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Toward equality: exploring the Dōwa education's role in overcoming Buraku discrimination in Japan
No full textDespite the exact numbers being unknown, the Buraku people (Burakumin) are the largest minority group in Japan. Although the Burakumin are racially and ethnically Japanese, they have long endured discrimination due to their ancestral associations with “unclean” occupations during Japan’s feudal era. Discrimination against the Burakumin has profoundly impacted their lives in various ways. It has led to social exclusion, limited employment opportunities, and restricted access to housing and education. As a result, to address systematic discrimination and promote societal equality, Dōwa education was implemented in 1969. The system of Dōwa education provided support and resources to decrease the educational gap between Buraku communities and the wider Japanese society. Furthermore, as these initiatives required schools to teach about the Buraku problem, it fostered understanding and promoted equality. Currently, the Dōwa education has been considered pivotal in advocating for the rights and social integration of marginalized communities, particularly the Burakumin. However, the persistence of discrimination against the Buraku communities highlights the need for a deeper evaluation of Dōwa education initiatives in its role of eradicating discriminatory attitudes. This paper analyzes the educational value and the effect of Dōwa education implementation within schools. With the complex nature of Dōwa education and its multifaceted implementation, assessing its impact on Buraku discrimination is difficult and requires a nuanced approach that considers various factors.May 202
Weight-based disparities in perinatal care: quantitative findings of respect, autonomy, mistreatment, and body mass index in a national Canadian survey
No full textAbstract Background Qualitative studies document episodes of weight-related disrespectful care, particularly for people with high body mass index (BMI ≥ 30) and reveal implicit and explicit biases in health care providers. No large quantitative studies document the pervasiveness of weight stigma or if experiences change with increasing BMI. Methods The multi-stakeholder RESPCCT study team designed and distributed a cross-sectional survey on the experiences of perinatal services in all provinces and territories in Canada. From July 2020 to August 2021, participants who had a pregnancy within ten years responded to closed and open-ended questions. Chi square analysis assessed differences in mean scores derived from three patient-reported experience measures of autonomy (MADM), respect (MOR), and mistreatment (MIST). Controlling for socio-demographic factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis explored relationships between different BMI categories and respectful care. Results Of 4,815 Canadians who participated, 3,280 with a BMI of ≥ 18.5 completed all the questions. Pre-pregnancy BMI was significantly associated with race/ethnicity, income sufficiency, and education but not with age. Individuals with higher BMIs were more likely to experience income insufficiency, have lower levels of education, and more frequently self-identified as Indigenous or White. Those with BMI ≥ 35 exhibited notably higher odds of reduced autonomy (MADM) scores, with an unadjusted odds ratio of 1.62 and an adjusted odds ratio of 1.45 compared to individuals with a normal weight. Individuals with BMIs of 25–25.9, 30–34.9, and ≥ 35 exhibited odds of falling into the lower tercile of respect (MOR) scores of 1.34, 1.51, and 2.04, respectively (p < .01). The odds of reporting higher rates of mistreatment (top 33% MIST scores) increased as BMI increased. Conclusions While socio-demographic factors like race and income play significant roles in influencing perinatal care experiences, BMI remains a critical determinant even after accounting for these variables. This study reveals pronounced disparities in the provision of respectful perinatal care to pregnant individuals with higher BMIs in Canada. Data suggest that those with higher BMIs face disrespect, discrimination, and mistreatment. Identification of implicit and explicit weight bias may give providers insight enabling them to provide more respectful care
Final design report for roof shingle made from ground tire rubber (GTR) fibres to withstand Winnipeg weather
No full textThe objective of this project was to design a shingle using recycled ground tire rubber capable of withstanding Winnipeg, MB weather conditions. Our team developed and tested various rubber and additive mixtures to assess their strength and durability under specific conditions. Of the mixtures that seemed promising during initial testing phases, they were then subjected to weather simulations representing 1 in 25-year storm conditions in Winnipeg.
The final stage involved creating full-scale prototypes using a mold designed by the team, which ultimately determined the project’s success. Despite initial promising results, unexpected failures occurred during the full-scale production phase, resulting in inconclusive findings regarding shingle viability. Further testing and refinement are necessary to meet the client’s requirements and to address the challenges that were encountered during this project.
Recommendations for future research and improvements include optimizing the materials used, enhancing the appearance of the shingles to better suit the aesthetic desires of the client, improve efficiency by manufacturing a different mold, process optimization such as incorporating an injection mold and exploring liquid mixture formulations, and researching the feasibility and economic factors in mass-producing shingles using the proposed materials
Suffering more in imagination than in reality: mental imagery and fear generalization
No full textMental imagery may represent a weaker form of perception and, thus, mental images may be more ambiguous than visual percepts. If correct, the acquisition of fear would be less specific for imagined fears in comparison to perceptual fears, perhaps facilitating broader fear generalization. To test this idea, a two-day differential fear conditioning experiment (N = 98) was conducted. On day one, two groups of participants underwent differential fear conditioning such that a specific Gabor patch orientation (CS+) was paired with mild shocks (US) while a second Gabor patch of orthogonal orientation (CS-) was never paired with shock. Critically, one group imagined the Gabor patches and the other group was visually presented the Gabor patches. Next, both groups were presented visual Gabor patches of similar orientations (GCS) to the CS+. On day two, to assess the persistence of imagined fear, participants returned to the lab and were tested on the GCS devoid of shock. For day one, in contrast to our primary hypothesis, both self-report and skin conductance response measures did not show a significant interaction between the GCS and groups. On day two, both measures demonstrated a persistence of imagined fear, without US delivery. Taken together, rather than demonstrating an overgeneralization effect, the results from this study suggest that imagery-based fear conditioning generalizes to a similar extent as perceptually acquired fear conditioning. Further, the persistence of imagery-based fear may have unique extinction qualities in comparison to perceptual-based fear.University of Manitoba; University of Manitoba Graduate FellowshipOctober 202
Wheel slip identification and mitigation answering "are we stuck?" and "what do we do about it?"
No full textRobotic missions to Mars and the Moon will increase over the next several decades. Rovers are a critical tool used in these missions, and they are constrained by challenges stemming from wheel slippage and slip-mitigation. This dissertation introduces three contributions to address these areas. First, I present a novel metric called \virtual slippage" to quantify wheel slippage by relating it to an effective change in wheel radius. Secondly, I study the feasibility of using auto and cross-correlation to detect wheel slippage. I found autocorrelation insufficient for slippage detection; I used cross-correlation and raw sensor data to train a neural network to detect slippage with an error of 0:07 to 0:1 classic slippage, or 0:02 to 0:5 cm using virtual slip on a 10 cm diameter wheel. Thirdly, I study the efficacy of asymmetrical wheel designs to mitigate and aid in escaping high-slip environments. By expanding and introducing the new defi nition of wheel slippage and new detection methods, this research paves the way for improved traction control on granular surfaces and improved maneuverability of extra-planetary rovers. I developed these tools to improve the success of future exploration missions for celestial bodies and improvements for terrestrial applications here on Earth.October 202
Spectral fingerprinting and chemical mapping of plant-based meat analogues using portable hyperspectral imaging system and multivariate analysis
No full textThe ultra-processed nature and multiple ingredients of plant-based meat analogues cause excessive-quality variation during storage suggesting the need for real-time quality monitoring and chemical mapping techniques. This research utilizes a non-destructive portable hyperspectral imaging technique in the visible and near-infrared ranges (400–1000 nm) to predict the quality (CIE- L*, a*, b*, moisture, texture) of plant-based meat burger patties followed by mapping of the quality distribution attributed to major ingredients and color variations over the storage period.
Firstly, the study analyzed the effect of 10-30% textured vegetable protein (TVP), 5-25% pea protein (PP), and storage time (14 days) on quality using conventional quality assessment approaches, revealing the instability of overall quality even over a short storage period. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) applied to HSI data indicated that the primary variance stems from discoloration and moisture loss due to storage days, TVP, and PP. This variance is associated with the spectral variations at 500–650nm and 950–980 nm. Developed Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) models possessed good prediction accuracies for a*, b*, moisture, and hardness. Pixel-by-pixel prediction maps highlighted the non-uniform component distribution.
Secondly, the study examines the role of HSI in addressing the color instability of PBMB by visualizing color evolution during a 10-day storage period, influenced by TVP, PP, fava bean protein, and fat mimic. Simplified PLSR prediction models with improved accuracies were developed with interval-PLS (iPLS), recursive-PLS (rPLS), and genetic algorithm (GAs). Prediction maps showed the patterns of color deterioration. Findings highlighted that color evaluation of heterogenous plant-based food formulations using single-point colorimeters is insufficient to represent the whole sample.
This research illustrated that spectral fingerprinting could visualize component distribution in complex food formulations, aiding in formulation optimization and understanding ingredient interactions. The findings are crucial for informed decisions on grading, labeling, and storage. Overall, VNIR-HSI in combination with multivariate analysis proves to be a valuable analytical tool for real-time quality inspection in plant-based food production, highlighting the potential of digital technologies in promoting sustainable foods.University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF) 2023-2024May 202
The factor structure of the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire in a non-clinical sample of Canadian undergraduate students
No full textOver the last several decades there has been increasing recognition that symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) vary along a continuum from absent to present and mild to severe. Relatives of those with autism may present with subclinical traits that do not meet diagnostic thresholds, but may nevertheless reflect challenges like those of people diagnosed with ASD. The Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) reflects a dimensional approach to ASD that includes characteristics of the ‘milder but qualitatively similar’ (Hurley et al, 2007) presentation that is often seen in family members of those with ASD (Happé & Frith, 2020; Robinson, Koenen et al., 2011) as well as the general population (Constantino & Todd, 2003). Understanding the characteristics of this subclinical group may be important for research and clinical contexts, including identifying affected individuals and selecting interventions that may be helpful for functional impairments. As such, accurate measurement of the BAP is critical. Various questionnaires have been used for assessing the BAP; however, the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ; Hurley et al., 2007) is one of the most widely used (Beaver, 2018). Despite its wide use, the limited existing psychometric research on the BAPQ is mixed. Some research suggests problems with its internal structure and construct validity, particularly with its Pragmatic Language subscale (e.g., Godoy-Gimenez et al., 2018; Sasson et al., 2013a). This study examines the factor structure and construct validity of the BAPQ in a sample of 899 Canadian undergraduate students who participated for course credit. Participants completed a series of online measures assessing the BAP, pragmatic language difficulties, executive functioning, and personality. Confirmatory factor analytic methods were used to examine its internal structure. Validity evidences based on relationships between BAPQ scores and other variables were examined. Four out of five fit indices examined suggested that the 3-factor model had unacceptable fit, with Pragmatic Language items contributing to misfit. Revision and/or deletion of certain Pragmatic Language items may improve model fit. Results of this study support the convergent validity of the BAPQ. The findings of this research add to the existing literature and may have implications for the use of the BAPQ.October 202
Regular orderings of left orderable groups
No full textThis thesis explores the left orderings of finitely generated torsion-free abelian groups and finitely generated torsion-free nilpotent groups through the lens of computational complexity theory. We demonstrate that both types of groups admit regular left orderings. In chapters 2 and 3, the preliminaries of orderable groups and formal languages are introduced. In Chapter 4, we establish that the set of regular left orderings of is dense within the space of left orderings, . This result is achieved by approaching the problem from a geometric perspective and applying techniques from lattice theory. In Chapter 5, we extend this finding to finitely generated torsion-free nilpotent groups to obtain an analogous result, that is, we show that the set of regular left orderings of a finitely generated torsion-free nilpotent group is also dense within its space of orderings.October 202
Semaphorin3E is a novel regulator of IgE through regulation of germinal center responses in a mouse model of allergic asthma
No full textSemaphorin3E (Sema3E) is a protein that plays a critical role in immunity to diseases, including asthma, by regulating cell migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis. Little is known about the role of Sema3E in immunoglobulin E (IgE) regulation. Recent data showed that Sema3e-/- mice have a significantly higher serum level of total and allergen-specific IgE in allergic asthma. These results strongly indicate a crucial involvement of Sema3E in modulating IgE production. In my project, we hypothesised that Sema3E negatively regulates IgE levels through germinal center (GC) responses.
To investigate the regulatory role of Sema3E in IgE production and GC formation, Sema3e-/- and WT mice underwent an acute HDM challenge. Flow cytometry was performed to investigate the number of GC B cells, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, and inflammatory cells. The antibodies and inflammatory cytokines levels were detected by ELISA and Mesoscale, respectively. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining and H&E staining were performed to investigate GC formation and lung inflammation, respectively. Additionally, to check if Sema3E plays a role through the ICOS/ICOS-L pathway, GC formation was blocked by intraperitoneal administration of anti-ICOS-L or rat IgG as an isotype control.
The results demonstrated that at the steady-state, Sema3e-/- mice had a significantly higher baseline number of GC B cells, Tfh cells, plasmablasts, plasma cells, and serum IgE and IgG1 than the WT counterparts. Interestingly, baseline expression of IgE and IgG by B cells is regulated by Sema3E, and Sema3e-/- mice demonstrated higher expression of IgE and IgG1 in their B cells. Upon immunization with HDM, Sema3e-/- mice exhibited enhanced GC responses, IgE production, and lung inflammation. We demonstrated that the deletion of Sema3E in mice led to an increase in the expression of ICOS on CD4+ T cells and disruption of ICOS/ICOS-L signalling, remarkably reducing the number of inflammatory cells, plasma cells, serum levels of IgE and IgG1, and lung inflammation indicating the importance of ICOS/ICOS-L signalling pathway in Sema3E regulatory effect.
In conclusion, Sema3E plays a critical regulatory role in GC response and IgE production at the steady-state and post-immunization through ICOS/ICOS-L signalling, suggesting the critical negative regulatory role of Sema 3E in allergic inflammation.February 202
Three essays on climate finance and international finance
No full textThis thesis includes three essays. In the first essay, In the first essay, we employ machine learning techniques to predict corporate bond returns globally. Utilizing a unique dataset, we identify strong predictability in international corporate bond markets. Notably, factors influencing U.S. bond returns differ significantly from those impacting non-U.S. markets, where downside risk and illiquidity play a more prominent role. Additionally, we observe variations in the degree of bond cross-country integration and bond-stock integration, with developed markets generally exhibiting higher integration than emerging markets.
The second essay investigates the impact of abnormal-temperature-related climate risk on bank loan pricing using syndicated loans from 35 countries. Our findings indicate that banks charge higher interest rates for borrowers with higher climate risk. We also find that climate risk affects loan spreads of both long-term and non-long-term loans, and this effect is more pronounced for non-long-term loans. Our cross-sectional analyses reveal that voluntary climate risk disclosures in conference calls by borrowers mitigate the impact of climate risk on loan spreads, especially when lead banks have less climate-risk-related lending experience. Furthermore, the U.S. borrowing cost for high-climate-risk borrowers decreases following SEC guidance on climate risk disclosure, while ESG disclosure requirements in 19 other countries do not alter climate risk's effect on bank loan pricing.
In the third essay, we explore the influence of climate risk disclosures in earnings conference calls on analyst forecast errors and dispersion for U.S. firms. The disclosure of physical climate risk correlates with smaller forecast errors, particularly after the SEC issued guidance. However, disclosures of regulatory and opportunity shocks related to climate change show no significant impact. Subsample analyses reveal that physical climate risk disclosures enhance forecast accuracy for industries sensitive to climate change, firms in regions affected by extreme weather events, and states with stronger beliefs in climate change. Overall, our findings suggest that physical climate risk disclosures in earnings conference calls contribute to more accurate analyst forecasts.October 202