FGS - Electronic Theses and Practica

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This collection contains University of Manitoba electronic theses and practica.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 26539
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    Open Access
    Le patriarcat et la marginalisation de la femme chez Amadou Amal et Samia Sharrif
    (2024-10-25) Adewale, Abigeal; Cartmill, Constance (French, Spanish & Italian); Gamache, Mylene (Indigenous Studies); Lassi, Etienne-Marie
    This master’s thesis focuses on patriarchy and its consequences for young female protagonists in Les impatientes de Djailli Amadou Amal and Le voile de la peur by Samia Sharrif. Focusing on on the concept of patriarchy across different aspects of feminism, including Islamic feminism, this thesis examines the oppression and violence faced by young Muslim women in their respective families. The thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter examines various trends of feminism, and the concept of patriarchy as explained by Solati Fariba and Samuel Okafor. The second chapter focuses on the institution of patriarchal order in Les impatientes and Le voile de la peur. This chapter is divided into two parts. In the first part, we examine the impact of the Muslim religion on the lives of young girls. We discuss religion as a tool for manipulation and violence. Secondly, we examine the hierarchical family structure and gender inequality in both texts. Our last chapter deals with the consequences of patriarchy and the resilience of female characters in both texts. In this chapter, we analyze the suppression of young women’s aspirations in texts, polygamy as a consequence of patriarchy and finally, the impact of patriarchy on the mental health of young girls and their various ways of resisting the patriarchal system. This resistance to patriarchy allows these young women to
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    Open Access
    Infant feeding and child cognition and behaviour: quantifying pathways to understand the link in the CHILD cohort study
    (2024-10-31) Turner, Sarah; Nickel, Nathan (Community Health Sciences); Roos, Leslie (Psychology); Keim, Sarah (Ohio State University); Azad, Meghan B.
    Introduction: Research has shown that breastfeeding is related to improved child cognitive and behavioural outcomes (CBOs), however, few studies have examined pathways to explain these associations. The objectives of this dissertation are to examine 1) the relationship between breastfeeding and child CBOs and 2) four pathways to help explain this link: breast milk components, the gut microbiome, maternal depression, and the parent-child relationship. Methods: This dissertation uses data from the CHILD cohort study (n=2,342 parent-infant dyads). Infant feeding practices, maternal depression and parent-child relationship were repeatedly measured from birth to two years using standardized questionnaires. Breast milk samples, collected at 3-4 months, were analyzed for fatty acids and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs); stool samples, collected a 3 and 12 months, were analyzed for microbiome diversity and composition. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and the Child Behaviour Checklist were used to measure child CBOs at 2 and 5 years. Linear regression, adjusting for confounders, was used to assess the relationships between infant feeding, breast milk components and child CBOs. Interaction terms were used to investigate moderation by child sex, family socioeconomic risk or maternal secretor status. Mediation analysis was used to assess the role of the gut microbiome, maternal depression and the parent-child relationship. Results: Longer breastfeeding duration and more exclusive breastfeeding were related to better child CBOs with the strongest associations observed for behaviour at five years, and stronger associations for those with more socioeconomic risk factors. Higher concentrations of the HMOs 3’-sialyllactose and lacto-N-hexaose were related to better language and cognitive scores, respectively. The gut microbiome did not mediate the relationship between infant feeding and CBOs; however, maternal depression and the parent-child relationship were mediators of this association. Conclusion: Breast milk components as well as maternal mental health and the parent-child relationship all contribute to the relationship between infant feeding and CBOs, with the parent-child relationship having the strongest effect size in mediation models. This research can provide evidence for policies and programs to support breastfeeding, maternal mental health and a positive parent-child relationship and inform the development of supplements for babies who cannot be breastfed.
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    Open Access
    Uncovering the effects of early life cigarette smoke exposure on offspring lung function and DNA methylation patterns using a mouse model
    (2024-10-30) Onuzulu, Chinonye (Doris); Davie, James (Biochemistry and Medical Genetics); Pascoe, Christopher (Physiology and Pathophysiology); Ogilvie, Tamra (Biochemistry and Medical Genetics); Holloway, John (Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University of Southampton); Jones, Meaghan
    Early life cigarette smoke (CS) exposure has been associated with the development of sex-specific, persistent health deficits in offspring, and changes in epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation (DNAm) potentially link early life CS to these health outcomes. There is also evidence that addition of a secondary CS exposure in adulthood further exacerbates these health alterations, a process known as priming. However, while past studies have identified DNAm patterns which are altered following early life CS, the impacts of prenatal and early postnatal CS have not been studied separately, most of the past research was conducted in blood with little evidence from the lungs and other more proximal tissues, and DNAm patterns underlying sex-specific health outcomes have not been investigated. In addition, the molecular mechanisms underlying priming upon combined early and later life CS have not been reported. Using a mouse model which we developed to separately study the effects of prenatal, early postnatal, or combined CS exposure on offspring lung function and DNAm, we uncovered differentially methylated sites and lung function phenotypes which are unique to each type of CS exposure, with minimal overlaps across groups, across tissues and between sexes. We also identify DNAm alterations which persist into adulthood following early life CS, identifying a period in adulthood where the effects of early life CS exposure are most pronounced. Our results also demonstrate for the first time, epigenetic priming in mice following repeated CS exposure, and we identify novel biomarkers specific to prenatal CS exposure and smoking in adulthood. Overall, this research offers deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying early life CS-induced phenotypes, as this understanding is important to the development of intervention strategies to mitigate the effects of early life CS exposure on offspring health.
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    Embargo
    Uncovering effects of temperature on dietary-fibre-associated inflammatory response in inflammatory bowel disease
    (2024-10-29) Olof, Hana; Marshall, Aaron (Immunology); O'Neil, Liam (Internal Medicine); Armstrong, Heather
    Dietary fibres are not digested in the human gut but require resident gut microbes to ferment them into beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). However, some IBD patients express intolerance to high-fibre foods, which our lab previously found may be due to reduced fibre fermenting microbiota and interaction of select unfermented fibres (e.g., β-fructans) with TLR2, driving gut damage and inflammation. In contrast, b-glucan and pectin fibres displayed null or anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting that regardless of gut microbiota changes, select fibres could be beneficial in IBD. Traditional medicines have recognized the benefits of high-fibre beverages, although scientific evidence is limited. Moreover, there is also a gap in understanding how heat exposure during processing affects the biological role of these beverages. The traditional Ethiopian beverage, Kineto, is made from straining (room temperature) or boiling barley (β-glucan) and citrus fruits (pectin). Based on our prior investigations demonstrating a potential benefit of select fibre subtypes in IBD, I hypothesized that Kineto could promote anti-inflammatory pathways and that altering the fibre physiochemical properties through temperature exposure could further improve these anti-inflammatory effects. Our pilot study examining the inflammatory responses of the Kineto components (barley [BW], citrus peel [PLW] and pectin [PW]) in PBMCs (n=7) and THP-1 cell lines (n=3) suggested a potential anti-inflammatory role for PW. Subsequently, the complete Kineto solution in ex vivo human gut biopsies suggested anti-inflammatory trends of Kineto (e.g., reduced IL1B, CCL4, TNF), particularly at 70°C. The overall findings from physicochemical properties suggest that the anti-inflammatory trends for Kineto at 70°C (K70) could be from the observed increase in phosphorus, phytic acid, amylose and gel content, along with decreased protein. The observed beneficial trends of Kineto also come from the pectins and polyphenols found in citrus fruits, as seen from the relatively reduced pro-inflammatory markers (e.g., TNF, CCL3) in response to pectins with polyphenols (P1+ph). This was further supported by examining individual fibres found in Kineto, which revealed that unfermented citrus pectins inhibited pro-inflammatory IL-1B. These findings suggest the health-promoting potential of Kineto and encourage further research into this beverage as a prebiotic product.
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    Open Access
    A mixed methods exploration of the characteristics, dynamics, processes and perceived effects of research partnerships in child health
    (2024-10-10) Crockett, Leah; Driedger, Michelle (Community Health Sciences); Scott, Shannon (Nursing); Leatherdale, Scott (University of Waterloo); Sibley, Kathryn
    Background: Research partnerships between health researchers and knowledge users (e.g., children and youth, parents and families, healthcare providers) are gaining momentum to promote the uptake and application of research. Yet, comprehensive data on partnerships within child health research that include partnership traditions and knowledge user groups remains limited. This dissertation addresses this gap by exploring child health as a unique context for research partnerships, focusing on their characteristics, dynamics, processes, and effects. Methods: This dissertation adopts an exploratory mixed-methods approach across three concurrent studies, employing multiple data collection and analysis methods while maintaining conceptual coherence and a pragmatic philosophical orientation, integrating findings in the discussion. Objective 1 characterized knowledge user engagement in published child health research through a scoping review, examining characteristics, practices, barriers, facilitators and effects. Objective 2 used interpretive description to provide an in-depth understanding of the experiences, motivations, and relational dynamics of engaging in research partnerships among Canadian child health researchers and knowledge users. Objective 3 employed a concurrent mixed-methods design to explore considerations influencing the individual determinants and perceived effects of partnered child health research compared to other health research contexts, through secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey of Canadian partnered health research projects funded from 2011-2019 and interviews with child health researchers and knowledge users informed by qualitative description. Results: Objective 1 revealed a growing trend in publications on child health research partnerships, particularly since 2019. Most studies used community-based participatory research approaches and engaged multiple knowledge user groups, though reporting on barriers, facilitators, and effects varied. Objective 2 highlighted role-specific motivations for partnering and underscored the central role of relationships in shaping partnership dynamics, sustainability, and the ability to navigate challenges. Researchers often balanced evolving partnership practices within academic systems and structures not always conducive to collaboration, resulting in tensions. Objective 3 found no significant differences between child and general health cohorts in survey responses. Child health respondents reported positive perceptions of their capability, opportunity, and motivation to work in partnership, but mixed views on project effects. Interview participants embraced common principles across research contexts while navigating additional logistical (e.g., institutional processes) and practical (e.g., engaging proxies) challenges unique to partnered child health research. Participants noted distinct considerations (e.g., safeguarding vulnerable populations), processes (e.g., tailoring engagement strategies) and effects when engaging children and youth, with the ethos of the child health community facilitating partnerships. Conclusion: Overall, research partnerships in child health share common principles and challenges with those in other health research contexts, but also have unique characteristics, dynamics, and processes that add nuance to the conceptualization and practice of partnering. These findings provide a foundational understanding of child health research partnerships, guiding efforts to optimize partnership research and practice. By deepening our understanding of these elements, partners can work toward meaningful collaborations that enhance child health research uptake and effects.