FGS - Electronic Theses and Practica
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This collection contains University of Manitoba electronic theses and practica.
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- ItemOpen AccessAdult attitudes towards Dene Yati/Zhatié: a community questionnaire(2025-03-27) Coates, Alice; Rosen, Nicole (Linguistics); Janzen, Terry (Linguistics); Loureiro-Rodriguez, VeronicaA comparison of language attitudes in adults from two Dene-speaking communities in Canada’s Northwest Territories describes attitudes which are broadly homogenous, with some variation dependent on demographics and beliefs regarding the language and language vitality. The results of the study show overall low attitudes among respondents in both communities, affected by the rating of the use of the language in workplaces and despite strongly positive attitudes in the affective dimension. Positive attitudes in an individual are associated with strength of Dene identity and proficiency in the language, with these conditions promoting one another. Concerns about language vitality are reflected in both communities’ focus on the importance of generational language transfer occurring in the home. The fact that the majority of survey respondents rate themselves as emergent speakers of the language may be indicative of low rates of language use, in turn contributing to concerns about vitality. However, the broad base of support for the language and language learning in the communities shows awareness of the situation and a keen understanding of the value of the language to cultural revitalization and its potential contribution to wellness amongst young learners.
- ItemOpen AccessFacilitating antimicrobial stewardship in the outpatient hemodialysis setting(2025-03-26) Lawrence, Courtney K; Lakowski, Ted (Pharmacy); Zhanel, George (Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases); Battistella, Marisa (University of Toronto); Zelenitsky, SherylAntimicrobial stewardship (AMS) encourages appropriate antimicrobial use to improve outcomes. Initiatives include preventing infection and optimizing antimicrobial use (i.e., right drug, dose, and duration). Infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality among patients receiving hemodialysis. Although this population would benefit from AMS, initiatives are limited. In response, three studies were conducted. The first was a study of hemodialysis bloodstream isolates (n = 1024). Pathogen distributions and antimicrobial susceptibilities were used to evaluate empiric antimicrobial combinations. Most isolates (>70%) were gram-positive. Using cefazolin over vancomycin reduced gram-positive coverage by >30%. Gram-negative coverage varied by <1%, with no advantage for broader agents, e.g., meropenem. These findings assist in optimizing empiric antimicrobial selection for bloodstream infections (BSIs) in the hemodialysis setting. The second was a study of hemodialysis catheter-related exit-site infections (ESIs, n = 113) and BSIs (n = 64). The impact of new infection prevention measures on infection rates and risk factors for infection were evaluated. ESIs dropped by 60% with new measures, then increased slightly over time. BSIs declined by 85% over time, which was associated with new measures and reduced temporary catheter use. ESIs preceded one-third of BSIs. These findings highlight the necessity for ongoing surveillance, reinforcement of prevention measures, and strategies to address ESIs to reduce BSI risk. The third was a pharmacokinetic study of cefazolin (n = 20) and ceftazidime (n = 18) in patients receiving hemodialysis. The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicodynamics were characterized and used to evaluate current dosing practices. For both drugs, the protein binding and volume of distributions were similar to other populations, while the elimination half-lives were >15-fold longer compared to patients with normal kidney function. In the cefazolin cohort, there was greater interindividual variation in half-life attributed to residual kidney function. The analysis identified limitations in using a one-dose-fits-all approach. It highlighted the importance of considering residual kidney function, body weight, the interdialytic period, and pathogen susceptibility to optimize dosing. These findings can be used to develop adaptive dosing approaches that improve the treatment of infections in this high-risk population. Given the lack of data, this work represents significant progress in facilitating AMS in the hemodialysis setting.
- ItemOpen AccessRural women, cooperatives, and legislative action in addressing the gender pay gap in Rwanda(2025-03-25) Uwase, Irene; Hudson, Ian (Economics); Hajer, JesseThe gender pay gap remains a persistent challenge globally, particularly affecting women in developing countries like Rwanda, especially in the agricultural sector. This paper examines the potential of cooperative business models as a viable tool for reducing economic inequality and empowering women. It focuses on the existing state of gender disparities in Rwanda, considering factors such as cultural norms, occupational segregation, and limited access to resources. The analysis highlights cooperatives' transformative role in providing women with economic opportunities, leadership skills, and social support. Drawing on successful examples of women-led cooperatives in Rwanda and internationally, the study identifies critical success factors, including access to training, financial resources, and supportive community structures. Additionally, it evaluates Rwanda's current legislative framework governing cooperatives, compares it to successful international models, and identifies barriers to effective implementation, such as socio-economic and gender-specific challenges. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations to enhance the legislative environment, provide financial and technical support, and address socio-cultural barriers to women’s participation in cooperatives. Advocating for targeted policies and robust monitoring mechanisms emphasizes the importance of integrating cooperatives into Rwanda’s broader strategy for achieving gender equity and sustainable development. This study contributes to the growing discourse on economic empowerment and gender equality by offering valuable insights and strategies
- ItemOpen AccessMaternal resveratrol supplementation and its effects on cardiac hypertrophy, mitochondrial metabolism, and calcium flux in isolated fetal cardiomyocytes(2025-03-21) Ninalaya, Marcelo; Saleem, Ayesha (Kinesiology and Recreation Management); Jackson, Michael (Pharmacology and Therapeutics); Dolinsky, VernonGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition that manifests in pregnancy that is characterized by insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and hyperglycemia. Medications have shown effectiveness but have associated risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our previous studies in rats found cardiomyocytes of GDM-offspring exhibit hypertrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired calcium flux. We hypothesize that administration of resveratrol (RESV) to maternal GDM diet will mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy and improve calcium flux in GDM-offspring. A diet-induced model was implemented on female Sprague-Dawley rats six weeks before mating to induce GDM. A subgroup of GDM dams were switched to a diet containing RESV. Fetal echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac structure. Measurements of mitochondrial respiration and calcium flux were performed using the Agilent-Seahorse XF 24 and Cytation 5. Maternal RESV supplementation improved mitochondrial respiration and improved calcium flux upon angiotensin II stimulation. Importantly, maternal RESV supplementation attenuated GDM-induced cardiac hypertrophy in GDM-offspring.
- ItemOpen AccessScanning photoelectrochemical microscopy and its application to living cells(2025-03-27) Thomas, Nikita Maria; Chen, Aicheng (University of Guelph); Gertsein, Aleeza ( Microbiology and Statistics); Tommy, Gregg (Chemistry); Sean, McKenna (Chemistry); Kuss, SabineLiving cell electrochemistry enables the non-invasive qualitative and quantitative measurement of metabolite and biomarker flux from individual or groups of cells. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is an electroanalytical technique that allows for real-time detection of species flux from living cells. This thesis emphasizes the importance of maintaining optimal physiological conditions during SECM and explores the advancement of SECM to scanning photoelectrochemical microscopy (SPECM) for studying living cells. The first part of this thesis investigates the effects of experimental parameters such as temperature, media composition, and light on cellular electrochemical signals. It is shown that maintaining ideal physiological conditions is crucial for reliable SECM and SPECM data. Studies on Adenocarcinoma cervical cancer (HeLa) cells across different temperature ranges reveal inconsistent cellular electrochemical reactivity with small deviations from physiological temperature. However, HeLa cells demonstrate enhanced and stable electrochemical signals when cultured in serum-free media under constant light exposure. To advance SECM to SPECM, the integration of optical fiber (OF) probes is explored to enhance both electrochemical and spectroscopic capabilities. A new, easy-to-fabricate micro-optical ring electrode (MORE) is introduced, with its functionality assessed through electrochemical analysis, numerical modeling, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and spectroelectrochemistry. The MORE, integrated into SPECM, is used for localized irradiation and as an electrochemical sensor for quantitative analysis of single algal cells. This proof-of-concept demonstrates the potential of applying SPECM to mammalian cells. SPECM is further applied to skin cells for the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and melanin production, which are elevated in response to external stimuli. Overall, a comprehensive exploration of the application of SPECM to mammalian cell studies is investigated with suggestions for future research, highlighting its potential in diverse applications.