Simon Fraser University Science Undergraduate Research Journal

Board of Editors

Michelle Lam; Meghan Dunn — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Copyright

Michelle Lam; Meghan Dunn — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Foreword

Michelle Lam; Meghan Dunn — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Acknowledgements

Michelle Lam; Meghan Dunn — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

The Ergonomics of Perry Chairs for Canadian University Students

Yu seon Chae, Aleisha Fernandes — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

The purpose of this study was to determine whether Perry chairs are objectively and subjectively comfortable for Simon Fraser University students. Purposive sampling occurred within an undergraduate Kinesiology class (BPK303) to ensure students from both ends of the height range of university students were captured. Students were asked to rate their subjective comfort after sitting in Perry chairs for two hours. Subsequently, they had six key anthropometric measures taken: hip breadth, buttock-to-scapula height, lumbar support height, hip angle, buttock-to-popliteal length and popliteal height. 25 BPK 303 student’s anthropometrics were collected but only 16 had completed a subjective survey evaluating comfort during a two-hour lecture. Results showed that participants reported no significant change in their subjective comfort ratings after the lecture. However, anthropometric measures revealed only the seat breadth was found to be ergonomically adequate. None of the participants were accommodated by all of the chair dimensions. Additionally, participants’ change in subjective comfort ratings were found to not be correlated to their anthropometric measures (p-value=0.84). In conclusion, it is recommended that future studies increase the duration and specificity of subjective comfort ratings taken in Perry chairs, as well as sample size for anthropometric measures. Moreover, further research should be conducted on the benefits of adjustable chairs and their ability to accommodate university students.

The Benefits of Mindfulness-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain

Aleisha Fernandes — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Chronic pain affects a significant proportion of the Canadian and US population and is a leading driver in the opioid crisis. They are usually non-life threatening and debilitating, however, most healthcare professionals opt to prescribe pain-reliefs drugs despite evidence showing pharmacological treatments often cause lower mental wellbeing and more functional limitations. Non-pharmacological treatments, such as mindfulness-based treatments (MBTs), are a fairly new approach that have been proven to be better at long-term pain management for chronic pain conditions. MBTs also provide opportunities for creating asynchronous and virtual delivery methods of treatment for chronic pain. This study seeks to synthesize research studies conducted on the delivery of MBTs through virtual and asynchronous methods. Five studies were used in this review and from which seven themes emerged: motivation, patient empowerment, reduced medication overuse, accessibility, improved other areas of life, technological difficulties, and consistency. Virtual MBTs can greatly improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of chronic pain services through reducing healthcare expenditures, removing transportation barriers and providing immediate access to care. Although MBTs are a powerful pain management tool, there is still a lack of research in the field, especially concerning remote methods of delivery. Additional large-scale studies and standardization of MBTs are needed to improve the efficacy and delivery of services.

Savasana and Staph Infections: An examination of the effectiveness of ‘natural’ and commercial cleaners against Staphylococcus carnosus on yoga mats

Meghan Dunn — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common bacterial strains found in community fitness centres in the United States. Recent studies have found a link between methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections and improperly sanitized fitness equipment such as yoga mats. Therefore, effective disinfectant methods are crucial for the prevention of bacterial transmission. As opposed to commercial cleaners, ‘all-natural’ or ‘organic’ cleaners have been favoured by the yoga community, however, there is very little information on their effectiveness as disinfectants against various bacteria. The goal of this study was to examine the effectiveness of different 'natural' and commercial cleaning products when disinfecting yoga mats infected with Staphylococcus carnosus. They were compared to Lysolâ All-Purpose Cleaner, a Health Canada certified disinfectant. We hypothesized that the ‘natural’ cleaners used on the yoga mat would not be as effective at inhibiting the bacterial growth of S. carnosus in comparison to the two commercial cleaners tested. It was found that the commercial cleaner containing bleach was significantly more effective than all of the natural cleaning products.

The Paradoxical Effects of Microglia in Ischemic Stroke and the Future of Treatment

Alison Fee-ping Chung — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Deadly if attended to too late, ischemic strokes affect millions of individuals around the world yearly. Microglia are one of the first respondents to brain injury, acting quickly to repair and prevent damage in the event of a stroke. These cells have been long held as beneficial protectors and healers in the neuroimmune response, however they have also been found to hold deleterious effects which may compromise the damaged tissue instead of healing. Given it’s beneficial effects, researchers have attempted to target microglia in ischemic stroke intervention and treatments but due to its paradoxical role, these attempts have been met with great difficulty and many complications. The future of microglial-targeted treatment and intervention methods therefore are uncertain. More research must be conducted using methods which can optimize the benefits while nullifying detriments as well as methods which are able to be easily generalized to the actual humans who experience strokes.