30921 research outputs found
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Investigation and modelling of anchor ice formation and release processes at Clark Lake
No full textAnchor ice impacts are commonly observed at the outlet of Clark Lake, which is in northern Manitoba upstream of the Keeyask Generating Station (GS) operated by Manitoba Hydro. Manitoba Hydro experiences challenges in accurately forecasting the inflow reaching the Keeyask GS during winter months due to the variable formation and release of anchor ice at the outlet of Clark Lake, which can result in potential revenue losses. This work improves the understanding of anchor ice and other ice processes at this location by performing historical analysis and conducting an on-site field monitoring program, and provides an empirical model to predict the timing of anchor ice intended for Manitoba Hydro to use in operation.
There were 88 definite ice events identified over the 2003/04-2022/23 winter seasons at the outlet of Clark Lake, with 81 being anchor ice. Analysis of the ice events identified proved that different types of ice events occurred, and they were further divided into categories based on their dominant ice type, anchor ice duration type, timing, and release type. There were general trends found between different ice event categories related to their timing, size, and duration. The energy budget trends for the largest formation and release events in both the field monitoring program winters and the historical winters were investigated in more detail. It was found that the energy budget typically decreased surrounding major formation events and increased surrounding major release events, with the sensible heat flux being the dominant heat flux.
Dynamic threshold models were developed to predict anchor ice formation and release events, independently, using the change in the sensible and evaporative heat flux as the predictor variables. The final threshold models developed had a 73% and 72% weekly accuracy, for formation and release, respectively, with a higher accuracy for major events. Future work should focus on developing a model to predict the magnitude and duration of the ice impacts in addition to timing.Manitoba Hydro
University of ManitobaFebruary 202
Exploration of Nigeria's discrimination against persons with disabilities (prohibition) act, 2018-a legal practitioner's perspective
No full textThe Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 aims to protect, promote, and project the inclusion of persons with disabilities. These goals are similar to those contained in the earlier Nigerians with Disability Decree, 1993. The impact and dividends however, demonstrate ongoing struggle to realize the goals of the Act. The Act applies to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and will apply to the various States of the Federation by adoption or domestication by the various States through the States’ legislatures.
Persons with disabilities and their allies rely on the law to change the status quo. However, disability rights violators may find excuses to escape responsibility and liability in the same law meant to protect persons with disabilities. The Act, which was enacted to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities seems to be double edged - working to the advantage of persons with disabilities and at the same time leaving gaps that work against its objectives.
Parties involved in disability rights violations deny liability for disability rights infractions against the victims of the violations over what they term the ‘ambiguous’ position and provisions of the Act, which include: the imprecise transitional provisions on the time frame to comply with the Act’s provisions; lack of adequate awareness (which seem to have been exacerbated by the removal of the Federal Ministry of Information as one of the participating member ministries in the Commission); confusing timelines or the enforcement of compliance with Notice to Comply used in cases where lack of access has been discovered; and different provisions in both the Act and the Decree (5% in the former and 10% in the latter) as to the employment percentage for persons with disabilities with respect to employment of persons with disabilities in public service.
Issues such as these undermine the Act’s utility and ability to compel compliance with the complaints and demands of persons with disabilities founded on the Act and outline a clear road map for the enforcement of the Act. Consequently, it became imperative to undertake an exploration of the Act – the subject of this work, to espouse and address these nagging gaps. Doing so from the perspective of a legal practitioner, it is opined will contribute to achieving a smooth and efficient implement of the Act taking cognizance of the cultural milieu in which the Act is expected to be applied.
An in-depth review of extant relevant literature and theories of disability was employed and the engagement of the legal strategy theory. It became evident that there were gaps in the Act that needed to be filled and that these gaps were both within and outside the Act\. The conclusion drawn is that there should be an amendment of the existing Act and also the establishment of specialized Courts and legal clinic to ensure the realization of the objectives of the Act.October 202
Implementing Call to Action 93 for survivors of colonial violence: An exploration of positive peace for Ukrainians displaced by war to Manitoba
No full textIn response to the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRCC), the federal government of Canada has committed to all of the 94 Calls to Action contained in that report. Call to Action 93 focuses specifically on newcomers to Canada stating: “We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with the national Aboriginal organizations, to revise the information kit for newcomers to Canada and its citizenship test to reflect a more inclusive history of the diverse Aboriginal peoples of Canada, including information about the Treaties and the history of residential schools” (TRCC, 2015). Using a systematic review methodology, this study examines the existing literature for insight into how to best implement Call to Action 93 for war-affected Ukrainians displaced to Manitoba as a result of the on-going invasion of the nation of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Ukrainian settlers and Indigenous people in Manitoba share a long history of complex relationships dating back to the first wave of Ukrainian immigration in the late 1800s. Ukrainian and Indigenous peoples share common experiences with colonization and social marginalization. Based on the findings of the systematic review, this study presents a project proposal on how to effectively implement Call to Action 93. The goal is to encourage Ukrainian survivors of colonial violence to empathize with Indigenous people’s colonial experiences in Canada and identify healing pathways from colonial trauma while staying true to the original intention of the call.October 202
The unseen Wilderness - reconnecting humans with nature in interior spaces
No full textIn response to the challenges related to implementing natural objects in architectural designs, this practicum proposes recreating the Wildness (Cronon 1996), which means the experience of nature, as an alternative way to connect humans with nature in the built environment. Reviewing Wildness through the lenses of Martin Heidegger’s Being-in-the-World and Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology, nature is not perceived by preserving and observing natural objects like plants and water but by the embodied experience. Edmund Burke’s Sublime and Stephen Kellert’s Biophilia theories are examined through the idea of Wildness to identify common spatial characteristics of nature. Adopting Peter Zumthor and Juhani Pallasmaa’s phenomenological design approach that recreates the embodied experience of a place through architectural elements that constitute a building, this practicum tests identifying the Wildness in different natural settings with specific senses, feelings, and spatial conditions to inform the designs of materials, light, scale, movement, and details in three hypothetical interior spaces. The investigation also considers how the design elements may evoke the memory and imagination of nature to deepen the embodied experience and connect humans with nature.October 202
Trends in Evidence Synthesis and Growth in Librarian Involvement
No full textThis study examines the evolving role of librarians within evidence synthesis (ES) research at a mid-sized university after the introduction of a tiered service model. We identified all ES published by our institution and used content analysis to categorize the type of evidence synthesis (e.g., systematic reviews, scoping reviews), the disciplines represented (e.g., nursing, psychology), and the specific ways librarian contributions were credited or acknowledged (e.g., co-authorship, mentioned by name in the search methods). Findings highlight a significant increase in librarian co-authorship since the introduction of our tiered model in 2017, reflecting a growing recognition of librarian expertise in evidence synthesis methodologies and the possible impact of our tiered model. Additionally, our research reveals overall trends in output and disciplines publishing ES research. This presentation is valuable for librarians and administrators planning their own ES research service and those interested in learning how a tiered model can result in increased acknowledgement and co-authorship for librarians involved in evidence synthesis research. Slides were presented as part of the Library Evidence Synthesis Services Symposium (LESSS) which occurred June 24-27, 2024
Expanding beyond psychiatry and antipsychiatry: mental illness in 1960s literature
No full textThis dissertation analyzes literature written about mental illness by mentally ill authors in the 1960s to demonstrate how they converge with and diverge from the antipsychiatry ideas of Erving Goffman, Thomas Szasz, R. D. Laing, and Michel Foucault. I highlight fiction’s capacity to resist rigid definitions of mental illness, challenge binary perspectives, and ultimately provide a healing space for readers. Chapter One extends Goffman’s notion of the “self-story” in Asylums (1961) to Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar (1963) to establish the power of fiction as a medium for portraying personal experiences with mental illness. Chapter Two investigates how Szasz’s concept of the “language of illness” in The Myth of Mental Illness (1961) operates in Joanne Greenberg’s I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1964) to reveal that mental illness cannot be translated into ordinary language and, as such, is more appropriately described in literature. Chapter Three applies Laing’s theory of “metanoia” in The Politics of Experience (1967) to Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) to argue that literature has healing potential through the narrative journey of mental illness. Chapter Four discusses the parallels between Foucault’s arguments on madness and literature in Madness and Civilization (1964) and Janet Frame’s Faces in the Water (1961) before using Foucault’s theory of the author-function in “What is an Author?” (1969) to analyze how Frame’s identity as a mentally ill author has perpetuated and, in turn, challenges binary understandings of mental illness. This dissertation ultimately argues that literature is a vital, underexplored realm for depicting mental illness, encouraging an expansive understanding of mental illness that transcends confining categories.Government of Canada; Canada Study Grant
The Berbrayer Family; Caroline Berbrayer Graduate Fellowship; 40230
University of Manitoba Alumni Association; University of Manitoba Alumni Association Graduate Fellowship; 46097
Dr. Herbert Weil; Weil Fellowship; 44014
Dr. W. John Rempel; Dr. W. John Rempel Memorial Scholarship; 45794February 202
Design and Manufacture a Murphy Bed Lock for Wood Products Unlimited (WPU)
No full textA Murphy bed is a foldable bed frame that can be vertically stored against a wall when not in use to save space. Wood Products Unlimited (WPU) is a Canadian-based manufacturer that makes and sells a Murphy bed product, the Embed. WPU wants a locking mechanism designed for the Embed that customers can choose to purchase with the Embed as an optional add-on. The purpose of the locking mechanism feature is to enhance overall safety and help avoid misuse of the Murphy bed.
A few key features of the locking mechanism include a 12V DC power supply that will power a keypad and two solenoids. Each solenoid and its electrical circuit are protected by a steel case mounted at each corner of the bottom rear bed frame to increase the strength and durability of the attachment of the solenoids to the bed. The locking mechanism works by allowing authorized users of the bed to lock and unlock the Murphy bed using the keypad. When the bed is in the closed position, the extended solenoid pins restrict bed movement and lock it upward. The authorized user can use the keypad to control the solenoids and retract the pins so the Murphy bed can be lowered to the open position. If the authorized user wants the bed to be locked in the open position, they would have to reuse the keypad to re-extend the solenoid pins outward, which would lock the bed in the open position.
Custom modifications will be made to both solenoids, such as a pin extension connected to the pin armature. A prototype testing rig was manufactured to simulate the forces that will be exerted on the locking mechanism and to observe the positioning of components during movement. The testing rig was used to ensure minimal force is experienced by the solenoid and to verify it will not be damaged at the armature or mounting point. The locking mechanism design had to be complete and functional within eight months and cost under $200 CAD to manufacture. The budget constraint was met but the validation results of the application of the locking mechanism onto an Embed were left unresolved due to time constraints. If the locking mechanism is successful, this design would position the Embed as the sole Murphy bed on the market with this unique capability, providing WPU with a competitive advantage over other manufacturers
Serotonergic neurons modulating locomotion and autonomic support for movement
No full textMuch of the present-day research on brainstem and spinal cord control of locomotion is primarily focused on the neurotransmitter glutamate. However, evidence suggests that monoamines, such as serotonin, may initiate or modulate locomotion. This dissertation aimed to investigate the involvement of caudal brainstem serotonin neurons in locomotion. The results indicated that while selective stimulation of 5-HT neurons could occasionally initiate fictive locomotor episodes, it predominately led to increases in tonic electroneurogram activity. This suggests that 5-HT stimulation can enhance the excitability of locomotor central pattern generators, and sometimes elicit rhythmic activity. One unexpected outcome from this study was the strong correlation between locomotion and autonomic activity, specifically blood pressure increases with 5-HT neuron stimulation. This study provides evidence that a small subset of 5-HT neurons can have dual roles, regulating both locomotor and autonomic function. It has been proposed that the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) may serve as an integrator of locomotor and autonomic function. Chapter IV provides a proof-of-concept study highlighting the utility of the decerebrate rat preparation to study the RVLM as the final integrator for locomotion and autonomic support. Specifically, it provides a framework to study how the RVLM may be able to coordinate metabolic support with ongoing movement. The results of this dissertation suggest that future research on locomotor systems should also incorporate autonomic measures to better understand the interconnectedness between these two systems. Further, it has emphasized the need for more research on 5-HT’s ability to act within multifunctional neural circuits. This dissertation also explored the outputs of the CPG, specifically by using a broad-spectrum potassium (K+) channel blocker called 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Systemic administration of 4-AP resulted in an increase in frequency and synchronized bursts in functionally different nerves, highlighting the adaptability of the locomotor central pattern generator. The observed frequency can reach up to 6-7 Hz. This study suggests a differential distribution of K+ channels on inhibitory interneurons due to the persistence of synchronous activity. In addition, there may be coupling with sympathetic preganglionic neurons as there were concurrent increases in blood pressure. Further dosing studiesMay 202
Mapping Health Literacy Strategies and Outcomes in Older Adults: A Scoping Review
No full textBackground: Older adults are currently the fastest aging population in Canada and the United States, yet, have the lowest levels of health literacy in the population. Research supports that consequences of low health literacy are poorer related health outcomes and health status. The aim of this scoping review was to summarize the extent of the literature of health literacy on health outcomes in older adults and identify strategies that aim to increase health literacy.
Methods: A scoping review was completed via online search of the literature using Medline, ERIC and PsychInfo databases, using key terms: functional health literacy and older adults. Inclusion criteria included the following: explicit focus on health literacy, publication in English, older adult population, primary research studies conducted in Canada or USA.
Results: The initial search yielded 238 articles, after title screening and abstract reviewing 48 articles were screened for the full text. 15 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included. This scoping review identified several interventions in heart failure, asthma, hypertension and diabetes, that aim to increase health literacy in the elderly population, however no studies found change in health literacy and health outcomes in the long term.
Conclusion: There is much future work needed to address health literacy in older adults on interventions, long term health outcomes and education for health care providers
Restoring First Nation birth knowledge and practices and the impact on mental wellness: reclaiming space
No full textThe research focuses on the impact of practicing and promoting Indigenous knowledge on mental wellness. Mental wellness as defined by First Nations includes feeling hope, belonging, meaning, and purpose. For this study, First Nations birth helpers were trained to provide services in two northern Manitoba First Nation communities and in Winnipeg. Of the thirty-six birth helpers who were trained, ten were interviewed for the analysis of this thesis. The project was developed using Indigenous research methodology, where the interview process was developed in partnership with the community advisory circles. The interview included questions about their experiences and how being a birth helper relates to their own mental wellness. The interviews were conducted over the phone or in-person, and then transcribed, validated by participants, and analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. The results indicate that reclaiming and restoring birth knowledge impacts hope, belonging, meaning and purpose for the birth helpers, and by extension their families and community. Birth helpers are revitalizing Indigenous knowledge which has historically been held by women to support mothers and families with culturally-based care. Prior to the medicalization of birth, the delivery of a baby was a community event that provided community members and families the ability to celebrate, welcome, and support the babies being born into their nations with culture, language, and connection to place. Reclaiming and practicing birth traditions is the first step to returning birth knowledge and eventually birth to communities. This work echoes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action 12 and 22, which call for culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for families and the recognition and use of Indigenous health knowledge within the health care systems. To support the expansion of birth helpers, further training is required to meet the needs of all First Nations. Mentorship, and partnerships are required to integrate the birth helper role into existing systems of support.May 202