30921 research outputs found
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Trends in maternal mortality and stillbirths by county in health facility data, Kenya, 2011-2022
No full textBackground: Reports on maternal deaths and stillbirths in health facilities are a critical but underutilized source of information to monitor the quality of care. In addition, with increasing coverage of deliveries by health facilities, such data can improve population estimates of maternal mortality and stillbirth rates. Data quality concerns, however, have often deterred use of facility data. This study aims to assess subnational trends in institutional mortality and examine its utility for improving population-based estimates of mortality. Methods: Data from the routine monthly reporting system of the Ministry of Health in Kenya were used to assess levels and trends in maternal mortality and stillbirth rates in 47 counties from 2011 to 2022. Data quality was assessed using multiple methods, including consistency of annual reporting of live births, stillbirths and maternal deaths by counties, plausibility of the ratio of reported stillbirths to maternal death, the county institutional mortality in comparison to delivery coverage, socioeconomic development and health system characteristics. The consistency between institutional and population estimates of mortality was assessed using different scenarios. Results: Institutional live birth coverage increased from 64.0% in 2014 to 87.8% in 2022, ranging from 49 to 99% in counties. Kenya and 39 of its 47 counties experienced a decline in institutional maternal mortality ratio and stillbirth rate during the study period 2011–2022. The national institutional maternal mortality decline stagnated from 2018 and was 99 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022. Consistency of reported data by county was good over time but several indicators suggest that maternal death reporting was incomplete and more so in less-developed counties. Estimates of the population maternal mortality ratio, derived from the facility data, were much lower than global estimates or census results, while the stillbirth rates were consistent. Conclusion: The health facility data on maternal death and stillbirths are an important data source for monitoring national and subnational institutional maternal mortality and stillbirth rates and can also inform population estimates. Systematic sustained assessment of reporting completeness will be critical to achieve the full potential of facility data-derived mortality monitoring
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Donor-Acceptor Boron-Ketoiminate Complexes With Pendent N-Heterocyclic Arms: Switched-On Luminescence Through N-Heterocycle Methylation
No full textA series of intramolecular, donor-stabilized BF2 complexes supported by phenanthridinyl-decorated, β-ketoiminate chelating ligand scaffolds is described, along with their characterization by spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. In solution, the relative orientation of the pendent phenanthridinyl arm is fixed despite not coordinating to the boron center, and a well-resolved through-space interaction between a phenanthridinyl C-H and a single fluorine atom can be observed by 19F-1H NOE NMR spectroscopy. The neutral compounds are nonetheless only weakly luminescent in fluid solution, ascribed to non-radiative decay pathways enabled by rotation of the N-heterocyclic unit. Methylation of the phenanthridinyl nitrogen restricts this rotation, “switching on” comparably strong emission in solution. Modelling by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) indicates that the character of the lowest energy excitations changes upon methylation, with shallow calculated potential energy surfaces of the neutral complexes consistent with their lack of significant radiative decay
Validation and application of a metagenomics protocol to the root-associated fungal communities of Northern wild rice (Zizania palustris)
No full textThe occurrence of root-associated fungi in wetland plants is not yet well-understood, despite recent indications that some contain diverse mycobiomes, including potential plant mutualists. Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be neutral and even parasitic, emerging evidence suggests that AMF provide benefits to many wetland plants, as in terrestrial soils. Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) occur in wetland plants at similar or greater frequencies than AMF and may also confer benefits to host plants. Zizania palustris (Northern wild rice, manômin) is an emergent annual macrophyte found in shallow lakes and slow-moving rivers in central and eastern North America, where it is harvested from both wild stands and cultivated paddies. Despite the significance of this plant to Indigenous peoples and emerging agricultural interests, its fungal diversity in traditional rice lakes or wild stands is currently unknown. To identify the root-associated fungal communities of Z. palustris collected from wild stands across Manitoba and determine its mycorrhizal status, I undertook ITS and 18S targeted amplicon sequencing of the rhizosphere soil and determined the incidence of fungal structures within roots via microscopy. Since wetland soils contain contaminants that inhibit metabarcoding, I optimized DNA extraction and amplification protocols prior to their application to these samples. The ITS data suggested that the rhizosphere is primarily basidiomycotan and ascomycotan. The 18S data identified three genera of AMF available in the surrounding rhizosphere for association with Z. palustris: Glomus, Acaulospora, and Claroideoglomus. The root incidence data showed consistent fungal colonization by aseptate and dematiaceous hyphae, with somewhat lower incidence of hyaline hyphae and AMF-like structures, despite complete inundation of all plants. While confirmation of Z. palustris as a mycorrhizal plant requires sequencing of the root-endogenous fungi, this thesis presents preliminary data confirming the presence of AMF in the rhizosphere and AMF-resembling structures within the roots
The impacts of language proficiency on cross-language activation in bilingual children
No full textThe bilingual lexicon contains words from more than one language. Representations from both languages are automatically activated when bilinguals encounter words. However, the degree of cross-language activation varies between individuals, depending on language proficiency. This study investigated the effects of language proficiency and reading ability on bilingual written word recognition. Participants included Grade 6 balanced bilinguals (n = 20) and Grade 5 and 6 unbalanced bilinguals (n = 19). This two-phase study included standardized reading measures and vocabulary tests, followed by a primed lexical decision task. Target words for the lexical decision task consisted of 40 English-French interlingual homographs (i.e., words that are spelled the same between languages but have different meanings). Prime-target pairs consisted of cross-language semantically related (e.g., bedding-LIT, where bed is the meaning of the interlingual homograph LIT in French), or unrelated (e.g., bedding-PAIN). Event related potentials (ERP) and response time (RT) data were analyzed to examine how balanced and unbalanced bilinguals access and integrate lexical information from more than one language. RT and ERP N400 amplitudes revealed that balanced bilinguals experienced facilitation in the related condition, indicating that they were able to integrate representations across languages (e.g., seeing “bedding” in English primed “LIT”, which is related only if cross-language connections are made). In contrast, unbalanced bilinguals showed no differences between related and unrelated primes. Results lend support to the view that bilingual’s languages are automatically activated, while highlighting the important role of language proficiency in bilinguals’ two languages.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Masters)October 202
‘There has to be some chemistry there’: an interpretive description exploring the experiences, motivations and dynamics of partnered child health research
No full textBackground: Research partnerships between researchers and knowledge users are increasingly valued for their role in generating relevant and impactful research. However, the dynamics of these partnerships, including motivations, challenges, and relational aspects, remain underexplored. This study aimed to understand the experiences of researchers and knowledge users engaged in partnered child health research.
Methods: We used an interpretive description approach to conduct and analyze semi-structured interviews with researchers and knowledge users involved in Canadian partnered child health research projects. Data analysis was iterative, involving inductive coding, theme development, and reflection with an interprofessional colleague with lived experience of a congenital health condition.
Results: Fifteen individuals (12 researchers and 3 knowledge users) participated. We identified three key themes. (1) Diverse drivers: role-based motivations and perceived effects – Participants described diverse, role-based motivations for engaging in partnered research. Researchers were primarily driven to enhance research impact, while knowledge users emphasized advocacy and credibility. Individuals embodying dual roles with research expertise and professional experience focused on practical relevance and improving health outcomes. (2) It’s all about the relationships – Relational quality was central to successful partnerships. While power dynamics shifted towards greater equity over time, achieving fully equitable relationships remained complex. (3) Navigating evolutions and tensions – Academic structures continue to create tensions despite a growing cultural shift toward embracing partnership approaches. Key challenges included insufficient recognition for partnership efforts, and funding mechanisms often misaligning with partnership principles.
Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of understanding role-specific motivations, prioritizing relational quality, and addressing systemic challenges in child health research partnerships. Findings provide insights into key dynamics that help navigate both successes and challenges in these partnerships. Continued efforts are needed to address misalignments across systems and structures, support relationship building, and promote sustained collaboration.Plain English summary: In health research, researchers, patients, families, and healthcare professionals work together more often to ensure that results make a difference in the real world. We know that these partnerships have become more common, but we do not know why people work together, their challenges, and what makes partnerships successful. To learn more, we interviewed 15 Canadian researchers and people involved in child health research partnerships. A colleague living with a congenital health condition collaborated with us to analyze the data and explain the findings. We learned three main things. First, people were motivated to partner for different reasons. Researchers wanted to make their work more useful, while knowledge users often wanted to advocate for change. Some participants had research skills and professional experiences, giving them a unique view of practical research with tangible outcomes. Second, university and government funding systems have not adapted to the needs of researchers and knowledge users working together. For example, these projects require significant time and effort, but working together is not always recognized by universities. Finally, strong relationships are central to working together. Trust, respect, and fairness are the foundation, but these relationships take time to develop. Balancing power between researchers and knowledge users is another challenge. This study highlights the importance of understanding people’s motivations for engaging in research partnerships, improving how they are supported, and prioritizing strong, respectful relationships
Between the lab and disaster: the environmental history of experimental oil spills in Canada, 1970–2000
No full textMarine and aquatic oil spills are one of the most visible and controversial socioecological issues of our time. Extensive scientific research has been conducted into the behaviour, fate, and effects of spilled oil in water and shorelines, directly informing response efforts during catastrophes like the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster of 1989 and the Deepwater Horizon blowout of 2010. However, there has been little study from a social sciences perspective of one of the most important scientific tools used to produce information about spills in Canada, especially in cold-water and Arctic environments: the experimental oil spill, or the controlled discharging of various volumes and types of oil into real-world conditions for the purposes of observing and testing response methods. This dissertation provides a detailed assessment of original scientific reporting about experimental spills conducted between 1970 and 2000—after which they were largely phased out in the Canadian context—and argues that the findings from this experimental work continue to have important resonances today concerning the perceived ability to effectively respond to spills if and when they happen. Specifically, it demonstrates that this experimental work constituted the active materialization of what Rosemary-Claire Collard and Jessica Dempsey’s (2022) have described as the “future eco-perfect,” which appeals to an imagined future of science and technology overcoming conflicts between resource extraction and socioecological impacts. It examines five interlinked case studies about the siting, timing, oiling, production of “new natures,” and scientific uncertainty in experimental spills. While acknowledging the tremendous capacities of scientific knowledge production in understanding socioecological issues, it suggests that this experimental work significantly overstated the degree of control and response potential in many real-world spills, and downplayed or even ignored an array of unknowns and complexities. It concludes by recommending increased caution to be exercised on the issue, and a re-politicization of oil spill risk in the context of oil industry expansion.Fellowship from Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) at University of Manitoba (2024-25)October 202
BIM-enabled multi-criteria decision-making: towards efficient building element selection
No full textSelecting the most suitable building elements in construction projects is increasingly challenging due to growing sustainability demands and project complexity. Traditional selection methods, which often rely on experience, may overlook critical factors, such as environmental impact, cost, and durability, leading to suboptimal decisions. This research addresses this challenge by exploring the integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), to support a more systematic, data-driven decision-making approach. A methodology is presented that leverages Autodesk Revit, one of the most widely adopted BIM authoring tools, in conjunction with the capabilities of Revit’s visual programming plug-in Dynamo, to enable efficient and evidence-based selection of building elements (doors, floors, ceilings, roofs, walls, and windows), based on environmental, economic, and durability criteria. The methodology is validated through a case study of a single-story office building. The best-performing scenario was over 30 times more cost-efficient than the worst-performing one across one of the cost-type criteria and yielded a 63.48% higher value in the benefit-type criterion, confirming the methodology’s effectiveness in real-world construction scenarios. The framework consistently delivered stable results, identifying optimal scenarios with high accuracy, as shown by the principal eigenvalues of the comparison matrices. Integrating the AHP model with the BIM environment enables real-time decision support by instantly reflecting BIM model changes in the AHP analysis, enhancing data management, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability efforts. This study bridges theoretical potential with practical application, equipping construction industry practitioners with a flexible tool that supports more informed and sustainable building element selection during the design phase.October 202
Exploring the efficacy of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in modulating local and systemic inflammation in experimental models of colitis
No full textAbstract Background Current inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments often fail to achieve lasting remission and have adverse effects. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) offers a promising therapy due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Its invasive nature, however, has led to the development of non-invasive methods like transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS). This study assesses taVNS’s impact on acute colitis progression, inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and apoptosis-related markers. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice (11–12 weeks) were used for dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)- and dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis studies. The administration of taVNS or no stimulation (anesthesia without stimulation) for 10 min per mouse began one day before colitis induction and continued daily until sacrifice. Ulcerative colitis (UC)-like colitis was induced by administering 5% DSS in drinking water for 5 days, after which the mice were sacrificed. Crohn’s disease (CD)-like colitis was induced through a single intrarectal injection of DNBS/ethanol, with the mice sacrificed after 3 days. Disease activity index (DAI), macroscopic evaluations, and histological damage were assessed. Colon, spleen, and blood samples were analyzed via qRT-PCR and ELISA. One-way or two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni and Šídák tests were applied. Results taVNS improved DAI, macroscopic, and histological scores in DSS colitis mice, but only partially mitigated weight loss and DAI in DNBS colitis mice. In DSS colitis, taVNS locally decreased colonic inflammation by downregulating pro-inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α, Mip1β, MMP 9, MMP 2, and Nos2) at the mRNA level and upregulating anti-inflammatory TGF-β in non-colitic conditions at both mRNA and protein levels and IL-10 mRNA levels in both non-colitic and colitic conditions. Systemically, taVNS decreased splenic TNF-α in non-colitic mice and increased serum levels of TGF-β in colitic mice and splenic levels in non-colitic and colitic mice. Effects were absent in DNBS-induced colitis. Additionally, taVNS decreased pro-apoptotic markers (Bax, Bak1, and caspase 8) in non-colitic and colitic conditions and increased the pro-survival molecule Bad in non-colitic mice. Conclusions This study demonstrates that taVNS has model-dependent local and systemic effects, reducing inflammation and apoptosis in UC-like colitis while offering protective benefits in non-colitic conditions. These findings encourage further research into underlying mechanisms and developing adjunct therapies for UC
A Report of the Coalition for Healthy Aging in Manitoba
No full textIn 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched their first World Report on Ageing and Health (World Report). The World Report “outlines a framework for action to foster Healthy Ageing built around the new concept of functional ability”. In the fall of the same year, the WHO also started consultations on the accompanying draft Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health (GSAP). This document, which was ultimately approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2016, focuses on five strategic objectives: commitment to action on Healthy Ageing in every country; developing age-friendly environments; aligning health systems to the needs of older populations; developing sustainable and equitable systems for providing long-term care (home, communities, institutions); and improving measurement, monitoring and research on Healthy Ageing