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MSpace is the University of Manitoba’s Institutional Repository. The purpose of MSpace is to acquire, preserve and provide access to the scholarly works of University faculty and students within an open access environment.

 

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“We need to fight and have a battle every day!": queer perceptions of peacebuilding and activism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(2024-06-21) Yavuz, Mehmet; Senehi, Jessica (Peace and Conflict Studies); Mizzi, Robert (Education); Cooper, Robin (Conflict Resolution Studies, Nova Southeastern University); Byrne, Sean
This research uses critical qualitative methods to discuss the untold stories of LGBTQIA+ Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) after the Bosnian war in 1995. The qualitative research aims to examine the impacts of the violent conflict on queer individuals, as well as explore their experiences of peace activism and coping with homophobia in a country where queer communities face a heightened risk of homophobia. The data were analyzed using a set of procedures including description, coding, and interpretation of transcripts and field notes. Direct and indirect violence, along with discriminatory policies and practices, have led to a resurgence of conflict and violence against queer people in BiH. This study investigated queer people’s perceptions and experiences of peacebuilding in BiH and the political queer presence there after the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA). It also explored the activism strategies of queer Bosniaks/Serbs/Croats residing in BiH, which they employ as part of a collective movement to improve the conditions of community members’ conditions to help them cope with violence directed at queer people. The research findings showed that there are interrelated everyday violent acts that disrupt queer people’s way of living. The current structural issues that impact them range from the constitution, Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA), and Two Schools Under One Roof policy to intergenerational trauma that prevent people from reconciling and coexisting in an already dysfunctional system that was created by the DPA in post-accord BiH. The research findings also suggest that the political institutions supported by the international community have institutionalized ethnosectarian politics and divisions in BiH, which puts everyone, specifically queer people, in danger of everyday homophobia violence.
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Improving protocols and miner strategies for modern cryptocurrencies
(2024-04-30) Quinteiro dos Santos, Saulo; Akcora, Cuneyt (Computer Science); Arora, Sandeep (Marketing); Deters, Ralph (University of Saskatchewan); Thulasiram, Ruppa; Kamali, Shahin
Bitcoin, envisioned as a decentralized currency, facilitates secure micro-payments through a distributed consensus and ensures security via its widespread network. However, prioritizing security and decentralization imposes constraints on performance. My thesis explores strategies to boost the blockchain's throughput and performance alongside improving miners' financial incentives. We analyze the effects of increasing block size on throughput and security and how strategic transaction selection by miners before mining can elevate fee collection. We introduce a novel transaction-selection strategy that produces high-quality blocks more efficiently by avoiding traditional sorting and examining the benefits of regularly updating transaction sets to maximize fees. Additionally, we assess the Lightning Network's impact on reducing blockchain load and transaction costs and its potential to lower miners' fee revenues and profits. This study balances the Lightning Network's adoption and integration with third-layer applications to mitigate transaction migration from the blockchain. This thesis contributes to blockchain scalability and efficiency, presenting new transaction selection and block formation strategies that enhance network performance and miners' incentives. It also navigates the economic implications of the Lightning Network, offering a nuanced view of its effects on the blockchain ecosystem.
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Experiences of resilience among Indigenous and newcomer students in Winnipeg high schools and CEDA
(2024-06-21) Makinde, Sharifat; Migone, Javier (Community Health Sciences); Van Bewer, Vanessa (Nursing); Hatala, Andrew
There continue to be disparities in education access for Indigenous and newcomer youth across Canada. Indigenous and newcomer youth often encounter unique challenges in educational settings, including racism, bullying, cultural alienation, and inappropriate school curricula. Despite these obstacles, Indigenous and newcomer youth demonstrate resilience and thrive in academic environments. Studies examining the factors contributing to their success and resilience are limited. There is a need to understand these dynamics better to create meaningful interventions that support Indigenous and newcomer youth's experience and success in high school. The Circle of Courage® is a resilience framework rooted in Native American cultures, and experiencing its components enhances positive youth development. This project aimed to explore how the Indigenous and newcomer youth at the Community Education Development Association (CEDA) experienced the Circle of Courage® and related to youth's goals, resilience, and wellness. Nineteen youth participating in the CEDA Pathways to Education program were purposively recruited for the study. Data collection involved one sharing circle with seven participants and eighteen in-depth interviews, allowing for the collection of rich narratives. The findings indicate that Indigenous and newcomer youth experience the Circle of Courage® to varying degrees within school environments, with CEDA promoting its components to a greater extent. Particularly, the Circle of Courage® enhanced positive learning experiences and fostered wellness, resilience, and future orientation among youth. Belonging emerged as the cornerstone of the Circle of Courage®. The study underscored the pivotal role of personal connections and relationships, both within school and at CEDA, in promoting resilience and wellness among youth. It also highlighted CEDA Pathways as an afterschool program that completed learning education and offered additional support where schools may fall short. Notably, the project identified strong similarities between Indigenous and newcomer youth in their experiences related to the Circle of Courage® components, suggesting this framework's universality. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting that the Circle of Courage® may be applicable to youth of different backgrounds and can be a valuable tool for promoting positive learning experiences, resilience, and wellness among youth in academic settings.
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The International Joint Commission (IJC): an exploration of its fit as a binational commission
(2024-06-24) Dion, Jay; Rounce, Andrea (Political Studies); Fergusson, James (Political Studies); Charron , Andrea
The signing of the Boundary Waters Treaty (BWT) in 1909 between Canada and the United States established the International Joint Commission (IJC). The main responsibilities of the IJC are to evaluate projects that affect water level and flows across the borders, and to investigate transboundary issues and provide possible solutions. One of the main attributes of the IJC is that, in theory, it is binational. A binational agreement means that Canada and the United States work together on common issues rather than on separate problems along national preferences. The IJC has been studied by many scholars, however, they mainly focus on its history, functions, and activities. A weakness in the literature is the lack of attention to the commission and binational nature of IJC. It is generally assumed that the IJC is a binational commission without evaluating whether or not it meets the requirements of a binational commission. To investigate this gap in the literature, this thesis asks: is the IJC truly a binational joint commission? To assess the question, this thesis draws on existing literature to analyze the characteristics of the IJC and employs two case studies: the Zosel Dam applications and the Garrison Diversion Unit (GDU) reference which provides a good test of the IJC’s commission and binational status. Ultimately, this thesis concludes that the IJC is indeed a binational commission. Given that environmental and economic uncertainties are growing in the world and even allies, American and Canadian policy analysts and decision-makers should look to the IJC’s binational mechanisms to develop mutually acceptable solutions to water border issues.
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Perspectives on HIV care and support services for African, Caribbean, and Black women living with HIV in Winnipeg, Manitoba
(2024-06-13) Njeze, Chinyere; Mignone, Javier (Community Health Sciences); Woodgate, Roberta (Nursing); Logie, Carmen (University of Toronto); Hatala, Andrew
Abstract: Introduction: African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) women in Manitoba are overrepresented in HIV infections relative to other racial groups. Yet, there are no community-based or participatory studies that have explored the stories of these women. The goal of this study was to explore how ACB women living with HIV in Winnipeg experience care and support to call attention to their lived realities, including highlighting the historical and cultural oppressions. Methods: Study participants were ACB women living with HIV (n=10) in Winnipeg, as well as healthcare staff (n=12). The qualitative research design was informed by critical race and feminist theoretical frameworks, incorporating intersectionality and constructivist grounded theory methodology for data generation, organization, and analysis. This study was also community-based and collaborated with several HIV-focused clinics in Winnipeg. The study focused on providing insight and developing a theoretical lens into the experiences of HIV care and support by HIV-positive ACB women through in-depth, semi-structured face-to-face and phone interviews. Results: Study findings revealed the specific life histories and themes of ACB women in Winnipeg, particularly highlighting trauma that informs and shapes their experiences. ACB women with HIV in Winnipeg and their care staff also expressed a lack of cultural care and support, how ACB women bear multiple loads, face language problems, experience long waiting times, and do not feel welcomed, including dealing with the cost of HIV medication. Findings show that the difficulties ACB women face involve multiple intersecting forms of oppression within social and health services and are at various levels. At the same time, ACB women commit to using HIV care, self-accepting their HIV-positive identity, connecting with religion and spirituality, and creating a stronger sense of themselves in order to live well with their condition. Implications: This study generates new knowledge and understanding of the experiences of ACB women living with HIV in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Study participants indicated a demand for consideration of the holistic needs of ACB women, which may include their cultural, linguistic, religious, and racial or ethnic characteristics. Stories from these women can inform future public health practices and interventions regarding HIV care and support in Winnipeg and across Canada.
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The role of Nix in calcium signaling, gene expression, and oxidative phenotype of skeletal muscle
(2024-06-11) Field, Jared; West, Adrian (Physiology and Pathophysiology); Czubryt, Michael (Physiology and Pathophysiology); Marzban, Hassan (Human Anatomy and Cell Sciences); Perry, Christopher (York University); Gordon, Joseph
Mitochondrial quality control is an essential component of muscle biology, with multiple muscular diseases/pathologies associated with dysregulation of this process (e.g., sarcopenia, cachexia, mitochondrial myopathies, and the remodeling associated with obesity and insulin resistance). The protein Nix serves an important role as a mitophagy receptor protein that mediates removal of dysfunctional fragments of mitochondria through the autophagic process. Human genome-wide association studies have connected polymorphisms in the Nix gene with development of mitochondrially-dependent disorders such as schizophrenia and cognitive decline. In muscle, Nix expression has been connected with aging and has been implicated in starvation-induced muscle atrophy. Additionally, Nix has also been implicated as an important factor in models of lipid-induced insulin resistance of muscle, as well as a potential mediator of calcium signaling within the cell. Together this demonstrates the complex, but important, biology of Nix. However, a model to study Nix in skeletal muscle is lacking. To advance our understanding of Nix in physiologically healthy muscle, we generated and characterised a mouse line harbouring a muscle-specific deletion of Nix. I found evidence of compensated mitochondrial myopathy within muscle that manifests as reduced metabolic rate and capacity for aerobic exercise. Intriguingly, I found that Nix also regulates calcium signaling within muscle to produce a shift towards expression fast fiber types when Nix is deleted in muscle. Previously in cell culture experiments, pharmacological inhibition of Nix was found to restore insulin sensitivity following lipotoxicity-induced insulin resistance. With muscle knockout of Nix, I found heightened sensitivity to insulin that was associated with an mTOR/S6K mechanism described previously in cells. Given the variety of roles described for Nix in muscle, I took the first steps towards uncovering muscle-specific regulation of Nix expression through in vitro studies. To this end, I found that Nix is a direct target of the transcription factors MEF2D of the myogenic program. In summary, I found that deletion of Nix has multiple possible protective effects including protecting metabolism from lipid overload while also directing muscle oxidative phenotype. I have characterized a model to study the biology of Nix, which in addition to novel findings related to calcium and myostatin signaling, provides the basis to study Nix in diseases of muscle or diseases that etiologically involve muscle.
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Effects of time on impurity diffusion and concentration-dependent interdiffusion coefficients in Cu-Ni system
(2024-05-30) Afolabi, Samuel; Liang, Xihui (Mechanical Engineering); Zhaidi, Syed Ali Abbas (Mechanical Engineering); Ojo, Olanrewaju
Considerable focus has been directed toward investigating the interdiffusion coefficients in binary systems, primarily due to their pivotal role in metallurgical processes and material performance assessments. An essential parameter in this context is the isothermal concentration-dependent interdiffusion coefficient. While interdiffusion coefficients are widely recognized as being influenced by temperature and concentration, the element of time can exert substantial influence due to the presence of diffusion-induced stress (DIS) within the system. The present research experimentally investigates the effect of time on concentration-dependent interdiffusion and impurity diffusion coefficients in Cu-Ni binary systems and their alloy compositions. The investigation delves into the effect of solute source concentration and anomalous behaviors of temperature as the attributable indications of DIS at play. To implement the research work, a newly devised numerical diffusion model by Olaye and Ojo [20] is integrated with a forward simulation approach in this study. This model incorporates different atomic diffusion coefficients and ensures solute conservation. The model also merges fully explicit finite difference analyses with the Leapfrog/Dufort-Frankel scheme, thus enabling the determination of concentration-dependent interdiffusion coefficients. This approach overcomes the limitations associated with traditional techniques like the Boltzmann-Matano, Hall, Wagner and Sauer-Freise methods. By applying this method, both the interdiffusion and impurity diffusion coefficients are investigated at various diffusion times. The results reveal that the interdiffusion and impurity diffusion coefficients show time variations as a result of DIS in the system. This phenomenon contrasts the widely accepted notion of the interdiffusion coefficient being solely dependent on concentration and temperature without considering time. Overlooking this critical aspect could have substantial implications in the analysis of diffusion data and an accurate understanding of microstructural transformations initiated by diffusion-controlled phase changes in metallic systems.
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Correction: Areas of consensus on unwarranted and warranted transfers between nursing homes and emergency care facilities in Norway: a Delphi study
(2024-05-27) Wiik, Arne B.; Doupe, Malcolm B.; Bakken, Marit S.; Kittang, Bård R.; Jacobsen, Frode F.; Førland, Oddvar
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Barriers to cancer treatment for people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage in high-income countries: a scoping review
(2024-05-28) Bourgeois, Amber; Horrill, Tara; Mollison, Ashley; Stringer, Eleah; Lambert, Leah K.; Stajduhar, Kelli
Abstract Background Despite advances in cancer research and treatment, the burden of cancer is not evenly distributed. People experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage have higher rates of cancer, later stage at diagnoses, and are dying of cancers that are preventable and screen-detectable. However, less is known about barriers to accessing cancer treatment. Methods We conducted a scoping review of studies examining barriers to accessing cancer treatment for populations experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage in high-income countries, searched across four biomedical databases. Studies published in English between 2008 and 2021 in high-income countries, as defined by the World Bank, and reporting on barriers to cancer treatment were included. Results A total of 20 studies were identified. Most (n = 16) reported data from the United States, and the remaining included publications were from Canada (n = 1), Ireland (n = 1), United Kingdom (n = 1), and a scoping review (n = 1). The majority of studies (n = 9) focused on barriers to breast cancer treatment. The most common barriers included: inadequate insurance and financial constraints (n = 16); unstable housing (n = 5); geographical distribution of services and transportation challenges (n = 4); limited resources for social care needs (n = 7); communication challenges (n = 9); system disintegration (n = 5); implicit bias (n = 4); advanced diagnosis and comorbidities (n = 8); psychosocial dimensions and contexts (n = 6); and limited social support networks (n = 3). The compounding effect of multiple barriers exacerbated poor access to cancer treatment, with relevance across many social locations. Conclusion This review highlights barriers to cancer treatment across multiple levels, and underscores the importance of identifying patients at risk for socioeconomic disadvantage to improve access to treatment and cancer outcomes. Findings provide an understanding of barriers that can inform future, equity-oriented policy, practice, and service innovation.
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Enhancing the delivery of comprehensive care for people living with HIV in Canada: insights from citizen panels and a national stakeholder dialogue
(2024-05-27) Wilson, Michael G.; Mattison, Cristina; Waddell, Kerry; Bacon, Jean; Becker, Marissa; Bibeau, Christine; Lavis, John N.; Rosenes, Ron; Kendall, Claire E.
Abstract Background People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are living longer with health-related disability associated with ageing, including complex conditions. However, health systems in Canada have not adapted to meet these comprehensive care needs. Methods We convened three citizen panels and a national stakeholder dialogue. The panels were informed by a plain-language citizen brief that outlined data and evidence about the challenge/problem, elements of an approach for addressing it and implementation considerations. The national dialogue was informed by a more detailed version of the same brief that included a thematic analysis of the findings from the panels. Results The 31 citizen panel participants emphasized the need for more prevention, testing and social supports, increased public education to address stigma and access to more timely data to inform system changes. The 21 system leaders emphasized the need to enhance person-centred care and for implementing learning and improvement across provinces, territories and Indigenous communities. Citizens and system leaders highlighted that policy actions need to acknowledge that HIV remains unique among conditions faced by Canadians. Conclusions Action will require a national learning collaborative to support spread and scale of successful prevention, care and support initiatives. Such a collaborative should be grounded in a rapid-learning and improvement approach that is anchored on the needs, perspectives and aspirations of people living with HIV; driven by timely data and evidence; supported by appropriate decision supports and aligned governance, financial and delivery arrangements; and enabled with a culture of and competencies for rapid learning and improvement.