Undergraduate Research & Publications
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Item Open Access 2018 Pure report: Interactions of AbiK and Sak3 in vivo(University of Calgary, 2018-09-18) Sundby, AdamItem Open Access A Review of the Literature on Artificial Intelligent Speech-Recognition Chatbots for Second Language Learning(2024-10) Gauthier, Elizabeth; Dressler, RoswitaPurpose: This literature review provides an overview of articles that discuss the key factors, concepts, and variables that describe how conversational artificial intelligent (AI) technologies support second language learning, as well as the challenges to such technologies' ability to support language learning. Methods: We conducted a search of scholarly literature from 2020-2024. The search was conducted in English. The literature review included articles found based on key searches, including “speech recognition chatbots,” “language learning,” “conversational AI,” “artificial intelligence,” “large language models,” “natural language processing,” and “language acquisition.” We addressed the question: To what extent can conversation AI technologies support second language learning? Results: We found 18 relevant research articles which revealed four themes (1) willingness to communicate, (2) authentic contextualized practice, (3) immediate individualized feedback, and (4) flexible system design. All literature included are research studies, sixteen peer-reviewed and two ahead-of-print. The findings revealed that conversational AI technologies are based primarily on support for willingness to communicate, authentic contextualized practice, immediate and individualized feedback, and flexible and interactive system design. Implications: The literature review revealed that to a great extent conversational technologies are emerging as supports for second language learning due to the innovation of human-ness, system design, and program implementation. Thus, it is important to select appropriate conversational AI technologies based on the learner’s age, level, language, country, and interests for the learner to cognitively, emotionally and socially engage in speaking. In addition, implementing strategies like teacher preparation and intervention, including teaching how to properly use the technology, consistent check-ins and lessons designed for technology use, is essential to improve future use of conversation AI for supporting second language learning.Item Open Access A Review of the Literature on Online Collaborative Learning in K- 12 and Post-Secondary Education During COVID 19(2022) Tay, Sharmaine; Friesen, SharonThe COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to familiar instructional practices as the national and international response to a global pandemic precipitated a shift to online teaching and learning. This en masse transition offered a novel opportunity to examine the benefits and challenges of the now more widespread context of technologically mediated education and its impact on collaborative group learning. This conceptual review of the literature reports the findings on the impact of COVID-19 on collaborative learning in Education between the years 2020-2022. Twenty-nine of the 54 published articles from K-12 to post-secondary education contexts met the criteria established for this review and were included in the review. Three themes emerged from the review: 1) impacts of online learning on collaboration; 2) student responsibility; and 3) collaborative knowledge building. The literature on online learning and student responsibility described widely varied results with collaborative learning while the literature on online Knowledge Building learning environments indicated many of the issues had been anticipated and reported learning gains were maintained in the shift to online learning. Our review of the studies conducted during COVID-19 indicates a need for increased proactive intentional design to support learners in online learning environments.Item Open Access Access to Health Care Services:Recommendations for Homeless Shelters from Women Shelter Consumers(2009) Newman, Jennifer; Walsh, Christine A.Item Open Access Adaptive Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer(2019-09-23) Harjai, NabhyaHead and neck cancer is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide with 350 000 deaths reported annually (1). Radiotherapy is one of the most common treatment modalities for head and neck cancer patients. Although head and neck cancer (HNC) survival is steadily increasing, the close proximity of tumor volumes to organs at risk (OARs) makes radiotherapy planning and delivery challenging for these patients. We hypothesize it will not only further reduce the incidence of treatment-related toxicities and improve post-treatment quality of life of patients with cancer but also improve the allocation of essential clinical resources.Item Open Access Addictions 101(2013-11) Sekhon, BikramItem Open Access Adult patient perspectives of the unknowns of living with epilepsy - results from a focus group study.(2019-11-24) Lee, Jeanie Y. Y.; Gelfand, Jennifer; Khan, Sundus; Crooks, Rachel E.; Josephson, Colin B.; Wiebe, Samuel; Patten, Scott B.; Korngut, Lawrence; Smith, Eric Edward; Roach, Pamela M.Background/Objectives: Epilepsy is one of the most common and debilitating neurological conditions that affects nearly 50 million people worldwide, yet there remains a stigma around this condition, which can impact the information-seeking behaviours of patients. As the Brain and Mental Health Research Clinics develop a website about registry-based research, including patient-facing areas, it is important to understand how patients look for information, and the types of information they are seeking out. The objective of this study was to encourage conversation and understand the patient perspectives of existing knowledge gaps between epilepsy patients and the resources they use to obtain information. Methods: A total of thirteen patients (mean (SD) age = 46.4 (16.1) years) from the Calgary Comprehensive Epilepsy Program Registry and four caregivers participated in one of the three focus groups completed in order to meet our aims. There were eight female and five male patients. A semi-structured guide was used to understand the patients’ experiences, top concerns, informational resources currently used, and resources or knowledge that patients felt are lacking. The focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic content analysis was conducted by two researchers who independently open-coded the transcripts using NVivo 11. The final analysis was done by team discussion and ongoing analysis of the codes to create themes and sub-themes. Results: The major themes that emerged from the data included: 1) daily management; 2) resources; and 3) medications and treatment. For daily management, the participants reported concerns about the effects of epilepsy on day-to-day activities such as driving, working, and the barriers they face in society due to their perceived lack of awareness and education about seizure management in the general public. The participants felt negatively impacted by the stigma and compared their experience with epilepsy with other disorders such as cancer or diabetes which they feel are much more accepted in society. The geographical location of the patient also plays a role in the support they receive for epilepsy management, with participants citing challenges and feelings of isolation in rural areas. To acquire more information about epilepsy, participants reported that they primarily asked their physicians or searched online. However, despite the conveniences of the internet, some individuals felt the volume and variation of quality of online information was overwhelming. Instead, they would prefer to go to trusted resources that are provided by healthcare professionals or websites affiliated with hospitals or universities. Updated information on medication, side effects, and research are examples of resources the patients would like to see provided on such websites. Conclusion: Overall, it is clear from our focus groups that resources and support for self-management and day-to-day living for individuals with epilepsy is paramount to reduce knowledge gaps. Not only is it important to provide daily management and medication information to patients through trusted organizational resources, but it is equally important to increase public awareness about epilepsy and seizure disorders to reduce the stigma attached to these conditions.Item Open Access An Analysis of the Barriers Encountered in the Teaching and Learning of Refugee Youth Through Trauma Informed Practices(University of Calgary, 2018-09-24) Pelletier, JanineThis report presents the results of a qualitative study that explored the multiple facets of the teaching and learning of youth from refugee backgrounds, many of whom are participating in specialized programming within the Calgary, Alberta area. In particular, this article presents data and discussion regarding some of the interwoven challenges encountered by youth, families, teachers, and administration when working with refugee youth. This study confirms that improvements are needed in areas such as teaching strategies, teacher training, school inclusive practices, and systematic utilization of community services. Teachers also expressed the need to combat ongoing prejudice at the peer, teacher, and administrative level. Further, implications for policy and practice are discussed.Item Open Access An Analysis of the Rio + 20 Discourse Using an Ability Expectation Lens(2012) Noga, Jacqueline; Wolbring, GregorItem Open Access Anatomical Tracing of the Efferent and Afferent Projections of the Red Nuclues(University of Calgary, 2018-09-24) Ngan, Sara; Sharma, Sandeep; Whelan, Patrick J.Motor behaviors are essential for survival, such as walking, foraging for food or escaping predators. Still, little is known about the specific descending pathways to the spinal cord that control complex motor movements. From the brain, there are four main pathways that descend directly to the spinal cord which contribute to the wide array of movements used in our daily lives. One of these pathways is the rubrospinal tract, which originates at the red nucleus in the midbrain. Previous experiments revealed that the red nucleus is important in the fine motor control, response rate and smoothening of limb movements. Despite the importance of the rubrospinal tract and the red nucleus, this pathway has not been studied extensively in mice. This project aims to determine the afferent and efferent connectivity of the red nucleus. This was achieved using viral tracing techniques. The retrograde tracer cholera toxin B (CTB) and the anterograde tracer biotin dextran amine (BDA) were injected into the red nucleus and their resulting expression throughout the brain was identified. Based on preliminary data, the major areas that project to the red nucleus are the primary and secondary motor cortices, the preoptic area, the posterior lateral hypothalamus, zona incerta, periaqueductal grey and the gigantoreticular nucleus. The results of this study provide the fundamentals for future studies of the rubrospinal tract. Moving forward, the cell types and role of these identified pathways can be studied to further build on our understanding of motor pathways.Item Open Access The Archaeology of Death on the Shore of Lake Nicaragua(2009) Wilke, SachaItem Open Access Auroral X-Ray Imager(University of Calgary, 2018-09-21) Pitzel, JaredItem Open Access A BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS INVESTIGATION OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE USE AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING(Program for Undergraduate Research Experience, 2019-09-23) Pavelka, ChloeItem Open Access Biophysical Investigation of Biodegradable Nanoparticle Interactions with Lung Surfactant Model(2010) Hong, Minkyu Jason; Prenner, Elmar J.Item Open Access Brain Function during Virtual Surgery(2009) Choi, May; Sun, S.; Goodyear, B.; Sutherland, GItem Open Access Calculating star formation rate (SFR) of ~100 galaxies(2014-12-05) Mehmood, Harisah; Stil, JeroenItem Open Access Calgary Insect Pollinator Diversity and Native Plant Associations(2021-10-15) Vermaak, Sarah; Seal, Michaela; Ford-Sahibzada, Taylor; Summers, MindiInsects pollinate roughly 75% of Earth’s flowering plants, and while Calgary hosts a large number of diverse insect pollinators, its insect diversity and plant associations had not yet been cataloged. This study sought to document the diversity of Calgary’s insect pollinators and determine which native plants support them. We observed and combined observations of plant-pollinator relationships collected through iNaturalist (3168 observations) from 2008-2021, physical collections and observations from specific plants in 2020 (1840 observations), and observations of insects visiting flowers during transect (294 observations) and quadrat (225 observations) surveys in 2021. We compared the number and association type for 59 native plants, and nine major insect groups (flies, beetles, true bugs, wasps, solitary bees, butterflies, ants, bumble bees, and honey bees). We identified 63 families, 148 genera, and 194 species of insects. We found the greatest number of species and plant-pollinator associations for flies and solitary bees, followed by bumble bees and butterflies. We also identified ten native plants that were associated with the greatest number of major insect groups. The results of this project will aid conservation and restoration efforts by providing guidance to city planners, landscape designers, and gardeners on which plants best support our city’s pollinators.Item Open Access Changing Attitudes to Arctic Security: Arctic Defence and Foreign Policy, 1989-2018(University of Calgary, 2018-09-23) Longman, MischaItem Open Access A collection of cognitively demanding acute trigonometry tasks for grade eleven Albertan teachers.(2019-09-20) McConnell, SeanThis report looks at the levels of cognitive demand that were used in an Albertan mathematics 20-2 classroom to teach a unit on acute triangle trigonometry during a student teacher's practicum as part of a PURE summer research award.Item Open Access Computer modeling of mouse atrial cell electrophysiology(2009) Chockalingam, Priya; Nygren, Anders