30921 research outputs found
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Exhibition Review: “The Undead Archive: 100 Years of Photographing Ghosts” at the University of Manitoba Archives and Special Collections
Get PDFA review of “The Undead Archive: 100 Years of Photographing Ghosts,” a 2023-2024 library exhibit, for inclusion in ARLIS/NA’s Library Exhibitions Review Issue 2
Hip hop interior design: imagining interior environments rooted in hip hop culture
No full textThe culture of Hip Hop is noticeably ingrained in twenty-first century contemporary culture, influencing everything from music, dance, fashion, and art, yet is formally non-existent in the discipline of interior design. Therefore, this practicum project aims to establish the theoretical foundations of Hip Hop interior design, a novel proposal which is informed by Hip Hop and the associated Hip Hop architecture movement. The identified theory will guide the design of The Toronto Centre for Hip Hop, a community centre for adolescents living in a disenfranchised inner-city neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario.
Towards this pursuit, context is fundamental to situate Hip Hop within its distinct historical, social, and cultural emergence. The history of American racial segregation is unravelled to clarify the role architects, designers, and city planners played in the spatial and architectural marginalization of Black people. This bigoted construction was decisive in forming the inner city or ghetto, which eventually situated post-industrial New York as the incubator for Hip Hop to emerge. Hip Hop is then analyzed from its history to its various expressions, conclusively positioning it as a culture, as opposed to merely a musical genre. This allows for its connection to space and place, exploring how space is not universal or equal to all, substantiating the pursuit of Hip Hop architecture. Subsequently, theories from the developing Hip Hop architecture movement are reviewed to connect Hip Hop with built form, conclusively supporting the proposed idea of Hip Hop interior design.
The ultimate goal of this practicum project is to contemplate a new approach to interior design that focuses primarily on revitalizing marginalized inner-city communities through the ideologies of Hip Hop. The undertaking reconsiders a Eurocentric imposition of space, towards a participatory design process that prioritizes the perspectives of Black, Brown, and minority people. This approach envisions an interior design movement that attracts more people of colour to the field, expanding the boundaries of the profession with the integration of a whole new generation of diverse students, teachers, and practitioners.October 202
Novel cattail paper sheet development for manufacturing compostable cups
No full textCattail biomass is an abundant and cost-effective source of fiber in the Prairie region of Canada. Despite advancements in the development of eco-friendly disposable tableware using non-wood biomass, the potential use of waste fibrous cattail biomass for paper production remains unexplored. This study investigates the feasibility of using cattail biomass combined with a biodegradable polymer coating like polylactic acid (PLA), to produce fully compostable beverage cups. In the current research, fibers were extracted from cattail plant leaves, achieving a 32% yield through optimized alkali retting using a 2.5% NaOH solution at 90°C for 4 hours. These fibers were then used to produce paper sheets under optimal pulping conditions: a consistency of 1.5%, a blending time of 3.5 minutes, and beating-agitation at 2,300 rpm. The uncoated Cattail paper sheets had an average basis weight of 298 g/m² and a thickness of 0.76 mm, both higher than those of the standard uncoated paper sheets used to manufacture commercial (Fools & Horses Coffee Inc.) single-use paper beverage cups provided by (293 g/m² and 0.41 mm). However, the Cattail-paper sheets exhibited lower tensile index, modulus, and bursting index (14.11 Nm/g, 1.06 GPa, and 0.04 kPa·m²/g) compared to the commercial coffee cup paper sheets (19.33 Nm/g, 1.22 GPa, and 0.1 kPa·m²/g). Cattail paper sheets were coated by applying four layers of a PLA polymer solution (at concentrations of 3%, 4%, and 5% w/v in dichloromethane solvent) using compressed air at 15 psi under ambient conditions. The polymer-coated paper sheets produced with varying coating percentages exhibited higher average basis weight and thickness (363 to 375 g/m² and 0.87 to 0.88 mm) compared to the standard coated commercial cup paper sheets (344 g/m² and 0.49 mm). The mechanical properties, including tensile index, modulus, and bursting index, as well as air permeability, of the coated Cattail paper sheets were found to be comparatively lower than those of the standard coated commercial cup paper sheets. However, the water contact angle of the coated Cattail paper sheets was higher. Additionally, the
thermal conductivity of the coated Cattail paper was comparable to that of other paper materials coated with PLA polymer. The results of this study have important implications for the development of cost-effective, fully compostable, and environmentally sustainable single-use paper cups for the food and beverage industry and will provide a valuable opportunity to enhance the utilization of locally available biomass resources.October 202
SVS-Web: design and implementation of cloud web-based SVS-EFIE solver
No full textAim of this project is to revolutionize the field of electromagnetic solvers by developing a cutting-edge web application. It leverages the power of multiple programming languages, and frameworks to seamlessly integrate and interact with electromagnetic solvers.
Our goal is to provide widespread access to the EM solver through a web-based platform, catering to researchers and engineers. Instead of relying on traditional command-line interfaces, a modern and intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) has been developed. This user-friendly GUI improves the overall experience for users and removes the requirement for specialized knowledge of command line interface.
This project acts as a bridge between the user and the EM solver, providing a seamless and intuitive interface to input problem parameters, configure simulations, and visualize results. Users can interact with the solver through a browser, eliminating the need for complex software installations and compatibility issues.May 202
DNA methylation differences associated with prenatal air pollution exposure in developmentally relevant tissues from two North American birth cohorts
No full textPrenatal air pollutant exposures are linked to childhood atopic diseases like wheeze and asthma. The molecular mechanisms are not fully understood, but likely involve lasting changes to epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation (DNAm). Newborn cord blood and placenta DNAm differences have been demonstrated, but few studies interrogated their role in health outcomes. Additionally, these investigations primarily involved participants of European descent, limiting broader applicability. This thesis addresses these gaps using microarray data and an epigenome wide approach to profile cord blood and placenta DNAm differences associated with air pollutant exposures (NO2, PM2.5, and PM10) in two diverse North American cohorts. This work identified novel differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in both tissues and replicated previous findings in cohorts from similar backgrounds. Notably, a DMR in the lung development gene HOXA5 was observed in both cohorts, with DNAm differences likely driven by changes in biological males. Most DMRs were tissue-specific, reflecting the distinct roles of cord blood and placenta in development and disease, with minimal overlap between pollutants, suggesting unique mechanistic effects. Causal mediation analysis highlighted trends for cord blood DMRs in the association between PM2.5 exposure and transient wheeze, and placental DMRs in persistent wheeze with PM2.5, indicating different roles for these tissues in respiratory health. Additionally, this thesis examined the persistence of DNAm changes, finding that most cord blood DMRs associated with prenatal NO2 exposure remained significant at age one, implying greater potential to impact later health. This work also introduced a novel subtractive method leveraging repeated DNAm measures to identify a postnatal-specific DMR related to NO2 in the first year of life, reinforcing the susceptibility of early developmental stages to environmental factors. Finally, given that air pollution likely exerts its effects through oxidative stress and inflammation, this thesis examined buffering by maternal diets, observing reductions in the magnitude of cord blood and placenta DMRs with greater intake of protective foods like fruits and vegetables. Together, this work provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms connecting prenatal air pollution with respiratory health, highlights the need for diversity, and showcases maternal diet quality as a potential buffer against the effects of prenatal pollution.Biochemistry and Medical Genetics Travel Award
Phyllis J. McAlpine Graduate Fellowship
Faculty of Graduate Studies Travel Award
Canadian Respiratory Research Network Conference Student Oral Presentation Award
Faculty of Graduate Studies Research Completion Scholarship
Child Health Research Days (CHRD) Bronze Poster Award
Asthma Canada/CAAIF Graduate Student Award
Visual and Automated Disease Analytics (VADA) Graduate Training ProgramOctober 202
The impact of preoperative alcohol use screening on postoperative delirium in cardiac surgery patients: a retrospective observational study
No full textBackground: As cardiac surgery patients continue to age and present with more complex health conditions, the occurrence of a challenging postoperative complication known as "delirium" is becoming increasingly common. Postoperative delirium (PoD) is a complex neuropsychological disorder characterized by symptoms such as inattention, drowsiness, and agitation, which has many long-term negative health impacts. A patient-associated risk factor of PoD is presumed to be a preoperative alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Objective: The primary purpose was to determine whether preoperative alcohol use, measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Concise (AUDIT-C), is predictive of incident PoD in cardiac surgical patients. The secondary objective was to determine the risk factors associated with PoD available in the Manitoba Access Cardiac Surgery (MACS) database.
Hypothesis: Primary: Higher AUDIT-C scores are associated with the incidence of PoD in adults who underwent cardiac surgery. Secondary: risk factors identified from the MACS database are correlated with PoD in adults who underwent cardiac surgery.
Methods: This was a single-centre, retrospective observational cohort study. AUDIT-C score and PoD (as diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) – ICU in the intensive care unit or CAM on the postoperative ward) were collected for all elective patients undergoing cardiac surgery between March 2015 – September 2020.
Results: The overall incidence of delirium in this study was 14.2%. There was an association between preoperative alcohol use measured by AUDIT-C and PoD (0.559 OR, 0.515-0.607 95% CI, p = < 0.001) before controlling for covariates. After controlling for age, procedure category, MoCA score, CFS, LVEF category, renal insufficiency, previous CVA/TIA, recreational drug use and CPB time, there was no significant association between alcohol use and PoD (0.376 OR, 0.070-2.011 95% CI, p = 0.253). Previously known risk factors, including age, frailty, MoCA scores, renal insufficiency, previous CVA/TIA and CPB time, were found to be significant.
Conclusion: Preoperative alcohol use measured by AUDIT-C is not a reliable predictor of PoD in cardiac surgery patients. Future research should explore the role of comprehensive measures of alcohol use on PoD.February 202
Interrogating the Icelandic imaginary: nation branding and the articulation of national identity in Iceland’s tourism advertisements
No full textThe 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.February 202
Transcriptomics of E1A and arglu1 in the cell cycle, polymerase pausing, and DNA damage response
No full textAdenovirus E1A protein transform human cells in by disrupting the binding of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb or Rb) to the transcription factor E2F, driving S phase. Although there have been previous studies on the differences between E1A 13S and 12S, the two largest and earliest expressed isoforms, their global effect on human gene expression is less understood. Previously my lab made a mutant of E1A 13S (YCD) and 12S (12S YCD) that deletes residues 2-11 and mutates Y47 and C124, resulting in a loss of binding to pRb and E2F, deficient S phase activation, and reduced viral growth. However, unlike E1A 12S YCD, the 13S YCD mutant was able to drive S phase in a BrdU assay, while 12S had a reduced amount of S phase initiation compared to WT and 13S. To generate hypothesis for how 13S YCD could do this, I analyzed RNA-sequencing of primary human lung fibroblast cells (IMR-90s) infected with wild type adenovirus and three adenovirus mutants, the first expressing only the E1A 13S isoform, the second expressing predominantly E1A 12S, and the last with three mutations in 13S that prevent it from binding to the retinoblastoma protein. I subsequently performed PCA, DEA, and GSEA.
Arglu1 is a human protein that increases the cellular growth rate, the amount of paused RNA polymerase II, and is localized to sites of DNA damage. I further characterized the phenotype of Arglu1 overexpression by showing that Arglu1 overexpressing cells (HTA) increase resistance to the DNA damage inducing genotoxic drug Actinomycin D and have reduced duration of G1 and S-phase but slightly extended G2/M phase. To analyze how Arglu1 increased the cell cycle rate and resistance to DNA damage, I made deletion mutants of Arglu1, stable cell lines overexpressing these mutants, and performed proteomic and ChIP-seq analysis of HTA cells. I found genes involved in DNA damage response, the cell cycle and its phase transitions, and transcription that generate new hypotheses for how Arglu1 affects these pathways.The lab was also funded by CIHR and NSERC.February 202
Empowering residents, building community, and fostering place: a food co-op in West Broadway Winnipeg, Manitoba
No full textIn 2022, the rise in housing costs and grocery prices led to an increase in individuals and families seeking support from food banks. While this issue affects users in various parts of the city, it is particularly challenging for West Broadway residents in Winnipeg, Manitoba, who live in a food desert and food mirage with financial barriers and limited grocery store access. It is also important to note that while there is an increase in users utilizing food banks, the social stigma still prevents many from obtaining help. As a response to these issues, this Master of Interior Design practicum draws from the cooperative model to address food insecurity in the West Broadway neighbourhood. Specifically, the project focuses on the adaptive reuse of 164 Langside Street into The Langside Co-op to offer an alternative retail option.
The project centres around the design of a food co-op that provides goods and resources that meet the budgets, needs, and interests of its residents. In doing so, the project utilizes research methodologies, including a literary analysis, precedent studies, site analysis, and a visual essay. Further, it draws from concepts and theories of food sovereignty, placemaking, brandscaping, and adaptive reuse to provide members with greater power and control over their food system, offer opportunities to come together and learn from each other, and create a dignified environment. Ultimately, the design outcome reflects residents’ desires for greater resources and emphasizes the importance of community, shifting the focus from asking for help to the act of caring for and supporting one another.October 202
Emotional labor and burnout among nurses in Iran: core self-evaluations as mediator and moderator
No full textBackground
This study investigated the mediating and moderating impact of core self-evaluations in the path from emotional labor to burnout. Our hypothesized associations are based on Hobfoll (Rev Gen Psychol 6:307–24, 2002) conservation of resources theory.
Method
Three hundred nurses from four hospitals in Abadan, Iran, were invited to participate in our study. Of the 300, 255 completed all sections and questions in our survey for an 85% response rate. The posited direct and indirect effects were evaluated with structural equation modeling and the interaction effects were evaluated with hierarchical moderated regression and simple regression slope plots.
Result
Deep acting has indirect effects on burnout through core self-evaluations. Though unrelated to surface acting, core self-evaluations moderate its impact: under low core self-evaluations, surface acting is strongly related to emotional exhaustion and inversely related to personal accomplishment, whereas, under high core self-evaluations, surface acting is unrelated to these burnout dimensions.
Conclusion
Our findings reveal the dual functions of CSE as a psychological resource and buffer to offset the interpersonal demands of patient care. Limitations, directions for future research, and practical implications are discussed