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Evaluating the Residual Benefits of Soil Amendments in Reducing Phosphorus Losses to Snowmelt Runoff from Agricultural Fields
Get PDFPhosphorus (P) in snowmelt runoff from agricultural fields across the Canadian prairies is a major source of nutrient pollution to freshwater bodies, such as Lake Winnipeg. The use of soil amendments, such as alum (Al2(SO4)318H2O), gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O), and magnesium-sulphate (MgSO4) have previously shown to reduce P losses from soils with snowmelt in the field, and under simulated snowmelt flooding in the laboratory through converting P to less soluble forms; however, their long-term effectiveness has not been investigated. This thesis examined the effectiveness of alum, gypsum, and magnesium- sulphate after 12 - 18 months after amendment application in (a) reducing dissolved reactive P (DRP) loss with snowmelt runoff in field plots, (b) reducing DRP concentrations in floodwater of intact soil columns with simulated snowmelt flooding, and (c) reducing potential P mobility through changes to P fractions and speciation. Amendments were applied in the fall of 2020 at a rate of 2.5 Mg ha-1 in plots arranged in a randomized complete block design, consisting of 4 replicates of 4 amendments (alum, gypsum, magnesium sulphate, and unamended) for a total of 16 field plots. During the snowmelt period, concentrations of DRP and cations, as well as pH in snowmelt were determined. Using intact soil columns taken from the same field plots, a more controlled laboratory study was conducted, where soil columns were flooded and incubated at 4°C to simulate snowmelt conditions. Porewater and floodwater samples were extracted weekly and analyzed for DRP, cation concentrations, pH, and soil redox potential. Phosphorus species in porewater were predicted using Visual MINTEQ 3.1. on days 0, 28 and 49 during the laboratory study. Phosphorus fractions were also determined using a modified sequential fractionation method. In the field, snowmelt DRP concentrations increased over the sampling period regardless of amendment, with higher concentrations seen after the soil had thawed. In the latter days of sampling, the alum, gypsum, and magnesium sulphate-amendments decreased DRP concentrations in snowmelt by 9 –31% relative to the control. However, differences between treatments and the control were not statistically significant. Snowmelt DRP loads (calculated using DRP concentrations and snowmelt volume) showed a significant positive relationship with snowmelt volume, whereas the relationship with DRP concentration was not significant. During the laboratory study, redox potential in all treatments decreased with time of flooding. Soil columns taken from alum-amended field plots had significantly lower DRP concentrations in porewater when compared to all other treatments, but this effect was not observed for floodwater. Predicted P species showed slight changes in alum-amended soils, suggesting the potential for alum to delay the reductive dissolution of ferric phosphate (strengite, FePO4·2H2O), thereby delaying the P release. However, P fractionation analysis did not show significant differences in soil P fractions between treatments. The results of this research suggest that the effectiveness of these amendments in reducing P loss to snowmelt is very small to negligible one year after application, or after one snowmelt flooding event. This implies that re-application of amendments on a more frequent basis or application at a higher rate may be necessary for amendments to be effective in reducing P loss to snowmelt. However, more field scale research is necessary to provide recommendations to farmers regarding the use of soil amendments for this purpose.Master of Science in Environmental and Social Chang
ᒥᔪ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ ᐅᐱᑭᓈᐘᓱᐏᐣ
Get PDFOpikinawasowin is the Cree word for the lifelong process of growing children. Indigenous child rearing practices adopt a holistic approach while being inclusive of the family unit and the community. The tipi is the conceptual framework for this qualitative Indigenous research study. I use the tipi because each pole represents a specific child rearing teaching corresponding to one of four inter-related life stages: child, adolescent, adult and Elder. All teachings related to the tipi help us understand the spiritual aspect of miyo pimatisiwin opikinawasowin. To be eligible for the Tipi Teachings online study, Indigenous participants are over the age of consent and live on Turtle Island. Thesis findings provide a Turtle Island perspective on Indigenous child rearing ways, teachings, philosophies, and practices related to the tipi. Given that Indigenous children are disproportionately overrepresented in the Child Welfare system, this study is imperative for moving forward in times of reconciliation for Indigenous children, families, communities and Nations across Turtle Island. Thus, this research will positively impact families, including my own, and the next seven generations.This research study received 2018, 2019, and 2020 funding from the Prairie Indigenous Knowledge Exchange Network, PIKE-Net, under the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples Health.Master of Arts in Indigenous Governanc
Staying on Board: Non-profit housing provider board capacity in a changing context
Get PDFAs their funding and operating agreements with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation expire, non-profit housing providers look to their boards of directors for direction. Boards must adapt to a wholly new context in order to continue to offer low-cost housing: less predictable revenue, new regulations, a new relationship with a different part of the provincial government, and new opportunities to use the equity in their properties. At the same time, some of the previous context remains: aging buildings, low reserve funds, and sometimes, board makeup that has not changed in decades. Interviews with housing providers, policymakers, and others involved in low-cost housing provision in Manitoba show that while many boards are ready and willing to transition into their new context, others are not, and may require additional supports if they are to continue to offer housing into the future."This paper draws on research supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Spectroscopic analysis of modern Mg-carbonates from multiple mafic/ultramafic environments with relevance to Jezero crater, Mars
Get PDFThe detection and presence of carbonates on Mars and within Jezero crater implies and supports an extensive aqueous history during the Noachian to early Hesperian and can help with the reconstruction of paleoenvironments. Mg-carbonates have been identified using in-situ spectroscopic instruments on board the Mars Perseverance Rover in the mafic and ultramafic Máaz and Séítah units implying a potential past habitable environment. The goal of this study was to conduct a multi-instrument examination of magnesium carbonates formed at several terrestrial ultramafic and mafic sites and assess their relevance to the exploration of Jezero crater on Mars. In this study we demonstrate the unique spectral features using a suite of spectroscopic instruments of the microbialite samples from the Atlin playas, Clinton Creek, Lake Alchichica, and Lake Salda analogue sites with relevance to Mars. The results of this study determined the presence of magnesite, hydromagnesite and aragonite being the dominant mineralogy present. The reflectance was determined to be the most useful spectroscopic instruments to identify biological compounds while the Raman was determined to be most useful at identifying mineralogy and comparing the microbialites to pure end members. From our study we have determined the likely hypotheses for the current state of the Jezero crater bedrock to be consistent with hydrothermal alteration and hypothesize lacustrine environments for the formation of Marginal Carbonate unit. The use of analogue sites can help to indicate the habitability of Mars and that the most successful determinant of Mg-carbonate formation on Mars is to return the samples to Earth for further analysis.Master of Science in Environmental and Social Chang
Community Energy Planning as a Pathway Towards Reconciliation
Get PDFThere is a growing demand for renewable energy production to contribute to achieving emissions reduction targets in the face of global warming. Indigenous communities across Canada are being called to contribute to the renewable energy sector and participate in collaborative energy developments. While cross-cultural collaborations are not new to the natural resource sector, there is an increasing need for improved practices to collaborate with Indigenous peoples, especially in the renewable energy sector. In collaboration with Eagle Lake First Nation, this research sought to understand the challenges and barriers to engaging in collaborative natural resource management, and determine how to improve cross-cultural engagement processes, with applications in the renewable energy sector. A literature and document review, interviews and community engagements were used to identify challenges and barriers, identify ideal engagement scenarios, and develop recommendations for enhancing cross-cultural engagement processes. This research contributed to developing the community perspectives portion of a community energy plan for Eagle Lake First Nation. In addition, the findings of this research indicate that cross-cultural collaborations in the renewable energy sector presents opportunity to address Reconciliation, while improving the standards and common practices to which engagements are held to. Recommendations for improved engagement practices are provided for First Nations communities, academics, industry and government collaborators."I would like to thank Research Manitoba, The University of Winnipeg Graduate Studies, and the Environment and Society Research Group for the research funding provided to help support my efforts."Master of Environment in Environmental and Social Chang
Analyzing Forest Policy to Advance Indigenous-Led Forestry Initiatives and Increase Adaptive Capacity
Get PDFIndigenous groups across Canada continue to regain sovereignty over their traditional territories and this research focuses on their involvement in Manitoba’s forest sector. A large proportion of First Nations communities in Manitoba are forest-based, and there is a revitalized opportunity and vigor for communities to build successful and sustainable forestry initiatives that could address their respective goals while building adaptive capacity towards climate change impacts. The focus of this research was to understand the barriers and opportunities Indigenous groups experience in respect to federal and provincial forest policy and how Indigenous-led forestry initiatives can enhance the adaptive capacity and climate change resilience in First Nation communities. The first research objective was to describe federal, provincial, and Indigenous policy measures impacting Indigenous-led forestry. This was achieved through a systematic policy scan and interviews with Indigenous forestry experts that uncovered various impactful measures, including enabling legislation and preventative legislation. The second objective was to identify policy provisions that could support or hinder Indigenous-led forestry. The results show that while Indigenous groups are often excluded from forest policies and policy making processes, the provincial and federal governments have increased efforts towards Indigenous inclusion in recent years. A notable example is the progressive timber harvesting agreement that was negotiated between the provincial government and Norway House Cree Nation in 2022. The third objective aimed to identify opportunities for policy learning about Indigenous-led forestry. Indigenous inclusion in policy making could lead to greater learning opportunities and this research demonstrates there are increased opportunities for policy learning to occur in Manitoba’s forest sector. The final objective was to develop recommendations for improving the prospects for Indigenous-led forestry based on accrued evidence and consultation with First Nations communities. While recent strides have been made in Manitoba in advancing Indigenous participation in the forest sector, the wood supply surrounding many First Nations remains underutilized. Moving forward, the success of Indigenous-led forestry initiatives will hinge on increased collaboration with governments and industry, provincial reform of forestry legislation that does not explicitly address Indigenous rights and interests, and funding programs that could address the economic and logistical barriers associated with developing a local forestry initiative. Indigenous-led forestry initiatives that seek to advance the unique goals of individual First Nations remain limited in Manitoba, and this research hopes to help address this gap.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Polar Knowledge Canada, Research Manitoba, and The University of Winnipeg.Master of Environment in Environmental and Social Chang
Pauline Scholarship and Jewish-Christian Dialogue
Get PDFThis thesis endeavours to make a contribution to the larger project of mutual understanding within Jewish-Christian dialogue, and in this regard, I address one issue—that of reading Paul within Judaism as a necessary element for advancing Jewish-Christian dialogue. This thesis references representative writings of Pauline scholars—leading proponents of the traditional view of Paul, the New Perspective on Paul, and that of post-New Perspective scholars—to show the relevance of Pauline scholarship to Jewish-Christian dialogue. Although this thesis is not an investigation of the historical Paul, I draw on my background in theology and interfaith dialogue to outline the views of a number of leading Pauline scholars to uncover theological issues in Pauline scholarship in order to make a case for their relevance to Jewish-Christian dialogue.Master of Arts in Theolog
Indigenous Student-Led Decolonial Movements in Higher Education: A Case Study of the Indigenous Course Requirement at the University of Winnipeg
No full textThis research study seeks to explore the nature of decolonial tactics and strategies, theorized as decolonial movements, that are engaged by Indigenous students in higher education through a case-study of the Indigenous student-led initiatives that led to the mandatory ICR at UWinnipeg in 2016. The ICR at UWinnipeg was specifically chosen for this analysis as UWinnipeg was one of the first universities in Canada to implement an ICR for all undergraduate students as a graduation requirement, and the initiative was Indigenous student-led, as opposed to being driven by the university’s academic leadership. This study relies on one-to-one interviews with students that led these initiatives, and a focus group session with current Indigenous students to engage their narration of the ICR. This study seeks to identify and understand student-led movements that challenge colonial legacies in higher education institutions with attention to the significance of Indigenous histories, places, and knowledge systems
Mathematical Modelling and Validation of Mitogenic Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer
Get PDFApplied Mathematics is becoming an integral part of predicting disease progression, including cancers. Mathematical models can be used to test novel hypotheses, develop optimized treatments schema and personalised therapies, and predict the outcomes. Remarkable advancements have been made in treating cancers, especially breast cancers. The phenomenal progress in computational capacities has helped make whole-genome sequencing rapid and affordable, enabling precision cancer therapy. There are many molecular drivers of breast cancer. Some of them define the breast cancer sub-types. The presence of estrogen receptor (ER, progesterone receptor (PR) and/or human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) or their absence defines the breast cancer subtypes and their treatment regimen. About 70% of the breast cancer diagnosed are ER/PR positive and are also known as hormone receptorpositive (HR+) breast cancer. The prognosis and treatment response of HR+ breast cancer is good for patients undergoing endocrine therapy. Despite the better prognosis of HR+ breast cancer, the recurrence rate and resistance to endocrine therapy is observed in many HR+ breast cancer cases. The resistance to endocrine therapy and recurrence is partly attributed to the activation of the insulin pathway and independent of HR+ breast cancer cells on ER pathway for their growth. Earlier, the crosstalk between insulin and ER pathways was demonstrated. N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) exists in human in two isoforms (NMT1 and NMT2) that catalyzes myristoylation reaction. Recent research from out laboratory has shown that NMTs are vital players in the pathogenesis of JR+ breast cancer. Furthermore, it was also demonstrated from previous studies from our laboratory that NMTs are downstream targets of insulin and ER pathways. In this thesis, I have designed mathematical models using differential equations to study the activation of the insulin pathway and its effect on NMT. The mathematical modeling incorporated the partition of cellular organelles and the sequential flow of information with cascades of equations representing signaling reactions. The activated mathematical model was designed by activating the insulin receptor (IR) or insulin-like growth factor receptors (IGF1R) and compared with the control model. The mathematical models were validated by wet-lab experiments. The HR+ breast cancer cells, MCF7 cells, were treated with insulin of IGF1 for the short-term and long-term. The status of the pathway proteins in terms of expression, localization and activity were determined by cell fractionation and Western analysis. The results revealed the correlation between the differential expression patterns of NMT and the proliferation of MCF7 cells when the insulin pathway was activated by insulin or IGF. The mathematical modeling was validated by simulations and data fittings. The results demonstrated that differential equation based mathematical modeling could predict the NMT related oncogenic changes in ER+ breast cancer cells.University of Winnipeg; Cancer Care ManitobaMaster of Science in Bioscience, Technology, and Public Polic