30921 research outputs found
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Infantile atopic dermatitis – increasing severity predicts negative impacts on maternal and infant sleep: a mixed methods study
No full textBackground
While the impacts of atopic dermatitis (AD) on maternal and child sleep outcomes have been previously explored, less is known about the associations between infantile AD and sleep quality and quantity.
Objective
To describe the perceived causes of AD-associated maternal sleep disturbances and the association between AD severity and infant sleep outcomes.
Methods
Mothers with infants aged < 19 months old with a diagnosis of AD were recruited from social media and medical clinics in Winnipeg, Canada between October 2021 and May 2022. Infant AD severity was classified using maternal-reported data on the Patient-Oriented Scoring Atopic Dermatitis tool (PO-SCORAD). Quantitative data were collected via a series of questionnaires with a subset of mothers subsequently completing semi-structured interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated in the discussion.
Results
Mothers of infants with moderate/severe AD (6/12) were more likely to report their infant suffering from a higher degree of sleeplessness (i.e., ≥ 5 on a scale of 0–10) over the past 48 h compared to mothers of infants with mild AD (0/18). This was supported by qualitative findings where mothers described how their infant’s sleep quality and quantity worsened with AD severity. Additionally, 7/32 mothers reported that their child’s AD, regardless of severity, disturbed their sleep. Maternal sleep loss was most commonly attributed to infant itching (6/7), followed by worry (4/7).
Conclusion
Infantile AD severity was associated with worse sleep outcomes for both mothers and infants. We propose that maternal and infantile sleep quality and quantity can be improved by reducing AD severity through adherence to topical treatments
The synergistic role of IL-7/IL-7R and ZEB2 in breast cancer
No full textBreast cancer remains a significant health challenge in Canada, necessitating the continued
exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. This thesis investigates the role of two key players,
Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2 (ZEB2 transcription factor) and Interleukin-7 Receptor
(IL-7R), in breast cancer progression and therapeutic response. We sought to unravel the intricate
interplay between these proteins and their roles in breast cancer biology. Utilizing the DEPMAP
(Dependency Map) database, a comprehensive resource that provides information on gene
essentiality and drug responses across various cancer cell lines, we identified ZEB2 and IL-7R as
potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer. Subsequent validation experiments confirmed their
overexpression in breast cancer cell lines, highlighting their potential as prognostic indicators and
therapeutic targets. Immunofluorescent imaging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays
(ELISA) revealed intriguing insights into the intracellular localization of IL-7R and the
autocrine/intracrine signaling potential in breast cancer cells. Functional assays demonstrated the
pro-proliferative and pro-migratory effects of IL-7 stimulation in breast cancer cells. Additionally,
our investigation into downstream signaling pathways unveiled the activation of the
Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway upon IL-7 stimulation,
suggesting potential therapeutic avenues for targeting this pathway in breast cancer treatment.
In vitro drug combination studies revealed promising synergistic effects between Lysine-
Specific Demethylase 1 (LSD1) and AKT inhibitors in ZEB2High IL-7RHigh breast cancer cells.
While our findings present promising avenues for breast cancer treatment, further research is
warranted. Ultimately, this thesis contributes to the growing body of knowledge aimed at
advancing precision medicine approaches for breast cancer treatment.October 202
Influence of crop species and weed seedbank density on extracellular DNA degradation, bacterial community structure and functional capabilities in agricultural soils in Manitoba, Canada
No full textNucleic acids are abundant in terrestrial ecosystems and are degraded by DNases, mostly from microbial origin, contributing significant quantities of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which enter their respective nutrient cycles. However, the impact of agronomic management practices on this important soil function and the bacterial community involved has received little attention. This thesis research consisted of an indoor and a long-term field study used to determine the responsiveness of extracellular DNA (exDNA) degradation, extracellular DNase (exDNase) producing bacteria, bacterial diversity, community composition, and functional capabilities as influenced by crop species and weed seedbank density levels in agricultural soils. A high-throughput DNA methyl green (DNA-MG) spectrophotometric assay was developed and successfully adopted for estimating instantaneous exDNA degradation potential in soils. Potential DNase activity in soils was best estimated using soil leachates, and the assay was observed to be stable over a wide range of temperatures. The assay is simple, affordable, and rapid means to estimate potential DNase activity of soils. The assay demonstrated that crop species, crop developmental stages and soil properties influenced instantaneous exDNA degradation potential in agricultural bulk soils, while weed seedbank density did not have a significant effect on this soil function. Moreover, crop species, crop developmental stages, and soil type greatly shaped the populations of culturable exDNase-producing bacteria inhabiting agricultural soils. Several key exDNase-producing bacteria were identified and were dominated by Bacillota (Firmicutes) and Actinobacteria at the phyla level and the Bacillus genera group. The Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla groups dominated the bacterial species in bulk soils from the field study and those positively associated with instantaneous exDNA degradation potential. The chemical fallow and prairie treatments had distinct bacterial community structures and functional groups from each other and also from the annual crop species. Finally, putative nucleotide metabolism-related genes were better predictors of instantaneous exDNA degradation potential compared with bacterial species. Additionally, the current research showed that the presence of plants significantly reduced instantaneous exDNA degradation potential in agricultural soils. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the cycle of exDNA degradation by enzymatic restriction in agricultural soils, and how management practices contribute to shaping soil bacterial community and functions.February 202
Mediating difficult knowledge through storytelling: the Holocaust in German museums in the twenty-first century
No full textThis thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of two twenty-first-century German museums: the Jewish Museum Berlin, which re-opened in August 2020, and the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, whose new building complex and permanent exhibition was inaugurated in October 2020. It examines the use of storytelling methods for the transmission of “difficult knowledge” in the context of the Holocaust and the Second World War. This research study focuses on how museums in Germany represent traumatic experiences, suffering, and victims’ perspectives through storytelling methods as well as variations in approaches based on the detailed analysis of four categories: agency, authenticity, distance versus proximity, and empathy. These categories help to contrast the dominant narrative approach in each of the two exhibitions, in how they integrate individual stories in their respective representational frameworks, and how these representations align with the experiences of Holocaust persecuted individuals. The analysis reveals how these two new permanent exhibitions utilize diverse elements connected to personal stories (authentic belongings, digital videos with collage designs, excerpts from eyewitness accounts, among many others) to create a sense of agency for victims, highlight the authenticity of their experiences, and navigate the emotional distance between visitors and the historical event. Specifically, the thesis demonstrates how, in the Holocaust-related exhibits of the Jewish Museum Berlin, the possibilities of emotionalization and over-identification are considerably lower in comparison with the Jewish Museum Frankfurt. The latter, however, promotes strategies that make it easy for visitors to connect with individual characters on a personal level, fostering a sense of emotional proximity and empathy, ultimately encouraging visitors to grapple with the lasting impact of the Holocaust.Faculty of Graduate Studies Research Completion Scholarship
University of Manitoba, U of M: https://doi.org/10.13039/100010318
German and Slavic Studies Special Awards
University of Manitoba, U of M: https://doi.org/10.13039/100010318
German and Slavic Studies Research Travel Award
University of Manitoba, U of M: https://doi.org/10.13039/100010318
DAAD German Studies Research Grant
German Academic Exchange Service: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100021828October 202
Author Correction: NERD-seq: a novel approach of Nanopore direct RNA sequencing that expands representation of non-coding RNAs
No full textInvestigating the efficacy of SleepGift blanket on sleep quality and heart health
No full textSleep quality and heart health may be affected negatively by electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by telecommunication devices, and a decline in sleep quality may lead to neurological disorders such as anxiety and depression. There are multiple products that claim to improve sleep quality by blocking exposure to EMF. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of one such product called “SleepGift” blanket on sleep quality and heart health. This single-blind cross-over study analyzes the sleep study data collected from healthy participants (13 to date). Participants were provided with real and sham SleepGift blankets during two blocks of the study, and their sleep quality data were recorded. Participants slept at the Sleep Research Lab using the assigned (real/sham) blanket for block 1 pre-intervention. They committed to using the blanket at home for the next 10 consecutive nights’ then, using the same blanket, slept at the lab for post-intervention recording. The same procedure was repeated for block 2 after the washout period with the other reversed (sham/real) blanket. The collected data were analyzed. The changes observed from the Wilcoxon-rank sum test in sleep quality, heart rate variability, and Katz fractal dimension of the EEG data over night have shown to be insignificant so far. The inconclusive results of the data could be due to small sample size of the study; however, one participant showed improvement and claimed to be EMF sensitive. Ideally, recruiting such participants could be extremely challenging. A larger data set is recommended to achieve robust conclusion about the efficacy of SleepGift blanket.October 202
A study protocol for implementing Canadian Practice Guidelines for Treating Children and Adolescents with Eating Disorders
No full textBackground
Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates among psychiatric illnesses. Timely intervention is crucial for effective treatment, as eating disorders tend to be chronic and difficult to manage if left untreated. Clinical practice guidelines play a vital role in improving healthcare delivery, aiming to minimize variations in care and bridge the gap between research and practice. However, research indicates an active guideline implementation approach is crucial to effective uptake.
Methods
Mixed methods will be used to inform and evaluate our guideline implementation approach. Semi-structured focus groups will be conducted in each of the eight provinces in Canada. Each focus group will comprise 8–10 key stakeholders, including clinicians, program administrators, and individuals with lived experience or caregivers. Qualitative data will be analyzed using conventional content analysis and the constant comparison technique and the results will be used to inform our implementation strategy. The study will then evaluate the effectiveness of our implementation approach through pre- and post-surveys, comparing changes in awareness, use, and impact of the guidelines in various stakeholder groups.
Discussion
Through a multifaceted implementation strategy, involving the co-creation of educational materials, tailored training, and context-specific strategies, this study intends to enhance guideline uptake and promote adherence to evidence-based practices. Our study will also contribute valuable information on the impact of our implementation strategies.Lay Abstract
This protocol outlines a comprehensive research study aimed at evaluating an implementation approach for the uptake of the Canadian Practice Guidelines for Treating Children and Adolescents with Eating Disorders across Canada. Eating disorders (EDs) have a significant impact on mental and physical health, necessitating evidence-based and timely interventions. To address gaps in service, we propose to use focus groups to identify barriers, facilitators, and implementation strategies for guideline uptake. We will engage stakeholders, including clinicians, administrators, and individuals with lived experience, to co-create tailored educational materials which will then be disseminated. The impact of the implementation approach will be evaluated through pre- and post-implementation surveys. This study aims to enhance the availability and utilization of evidence-based treatments for children and adolescents with EDs, ensuring equitable and improved care nationwide
The nature of swimming: an exploration into the design of wild swimming pools
No full textSwimming can have an incredible impact on a person’s
overall wellbeing. It can help increase physical activity, allow for
a respite from the stress of everyday life, and have a profound
and positive impact on one’s mental health. In addition to this,
swimming outdoors, whether in an open air swimming pool or
wild swimming in a lake or other body of water, can create a
feeling of connection to nature. With all of this considered it is
important to consider the role that landscape architecture can
play in the future of swimmable landscapes.
This practicum aims to explore this through reflection
of the social history of swimming, the benefits swimming
has for your health and the relatively recent spike in the
popularity of wild swimming; resulting in the design of what
a wild swimming pool might look like within the context of
Winnipeg, Manitoba.October 202
Understanding the mental health journeys of Canadian women on probation and parole: psychological service use experiences in the criminal legal system
No full textBackground: The number of justice-involved women in Canada is rising, yet little is known about the mental health journeys of women on probation and parole. Using a qualitative research design, we explored this population’s psychological service use experiences. Our two research objectives were 1) to understand the types of mental health services accessed, factors shaping service use, service content and modality preferences, and coping strategies among women on probation and parole, and 2) to explore the impacts of criminal legal involvement on participants’ mental health and decisions to (not) access psychological support. We sought to understand how intersecting identities, particularly gender and parenting status, shaped women’s experiences.
Method: Women on probation and parole in Canada were asked to complete a 30-minute online survey in Qualtrics, which included questions about their demographics and psychological service use. In total, nine women completed the survey. Quantitative data concerning service use were analyzed descriptively, while responses to open-ended questions were analyzed by two researchers using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.
Results: All participants reported accessing mental health services in the past year, with the most common supports being therapists, psychologists, family doctors, and Indigenous Elders or Knowledge Keepers. Although many participants were mandated to receive treatment as part of their sentence or by Child and Family Services, nearly half of our participants believed that seeking psychological support would be helpful. We developed three main themes from the qualitative analysis: Complex impacts of criminal legal involvement on well-being (subthemes: “Back on track,” “Availability and wait lists,” “Just surviving,” and “I do not like having my name in the system”), Forming help-seeking intentions (subthemes: “Face the problems,” “It is not really my decision,” “Finding the right person,” and “I want to get my life back”), and Caring for my well-being (subthemes: Self-care, “Keeping busy with programs”).
Discussion & Implications: Findings may guide correctional officers in collaboratively developing treatment plans that meet their clients’ needs and preferences. Women in our sample described long wait times and limited transportation as impeding service use, which suggests a need for greater and more accessible psychological services within the community and during incarceration.American Psychology-Law Society
International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services
University of ManitobaOctober 202
Les modes substitutifs de résolution des différends en matière de violence à caractère sexuel ou de discrimination chez les institutions postsecondaires au Manitoba
No full textLe règlement des différends en matière de violence à caractère sexuel ou de discrimination dans les établissements postsecondaires du Manitoba, dans sa forme actuelle, ne sert pas de façon optimale les intérêts des établissements ni des membres de leur collectivité. Les processus actuels de règlement des différends, largement inspirés du système de justice pénale, ne cadrent pas avec les missions et les objectifs de ces établissements et ne tiennent pas suffisamment compte du rôle unique que jouent les établissements postsecondaires dans le tissu social manitobain. Le modèle actuel est axé sur une détermination des faits dans un processus d’enquête qui est contradictoire pour les parties – soit où les parties sont des adversaires – et n’offre aucune occasion pour l’apprentissage ou la responsabilisation. De plus, il impose un lourd fardeau à toutes les parties concernées, prenant beaucoup de temps et d’énergie émotionnelle dans un système dichotomisé « tout ou rien » qui laisse souvent au moins une partie insatisfaite du résultat.
Nous émettons l’hypothèse que dans le cas de comportements qui ne sont pas à la fois des comportements criminels, un changement vers des modes substitutifs de résolution des différends, avec l’intégration de la participation obligatoire comme partie fondamentale du processus de règlement des différends atténuerait une partie ou la totalité de ces lacunes. La transition permettrait non seulement d’accroître le niveau de satisfaction des participants, mais aussi d’assurer une meilleure harmonisation avec les valeurs fondamentales et la vision des établissements postsecondaires. Les options non décisionnelles offrent le potentiel de meilleurs résultats pour les participants, et s’alignent mieux avec une vision qui cherche à éduquer de jeunes adultes qui commettent des faux pas plutôt que les punir sans présenter une occasion de croissance.May 202