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Transcriptomic analysis of seed dormancy in wheat
No full textWheat production is negatively affected by various factors, including preharvest sprouting (PHS), which is defined as the germination of grains on the mother plant due to humid and rainy weather conditions. Seed dormancy is an adaptive trait that has an influence on the incidence of PHS. The presence of low dormancy in wheat seeds leads to PHS and therefore significant losses in yield and quality. Therefore, it is essential to induce an adequate level of seed dormancy to prevent PHS. To better understand the molecular mechanisms regulating seed dormancy in wheat, this study performed comparative genome-wide transcriptomic analysis between dormant and non-dormant (after-ripened) seeds of a highly dormant wheat genotype. The findings of this thesis projects indicate that after-ripening effectively breaks seed dormancy and causes differential expression of a large number of genes during imbibition. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was performed to identify the biological processes regulating seed dormancy. The study also examined the expression patterns of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA), the two major hormones that control seed dormancy, and the findings showed close association between the expression patterns of specific genes involved in ABA and GA metabolism and signaling and the level of seed dormancy.October 202
Representations of restrictive gender ideologies in Restoration theatre & fiction
Get PDFThis thesis explores topics of gender, sexuality, and male and female agency in Restoration literature and theatre, specifically Aphra Behn’s The Rover (1677) and The City Heiress (1682), William Wycherley’s The Country Wife (1675), and Sébastien Brémond’s Hattige; or the Amours of the Prince of Tamaran (1680). It explores how these authors understand and explore the ways in which both genders were confined by dominant models during this time period, while also navigating the fluidity and complexity of these models. This thesis focuses on how libertinism and its emphasis on sexuality relates to gender categories. Given that access to libertinism is dictated through social class, sexuality, and wit, certain aspects of libertinism can be available for women. While women cannot completely do this and dominate men in the same way, they can harness parts of this libertine role, although they still must be careful about their reputation and honour. This thesis explores topics of the libertine figure and other categories of gender in relation to that figure through its representation in popular genres of Restoration literature (comedy and amatory secret history), arguing that as represented in these texts, sexuality and gender are constitutive of one another.University of Manitoba Tri-Agency Master’s Supplement Award (TMSA)
University of Manitoba John Meredith Robinson Scholarship
University of Manitoba Tri-Agency Top-Up AwardOctober 202
In situ wake measurement behind a 25-kW freewheeling vertical axis hydrokinetic turbine in energetic riverine environment using acoustic Doppler current profiler and acoustic Doppler velocimeter
Get PDFHydrokinetic turbines present an opportunity for generating renewable energy sustainably in support of microgrids. This research examines the performance and environmental impact of a 25-kW New Energy vertical axis hydrokinetic river turbine under freewheeling conditions, focusing on flow and turbulence behavior. Field measurements of flow velocity at the Canadian Hydrokinetic Turbine Test Center on the Winnipeg River are measured using an acoustic Doppler current profiler and an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. Measurements are taken at various distances downstream of the turbine, from 1 to 17 turbine diameters, to analyze turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, and mean velocity profiles. The results indicated that turbulence intensity was highest near the turbine, with peaks at the centerline reaching 84% in the first acoustic Doppler current profiler test and 119% in the second, while acoustic Doppler velocimeter measurements showed 41% and 55%, respectively. As expected, turbulence levels gradually decreased with increasing distance from the turbine and are documented. Additionally, the TKE values exhibited a similar trend, demonstrating significant energy dissipation and flow stabilization further downstream. The mean velocity profiles revealed the maximum velocity deficit near the turbine, which gradually recovered with distance. River in-situ values measured do not compare favorably with scaled turbine water tunnel studies. This comprehensive analysis, comparing acoustic Doppler current profiler and acoustic Doppler velocimeter data, provides valuable insights into the wake dynamics and turbulence characteristics of vertical-axis turbines, which are required for optimizing turbine efficiency and assessing environmental impacts.October 202
Yield: gardens for agritourism
No full textThe practice of agriculture has always been a major part of my life; as early as I can remember, I was always close to the fields and forests. In these places, I learned the value and beauty of working the land, with nature, and as a community. My connection to the topic of agritourism is deeply rooted in my upbringing and experiences. This connection has fueled my passion for this project and shaped my approach to the design. Yield: Gardens For Agritourism is about celebrating the values of my childhood through the lens of agritourism and revealing the beauty of TimBer Landing by creating a design proposal for an agritourism destination that aligns with the landowner’s vision. TimBer Landing, named after Tim and Beryle, acquired the land in 2020 and is located an hour and a half southwest of Ottawa. The site is adjacent to Frontenac Wilderness Provincial Park. It is incorporated into the greater area known as the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, designated as a nature reserve by UNESCO. The approach for this practicum is based on landscape architecture and design that aims to satisfy the landowners’ needs and desires while respecting the site’s ecological context of the site and its surroundings. Through agritourism, I have expanded my horizons and perception of agriculture. I was able to reconnect with my heritage and learn to take pride in and celebrate where I come from.February 202
Beyond β-glucan: evaluating the effects of oat protein on reducing metabolic syndrome markers
No full textOats are recognized to provide many health benefits that are mainly associated with its dietary fibre, β-glucan. However, the protein derived from oats is largely understudied with respect to its ability to maintain health and attenuate risk factors of chronic diseases. The goal of the current study was to investigate the metabolic effects of oat protein consumption in lieu of casein as the protein source in high fat, high sucrose (HF/HS) fed Wistar rats. Four-week-old rats were divided into three groups and were fed three different experimental diets: a control diet with casein as the protein source, a HF/HS diet with casein or a HF/HS diet with oat protein for 16 weeks. Heart structure and function were determined by echocardiography. Blood pressure measurements, an oral glucose tolerance test, and markers of cholesterol metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation and liver function were also performed. Our results indicate that incorporation of oat protein in the diet was effective in preserving systolic heart function in HF/HS fed rats. Oat protein significantly reduced serum total- and LDL-cholesterol levels. Furthermore, oat protein normalized liver HMG-CoAR activity, which to our knowledge, is the first time this has been reported in the literature. Therefore, our research suggests that oat protein can provide hypocholesterolemic and cardioprotective benefits in a diet-induced model of metabolic syndrome.Prairie Oat Growers AssociationFebruary 202
An evaluation of farmer-selected spring wheat genotypes from Canada's first organic participatory breeding program
No full textDespite organic spring wheat’s (Triticum aestivum L.) economic and cultural importance to Canadian agriculture, breeding for organic production systems remains a challenge. Organic growing environments are different from conventional farms in terms of weed species and abundance, fertility, and soil biology. More specifically, many organic farms where most of the organic wheat in Canada is grown (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), are deficient in soil test phosphorus (P). To address these complex challenges, the unorthodox breeding model, participatory plant breeding (PPB), has been proposed. An organic PPB wheat program has been practiced across Canada over the past decade, providing an unprecedented opportunity to explore the influence that selection environment diversity has on the agronomic performance under organic management. Field trials testing 25 PPB genotypes against 6 check cultivars across 12 environments demonstrated three PPB genotypes and one check cultivar to be top yield performers. A second experiment compared a modern cultivar and a landrace cultivar used as parental material in the PPB program, as well as the product of two farmer-selected PPB genotypes by farmers in different geographic locations from the same cross. The genotypes were tested under P limited and P-amended organic conditions, to investigate resilience against P limited conditions. There were no significant differences in yield among genotypes. Farmer genotypes were similar to the modern parent cultivar for protein concentration and lodging severity, and similar to the landrace parent in plant height and kernel mass. More detailed measurements pertinent to phosphorus use, physiology, and uptake efficiency demonstrated that two different phosphorus uptake and use efficiency mechanisms may be occurring between the farmer genotypes. Overall, this research provides evidence that early generation farmer selection is an effective breeding strategy to create distinct genotypes with phenotypic characteristics that are beneficial for organic production systems in Canada. More research is needed to determine how PPB initiatives can better serve organic production systems with a focus on specific site selection at the early generation phase in combination with parental material that may enhance pest resistance and greater phosphorus uptake efficiency. A proposed model of future PPB breeding schemes with special attention to selection environment is presented.Organic Science Cluster III under the AgriScience Program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Partnership with SeedChange
Willy Wiebe Graduate FellowshipMay 202
Characterizing the efficacy of novel nitrogen stabilizer products at reducing fertilizer nitrogen losses
No full textUrea-based fertilizers (urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN)) are susceptible to nitrate (NO3-) leaching, ammonia (NH3-) volatilization, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission losses, resulting in low fertilizer nitrogen (N) efficiency and presenting a risk to human and environmental health. Nitrogen stabilizer products containing the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP) can enhance wheat yield and optimize fertilizer efficiency while mitigating N losses. However, their high price hinders wider adoption by farmers. This study examined the efficacy of potentially cost-effective, double inhibitor (DI) formulations in decreasing N losses and improving crop N efficiency. Specifically, the study assessed the impacts of ARMU Advanced (ARMU-Adv) formulations (i.e., NBPT: DMPP ratios of 1:1 and 1:0.5) at mitigating N losses and improving wheat biomass yield and N efficiency. A no-inhibitor and a no-fertilizer (control) treatment were included for comparison. Results showed that the ARMU-Adv formulations were effective at reducing NH3 volatilization and N2O emission and improving shoot N uptake and apparent N recovery (ANR) relative to untreated fertilizers. Overall, the ARMU-Adv formulations were more effective with urea than with UAN in reducing NH3 volatilization and enhancing shoot N uptake and ANR, whereas inhibitor-treated UAN showed greater efficacy in mitigating N2O losses relative to urea. These findings demonstrate the potential of ARMU-Adv formulations to reduce N losses and enhance yield and N efficiency in wheat-based cropping systems.NSERC Discovery Grant ProgramOctober 202
Optimization of potato quality and energy consumption under different drying methods: multivariate modelling using 3D X-ray micro-computed tomography
No full textQuality evaluation and optimization of potato drying methods are crucial in the food industry to ensure high-quality processed products. This research investigated the effect of four different drying methods: freeze drying (FD), infrared drying (ID), oven drying (OD), and infrared-assisted hot air drying (IR-HAD) on the post-processing quality of potatoes. Using non-destructive X-ray microtomography, the study analyzed the microstructural transformations of dried potato samples and was used to correlate these changes with quality attributes. The research introduced a new Hybrid Quality Score Evaluator (HQSE) to assess the Quality Index (QI) and Specific Energy Consumption Index (SECI) across various drying methods and durations.
Firstly, the study investigated the impact of drying durations (4, 8, 12, and 16 h) on the quality of potatoes dried by FD, ID, and OD. Conventional quality assessment methods revealed significant (p < 0.05) variations in quality attributes such as colour retention, rehydration ratio, and total porosity. The developed mathematical models accurately predicted the QI and SECI. FD showed significantly higher (p< 0.05) colour retention, rehydration ratio, and total porosity, with minimal shrinkage, although it had higher energy consumption. In contrast, ID had the shortest drying time, followed by OD and FD. The optimization showed that the optimal time of 5.78 h for FD increased the QI by 9.7% and SECI by 30.6%.
Based on these findings, the second objective of the research was focused on developing and validating a new IR-HAD system for quality enhancement of dried potato slices. The developed IR-HAD unit showed consistent drying conditions under three performance tests. The IR-HAD demonstrated superior drying kinetics, with a rapid decrease in moisture ratio and a significantly higher (p < 0.05) effective moisture diffusivity of 5.99 ×10^(-6) m^2 s^(-1) compared to other methods. Analyses of the HQSE demonstrated that IR-HAD excels in maintaining high-quality parameters within shorter drying durations and lower specific energy consumption compared to FD, ID, and OD. These findings are crucial for informed decisions in industrial applications, improving efficiency, quality, and energy savings.
Keywords: Potato, Freeze drying, Infrared drying, Oven drying, Infrared-assisted hot air dryer, X-ray microtomography, Quality and Energy Consumption Indexes.October 202
Community, conversation and tourism: safeguarding French-speaking Red River Métis cultural heritage through hospitality design
No full textCultural diversity plays a vital role in enriching the world, fostering curiosity, facilitating learning, promoting well-being, and driving personal development. However, the advent of modernization, prevailing trends, virtual networks, and mass tourism pose a threat to cultural diversity, eroding unique identities and local cultures.
This Master of Interior Design practicum project focuses on acknowledging, safeguarding, and providing a meaningful space for the French-speaking Red River Métis Nation. The project seeks to address the question: “How can hospitality design contribute to a stronger sense of identity and spirit of place for the French-speaking Red River Métis?”. By exploring the hospitality industry and designing a cultural hub in St Boniface, including a hostel, restaurant, and gathering spaces, the project proposes repurposing the historic Kiewel Brewery building at 690 St Joseph Street, Winnipeg, as a gesture of reclamation and cultural revitalization.
Utilizing methodologies including visual essays, literary analysis, precedent studies, and assessments of both site and building, the project conscientiously fosters a sense of place that embraces the surrounding community, promoting cultural understanding and appreciation. Le Fil Rouge draws inspiration from Phenomenology, and concepts such as sense of identity, spirit of place, adaptive reuse, decolonization, and sustainable tourism to showcase the value of hospitality design in fostering connections, instilling value, and immersing the community, locals, and tourists in the local culture and land. Subsequently, the research highlights the importance of decolonizing architecture and the transformative potential of hospitality design in creating spaces that honour and celebrate the cultural heritage of communities, ensuring their representation and vitality in the built environment. The project emphasizes the importance of recognizing, honouring, and preserving cultural diversity to create more inclusive, valid, and resilient societies.Allan Waisman Indigenous Architecture Scholarship, Award Number: 45138
Frank and Marjorie Silver Bursary, Award Number: 45361
Roy C. Rettinger Graduate Scholarship, Award Number: 45516
Barbara C. Poole Bursary, Award Number: 25078
Price Industries Limited Faculty of Architecture Recruitment Award, Award Number: 45879May 202
Topological centers of semigroups and semigroup algebras
No full textThis thesis investigates the topological centres and Arens regularity of semigroups and their algebras. Following the work of Richard Arens, who introduced two distinct products (the Arens products) on the second dual of Banach algebras, the thesis' main objective is to study the properties of the topological centres of semigroup algebras, particularly focusing on specific types of semigroups such as the bicyclic semigroup and partially bicyclic semigroup.
The thesis begins by introducing concepts such as Arens products, topological centres, and semigroups, including their Stone–Cech compactification. Then the thesis explores the Arens irregularity of the bicyclic semigroup S1 and the partially bicyclic semigroups S2 and S1,1. We shall prove that these semigroups are strongly Arens irregular, and that their left topological centres are determined by sets consisting of two points. The study also extends to the measure algebras M(S1), M(S2), and M(S1,1), proving that their left topological centres are similarly determined by sets that consist of two-point.
Moreover, this thesis investigates Arens regularity of inverse semigroup algebras. We shall prove that for an inverse semigroup S if E(S) is uniformly locally finite then l1(S) is Arens regular if and only if the maximal subgroups of S are finite, and each D-class has finitely many idempotents.February 202