Field Observation Blog

After observing each day in a second grade classroom, I wrote a blog entry about my experiences

Re-membering a Queer Body

In the spring 1993 issue of The Sciences, Brown University geneticist Anne Fausto-Sterling, citing the work of John Money, indicates that approximately four percent of the population is, to some degree, intersexual: they either possess physical characteristics of both officially recognized sexes or they have chromosomes which indicate a sex which are 'contradicted' by their physical appearance.1 In Toronto, the four percent figure translates into roughly 88,000 people. Yet little has been written about intersexuality, although its concerns often intersect with those of feminist and queer theory. This paper deals with feminist issues in patriarchal medicine and its relation(s) to intersexuality (and intersexuality's inherent ability to challenge arguments for the 'natural' basis of heterosexuality)

High throughput particle analysis: combining dielectrophoretic particle focussing with confocal optical detection

A microflow cytometer has been fabricated that detects and counts fluorescent particles flowing through a microchannel at a high speed based upon their fluorescence emission intensity. Dielectrophoresis is used to continuously focus particles within the flowing fluid stream into the centre of the device, which is 40 μm high and 250 μm wide. The method ensures that all the particles pass through an interrogation region approximately 5 μm in diameter, which is created by focusing a beam of light into a spot. The functioning of the device was demonstrated by detecting and counting fluorescent latex particles at a rate of up to 250 particles/s. A mixture of three different populations of latex particle was used, each sub-population with a distinct level of fluorescent intensity. The device was evaluated by comparison with a conventional fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS) and numerical simulation demonstrated that for 6 mico m beads, and for this design of chip the theoretical throughput is of the order of 1000 particles/s (corresponding to a particle velocty of 1 mm/s)

The potential for geochemical discrimination of single- and mixed-source soil samples from close proximity urban parkland locations

This initial study assessed the feasibility of geochemical analysis to discriminate single- and mixed-source soil/sediment samples from close proximity sites, a key attribute for forensic comparison and crime reconstruction. Key techniques including ICP-MS, ICP-AES and XRF were able to discriminate between the sites used in this study. The findings of this experimental study provide empirical evidence that highlights the difficulties associated with interpreting data from the elemental analysis of soil samples from geographically similar locations, and demonstrates the issues associated with samples of mixed provenance. Statistical analysis of mixed-provenance samples in comparison with the single-source control sites revealed no significant difference between the mixed and single source samples illustrating that, in this particular case, the samples could not be excluded from having a similar source in direct contrast to previously published findings. This study underlines the necessity to understand further the degree of complexity that exists for the analysis and interpretation of both single- and mixed-source forensic soil/sediment samples and confirms the need for multiple independent methods to be used in order to begin to draw meaningful conclusions of forensically relevant provenance

Lactation Support on Low-Income Women Exclusively Breastfeeding

Low-socioeconomic-status new mothers who wish to exclusively breastfeed, face significant challenges associated with available resources, finances, and maternal leave. To address this issue, the authors explored the following evidence-based PICOT question: among low-socioeconomic-status new mothers that breastfeed, does access to lactation supports in the workplace, compared to no or limited access, affect their ability to exclusively breastfeed for the baby’s first six months? This project conducted a search of the literature in CINAHL and PubMed databases using the terms breastfeeding, low-socioeconomic-status, and workplace lactational support. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed articles published between 2017 to present, containing keywords/phrases used in the search. Articles that did not discuss lactation support for low-socioeconomic-status breastfeeding women were excluded. Longer maternity leave is associated with increased breastfeeding duration. The literature highlights for working new mothers, lactation support in the workplace includes breastfeeding breaks, flexible work arrangements, private spaces, and facilities for expressing breast milk (Dinour & Szaro, 2017). For women of low-socioeconomic status an extended maternity leave may not be feasible, presenting women with challenges to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months. Additionally, research indicates that for women returning to work, workplace lactational supports are needed to improve the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Low-income mothers are significantly less likely to have access to extended maternity leave, and lack necessary accommodations within the workplace, including break time and/or a private space to express breast milk. When workplace lactation is supported there is a positive influence on exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months

On-chip high-speed sorting of micron-sized particles for high-throughput analysis

A new design of particle sorting chip is presented. The device employs a dielectrophoretic gate that deflects particles into one of two microfluidic channels at high speed. The device operates by focussing particles into the central streamline of the main flow channel using dielectrophoretic focussing. At the sorting junction (T- or Y-junction) two sets of electrodes produce a small dielectrophoretic force that pushes the particle into one or other of the outlet channels, where they are carried under the pressure-driven fluid flow to the outlet. For a 40mm wide and high channel, it is shown that 6micron diameter particles can be deflected at a rate of 300particles/s. The principle of a fully automated sorting device is demonstrated by separating fluorescent from non-fluorescent latex beads

Composition in Theme and Variations Form

We decided to study theme and variations composition because we found that it is very relevant and applicable to what we are learning in our Music Theory class. Variations form is also accessible to listeners and beginning composers. We hope that after our presentation, those listening will feel more comfortable in listening to and creating their own piece Theme and Variations form is a standard form of musical composition where a simple, unembellished melody is used as a theme and then repeated several times with melodic, rhythmic, harmonic, or other variations. We will take a theme and variations piece, Mozart\u27s Ah! vous dirai je maman Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star KV 265, and analyze what the theme is, and how the composer used variations of that theme in the piece. We will demonstrate the variation form with an audio timeliner diagram and audio clip. After demonstrating the form, we will show how to compose a piece in variation form, using our own original composition

Testing the limits of human vision with quantum states of light

We discuss our progress towards testing whether humans can see single photons, using a single-photon source based on spontaneous parametric downconversion and techniques from quantum optics. We review the existing evidence on single-photon vision, and show why no previous experiments with classical light sources (or otherwise) have truly been able to test it. We describe the heralded single-photon source we have built, which can be used for a definitive single-photon vision test, and discuss the statistical requirements and challenges of such a test. In pilot studies, we demonstrate that a two-alternative forced-choice design and our observer viewing station can measure the perception of very weak visual stimuli (including the weakest flashes of light ever directly tested, with just ~3 photons absorbed). We present two proposed experiments to test quantum effects through the visual system, which could contribute to our understanding of wavefunction collapse and the quantum-classical transition. We also discuss our work on other questions related to visual perception near threshold, including the length and completeness of temporal summation, which we have investigated in detail with a new experimental paradigm. We found that temporal summation continues for at least 650 ms when photons are delivered at a rate of about 30 in 100 ms, and that the completeness of summation may remain efficient over this window. Finally, we present some preliminary results on how 8- to 13-Hz alpha oscillations in the brain (which have complex effects on neural excitability and visual perception) might impact the detection of few-photon stimuli