using the wound healing assay to assess cell migration rates, we noticed significant differences in cell responses between those treated with GlcN and GlcNAc: cells migrated faster or no change (depending on the glucose condition) as GlcNAc concentration increased and migrated slower as GlcN concentration increased (regardless of the glucose condition). In addition, other cell properties such as cell-to-cell adhesion and cell morphology were altered distinctly in cells exposed to GlcN and GlcNAc. These findings carry significant implications for immune response, vascular health, diabetes, as well as cancer metastasis. I will further study the altered proteome to gain insight on the molecular mechanisms through which exogenous GlcN and GlcNAc influence cell behaviours.

Comparing touchscreen-based tests of pattern separation for rodent models

2024-02-26T11:48:02-08:00

One of the challenges in developing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is referred to as the “translational gap” because treatments or findings in rodent models have not successfully translated to effective treatments for humans. Improving the translation of cognitive testing methods used with rodent models is an attempt to shrink this “translational gap”. Researchers have developed touchscreen-based cognitive testing methods for rodents to improve translation between preclinical studies and clinical trials. A translational approach in rodent testing is achieved by simulating the stimuli (images on the screen) and reaction (touch) in human testing methods, such as the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Touchscreen training involves animals responding to visual stimuli on a touch-sensitive screen for rewards, relying on rodents' natural exploration tendencies and daily training for task completion.

The hippocampus region of the brain is most vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease. One of the functions of the hippocampus is pattern separation, which is the process of encoding similar inputs in memory in a way that distinguishes them from one another. There are two touchscreen-based cognitive tests that are designed to evaluate pattern separation: (1) the Location Discrimination (LD) task and (2) the Trial-Unique Non-Matching to Location (TUNL) task. Both tests can be administered in Bussey-Saksida Chambers. In our study, we compare these two touchscreen-based tests of pattern separation, based on data quality, training time, and difficulty.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Brianne Kent, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

To Spice Things up or Not to Spice Things up: Investigating Perceptions of Sexual Novelty Use in Romantic Relationships

2024-02-27T16:24:18-08:00

There is a gap within the literature regarding long-term, heterosexual romantic relationships and the methods by which they attempt to maintain their sexual satisfaction. We investigated how sexual novelty (sex toys, novel sexual positions, etc) was described in five couples’ (primarily White, mixed-sex, co-habiting) sexual discussions and the relation to sexual satisfaction changes over one year. We identified two themes; couples explored adding sexual novelty either to enhance a satisfactory sexual relationship or as a means to address a perceived problem. Enhancement-focused couples maintained their sexual satisfaction over one year, but problem-focused women showed an increase in satisfaction. Results suggest that adding novelty may be a viable strategy to maintain or increase sexual satisfaction.

Profitable Addictainment: The Intersection of Entertainment, Hate Speech, and Radicalization on Kick.com

2024-02-26T11:38:52-08:00

The research investigates the case of Kick, a new online livestreaming platform owned by the recent rapidly growing crypto-gambling company Stake. The project demonstrates how livestreaming platforms are capitalizing on the role of entertainment, and the rise of hyper visible gambling content online. Investigating how hate speech and hegemonic ideologies get constructed, consumed, and circulated in an online live-streaming platform by creators and users through the consumable object of entertainment. Highlighting the controversial and deeply neoliberal profit-driven practices of digital labor by creators and audiences. Entertainment always occupies a dominating ideological place within media structures (Postman, 1985; Frith, 1999; Sun, 2002; Han, 2019), and here the role of entertainment is investigated to show how entertainment deprives a ‘regular’ form of consumption. Analyzing how intersections of entertainment, hate speech, and gambling converge into the roofied cocktail of uniquely damaging content—one which becomes salient in the profit-making cycle of the platformed entertainment in the digital culture and economy.

Through utilizing the walkthrough method of analysing 10 highest viewed livestreams over a period of 3 months. The walkthrough method (Light et al., 2018), which involves documentation of the affordances of the app—with the goal to slow down the hyperactive nature of digital apps to digestible analyses of the forms of habitual consumptions and ideal users.

I argue that Kick’s unique milieu exerts an alienating and addictive effect on its users through the mix of hateful radicalized discourse and hyper visible hardcore gambling content, constituting a specific form of entertainment.

The Quandary of “Cobra Chickens”: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Media Coverage of Canadian Geese in the United States and Canada

2024-02-04T13:11:11-08:00

In May 2023, the Vancouver Park Board decided to organise a cull in an attempt to control the growing population of Canadian geese. My research aims to uncover how Canadian Geese in the U.S. and Canada are represented by media coverage. My research draws on the concept of geographical imaginaries from political ecology and animal geographies. In particular, I consider the geographical imaginary of cities as places where certain animals ‘do not belong.’

I analysed numerous media sources to find recurring themes: to consider how the geese, their population increase and the threat they are seen to pose, as well as alternative population control methods, are described. I categorised each article to see whether their content fell under that particular theme. To gain further insights, I conducted an interview with the Park Board Authorities to understand what factors led to their decision to cull the geese.

My results shows that a majority of the articles describe the geese in a negative light due to their droppings and aggressive nature. Articles frequently describe or imply that the geese do not belong in urban areas, consistent with the geographical imaginary of cities that animal geographers have identified. This research can be used to encourage more effective co-existence strategies between humans and wildlife.

Data-Driven Perspectives on Outgroup Sentiment: Unmasking the Global Landscape with Social Data Science

2024-02-26T11:42:56-08:00

This study seeks to understand the influence of state level factors on an individual’s sentiment towards outgroups, identity groups to which a person does not belong. To identify these dynamics, I draw on national level data on ethnic group size and location, then link that to public opinion data from the World Values Survey. From this data, I create new measures from existing variables and harness multilevel modelling to better examine how the relative size of ethnic identity groups and their geographic location in a country influences intergroup attitudes and the acceptance of ethnic differences. I hypothesize that countries where ethnic groups live in distinctly separate areas from one another will experience more negative effect, particularly when the size of ethnic groups are sufficient to compete for political power. My project will create a new data set which will include a measure for outgroup sentiment, utilizing questions from the World Values Survey. From this dataset, I have also created a measure for group size by calculating individuals’ self-reported ethnic identity and inferring the approximate size of these groups within their given country. As a rise in outgroup hatred is seen across the globe, studies such as these are crucial. Trends towards a rise in populism throughout various countries underscore the urgency of understanding how national factors impact outgroup sentiment. This research, which examines the size and location of different ethnic groups and how that affects an individual’s opinion towards outgroups, not only advances scholarly knowledge but carries significant political and policy implications.

Managing Consensual Non-Monogamy Stigma in a Monogamous Society

2024-03-12T16:36:40-07:00

In Western societies, monogamy is idealized and consensual non-monogamy (CNM), where individuals consent to multiple sexual/romantic involvements, is stigmatized. We explored how 31 individuals in CNM relationships navigated stigma by qualitatively analyzing interviews about their relationship experiences. Monogamy is the norm in Western society and those who engage in consensual non-monogamy (CNM; consenting to multiple sexual/romantic involvements), are stigmatized. We interviewed 31 individuals in CNM relationships to understand their experiences of enacted and anticipated stigma. Participants were mostly White (77%), female (61%), LGBTQIA2S+ (81%), polyamorous (81%), and averaged 41 years of age. Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) suggested that participants used approach or avoidance strategies to manage stigma. Approach strategies involved setting boundaries with people who stigmatized participants (ultimatums), correcting misconceptions, and being openly proud about CNM (CNM pride). Avoidance strategies included disengaging from people who stigmatized participants (disengagement), passing as monogamous, and avoiding CNM discussions. CNM pride and correcting misconceptions were the most used approach strategies, and over half of participants passed as monogamous and avoided CNM discussions. Most participants also used a combination of approach and avoidance strategies by weighing the possibility of stigma to decide whether and to whom to disclose their CNM experiences (selective disclosure). Approach strategies, such as CNM pride, could foster connection within participants' communities, which may buffer the harmful effects of minority stress. Conversely, avoidance strategies, such as passing as monogamous, may increase the editing behaviour of participants and possibly lead to increased minority stress. Participants flexibly used approach and avoidance strategies to effectively navigate the monogamous world. However, they did tend to use approach strategies more frequently, which may be an important way that CNM individuals bolster connection, possibly mitigating the negative effects of minority stress.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Cobb, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: An Examination of Polygraphs and Coercion in Police Interrogations

2024-03-01T12:20:49-08:00

Coercion is used throughout the criminal justice system. Interrogations are not immune to coercion. Despite previous research examining coercion, few studies have examined case law and the perspectives of lawyers and investigators. In the present study, using a case law analysis and semi-structured interviews of a defence lawyer and a former polygraph examiner, interrogation tactics are examined to understand their effects on confessions. Particularly, polygraphs are explored to understand how presenting the option of taking a polygraph to a suspect can coerce them; as, denying a polygraph can create the belief that they are guilty in the view of investigators. A denied or failed polygraph can be used against the suspect during the subsequent interrogation. This could be combined with coercive interrogation tactics such as long interrogations, minimization tactics, and social isolation. Results indicate that the Supreme Court of Canada, when analyzing coercion in interrogations, stresses the importance of legal rights, yet tends to dismiss coercive tactics. This suggests that the practical application of legal doctrine by the court does not protect suspects against coercion. Interview participant’s experiences reflect what is found in the case law. The former polygraph examiner stressed the importance of voluntariness yet acknowledged limitations in the interpretation of polygraphs. If misused, polygraphs could lead to coercion during interrogations. The presentation will focus on the importance of using alternative research methods to explore coercion. This gives a more holistic understanding of the issue, examining practical applications by the courts while including perspectives often neglected in coercion research.

Cohort profile: mothers with an indication of substance use disorder and their offspring in British Columbia, 2000-2021

2024-03-08T13:28:04-08:00

Between 2010 to 2017, the proportion of mothers with opioid-related diagnoses for every 1000 delivery hospitalizations increased by 131%. To address this issue, the cohort profile was developed to (1) describe the characteristics of mothers with an indication of substance use disorder (SUD) and (2) define the developmental trajectories of their offspring. This cohort profile was developed as part of a population-based retrospective cohort study linking ten provincial health administrative databases in BC. Individuals were enrolled if they had at least one SUD-related record in the linked database one year prior to the date of their first pregnancy-related health care visit. The follow-up period ranged from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2021 or until they died or there were no updated records for at least 66 months before the follow-up end date. Before the first year of life, 56 children born to mothers with SUD lost their mothers during the study period. The rate of maternal mortality remained constant until age 4. Among these children, no primary cause for mental health-related hospital discharges were described until age 8. By age 10, major depressive disorder was the primary cause, with a rate of 17% at age 16. Additionally, mental health prescriptions to these children were dispensed as early as age 4 for stimulants, reaching a rate of 9% at age 11. There is a high burden of disease for these mothers and children. Immediate public health response is necessary to prevent further development of adverse neonatal and maternal health outcomes.

Exploring Lifestyle and Microbiome Factors Associated with Antibiotic Misuse

2024-02-29T15:20:51-08:00

Antibiotics save lives, but their effectiveness is decreasing as bacteria are growing more resistant to such treatments. Antibiotic resistance prevalence has been accelerating, in part by inappropriate use of antibacterial drugs, yet there is limited research on the reasons why people actually use antibiotics. This descriptive study looks at 2111 infants from the CHILD Cohort Study, a longitudinal project collecting diverse data on children and their parents from pregnancy through childhood. Parents reported reasons why their child took antibiotics, with some example responses being “suspected infection” and “viral infection”. These free-text reasons were standardized under ontologies, which are defined terms arranged by hierarchical relationships, to reduce ambiguity and inconsistencies for downstream analyses. Standardized reasons can then be placed into categories such as “incorrect”, “correct”, and “unsure” reasons for antibiotic use, and subcategories like “for viral infections”. Following standardization, a logistic regression-based analysis can be conducted to identify associations between 1892 variables (including lifestyle factors) and antibiotic misuse. Gut microbiome data is also available from CHILD infant stool samples collected at ages three months and one year. From these data, differences in diversity and abundance of gut bacterial species can be compared among and between different categories of reasons for antibiotic use. This study will explore how often antibiotics are misused in Canada and by who, along with the impact of antibiotic misuse on the gut microbiome. This can aid development of further hypotheses regarding why antibiotics are used inappropriately and what consequences this has on human health.

Accessibility of mental health treatment following mild traumatic brain injury: An exploratory analysis

2024-02-27T16:02:39-08:00

A sizable minority of those who sustain a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) experience prolonged recovery often marked by emotional distress. Barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking in the general population are well-understood; however, information in the mTBI context is limited. This study aimed to determine: (1) the rate of worsened mental health post-mTBI, (2) proportion of those seeking mental health treatment, (3) perceived barriers to mental health care, and (4) predictors of help-seeking behavior. Participants aged 14-86 with a previously diagnosed mTBI (n = 290) completed questionnaires assessing demographic and clinical characteristics, mTBI history, and barriers to help-seeking. Frequency tables and proportions are reported to meet aims 1-3 and a binomial logistic regression were used to address the studies aim 4. 28.9 of participants experienced a subjective decline in their mental health status post-mTBI and 27% of those did not seek help. Prominent barriers to care in this subgroup were the cost of services (34.8%) and stigma (34.8%). Demographic and injury-related factors, such as education level, employment status, and mechanism of injury, significantly predicted help-seeking. Almost a third of individuals reported decline in mental health post mTBI and many did not receive mental health care. Like the general population, cost is a critical barrier to mental health treatment seeking after mTBI. However, the stigma of seeking mental health services is potentially exacerbated by the additional stigma associated with brain injury, possibly creating a double stigma. The context that a person suffers their mTBI impacts their treatment seeking process.

Utilization of recommended falling strategies in mountain biking

2024-02-27T13:38:43-08:00

Co-designing Programmable Fidgeting Experience with Swarm Robots for Adults with ADHD

2024-02-29T15:16:55-08:00

Individuals with ADHD grapple with elevated stress levels, emotional regulation challenges, and difficulty sustaining focus. Fidgeting, a behaviour traditionally frowned upon, has been shown to help people with ADHD in concentration, emotional and mental state management, and energy regulation. However, traditional fidgeting devices have limited fixed affordances providing cookie-cutter style fidgeting experience to all despite individual differences. Recognizing the uniqueness of individual fidgeting tendencies, we use small tabletop robots to provide a customizable fidgeting interaction experience and conduct co-design sessions with 16 adults diagnosed with ADHD to explore how they envision their fidgeting interactions being changed with these programmable robots. We examine core elements defining a successful fidgeting interaction with robots, assess the significance of customizability in these interactions and any common trends among participants, and investigate additional advantages that interactions with robots may offer. This research reveals nuanced preferences of adults with ADHD concerning robot-assisted fidgeting.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Lawrence Kim, School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University

Eco-Tensions: Why some Environmentalists may support Destructive Intergroup Behaviour

2024-02-26T11:50:47-08:00

Environmental protests have become commonplace as a reaction to climate change. While mostly peaceful, it is not uncommon for Destructive Intergroup Behaviour (DIB) to occur, which is collective action taken with the intent of harming members of another group. As climate change becomes more severe, the frequency of DIB is expected to rise. Past work in social psychology has mainly focused on motivations of those who engage in DIB, with little research on why some group members might support/endorse DIB without being willing/able to actively engage in it themselves. As group support often encourages actors of DIB, it is imperative to study this, and findings would serve to aid understanding of DIB, which might have implications on how to best manage such conflicts. This study presented self-identified environmentalists with a survey measuring five psychological processes that are hypothesized to influence support for DIB: the individual’s level of identification with environmental activists (ingroup identification); emotions felt on behalf of the group directed at outgroup members, including anger and contempt (outgroup-directed emotions); emotions felt on behalf of the group directed at ingroup members, including guilt and shame (ingroup-directed emotions); the degree to which they believe environmental activists can solve their shared problems (collective efficacy); and the degree to which they believe they can effectively punish outgroup members (punishment efficacy). A mediational model will be used to test the unique importance of each of these in predicting participants’ willingness to endorse DIB done by environmentalists against a company responsible for serious environmental damage.

(Re)framing Roots Beyond Binaries: A photovoice exploration of self-discovery and wellness among Asian, gender-diverse youth

2024-02-27T13:29:25-08:00

Background: Being both Asian and gender-diverse can create unique experiences that may impact or shape one’s wellness, especially among youth who are often discovering and making sense of their identities. However, much of the existing research in this area focuses on health and wellness among either gender-diverse folks, or separately among Asian individuals.

Objective: The current study seeks to use an intersectional and strengths-based approach to explore self-discovery and wellness among youth who self-identify as both Asian (i.e., East, South, West, Central, or Southeast Asian by ethnic background or heritage) and gender-diverse (i.e., any non-binary identities).

Methods: Participant recruitment (target n = 6) for this qualitative, photovoice project is currently ongoing. Potential participants first complete a screening interview to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. After providing written consent, each participant is asked to take 3-5 photos over one week based on several study guiding questions. Participants also complete a brief demographic questionnaire. At the end of the week, photos are emailed to the researcher. Then, each participant engages in one 60-minute semi-structured interview to explore the content of their photos and the guiding questions. Interviews are audio-recorded and will be transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis will be conducted using NVivo to gather common themes that may appear across participants.

Results: Preliminary thematic findings will be shared in the presentation.

Impact: Gaining a deeper understanding of self-discovery and wellness among Asian, gender-diverse youth can inform real-world applications and further explorations in supporting these processes.

The Influence of Absences of Caregiver Responsiveness in Social Interactions on the Development of Infant Social Bids

2024-02-27T16:10:29-08:00

Social bids are any social behaviour an infant uses to capture their caregiver’s attention to engage in a social activity. Researchers have shown that infants learn to expect caregivers to respond to their social bids and that they may re-attempt a social bid when they do not receive the expected caregiver response. However, the influence of these moments of non-caregiver responsiveness on infant social bid development has been overlooked. In this thesis, I provide a longitudinal description that traces how these moments influence the diversity and amount of the social bids of two caregiver-infant dyads. I found, in line with past research, that infants will re-attempt the same or different social bid when their caregiver is unresponsive. To add, I found that infants increase the diversity and amount of their social bidding over time due to the events of caregiver non-responsiveness. Lastly, infants demonstrated highly idiosyncratic differences in their social bid presentations and changes in relation to caregiver non-responsiveness. These findings suggest that moments of caregiver non-responsiveness may play an important role in the development of infants’ social bid development, which predates their future language and social development.

Swiping right for “The One”: Exploring single people’s implicit relationship beliefs and dating app behaviour

2024-02-26T11:10:56-08:00

Online dating has grown in popularity in the last decade, but who uses online dating more regularly and what impact does it have on single people? Despite singlehood being on the rise and an important precursor to romantic relationships, very little research has been conducted on how single people think, feel, and approach online dating. Analysing single people’s mindsets is one way to better understand their beliefs about and behaviours toward online dating. There are two types of mindsets: Destiny and growth mindsets. People with a higher destiny mindset believe in that everyone has a compatible “soulmate” and only relationships with a “soulmate” guarantees relationship success. In contrast, people with a higher growth mindset believe that successful relationships require work, effort, and time. How might these mindsets influence single peoples’ willingness to use online dating? In this honours study, I examined single people’s destiny and growth beliefs and their online dating behaviour. Participants were all SFU undergraduate students taking psychology courses. Data was collected through the Research Participant System (RPS) and analysed in SPSS. I used logistic and multiple regression to analyse my data. This presentation will explore in-depth existing implicit belief research on singlehood, my study’s findings, and its implications. This research highlights the importance of studying underlying beliefs about relationships when considering single peoples’ modern dating practices

Navigating Gender Identity Disclosure: Vulnerabilities and Characteristics Among Canadian Teens - A Response to Saskatchewan's Bill 137

2024-03-01T11:44:46-08:00

In August 2023, the Government of Saskatchewan revised Chapter 46 of The Education Act, 1995, stipulating that teachers must notify parents when students under 16 wish to alter their name, pronouns, or gender expression to align with their gender identity. Bill 137 exposes sexual and gender Minority (SGM) youth to various risks, including potential rejection and harm from unsupportive families, as well as involuntary disclosure to parents, disregarding their intentional choices in coming out.

Prior to this policy change, the UnACoRN Study conducted a survey in 2022, involving 9,674 participants across Canada and the US, to explore where youth receive affirmation or denial of their identities, including in school environments. The study aims to reveal correlations between support systems, risk factors, and disclosure strategies.

This paper employs descriptive analysis and Pearson's Chi-squared test to examine the viewpoints of two key stakeholders: parents and teachers. It identifies significant disparities in gender identities, cultural backgrounds, and parental origin between groups who disclosed to both teachers and parents (n=374) and those who only confided in teachers (n=97).

These findings shed light on the complexities faced by SGM youth in navigating disclosure within evolving legislative frameworks. By highlighting the vulnerabilities of SGM youth who have not disclosed to their parents, this research prompts reflection on policy implications (like Bill 137 and others in New Brunswick and Alberta) and support systems that are crucial for mitigating the mental and physical health risks SGM youth encounter in the current social climate.