University of Saskatchewan Research Archive
Not a member yet
14369 research outputs found
Sort by
Contextualizing Trumpism: Understanding Race, Gender, Religiosity, and Resistance in Post-Truth Society
Get PDFFrom within the discipline of religion and culture studies, this thesis contextualizes the intersecting discourses surrounding race, gender, and religion underpinning “Trumpism” as an exclusionary populist rhetoric in the United States with similar trends emerging in Canada, Europe, and parts of the Global South. In the US, Trumpism represents not only the political style and rhetoric of its namesake, but the mentality of a distinct voter base compelled to “make America great again.” Pressurized by contemporary social realities and a sensationalist media culture, Trumpian rhetoric can be understood as a “whitelash” response to changes in the American social fabric enmeshed in a cultural history of (white) Christian nationalism. To better understand the cultural and political undertones embodied by Trumpism, this research project presents four Focused Cultural Examples (FCEs) to engage critical discourse/media analysis in dialogue with academic literature. Each FCE examines an event or cluster of topics at the intersections of race, gender, and religion, including antithetical political movements and counter-narratives which challenge and resist Trumpism and what it represents. The synthesis chapter includes brief Canadian comparisons and considers some strategies for building more equitable and informed communities
Multiple lines of evidence to assess risk from dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals in sediment and fish from waterbodies along a large prairie river
No full textGlobal Water Future
Salvaging Hope: A Novel
Get PDFSalvaging Hope is a dystopian adventure novel set in 2024 in which corporations are managing a privatized version of Calgary, Alberta, akin to the other major Canadian cities. In this world, corporate control of major Canadian cities, privatization of services, for-profit health care, and exploitation of fines for high profits reign supreme. The first-person narrator is a neurodivergent & disabled queer woman in her late twenties exploring the intimate connections of identity and the power of an inclusive community against the city’s expanding social barriers and attitudes. Disabled characters in science fiction historically have not been portrayed as hero-capable in storytelling without stigmatization, stereotyping their existences, or curing them of their otherness. In Salvaging Hope, fluid expressions of non-linear time are showcased through the narrator’s perceptions about herself and the expectations of others in the world. Disability is not a monolith, and this manuscript aims to showcase a sampling of diverse human beings experiencing a world. Salvaging Hope’s dystopian society, based on the realities of our own, operates unapologetically in its exclusion of disabled and neurodivergent lives with its barriers to our survival
A History of Language and Revival in the Wendat and Wyandot(te) Nations, 1534-2023
Get PDFThe Wxndat languages (Wendat, Waⁿdat, Wyandot, Huron) are some of the best documented Indigenous languages in North America. Yet despite the volume of documentation, the languages fell asleep (became dormant) in the twentieth century, and still today there are no fluent speakers. Over the course of nearly five hundred years, from 1534-2023, the Wxndat languages have had champions from various communities: other Indigenous peoples, Europeans, American and Canadian settlers, and most importantly, the modern Wxndat nations and Wxndat individuals themselves. Previous scholarship has covered varying aspects of the languages and their history, but usually focusing on certain eras only, or as a section within a larger study. This thesis examines the longue durée history of the Wxndat languages, efforts to preserve them, and their revival movements, to illustrate the caretaking of the languages from one generation to the next. It features hędí:hšahs nęh hatitsihęstatsih (explorers and missionaries), huⁿdatrižuh nęh hatižatǫʔ (fighting and writing) to preserve the languages, and the uⁿditaʔwahstaʔ nęh uⁿdakye:wat (sleeping and waking) of the languages. Unique sources obtained through fieldwork and the collection of oral history interviews with Elders in Oklahoma, Toronto, and Québec in 2019 inform this work. This meticulously chronological approach contributes a reexamination of Wendat (Huron) and Wyandot (Huron) history through the lens of language and community agency
Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) As An Early Predictor Of Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass Supported Cardiac Surgery
Get PDFBackground
Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) increases morbidity and mortality and is an adverse outcome in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass supported cardiac surgical procedures. A lack of consensus in the literature on the definition of AKI and identification of effective diagnostic criteria are factors associated with delayed diagnosis. Diagnostic delay leads to intervention and treatment delays, increasing the risk of adverse outcomes. Tubular injury precedes a significant rise in SCr, yet clinicians still use SCr and eGFR to evaluate renal function, thus delaying early treatment of AKI. SCr is not an early indicator of AKI due to its slow rise and poor predictive accuracy for renal injury. Further, SCr demonstrates poor sensitivity for the early diagnosis of AKI and cannot differentiate between the various causes of AKI (Bonventre, 2007). SCr is a suboptimal biomarker of AKI due to its delayed measure of changes in renal function, hampered by dilutional effects of intravenous fluid administration (Macedo et al., 2010) and decreased creatinine production (Pickering et al., 2013). The widely accepted use of SCr monitoring cannot facilitate early detection and treatment of AKI. Hence, this study aims to investigate serial measures of urine and serum NGAL concentrations as predictive and diagnostic biomarkers of CSA-AKI.
Methods
This research was a prospective study of 334 CPB-supported adult cardiac surgery patients. Thirty patients developed CSA-AKI (Group I) according to the 2020 KDIGO AKI classification (Ostermann et al., 2020). From the remaining 204 non-CSA-AKI patients, a matched design was used to select a sample of 30 patients (Group II) matched with the Group I patients by age (± 10 years), gender, BMI (± 5kg/m2), EuroScore (± 10), pre-CPB eGFR (± 5 ml/min/1.73 m2) and type of surgery, rendering a final sample of 60 patients. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were collected pre-operatively, intra-operatively, and five days post-operatively. Urine and serum specimens for NGAL measurements were obtained at pre-CPB (before surgery), 10 min post-CPB, and 4 hr post-CPB. Urine and serum NGAL were measured via ELISA. SCr was measured pre-CPB, 2 hr, 8 hr, and 18 hr post-CPB and each day thereafter until discharge using the standard in-hospital laboratory analyzer.
Results
This study demonstrated that the mean time to CSA-AKI diagnosis based on KDIGO (2020) criteria was 36 hr in the AKI group. The pre-procedural levels of urine and serum NGAL in this cohort were not predictive of CSA-AKI. Both urine and serum NGAL 10 min and 2 hr post-CPB detected CSA-AKI sooner than the gold standard SCr and eGFR. Serum NGAL measured 10 min post-CPB demonstrated the best performance as a predictor of CSA-AKI as compared to urine NGAL at all time points, with AUC = 0.8767 (95% CI 0.78311 – 0.97022). The impact of component transfusion, other than RBCs, on CSA-AKI remains virtually unexplored. The results of the present study also support the observation (Rasmussen et al., 2020) that intraoperative transfusion of blood products including RBC, platelets, and FFP increases the likelihood of developing CSA-AKI.
Conclusion
This research study demonstrates that rising serum and urine levels of NGAL are associated with the clinical endpoint of CSA-AKI. Furthermore, this study also demonstrates that blood component transfusion is associated with increased risk for CSA-AKI. In addition, both serum and urine NGAL levels appear to rise earlier as compared to standard SCr measurement and eGFR calculation. Both serum and urine NGAL are CSA-AKI indicators, that enable early post-operative identification of patients who develop CSA-AKI. Serum NGAL 10 min post-CPB proved to be an independent predictor of developing CSA-AKI prior to changes in SCr and eGFR. The odds ratio for developing CSA-AKI based on sNGAL ≥ 7000 pg/ml 10 min post-CPB is 1.544 (95% CI 1.234, 1.931). This suggests that those with a positive sNGAL 10 min post-CPB are 1.5 times more likely to develop AKI. NGAL kidney injury biomarkers are an eligible early diagnostic tool for CSA-AKI as soon as 10 min post-CPB. This study suggests that sNGAL is a viable renal biomarker that could potentially be used to both monitor renal perfusion and function intraoperatively and optimize peri-operative care in cardiac surgical patients. Thus, NGAL testing may be an option for earlier intervention in this patient population. Earlier intervention could improve outcomes, mortality, and overall cost of delivery of care
INCREASED PENETRATION OF DISTRIBUTED ROOF-TOP PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS IN SECONDARY LOW VOLTAGE NETWORKS: INTERCONNECTION IMPACT ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION
Get PDFThe worsening global climatic condition has necessitated increased investments in renewable energy resources and in turn increased penetration of these resources in electricity grids worldwide. Distributed photovoltaic (PV) energy is one of the rapidly growing and viable forms of renewable energy. Distributed PV systems currently exist in two modes, a few numbers of large or utility scale systems and a plethora of small or residential scale roof-top systems which are rapidly growing in terms of number. Residential systems are alternatively called Behind the Meter (BTM) systems because they are not directly monitored by utility operators and are therefore invisible vis-à-vis their performances. While an individual Behind-The-Meter (BTM) system's size holds little significance in comparison to the inertia of the utility grid, the collective presence of numerous interconnected BTM systems within a single feeder has the potential to jeopardize the stability and security of utility operations. Conventional protective devices within distribution networks are designed to accommodate a unidirectional downstream power flow. However, as the integration of PV generators into utility grids intensifies, the prospect of reverse or upstream power flow becomes more probable. This development raises various apprehensions, including the potential for voltage level breaches and a notable reduction in the operational longevity of these devices.
BTM systems generally have a wide geographical coverage within a region and each system operates independently of others as well as the fact that their real-time performances are concealed in the net-load data relayed by electricity meters. Consequently, traditional forecasting methods have proved insufficient in predicting the outputs of PV systems on a regional level requiring the development of spatial aggregation approaches. Three basic sub-areas aimed at increasing the penetration of BTM PV generators in utility grids are the principal focus of this study. The sub-areas include performance analysis of BTM systems; day-ahead regional scale PV power forecasting model and a PV ramp events extraction model.
The first sub-area tries to address the challenges with small scale solar power performance data access on a regional basis. The performance analysis was aimed at evaluating the credibility and reliability of BTM data from public webpages and their representativeness for high profile research. Consequently, this sub-area proposes and investigates the feasibility of the instrumentation of every invisible solar system for near real-time data monitoring. The investigation involved detailing the convergence between simulated and reported power outputs on a spectrum of orientation and tilt angles. Two simulation methods as well as two case studies public web repositories from which a subset of representative solar sites were adopted to provide a basis for the proposed approach. The results show that the proposed model is viable and feasible depending on the participation of certain key stakeholders in electricity market discourses.
Day-ahead forecasts are required by electricity market investors to make informed decisions on the trading floor. Whereas it is relatively easier to predict the performance of a few large-scale PV systems, a large number of small-scale PV systems with a wide geographical spread poses more challenges because they are not metered for real-time monitoring. This sub-area proposes an artificial neural network (ANN)-based model to achieve regional-scale day-ahead PV power forecasts from numerical weather predictions of weather variables excluding solar irradiance as inputs. The model was first implemented by dividing a region into clusters and selecting a representative site for each cluster using data dimension reduction algorithms. Solar irradiance forecasts were then generated for each representative PV system and the corresponding PV power was simulated. The cluster power output was obtained using a linear upscaling model and summed to produce regional-scale power forecasts. The model’s accuracy is validated using power generation data of several distributed systems in California. Compared with available benchmark models with similar objectives, the proposed model performed significantly better.
Insufficient information on solar power ramp events is counterproductive to the operational flexibility and economics of electricity grids. Accurate solar ramp extraction and characterization in terms of ramp magnitude, rate and duration are useful to power system operators for system planning especially with regards to ensuring supply security and sizing ancillary services. The characterization of ramp events in historical databases is also useful for testing forecast models’ accuracy in predicting significant solar ramp events that are of more concern to utility operators. A novel technique for solar power ramp events (SPREs) detection using the modified swinging door algorithm (MSDA) considering different time resolutions and weather profile is proposed in this sub-area. Firstly, the swinging door algorithm (SDA) is used to create ramp segments of the solar power data that are collected from different randomly selected systems. Afterwards, the power generation variability patterns of these segments are studied. The SDA is then modified to merge adjacent segments according to the observations made by comparing the variability patterns. The solar power data simulated from irradiances measured with different time resolutions is utilized for performance validation and testing. The proposed technique shows much improved performance than existing detection algorithms with respect to the number of detected ramps, detection accuracy and in some cases, computation time
INVESTIGATING THE CONCENTRATION OF RADIONUCLIDES IN WELLS USED AS DRINKING IN NORTHERN NIGERIA; A CASE STUDY OF JOS METROPOLIS
No full textThe health impacts of nuclear radiation caused by increased human activities in the environment cannot be overlooked. Based on this, 18 well water samples were collected from various locations throughout Jos Metropolis, Jos North LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria, and the following radionuclide concentration activities were examined: 40K, 210Pb, 224Ra, 232Th, and 238U, using a high-resolution gamma ray spectrometer. In well water samples used as drinking water, the assessed average concentration activities of 40K, 210Pb, 224Ra, 232Th, and 238U were determined. The mean concentration ranges from 1.36±0.51 Bq l_1 to 5.75±1.30 Bq l_1. The mean concentration of 40K in well water samples ranges from 3.80±1.19 Bq l_1 to 2.05±0.30 Bq l_1. The mean concentration of dissolved 224Ra in water samples collected varies from 5.75±1.30 Bq l_1 to 1.95±0.58 Bq l_1. 210Pb has an average concentration of 2.68 ± 0.80 Bq l_1 to 1.97±0.87 Bq l_1. 232Th and 238U had average concentrations of 3.09 ± 0.57 Bq l_1 to 1.89±0.24 Bq l_1 and 5.41 ± 1.37 Bq l_1 to 1.36±0.51 Bq l_1 respectively. 210Pb and 224Ra were slightly above the recommended limits of 0.10 Bq l_1 and 1.00 Bq l_1, respectively; this can be linked to the sampled area's geological formation. 232Th and 238U were within the accepted standard limits of 1.00 Bq l_1 and 10.00 Bq l_1 recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization) and ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection). Well water samples from Jos North LGA, showed activity concentrations of detected radionuclides in the following order: 210Pb>224Ra>238U>40K>232Th
Two Spirit Peoples’ Experiences Accessing and Receiving Care in Community Pharmacies
Get PDFTwo Spirit Peoples (a term used by some Indigenous Peoples to encompass diverse gender and sexual identities) face unique challenges in accessing and receiving healthcare in Canada due to health services, including community pharmacy services, being built on hetero- and cis-normative models that impede appropriate care for Two Spirit Peoples. They are more likely to experience mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and are at a higher risk of suicide. The aforementioned prejudices present within the healthcare system produce significant barriers to accessing and receiving appropriate care for Two Spirit Peoples. Coupled with a lack of representation and lack of programming, these issues have resulted in a lack of awareness and understanding of the obstacles faced by Two Spirit individuals in the Canadian healthcare system. Currently there is no published information on Two Spirit Peoples’ experiences accessing and receiving care in community pharmacy settings. To address the lack of published information on this topic, 21 Two Spirit individuals were asked to share their experiences and knowledge in a focus group setting. Four different focus groups were held with Two Spirit individuals residing in various locations across Canada including one in Saskatoon for the Prairies-area and one each in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto. Informed by Indigenous Methodologies, data was recorded via audio-recording and notetaking. The audio was transcribed and then analyzed for themes using the Voice-Centred Relational Method. Findings suggest that there are three major structural systems that affect the experiences of Two Spirit Peoples in community pharmacies. These systems include white supremacy, capitalism, and heteronormativity. These three systemic issues presented themselves in the form of racism, homophobia, transphobia, pharmacists’ lack of knowledge about Two Spirit individuals and their health, and lack of time spent educating or building a relationship with this group of people. In addition to sharing knowledge about their experiences in community pharmacies, the participants provided suggestions for how community pharmacists can better serve the Two Spirit community. The results suggest that dismantling the current structures and ideology in community pharmacy and society needs to happen to overcome these issues
Lithium Orotate as an Improved Therapeutic Agent in the Treatment of Mania: Preclinical Evidence from a Murine Model
Get PDFLithium carbonate (LiCO) is a mainstay therapeutic for the prevention of mood-episode recurrence in bipolar disorder (BD). Unfortunately, lithium therapy is plagued by high rates of treatment non-compliance due to the unpleasant adverse effects associated with presently prescribed medications. Given that lithium-induced toxicities correlate with serum exposure, a lithium-based therapeutic that displays similar efficacy concurrent with lesser dosing requirements would likely improve treatment regimen adherence. Lithium orotate (LiOr) may meet this criteria, as previous research suggests it to possess unique uptake characteristics that may enable reductions in dosing and subsequent amelioration of toxicity. Thus, we hypothesized that LiOr is more potent than LiCO due to differential transport, allowing mitigation of side effect incidence consequent to lesser dosing requirements. Dose response curves were established for LiOr and LiCO in male and female mice using an amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion (AIH) model; AIH captures manic elements of BD and is sensitive to a dose-dependent lithium block. LiCO induced a partial attenuation of AIH at doses of 15 mg/kg in males and 20 mg/kg in females. In contrast, LiOr elicited a near complete blockade at concentrations of just 1.5 mg/kg in both sexes, signifying superior potency and efficacy. Prior application of inhibitors of organic anion transporting polypeptides, or inhibition of orotate uptake into the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway, completely abolished the effects of LiOr on AIH while sparing those of LiCO, thereby confirming the differential transport and compartmentalization of the two compounds. As proposed in our hypothesis, the increased potency of LiOr translated to improved tolerability: after 14 consecutive days of once daily administration, LiCO, but not LiOr, elicited polydipsia in both sexes, elevated serum creatinine expression in males, and increased serum TSH levels in females. In summation, LiOr demonstrates superior efficacy, potency, and tolerability to LiCO in both male and female mice, likely because of select transport-mediated uptake and incorporation into the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway
Status of the short-lived radioisotope supplying platform in Japan
Get PDFThe Short-Lived Radioisotope Supplying Platform in Japan has supplied various RIs for promoting the usage of RIs in broad field of science since 2016. The number of research programs is growing reflecting the increasing importance of the use of RIs. We continue supporting the research programs with the efforts of increasing the supply capacity