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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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Open Access
First minister choices regarding cabinet committees: the Manitoba experience 1958-2021
(2024-06-20) Baker, Chris; Rounce, Andrea (Political Studies); Adams, Christopher (Political Studies); Koop, Royce
This thesis looks at the use of cabinet committees in Manitoba as part of the cabinet decision-making process. Very little work has been done on this important facet of cabinet government in Canada. I address three research questions related to the use of cabinet committees under each of the premiers from 1958 to 2021. First, what was the structure of cabinet committees each premier employed? Second, what was the impact of these different structures on governance? Finally, how and why did the cabinet committee system change under each premier? By answering these questions, I argue that the Manitoba experience with cabinet committees reveals that the essential approach to governance taken by each first minister can be derived from their choices concerning cabinet committees. The research reveals that premiers in Manitoba rely on two committees as the pillars of their cabinet committee structure. The first committee is Treasury Board, which is a constant within the cabinet committee system. The second committee is either a coordinating committee or an economic development committee. Both committees are chaired by the premier. The thesis also looks at the use of government MLAs as part of cabinet committees.
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Embargo
Low-frequency uniaxial stress reversal fatigue behavior of plain concrete
(2024-09-17) Nasir, Raza; Fiorillo, Graziano (Civil Engineering); Bassuoni, Mohamed T. (Civil Engineering); Svecova, Dagmar
This thesis investigates the uniaxial stress reversal fatigue behavior of plain concrete under low-frequency cyclic loading, with a focus on frequencies below 1 Hz. The research aims to enhance the understanding of the fatigue life of concrete structures, particularly in infrastructure subjected to repeated loading such as dams and bridges. The specimens were tested at three specific frequencies: 0.2 Hz, 0.5 Hz, and 0.75 Hz. These tests were performed under a constant stress range of 11.4 MPa, replicating the stress conditions identified through Finite Element Analysis of a spillway from an existing gravity dam in northern Manitoba. The testing regime set the maximum stress level at 90% of the tensile strength of the concrete and the minimum stress level at 20% of the compressive strength of the concrete. The analysis concentrated on evaluating the fatigue life of concrete, examining maximum strain curves, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation under stress reversal conditions. The analysis revealed that higher frequencies generally resulted in a longer fatigue life. The maximum strain and stiffness degradation curves exhibited typical S-shaped patterns, indicating progressive damage accumulation in the concrete specimens, and increasing strain at failure. Additionally, stiffness degradation showed negligible differences in deterioration indices between 0.5 Hz and 0.75 Hz, with slightly higher deterioration observed at 0.2 Hz. Energy analysis indicated that higher frequencies result in increased energy dissipation per fatigue cycle. The application of the Weibull distribution effectively modeled the variability in fatigue life data, providing insights into the probabilistic nature of concrete's fatigue behavior under stress reversal loading. Furthermore, the research included a validation of the stress reversal fatigue model proposed by Ferreira et al. (2024). The model's applicability across different frequencies was assessed, demonstrating its potential for broader application in predicting the fatigue behavior of concrete under uniaxial stress reversal loading.
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Open Access
The wildflower garden: ecological restoration in urban environments
(2024-08-07) Horne, Ben; Davidson-Hunt, Iain (Natural Resoures Institute); McLachlan, Stephane (Environment & Geography); Koper, Nicola
Climate change, unrestricted urban sprawl, and industrial agriculture have led to catastrophic degradation of native habitats and unprecedented biodiversity loss, especially within cities. To help address this, this practicum highlights the use of native wildflower and grass species in urban environments as alternatives to traditional turf grass landscaping. Through small-scale wildflower garden design and implementation, and community engagement, approximately 120 square feet of lawn was converted to host 14 native plant species with 168 individual plants. A community-based presentation was delivered to inspire like-minded individuals into restoring parts of their own spaces with native species in hopes of creating a mosaic or habitat matrix within a local urban environment. After speaking with city planning officials and community organizations, the general consensus is that people are in favour of habitat restoration but the problem of long-term maintenance and funding remains prevalent. By working with enthusiastic homeowners, these challenges can be addressed and sustainable care and stewardship may be achieved.
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Open Access
Nutritional composition of dried fishes from Bangladesh and functional properties of their protein isolates
(2024-09-18) Sun, Huan; Utioh, Alphonsus (Food and Human Nutritional Sciences); Johnson, Derek (Anthropology); Aluko, Rotimi
Dried fishes (DFs) are considered to be rich in protein, fat, ash and easy to store as well as transport at room temperature. However, they have been neglected for a long time with respect to their nutritional quality, consumption safety and their potential as an innovative food ingredient. To alleviate the serious public health challenge posed by malnutrition and find new possibilities for the food industry, it is particularly important to study the nutritional profile of dried fish and explore their functional characteristics to pave the way for subsequent industrial applications. Therefore, this study explored the nutrient composition of seven different DFs (Bombay duck: BD, Harpadon nehereus; ribbon fish: RF, Trichiurus iepturus; white sardine: WS, Escualosa thoracata; freshwater barb: FB, Puntius spp.; Ganges River sprat: GR, Corica soborna; fermented barb: FM, Puntius spp.; fermented anchovies: FA, Setipnna spp.) collected from four cities (Cox’s Bazar: C; Dhaka: D; Mymensingh: M; Sylhet: S) in Bangladesh. In addition, further investigation was conducted on determining the functional properties of dried fish protein isolates (DFPIs) from Dhaka at neutral pH (7.0), thereby to broaden the value-addition of DFs and explore potential applications of the isolated proteins as ingredients in the food industry. We found that two small indigenous DFs, WS and GR, showed good potential as a protein source because both of them contained more than 75% protein, in which the essential amino acids (EAA) content accounted for 50% of the total amino acids, and the scores of various individual EAAs exceeded 100. In addition, there were significantly (p<0.05) lower contents of sodium and higher potassium in WS and GR, making them good sources of these minerals. An excellent fatty acid profile was detected in WS based on the high levels of EPA (6-7%), DHA (~19%) and other n-3 fatty acids (total n-3 fatty acid: 32-35%), making it a great source of health-promoting essential fatty acids. All the DFs analyzed in this study are good sources of vitamin B12. However, the presence of high levels of heavy metals in several of the DFs, except for WS, is not desirable due to potential adverse effects on human health. In addition, a relatively high cholesterol content (0.17-0.25 µg/g) in GR also limits its promotion potential among consumers as a source of healthy nutrients. In terms of DFPIs’ functional proprieties, it was found that the high concentration of NaCl contained in DFs increased the ionic strength of the extraction environment and caused the isoelectric point (IP) to move towards to acidic direction (pH 4.5). Under neutral pH conditions, BD-D exhibited higher solubility (85.03±1.06%), relatively stable heat coagulability (6.23 ± 0.41 %), excellent water/oil holding capacity (water holding: 7.00 ± 0.47 g/g; oil holding: 20.13 ± 0.14 ml/g), as well as strong gelling ability (least gel concentration: 3%) and emulsifying properties (oil droplets size of 2-3.5 μm; emulsion stability: 70-100 %). Far-UV CD results reflect that β-sheet (20-35%) and random coil (35-46%) are the predominant secondary structures of DFPIs, indicating highly denatured structures. The almost zero ellipticity in the near-UV spectrum also implies that except the GR, most of the tertiary structures in DFPIs are also unfolded. The polypeptide profile lacked the characteristic band of myofibrillar protein at 200 kDa. Instead, the broad bands at 37-25 and 15-10 kDa indicate that the myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic protein of DFPIs have been degraded into shorter peptides with low molecular weights.
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Open Access
Perceptual dogmatism and undercutting defeat
(2024-09-18) Glatz, Gregory; Murray, Adam (Philosophy); Shaver, Rob (Philosophy); Tillman, Christopher
Perceptual Dogmatism is committed to perceptual undercutting-the phenomenon whereby immediate, perception derived justification is undercut, but relatively little work has been done by perceptual dogmatists to account for this phenomenon. This thesis improves the theoretical standing of perceptual dogmatism by supplying an account of this phenomenon which centers on a certain kind of knowledge enabling explanatory connection. Competing accounts of perceptual undercutting are considered and found wanting. The standing of Perceptual Dogmatism is further bolstered by defending it against some more recent attacks.
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Open Access
En attendant le céleste héritage: frameworks and methodologies for the archival preservation of Franco-Manitoban folklore
(2024-09-16) Moreau, Alexandra J.; Brownlie, Jarvis (History); Millions, Erin (History); Chernyavska, Maryna (University of Alberta); Bak, Greg
Folklore occupies an interesting space within archives. It can be difficult to capture, and yet it is so culturally important that not doing so seems like an oversight. Archivists have explored in detail the concepts of collective memory and archives as places of memory, yet folklore remains an under-examined topic. This thesis seeks to address some of these gaps where they relate specifically to the Franco-Manitoban community. Using existing scholarship surrounding community archives and collective memory, it delves into the ways in which Franco-Manitoban folklore is currently represented within local archives and the challenges these archives face in making this folklore accessible. It argues that while the challenges may be significant, there is equally significant value in overcoming these challenges. To do this, I use the holdings at the Centre du patrimoine as a case study in the presence of folklore, folk culture and oral history in heritage institutions as it stands today. Throughout this exploration, I apply archival theory in order to examine how community archives can overcome some of the most pressing issues they are facing in regard to folklore-related records and highlight the efforts already being made towards this end. This thesis also attempts identify Franco-Manitoban representation within the larger sphere of online folklore. I discuss the difficulties of defining archives within the vast realm of cyberspace, as well as the advent of Internet-born folklore. Reflecting on the limitations of search engines and online archives, I examine the scattered and sparse nature of Franco-Manitoban folklore on the Internet, observing that there is still much work to be done in this respect.
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Open Access
Wildlife and Waste Interactions Project at the Assiniboine Park Zoo
(2024-09-11) Martin, Lynnae; McLeod, Sheldon (Natural Resources Institute); Petersen, Stephen (Biological Sciences); Koper, Nicola
This report explores the interactions between wildlife and waste at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, using a comprehensive project management plan. The introduction in Chapter 1 details the critical need for improved waste management to mitigate its effects on biodiversity loss and contributions to climate change. The following three chapters illustrate the deliverables produced by this project: the Integrated Project Plan (Chapter 2), Communication Outreach (Chapter 3), and the main component of this project, the Wildlife and Waste Interactions Project report (Chapter 4). The Integrated Project Plan covers the essential project management aspects, such as the project charter and scope, used to carry out the entire project. Chapter 3 details how communication outreach was implemented to raise awareness about the project going on at the zoo and engage a broader audience. Finally, Chapter 4 presents the final project report submitted to the Assiniboine Park Zoo. This report provides insights into wildlife and waste interactions at the zoo based on trail camera data and field observations. It offers practical recommendations based on the results from the study, aimed at improving waste management practices, reducing wildlife attraction to waste, and suggests future studies to enhance waste management efforts further. The last chapter critically reflects on the practicum, discussing learning outcomes and insights gained from the project’s execution and completion. In summary, this document used a project management approach to implement a study highlighting the unique relationship between wildlife and waste.
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Open Access
Optimizing the use of hybrid rye in swine diets
(2024-09-18) Song, Jichen; Yang, Chengbo (Animal Science); Slominski, Bogdan (Animal Science); Koksel, Filiz (Food and Human Nutritional Sciences); Dusel, Georg (Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences); Nyachoti, Martin
A newly developed hybrid rye, promising for swine due to lower ergot alkaloid levels and higher yield, was evaluated for its nutritional value and any improvements via grain processing and enzyme supplementation. The first experiment determined the effects of particle size on digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and net energy (NE) contents of hybrid rye in growing pigs. Finely ground rye grain showed greater (P < 0.05) DE and ME contents than coarsely ground rye, with a tendency for higher NE (P = 0.084). The second experiment evaluated the effects of particle size and multi-carbohydrase (MC) supplementation on nutrient digestibility in hybrid rye. Diets containing finely ground hybrid rye had higher (P < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ether extract (EE). Multi-carbohydrase supplementation increased (P < 0.05) ATTD of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), NDF, and EE, and improved (P < 0.05) the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and most amino acids (AA). The third experiment investigated the effects of particle size and phytase supplementation on phosphorus (P) digestibility in hybrid rye. The ATTD and standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P were greater (P < 0.05) for diets containing finely ground grain than those containing coarsely ground grain. There were linear (P < 0.05) and quadratic (P < 0.05) improvement in the STTD of P with increasing phytase levels. The fourth study determined the effects of MC supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, short-chain fatty acids (SFCA) production, and gut microbiota composition in weaned piglets fed wheat-based or hybrid rye-based diets. Pigs fed wheat-based diets had higher (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI), with no differences (P > 0.10) in gain to feed ratio (G:F). Multi-carbohydrase supplementation of hybrid rye diets improved (P < 0.05) the ATTD of NDF and increased acetic acid, propionic acid, and total SCFA production, as well as the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. In conclusion, grain processing and enzyme supplementation could significantly enhance the nutritional value of hybrid rye for pigs.
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Open Access
Interrogating the Icelandic imaginary: nation branding and the articulation of national identity in Iceland’s tourism advertisements
(2024-09-17) Nygaard, Chantel; Bookman, Sonia (Sociology); Níelsdóttir, Katrín (Assistant Librarian); Wilkinson, Lori
The rise of nation branding points to the ubiquity and pervasiveness of brands. Under nation branding, the nation state and national identity—like the corporate brand—are transformed into commodifiable entities. Here, national identity is reconfigured to meet the demands of the global marketplace. This project explores the nation branding via tourism advertisements in the context of Iceland and aims to answer the following dual-pronged question: How do Iceland’s tourism advertisements contribute towards the country’s nation-branding strategies? How do the visual and discursive representations of Iceland in tourism media (re)inforce and (re)articulate a mythologized Icelandic national imaginary and identity? In conducting a semiological analysis of four of Iceland’s tourism advertisements, released during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, this project examines how, through visual and discursive representations, a nationalist image of Iceland—one that upholds the ‘Icelandic imaginary’—is (re)constructed and (re)circulated. Using a synthesis of critical constructivist theories that examine the interconnections between geographies, national imaginaries, tourism representations, branding strategies, and consumption, I develop four key themes (presented as ‘mythologies’)—The Mythology of the ‘Sublime Landscape’ (Iceland as Ontologically ‘Wild’); The Mythology of Inheritance (Iceland as ‘Primordial’: An Authentic Antidote’ to Modernity); The Mythology of Eccentricity (Iceland as ‘Otherworldly’ and ‘Exotic’); The Mythology of Irreverence (Icelandic Humour and Performances of Nonchalance)—that critically examine the effects of nation branding on the formation and articulation of Iceland’s national identity.
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Open Access
Responding to survivors: confronting epistemicide within genocide education in Canadian post-secondary institutions
(2024-08-15) Humphreys, Denise; Ladner, Kiera (Political Studies); Patzer, Jeremy (Sociology and Criminology); Woolford, Andrew
This thesis promotes Indigenous-led education to address genocides by Canada against Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island and aims to advance supportive, equitable, and liberatory community relationships. My focus is on how genocide educators, the Canadian post-secondary institutions they work in, and the wider community connected to them are practicing relationality and might build on the practices examined. This desire to learn comes out of the knowledge that better responses to Survivor redress are needed. Genocide education in Canadian post-secondary institutions has a colonial problem that needs further unsettlement. This colonial problem includes an attempt to violently erase Indigenous Peoples both inside and outside of the academy in both material and symbolic ways. A significant part of this colonial problem in the educational context is epistemicide which involves the destruction of Indigenous knowledges and existence, which are inextricably intertwined. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (NIMMIWG2S +) have helped bring the discussion of settler colonial genocide in Canada to the forefront. These bodies have called for improved education that centres Survivors on the violence of Canadian settler colonialism, giving impetus to the need for assessment of the progress to date in genocide education in Canadian post-secondary institutions. This thesis explores the question: How are Canadian settler colonial genocides included in or excluded from post-secondary genocide education? It does so with the intent to inform future educational practice. Through my assessment of genocide program and course curricula related to genocides as used in Canadian higher education, I look for patterns and meaningful practices that form relationships with the territories in which it is being taught, as well as the Indigenous Peoples who have lived there since time immemorial. I then draw on theories of settler colonialism and Indigenous methodologies to better understand how these observations might connect to relational accountability. My results show that some practices are connected to ethical relationality, yet overall, much change is needed to confront epistemicide and centre Survivors.