Personal Meaning Mapping as a research methodology: a participatory applied research presentation   

Personal Meaning Maps are tools that seek to understand meaning-making. This arts-based method of generating data is a variant of concept maps that focuses on the construction of personal meanings and the relationships between them. Participants are encouraged to express different meanings and associations in relation to a topic in whichever way makes sense to them (i.e., written, drawn, a combination).   

In this presentation, my goal is to inform other novice researchers about Personal Meaning Maps (PMMs) as a method of generating data, which may help them when conducting research that may be more challenging for participants to express and share their experiences. I will cover strengths, limitations and opportunities associated with this method. I decided to implement PMMs in my study to help participants express their thoughts and ideas about a more abstract topic that might be difficult to speak to verbally. PMMs also be used to conduct anti-oppressive research. Participants share their experiences in a way that resonates with them, promoting autonomy, freedom of expression, and ultimately, de-centring the researcher.   

In my research, my participants were youth between the ages of 11-15. Participants completed their own Personal Meaning Maps in conjunction with a semi-structured interview about their connections to nature. Youth were provided with a piece of poster board as well as a variety of art materials. To help participants understand what is being asked of them, different examples from another discipline were chosen and shown to the youth prior to them beginning the activity. 

Briseis’ Lament and the Agency of Enslaved People   

On November 28, 2022, Angelina Jolie published an op-ed demanding that governments take steps to end sexual violence in conflict zones (Jolie 2022). While this discussion of women in warfare is contemporary, it is grounded in a long history of marginalization. Nearly three thousand years ago, the Iliad presented the earliest literary example of a woman captured in war, Briseis, who speaks to us about her experience (Il. 19.287-300). While her experience has traditionally been reduced to the label of “concubine” (Krill 1971; Rose 2015), I will argue that there is more nuance to the representation of Briseis in the Iliad. Despite the brevity of her speech, it draws attention to her social network, something that is repressed by slavery. By describing both her past with her natal family and an imagined future as the legitimate wife of Achilles, she defines herself as a person beyond her enslaved status. As one of the key textual sources for slavery in Archaic Greece, the Iliad provides insight into the complicated opportunities that may have been available for enslaved women to manage their social situations. This research will not only give scholarly attention to an often-neglected figure; it is also tied directly to a contemporary world that still grapples with issues of sexual violence in warfare. With emerging first-hand accounts of women who have experienced similar coercion, reading Briseis’ agency as an ancient commentary on sexual violence and enslavement in warfare provides an important connection between the ancient world and the modern.

Research in the time of genocide   

This presentation is an autoethnographic exploration of a complication that arose when the doctoral researcher’s subject and main informant, a West Bank based Palestinian music teacher named Mohamed currently in the United States, became emotionally unable to continue contributing to what was initially envisioned as a collaborative research project about his life and work building musical culture.  

The reason for this breakdown has been the Israeli military’s relentless bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the October 7 attack last fall by Hamas on Israelis and several foreign nationals in Israel. Since then, the war on Hamas has been a nightmarish news story to behold, particularly so for Palestinians. The complete destruction of Palestinian civic infrastructure in Gaza, along with the killings of tens of thousands of civilian lives, and the ensuing humanitarian catastrophe of famine and disease for those still alive but trapped with nowhere to flee and prevented from receiving aid, has led to charges of Israel committing war crimes and genocide.  

This presentation probes both the researcher’s reaction in the face of Mohamed’s silence and Mohamed’s inability to communicate by drawing on the Holocaust and the limits of representation engendered during deliberately inflicted human suffering and disrespect for human life on an industrial scale. Mohamed’s retreat from everyday interactions is also understood as one who is grieving, feeling unworthy of self-conscious attention cast on him through the research, and desiring to commemorate the untold dead Palestinians through a quiet, undisturbed, and unmediated connection with them. 

Quantum Enhanced Machine Learning to Fight the Opioid Epidemic   

The opioid epidemic has drastic consequences for individuals and society. Currently, hundreds die daily due to opioid toxicity and its related effects. Compounding the problem is that increasingly, overdose treatments are becoming less effective due the dosages and strength of modern opioids. In this environment, Naloxone may not be enough to save lives. Development of new options is hindered by the fact that such remedies need to travel into the brain to have their effect. This is a significant barrier to overcome, and a difficult area afterwards. To help solve this problem, computational drug design methods can be used to find new compounds with the potential for effective treatment, within the vast chemical search space. Our approach will leverage 1) a evolutionary computational framework to oversee optimization, 2) a deep generative model to find high-performance drug components, 3) a 3D binding affinity predictor, 4) a variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) to avoid volatile compounds. In collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, a quantum computing device will be accessed to perform the VQE calculations. The EC will receive information back from the other models to improve candidates over time according to a many-objective optimization scheme. The result will be the discovery of drug candidates bearing optimal trade-offs between the objectives. 

Exercise: A Neurostructural Remodeling Perspective

Exercise is well-accepted as a metabolic stressor for the entire body, including the brain. Although biological sex likely moderates the effects of exercise, the mechanisms underlying sex-specific brain adaptations to this metabolic stressor remain vastly understudied. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for the development of neural networks, and its degradation is necessary for new synaptic connectivity and angiogenesis. Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are ECM components involved in synaptic stabilization. Chronic aerobic exercise reduces PNNs in the hippocampus, which also correlates with improved spatial learning. Although neuroinflammation regulates ECM composition through MMP-9 enzyme activity, the mechanisms behind PNN degradation through exercise is unknown. The purpose of this investigation is to (1) investigate the sex-specific mechanisms of acute versus chronic aerobic exercise on neuroinflammation, neuro-angiogenesis, and neuroplasticity and (2) determine if there is a relationship between these neurobiological changes and learning and memory outcomes in young healthy adult mice. Male and female C57BL6/J mice will be assigned to either an acute or chronic treadmill exercise group or a sedentary group. Novel Object Location Task and Novel Object Recognition Task will be used to assess learning and memory outcomes. Western blot analysis will be used to examine the protein content of the ECM, MMP-9, and cytokines. It is expected that memory will be enhanced in both sexes and with both exercise interventions. ECM proteins will be lower with the chronic intervention. Acute exercise will upregulate inflammatory cytokines and MMP-9 in the hippocampus, but this will not be conserved with chronic exercise.  

Transformer-Based Multi-Objective Contrastive Deep Reinforcement Learning for Drug Design   

Designing and optimizing drugs are exceptionally challenging tasks that require strategic and efficient exploration of an immensely vast search space. In scientific literature, several fragmentation strategies have been suggested to reduce the complexity of this chemical search space. From an optimization perspective, drug design can be considered as a multi-objective optimization problem. Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) frameworks have demonstrated promising results within the domain of drug design. However, factors such as substantial training intervals and inefficient use of sample data hinder the effectiveness and scalability of these methods. In this work, we introduce a novel transformer-based DRL approach to optimize molecules for multiple target pharmacological properties. Our approach uses a Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformer (BERT) model as the foundation, which undergoes  pre-training in two phases. In the first phase, the model learns existing fragment relationships in molecules represented by SMILES strings using masked language modeling (MLM). In the second phase, MLM is coupled with contrastive learning to enable the model to understand molecular similarities. Subsequently, the model is fine-tuned through DRL, where it assumes the role of the base-model for both the actor and critic to optimize a set of initial molecules. This optimization task entails replacing fragments in the original molecules with alternative fragments from a fragment library, resulting in the generation of new molecules with chemical structures comparable to the originals while satisfying multiple target properties. Empirical testing validated the effectiveness of our framework in optimizing a set of molecules that initially failed to meet all target properties. Nearly all molecules optimized by our model were chemically valid, with approximately 50% satisfying all target properties. 

Crip Time in the Lives of Young Carers: Interrogating Normative Representations of Childhood   

Contemporary conceptualizations of childhood are rooted in discourses of child development, childhood innocence, and the child/adult binary. Young carers provide an important and necessary challenge to developmental perspectives by supporting a disabled family member(s)/friend(s), thus skuttling a normative model of growth. By taking on care roles and responsibilities at young ages, young carers are predominantly represented as ‘tragic victims of circumstance’ and in need of protection. Crip time reorients us to the different temporalities in which disabled people live their lives. This conceptualization of flexible time disrupts linearity and embraces the negotiation of intra-family roles within and between childhood and adulthood. Through taking a relational approach to temporality, crip time provides an alternative conceptualization of childhood that acknowledges interdependent care and flexible temporalities which may better reflect the lived experiences of young carers and their families. 

Assessing Barriers and Facilitators in Evidence-Based Parent Training   

Parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who seek behaviour-based support often struggle with the high demands of implementing programming with their child(ren) in their own environments. Parents are often primary implementers of behavioural training and supports with their children; therefore, understanding how to best support them best is highly warranted. Parents may face barriers when attempting to implement the strategies required to support their children. A function-based approach that considers the impact of environmental variables is known to be effective when supporting child behaviour. However, clinicians often measure parent adherence and accuracy in implementing programming without exploring what environmental variables may serve as barriers and facilitators to their success. This presentation will review a proposed study that aims to address this important gap in the research by attempting to formally assess barriers and facilitators to parent-implemented programs through a comprehensive functional behaviour assessment, including experimental functional analysis. Specific environmental barriers that may be impacting parent behaviour (revealed in the indirect and direct assessment phases of the assessment) will be experimentally tested in a functional analysis which will be used to inform function-matched behaviour supports. Results may equip clinicians to better support parent skill development in an individualized manner to promote more consistent implementation of behaviour change programs. 

A Comparison of Two Dependent Group Contingencies: Hero Identified and Hero Unidentified   

In Canada and the United States, over 60% of children 5 – 17 years do not meet the daily recommended physical activity goal of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. This is concerning since physical inactivity increases children’s risk for obesity, type two diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. To combat this, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a comprehensive approach for increasing children’s step counts within schools. Targeting physical activity in schools seems ideal because regular physical activity has been shown to (a) increase children’s grades, creativity, concentration, and self-esteem and (b) decrease anxiety and depression. Therefore, it seems imperative for researchers to identify effective strategies for increasing children’s physical activity within schools.  

One strategy that has been found to increase children’s step count within schools is the dependent group contingency (DGC). This procedure is also known as the “”hero procedure” because the target student can be a “hero” by earning a reward for the class. Two common variants of the DGC involve different criteria for identifying the hero. In the hero-identified DGC, the hero is only identified to the class if, the hero meets their goal. In the hero-unidentified DGC, the hero is never identified to the class. To date, no study has compared the effectiveness of the hero-identified and hero-unidentified DGCs to increase children’s physical activity within schools. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine which DGC variant is (a) most effective for increasing childrens physical activity in school and (b) preferred by children. 

Stories from the playground: Children’s daily experiences in the outdoor play space at a childcare center   

In this presentation I will share findings from my ethnographic PhD research that explores children’s perspectives and experiences in their outdoor play space, at a childcare center in a lower-socioeconomic neighbourhood in the greater Toronto area. My focus on children’s perspectives and experiences is important because there is a large body of research on children’s outdoor play that focuses on the developmental benefits however there is very little research that explores children’s relationality and multilayered complex daily practices in outdoor play in Early Childhood Education and Care (Albon & Huf, 2021).   

Grounded in new materialism theory my work explores ideas that include decentring the child and recognizing the agency of all matter produced through intra-activity (Barad, 2007). In this presentation I will highlight how all beings, human and more-than-human are important and show how they are all in the process of becoming together. I will share stories of entanglements in the outdoor space using data from my research that include photographs taken by the children and myself and dialogue I have documented while I was in the space. Some of these stories will focus on children’s entanglements with different materiality, insects, water, ice, sand and mud. 

Examining the Mechanisms and Boundary Conditions of Workplace Sexual Harassment Incidents   

This research aims to contribute to the workplace sexual harassment (WSH) disclosure literature by introducing an emotion-based model that delves into the intricacies of why and how individuals exposed to WSH events choose (or refrain from choosing) to report these events. By drawing upon the Affective Event Theory (AET, Weiss & Cropanzano, 1996), this study seeks to unravel how negative workplace events such as exposure to workplace sexual harassment incidents might lead towards disclosure, exit, and neglect behaviors and lower loyalty via the activation of negative emotions of anger. The study also examines the role of situational characteristics (i.e., situational six factors) and workplace inclusive climate as moderators that can either alleviate or exacerbate the effects of WSH incidents on attitudes and behaviors. Furthermore, this study also examines the role of a dispositional moderator of tolerance of ambiguity in anger and work-related attitudes and behaviors. Our study is unique in the sense that it puts forth novel emotional mechanisms and boundary conditions encompassing both situational and person related characteristics that explain how and when victims of sexual harassment incidents will move towards disclosure, exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect behaviors. By focusing on the impact of workplace sexual harassment on employee outcomes, this study serves as part of a broader effort to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 (Gender Equality) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). 

Exploring the Process of Organizational Change within the Sport Industry: A Stakeholder Perspective   

Change is both an inevitable and instrumental phenomenon within the management of organizations, and organizational change has been a continually evolving concept in the research field of sport management for decades (Wagstaff et al., 2016). Expanding knowledge about how stakeholders perceive, evaluate, and respond to change over an extended period will further understanding of how stakeholders navigate through change to form perceptions. Exploring these perceptions in the community sport context is particularly relevant to theoretical understandings of change, given that stakeholders in the community sport context have unique expectations of sport delivery outcomes (Hoye & Cuskelly, 2006). From a practical standpoint, evolving perceptions of change among stakeholders (e.g., coaches, administrators, parents) are commonplace within organizations where process change may occur. Therefore, understanding how stakeholders navigate change through their evolving perceptions remains relatively unknown within previous sport management literature.   

The purpose of this presentation is to explore stakeholder experiences and evolving perceptions of organizational change in sport organizations. With stakeholder theory (Mahon & Waddock, 1992) as a framework, this presentation showcases data that demonstrates how stakeholder experiences with change both evolve and change over time. Using a case study of a policy change in a community sport organization, the findings will be presented to emphasize where perceptions of change fluctuate through identified “episodes” in a change process, and varying (1) feelings towards and (2) reactions to change across stakeholder groups. Implications for sport management research and practice will be discussed. 

You have to Know to Know”: The Unique Pathway on the Way to Golf Fandom   

Golf fans are the lifeblood of the professional golf industry, but researchers have done little work to understand them (Kitching et al., 2023). Typically, a sport fan’s geographical location connects closely to the team a fan supports (Sidani et al. 2021), but golf fandom is often minimally impacted by geographical proximity since events are held globally (Liston & Kitching, 2020). The PGA Tour has fostered an environment where fans identify most with players, the PGA Tour, and golf itself (Robinson et al., 2004). However, how did these fans come to identify so strongly with these attachments?  

Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed to discover the process of how PGA Tour fans became highly identified fans. Uniquely, many fans relate their participation in golf to why they became fans of the game. The process of how fans begin participating, grow in identification with the sport, and transfer this identification to becoming a fan of the PGA Tour are detailed. This process is supported by literature on the sacred and the profane (Belk et al., 1989) to illustrate the escalation of fandom using the psychological continuum model (Funk & James, 2001) as well as other theory surrounding socialization.   

These findings add to the literature surrounding golf fans, a highly unique group with contextual attachments. Understanding how their fandom develops offers a unique, atypical pathway to becoming a sport fan, adding to the relevant literature on the antecedents and development of sport fandom. Consequently, unique theoretical and practical implications are offered. 

Taking the Spread – A Means End Analysis of Undergraduate Students that Wager on Sports  

In Spring 2018, the United States Supreme Court overturned the federal law that prohibited sports betting in most states. Similarly, the Government of Canada amended the law that prohibited single game sport betting beginning in summer of 2021, with both governments deferring to individual states, or provinces, to draft their own bills to accommodate these changes. Collectively, these legal changes resulted in a boom in sports betting across North America, especially among teens and young adults. What was once a banned activity is now actively promoted in national media outlets, especially during prominent sporting events. This boom resulted in the creation of dozens of new sportsbooks cropping up, as well as the expansion of existing gaming companies that adapted to the new laws. However, due to the stringency of these laws and the monopolistic market of the product, the fight to garner larger market share is undoubtedly influenced by associated values shared among the consumers and each sportsbook. The aim of this study is to use means-end theory to determine the laddering of these values to better understand how sports bettors determine why and where they are placing their bets. This study relies on individual interviews with a purposively selected sample of undergraduate students that best represent the long views of the long-term users of these platforms. These values can be used both to assist in the development of sportsbook operations and to better understand underlying psychological attributes of young sport bettors. Results of the current study and implications for sports marketing and future research will be discussed during the presentation session. 

Exploring the Effect of 1:1 Acceptance and Commitment Training Sessions on Staff Engagement in Values-Directed Behaviours using Ecological Momentary Assessment

Staff supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience high levels of stress in the workplace (Alexander & Hegarty, 2000; Noone & Hasting, 2009). Stress can impact the quality of care that support staff provide to clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) within community agencies. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training (ACT) focuses on helping individuals develop psychological flexibility to improve well-being. The purpose of this study is to determine whether three, 1-hour 1:1 ACT coaching sessions, following participation in an ACT group-based workshop, increase senior staff engagement in committed actions (CA). The coaching sessions will be informed by a previous evaluation conducted with caregivers. A concurrent multiple baseline, across 3-5 staff will be used to evaluate CA across four phases: baseline, training, post-training, and follow-up. The frequency and quality of CA will be measured using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via a smartphone application. Participants will complete a social validity questionnaire to assess their overall experience (e.g., acceptability of the ACT sessions and use of the EMA application). If participants demonstrate an increase in engagement in committed actions, findings may inform future training offered to all levels of staff working within community agencies to promote psychological flexibility on an individual level, and a supportive work environment on an agency level. Findings may help to address gaps in ACT literature and help to inform how EMA can be leveraged to add validity to outcomes in ACT research, specifically within community support agencies. 

Finding Ways to Support the Transition to Accessible Karate Services   

Karate is a relatively popular activity and improves self-esteem, self-discipline, cognitive and mental functioning. It also serves as an outlet for aggression, improves social relatedness, coping skills, and emotional regulation. It has significant health benefits and fosters community, spiritual growth and acceptance of others.  Studies indicate a gap in accessible, adaptive physical activity programs across rural regions, thus, a conclusion can be made that finding ways to make karate services accessible is a sustainable approach to elevating the gaps in services reported. The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) presently has seventy registered businesses operating across Canada serving communities across rural Ontario. Using a qualitative methodology through the lens of a human systems theoretical framework, guided by Critical disability studies, thirteen karate business / instructors were interviewed in order to better understand the barriers and facilitators to accessibility in their own communities.  The results suggest seven recommendations which include: 1)Training about accessibility laws 2) Training about funding opportunities and relevant partnerships 3) Understanding business strategy 4) Training about Universal Design for Learning 5) Adapted karate training 6) Becoming an ally.  

The effect of Canada Child Benefit on labor supply and family well-being.   

In 2016, the federal government of Canada introduced Canada Child Benefit (CCB) to replace previously existing child benefit policies to assist Canadian families with the cost of raising children. This study investigates the cost to the policy in terms of how parents’ response to the program by their supply to the labor market. I also investigate whether the policy affects fertility. 

The Price is Right: Unraveling Optimal Pricing Strategies for Varied Accommodations 

In this research, we study the relationship between price and occupancy rates of around 1,000 properties in Niagara Falls. The emphasis is to uncover a potential curvilinear relationship. Our main hypothesis is the relationship between price and occupancy rate is not linear. This suggests that there is an optimal price point that maximizes occupancy, beyond which higher prices deter guests. We also consider property type as a moderating variable, considering how different types of accommodations might affect this price-occupancy relationship differently.  

We use polynomial regression analysis to identify the presence of a U-shaped or inverted U-shaped curve in the data. This indicates that the effect of price on occupancy rate varies at different price levels. In addition, we explore how this relationship is moderated by property type. This suggests that the price sensitivity of potential guests may differ based on the category of accommodation.  

The findings of this study will contribute to the existing literature on pricing strategies in the tourism and hospitality industry. This research also has practical implications. It offers insights into how property managers in tourist destinations like Niagara Falls can optimize their pricing strategies to achieve higher occupancy rates. 

Market Reactions to Dual-class Share Unification and Creation: Evidence from Canada  

This study examines the short-term market reaction to creation of dual-class shares and unification of dual-class shares in Canada. We seek to answer questions related to wealth effect, trading volume activity changes, liquidity adjustments and changes in institutional ownership surrounding the two stated events. We use an event study methodology to conduct abnormal return analysis on three event dates: The Announcement day (AD), the Approval Day (ApD), and the Effective Day (ED). For our creation sample, we see significance on the announcement day (AD) as markets rose by nearly 4%. For our unification sample, we see market reaction on all three dates and abnormal returns associated with the reaction were significant on parametric and non-parametric tests. We also conduct tests around trading volume and find trading volume activity increased significantly surrounding both the creation and the unification of dual-class shares. Overall, our analyses so far suggest a strong market reaction on both of the events. We hope to continue our study by examining changes in liquidity, and changes in institutional ownership. We also seek to conduct a cross-sectional analysis for our abnormal return variable to generate some explanation for the significant abnormal return. However, a pertinent criticism of our study is the limited sample size, comprising 24 cases for the unification sample and 8 cases for the creation sample. To address this concern, we plan to expand the sample period from 2005-2022 to 1980-2022, aiming to mitigate the issue of the small sample size and enhance the robustness of our findings. 

The impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the manufacturing sector   

Foreign direct investment benefits most countries in terms of technological transfer, technical knowledge, and the level of productivity (Iddrisu et. al, 2015). Foreign direct investment (FDI) improves productivity and development of host countries according to a large body of research (Antwi & Zhao, 2011). After most African countries gained independence in the 1960s, they decided to shield local industries by imposing trade restrictions and controls on capital. However, initiatives that will stimulate the interest of foreign firms and individual investors’ attention were put in place to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI).  As a result, FDI in Africa has risen in recent years particularly since the 1990s (Ndikumana, 2003). The manufacturing industry’s productivity has been geared toward labor utilization and output. According to the World Bank (2019), improving productivity helps impoverished households’ livelihoods by raising employment levels. Ghana has low productivity in terms of employment, according to Teal et al. (2006). This is in relation to skilled labor, demonstrating the need to research the impact FDI has on the manufacturing sector productivity.   

Many studies on FDI and productivity has been inconclusive on how the effect is determined. Djokoto & Dzeha (2012), said that inconclusive nature requires that we identify the heterogeneity of the individual sectors and how they affect the productivity of the individual sectors. This is because; labor employed influences the output of the sector hence informing its addition to the growth of the economy. The study will contribute to the existing literature in terms of the use of output per labor as a measure of productivity rather than GDP growth of a country. It will also allow policymakers and governments to know the right steps to take to ensure productivity increases, which will lead further to economic growth. 

Sleep difficulties as a universal risk factor for medically treated injuries among adolescents in 46 Countries   

Purpose: Poor sleep is common among adolescents and associated with unintentional injuries. The current evidence base is limited by differences in measures of sleep and injury implemented across studies. We examined the potential universality of the relationship between poor sleep and injury cross-nationally using self-reports from 229,589 adolescents in 46 countries that were collected using common procedures and measures.  

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using records from the 2017/18 International Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study. The prevalence of sleep indicators (difficulties in falling asleep, insufficient sleep, and social jet lag) and medically treated injuries (any and multiple) were described across countries and by gender. Multivariable modified Poisson regression analyses were conducted within and across countries to test the consistency of the association between poor adolescent sleep and injury.  

Results: Poor sleep was common among adolescents yet varied by gender and across countries. Country-level analyses found consistently positive associations between indicators of poor sleep and injuries. Pooled (multi-country) analyses further demonstrated a universality of these relationships across sleep indicators and injury outcomes. The strength of relationships varied by gender, with more robust associations detected among girls compared to boys.   

Discussion: Poor sleep is a robust and consistent risk factor for injury among adolescents across countries and regions. Public health officials and policymakers should therefore recognize adolescent sleep as a health priority. The promotion of sleep hygiene may represent a novel target for injury prevention at regional and national levels. 

Reassessment of Melatonin Antagonism at 5HT2A Receptor   

Serotonin and melatonin are neurochemicals that regulate many body functions in human systems. Particularly, they are believed to lead opposing effects to regulate circadian rhythm, and melatonin is conventionally perceived as an antagonist for 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2AR). However, melatonin’s influence on serotonin signaling remains unclear. This study challenges the prevailing notion by investigating the possibility of melatonin acting as an agonist for 5-HT2AR. Through a multidisciplinary approach integrating molecular biology, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis, we aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing melatonin-5-HT2AR interactions. Employing recombinant 5-HT2AR models in vitro, we seek to characterize melatonin’s functional consequences on 5-HT2AR activity. By bridging gaps in current literature, this research offers insights into circadian rhythm regulation, sleep modulation, and mental health. Moreover, if melatonin is identified as a 5-HT2AR agonist, it may contribute to therapeutic strategies targeting serotonin dysregulation. This study’s findings may hold potential for understanding the intricate interplay between melatonin and serotonin receptors, paving the way for more effective treatments in neuropsychiatric disorders. 

The effect of pregnancy on obstacle avoidance performance during gait

Background: Pregnancy involves biomechanical changes that impact the musculoskeletal system. A rapid anterior weight gain of 10-15 kg within 20-30 weeks causes an upward and forward shift of a woman’s center of mass, leading to a reduction in the range of motion and improper loading of the hip, knee, and ankle joints. As a result, pregnant women exhibit altered gait characteristics compared with non-pregnant women including a slower gait speed, a shorter step length and a wider stance. Previous studies have examined how these altered gait mechanics might explain the increased fall risk on level ground. However, falls most often occur in challenging environments involving uneven ground surfaces, stairs, poor lighting, or obstructed views. Therefore, it would be worthwhile to examine whether pregnancy-related gait adaptations become more pronounced during an obstacle avoidance task. Methods:  Fifteen pregnant and 15 non-pregnant women will walk along a walkway under two experimental conditions (i.e., no obstacle and obstacle). When applicable, an obstacle will be placed approximately half-way along the walkway such that the participant will need to step over the obstacle and continue walking along the walkway. Expected results: Due to the biomechanical constraints associated with pregnancy, it is hypothesized that compared to non-pregnant women, pregnant women will demonstrate an exaggeration of altered gait characteristics when approaching an obstacle as well as slower reaction times and smaller toe clearance heights when stepping over the obstacle. Furthermore, pregnant women are expected to exhibit a larger variability in stepping and avoidance strategies.