FGS - Electronic Theses and Practica
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This collection contains University of Manitoba electronic theses and practica.
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- ItemOpen AccessEffect of defatting method on the structure and function of moringa seed proteins(2025-01-16) Olukitibi, Abisoye; Kassa, Mulualem (Food and Human Nutritional Sciences); Utioh, Alphonsus (Food and Human Nutritional Sciences); Aluko, RotimiThe global drive for sustainable food systems highlights the potential of underutilized crops like Moringa stenopetala (MS) for their nutritional and functional properties. This study examines the impact of defatting methods on the physicochemical and functional properties of MS protein isolates prepared using alkaline isoelectric precipitation (ISO) and NaCl membrane filtration (MEM_NaCl). Protein isolates were derived from cold-pressed MS meal, both undefatted (UMGPI) and defatted using acetone (AMGPI), hexane (HMGPI), methanol (MMGPI), ethanol (EMGPI; 70%, 7EMGPI; 50%, 5EMGPI), and water (WMGPI). ISO yielded superior protein recovery (41.73 – 83.23%) and content (69.50 – 83.24%) compared to MEM_NaCl, which achieved lower recovery rates (12.96 – 63.67%) and content (28.21 – 72.83%). Thus, ISO-prepared isolates were prioritized for further analysis. UMGPI provided the highest yield, while AMGPI showed superior protein content and solubility (25 – 75%) across pH levels 3 – 9. MMGPI stood out for high amino acid values, while AMGPI exhibited the highest foaming capacity (~80%) and stability at pH 7 and 9. Protein solubility peaked at pH 3. Intrinsic fluorescence revealed weak tyrosine (303 nm) and pronounced tryptophan peaks (348 nm), with MMGPI showing the highest intensity at pH 3. 7EMGPI excelled in in vitro protein digestibility (81.32%) and oil-holding capacity (3.93 g/g). Water-holding capacity was highest in 5EMGPI (2.81 g/g). UMGPI retained the highest phenolic content (1.39 – 1.53 mg GAE/g), while WMGPI had the lowest (0.57 – 1.29 mg GAE/g). Bitterness intensities ranged from 23.34 (MMGPI) to 28.24 (AMGPI). Enzymatic hydrolysis with alcalase (ALH), flavourzyme (FLH), and pepsin + pancreatin (PPH) improved bioactivity. PPH achieved the highest protein recovery (86.23%), superoxide scavenging (25.77 – 84.55%), and metal chelation (4.64%). ALH demonstrated the highest protein content (72.16%), lowest peptide molecular weight (0.38–2.19 kDa), potent ACE inhibition (15.07 – 66.56%), and renin inhibition (24.89 – 51.68%). FLH excelled in pancreatic lipase inhibition (42.06 – 64.38%) and arginase inhibition (13.18 – 34.57%). These findings highlight the role of defatting methods in optimizing MS protein functionality, with AMGPI emerging as a promising candidate for functional foods and nutraceuticals. Enzymatic hydrolysis, particularly with alcalase, further broadens their application potential.
- ItemOpen AccessGenome-wide association analysis within The Manitoba Personalized Lifestyle Research study(2024-12-19) Badurally Adam, Bibi Taskeen; Myrie, Semone (Food and Human Nutritional Sciences); Mackay, Dylan (Food and Human Nutritional Sciences); Taylor, James (Food and Human Nutiritional Sciences); Eck, Peter; Hu, PingzhaoOverall Abstract Background: Obesity is a major public health challenge worldwide and in Manitoba. An estimated 40-70% of obesity is heritable; however, these genetic associations are poorly investigated in the Manitoban adult population using the “gold standard” Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) to assess obesity phenotypes. The Manitoba Personalized Lifestyle Research (TMPLR) project enabled a genetic association study in middle-aged Manitobans. Obesity phenotypes considered are total, gynoid, android, arms, legs, and trunk fat mass. Objectives: 1. Perform a systematic review to determine genes associated with obesity phenotypes assessed by DXA in middle-aged cohorts. 2. Develop a “pipeline” to conduct Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) within the TMPLR. 3. Conduct a GWAS on obesity phenotypes within TMPLR. 4. Compare the genes from the systematic review to those from TMPLR data analysis. Methods: The Covidence platform was used for the systematic review. Publications up to July 2023 sourced from Embase and Medline. The methods for the TMPLR project have been published. A GWAS pipeline was established using the Biodata Catalyst bioinformatics platform and the Seven Bridges R studio version 4.1. Results: Out of 94 and 25 studies obtained from Medline and Embase respectively, 14 studies met the eligibility criteria and 13 genes were identified that are associated with obesity-related phenotypes. No significant genome-wide association with obesity was established in the TMPLR cohort. However, 23 loci have had suggestive associations with the obesity phenotypes. Conclusion: There is a lack of high-quality genetic studies that use DXA data and adult populations. No genome-wide associations were reported in TMPLR, likely due to the limited sample size of the cohort. However, a bioinformatics pipeline to analyze genome-wide associations in TMPLR cohort is established and can be used for larger cohorts, such as UK biobanks.
- ItemOpen AccessExamining how changes in consumption patterns of specific dietary fibre subtypes are associated with disease development, progression, and outcomes in autoimmune diseases of the gut-brain axis impacted by an altered gut microbiome(2024-12-20) Khorasaniha, Reihane; Myrie, Semone (Food and Human Nutritional Sciences); Suh, Miyoung (Food and Human Nutritional Sciences); Armstrong, Heather; Taylor, CarlaDietary fibres are typically fermented by gut microbes, producing beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), studies show reduced fibre-fermenting microbiota and SCFAs, alongside worsened symptoms from high-fibre diets, suggesting impaired fibre fermentation may worsen disease outcomes. Our team previously found that select unfermented fibres (e.g., β-fructans) induce gut inflammation and damage in IBD, which was linked to decreased β-fructan consumption. We believe this decrease is a subconscious avoidance of foods associated with worsened symptoms, supporting possible connections between microbiota-driven fibre fermentation and gut-brain axis (GBA) physiology. This further suggests that unfermented fibres' impacts may not be isolated to gut diseases but extend to the nervous system. Given that multiple sclerosis (MS) also shows reduced fibre-fermenting microbiota and SCFA, altered immune pathways, and worsened symptoms on high-fibre diets, I hypothesized that reduced consumption of specific dietary fibres in autoimmune GBA conditions links to lower fibre-fermenting microbiota and worsened symptoms in IBD (gut) and MS (brain). I aimed to: 1) validate our method for examining fibre subtype consumption patterns, 2) assess fibre consumption's association with IBD development and progression, 3) analyze fibre consumption in MS patients, and 4) examine the link between unfermented fibres and CNS damage in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice. I found β-fructan fibre consumption significantly decreased before IBD development (n=3,400) compared to healthy controls, and again during IBD progression from remission to flare (n=155) compared to those in remission. Diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), with results linked to microbial metabolites. MS patients also consumed significantly less β-fructan than healthy controls. Germ-free EAE MS mice displayed increased spinal demyelination and inflammatory markers in the gut and spine. My findings, described in my thesis, suggest that reduced β-fructan consumption in autoimmune GBA diseases may stem from learned avoidance due to symptoms from reduced β-fructan fermentation. Further research is needed to translate findings clinically for precision nutrition strategies in these diseases.
- ItemOpen AccessThe Hybridization of an Indigenous peacebuilding practices: An exploratory study of the Borana traditional peace method in the intergroup conflict in Marsabit County, Kenya(2025-01-18) Mohamed, Adey; Hughes, Judith (Social Work); Byrne, Sean (Peace and Conflict Studies); Dei, George Sefa (Social Justice, Anthropology, University of Toronto); Sibanda, EliakimThis study explores the Gada model, which has been used by the Borana people in Kenya for many years for resolving intra and inter-ethnic conflicts, but which was over time compromised by colonial and post-colonial regimes. Nevertheless, the Gada model has historically played a significant role in East African peacebuilding. It embraces peaceful peacebuilding values and approaches useful to maintaining durable, lasting, and sustainable peace in society. Africans in general are suffering from multiple conflicts and lack of peace. Modern peacebuilding has not been able to bring lasting solutions to these challenges. As a result, much more weight has been given to modern peace-building apparatuses over indigenous peace-building approaches. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the Gada model in African peace building, to evaluate its application to current and future regional conflicts. In other words, using semi-structured interviews and historical analysis methods, the study investigates the dynamics and resilience of the Gada model and its implications for conflict transformation in modern times. Guided by the goals of Indigenous and emancipatory peacebuilding theories, the study examines how the Borana people advance their own peacebuilding approaches and practices. The research studies the restorative functions and values of the Gada peacebuilding model from the perspective of the Borana people and raises questions about how these values can be incorporated into contemporary peacebuilding models in Kenya. The overarching goal of the study is to produce a hybrid model of traditional and modern approaches for transforming conflict into peace.
- ItemOpen AccessInvestigating the soundscape ecology of Tremblay Sound, Nunavut(2025-01-03) Pengelly, Leah; Mathews, Cory (Biological Sciences); Wilson, Nicole (Environment and Geography); Marcoux, Marianne; Davoren, GailThe soundscape is a critical part of marine mammals’ habitat and provides insights into the health of the ecosystem. Arctic soundscapes are experiencing large changes due to reducing sea ice extent, shifting marine mammal distributions, and increased anthropogenic activity, including shipping traffic. As marine mammals rely on sound for communication, navigation, foraging, and detecting predators and prey, understanding how soundscapes are shifting is crucial to conserving arctic marine ecosystems. Soundscape ecology provides a non-invasive and cost-effective way to understand current arctic marine environments and how they are shifting over time. This study investigates the soundscape ecology of Tremblay Sound, Nunavut, an important summer habitat for narwhal located within the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area. This study examined the seasonal patterns of the soundscape using passive acoustic recordings from July 2017 to July 2019. Sound pressure levels were highly tied to sea ice conditions with the quietest periods observed just after sea ice formation in Ukiaq (Fall) and just before sea ice breakup in Upirngaaq (Spring). In Ukiaq (Fall), Ukiuq (Winter), and Upirngassaaq (Early Spring) the soundscape is driven by tidal collisions of the land fast sea ice. Sound pressure levels were greatest during Aujaq (Summer). The Aujaq (Summer) season was investigated further using four hydrophone sites during the 2017 and 2018 summers. The Aujaq (Summer) soundscape is driven by geophony (e.g., wind speed, sea ice) and biophony from narwhal vocalizations. However, biophony contributions were lower in 2018 due to a dramatic decline in narwhal vocalizations, with vocalizations reaching 14,120 detections a day in 2017, compared to just 1,135 a day in 2018. In 2018, reduced narwhal sightings were reported by community members in Mittimatalik, suggesting potential shifts in narwhal habitat use. These findings provide essential benchmarks for future acoustic monitoring and highlight the need for further studies to understand how changing soundscapes may impact marine mammal behavior and habitat use amidst ongoing environmental shifts in the Arctic.