FGS - Electronic Theses and Practica
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This collection contains University of Manitoba electronic theses and practica.
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- 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.
- ItemOpen AccessDiscovering and dreaming: long-term care healthcare aide perceptions of structural empowerment(2025-03-17) Elias, Jocelyn; Care, Dean W. (Nursing); Doupe, Malcolm (Community Health Sciences); Scanlan, JudithBackground and objective: Chronic and emergent care challenges have led to diminished quality of care in many long-term care (LTC) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Healthcare aides (HCAs) occupy a strategically important role in achieving improved resident care outcomes yet continue to experience disempowerment through authoritarian working conditions. The aim of this study was to develop a robust description of HCA perceptions of how organizational structures empower them and the desired dream state for such structures. Approach: This study used a qualitative descriptive research design informed by Kanter’s theory of structural empowerment within an appreciative inquiry (AI) framework. AI was chosen for its optimistic egalitarian approach towards organization change; it provided a platform for HCA voices to be heard, protected, and valued. Sampling used volunteer participants and involved convenience and snowball sampling. Ten HCA participants were recruited from four Winnipeg LTC sites. Semi-structured virtual interviews were used to gather rich descriptive data, allowing for an understanding of participant perspectives. Findings: Two main themes emerged from the data: i) What is Important to Healthcare Aides; and ii) Challenges. These participants care about their residents, their job satisfaction and team functioning but experience numerous challenges in their work. They lack access to opportunities for education, resources (i.e., staffing and time), and support from managers and organizations; they also endure difficult, stressful, and dangerous working conditions and retention is inadequately prioritized by the LTC sector. Modifiable organizational structures have the potential to improve resident care by empowering healthcare aides and may to be mediated by the functionality of teams and the use of regular healthcare aides. Conclusion: Empowering healthcare aides is a means to improve the well-being and satisfaction of these essential workers and represents a strategy for ensuring these workers have what they need to provide quality care to residents.
- ItemOpen AccessDetermining the role of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in controlling fibroblast activation(2025-03-26) Pallikkara Suresh, Rohini; Netticadan, Thomas (Physiology and Pathophysiology); Dhingra, Sanjiv (Physiology and Pathophysiology); Rastegar, Mojgan (Biochemistry and Medical Genetics); Wigle, JeffreyMyocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death in Canada. The activated fibroblast, also known as myofibroblast, is a key player in extracellular matrix production, remodeling, and fibrosis in the heart following a MI. Previous studies in our lab have shown that the transcription factor ZEB2 is expressed in activated cardiac fibroblasts and that the overexpression of ZEB2 upregulates the expression of the myofibroblast markers -SMA, SMemb and ED-A fibronectin. The Zinc finger transcription factor family proteins ZEB1 and ZEB2 have crucial roles in embryonic development, angiogenesis, Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition (EMT), and Endothelial-Mesenchymal transition (EndoMT). This study was focused on determining the role of both ZEB1 and ZEB2 in cardiac fibroblast activation. We compared the protein levels of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in primary adult male and female rat cardiac fibroblast cells during the process of fibroblast activation in vitro. As well, we analyzed the effect of over-expression and knockdown of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in the mouse NIH3T3 embryonic fibroblast cell line. Our results show that both ZEB1 and ZEB2 are expressed in the activated fibroblasts with their expression being highest at 48 hours and then decreasing. We observed that ectopic expression of ZEB2 in both NIH3T3 cells and rat primary cardiac fibroblasts resulted in a corresponding decrease in endogenous ZEB1 expression. Furthermore, siRNA mediated knockdown of ZEB2 resulted in increased ZEB1 expression in cardiac fibroblasts and NIH3T3 cells. Similarly, ZEB1 knockdown resulted in increased ZEB2 expression. This shows that ZEB1 and ZEB2 may form a negative feedback loop to maintain an optimal level of their expression in cardiac fibroblasts. ZEB1 and ZEB2 may directly compensate for the loss of the other transcription factor in fibroblasts. Interestingly, despite these regulatory interactions, the expression of the myofibroblast markers, -smooth muscle actin (SMA) and Embryonic smooth muscle heavy chain (SMemb), remain ZEB1 and ZEB2. This study enhances our understanding of the complex interplay between ZEB1 and ZEB2 in cardiac fibroblast activation and provides new insight into the regulatory mechanism underlying this process. These findings could have significant implications to develop new therapeutic strategies for myocardial infarction and heart failure by targeting ZEB1 and ZEB2 to control fibroblast activation and fibrosis.
- ItemOpen AccessRigidity properties of operator systems and partial order relations in the state space of C*-algebras(2025-02-24) Saikia, Hridoyananda; Martin, Robert (Mathematics); Zorboska, Nina (Mathematics); Kennedy, Matthew (University of Waterloo); Clouâtre, RaphaëlArveson’s hyperrigidity conjecture concerns the unique extension property of *-representations of a C*-algebra with respect to a generating operator system. The maximal states in the dilation order fully encapsulate the cyclic representations of a C*-algebra with the unique extension property. A reformulation of the conjecture by Davidson and Kennedy raises the question whether the maximal measures in the dilation order are concentrated on a particular set. In this thesis, we address this question for general C*-algebras. We show the existence of a projection such that the dilation maximal states are precisely those states which are concentrated on the projection. We also reformulate the conjecture in terms of the non-commutative topological properties of this projection. Choquet order is a partial order defined on the set of regular Borel probability measures on a compact convex set. With the help of two equivalent characterizations of Choquet order, we define strong dilation relation and sub-division relation on the state space of a C*-algebra. The equivalence of the two relations is not known in general. We show that the strong dilation relation is stronger than the sub-division relation. Moreover, we show the equivalence of the strong dilation relation with a non-commutative sub-division relation. We also demonstrate that these relations can serve as valuable tools for investigating certain rigidity properties of a generating operator system of a C*-algebra.
- ItemOpen AccessLogos, sin, and moral transformation in Origen’s De Principiis 3.1(2025-03-27) Falk, Jerome; Joyal, Mark (Classics); Barter, Jane (University of Winnipeg); Marx, HeidiOrigen of Alexandria’s treatise on “self-determination” (De Principiis 3.1) has proven highly influential for subsequent theological and philosophical discussions of free will. There is still considerable debate about the finer points of Origen’s understanding of “self-determination” (to autexousion) and where his notion of it fits within the broader Ideengeschichte of free will. In this thesis I examine the free will treatise, but focus instead on the role of the Logos in his understanding of human freedom and moral transformation. In chapter one, I trace the historical development of the Logos concept from Heraclitus and the Stoics through Middle Platonism and the Biblical Platonists, particularly Philo and Clement of Alexandria, to provide a contextualization of Origen's doctrine. Then, on the basis of this contextualization, I argue (in chapters two and three) that Origen's Logos is not a neutral rational faculty but possesses a paraenetic quality, actively prompting moral agents toward virtuous action. By analyzing Origen's psychology of self-determination, especially his use of aphormē (“prompting”), I demonstrate how the Logos influences the moral choices of rational beings. In chapter four I articulate and motivate what I call the "problem of noetic sanctification" in Origen's theology, and in the fifth and final chapter I propose a solution to the problem on Origen’s behalf in which the Logos within each rational being provides a persistent, pre-cognitive motivation towards goodness, thereby facilitating noetic sanctification through interaction with Christ as the cosmic Logos and "light."