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Subcellular proteomics of temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma multiforme cells by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
No full textGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a primary form of brain tumor with devastating outcomes and very poor overall survival time of about 15 months. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first choice of chemotherapeutic drug to treat such tumors. The main challenge remains resistance development against TMZ. Resistance causes the treatment to fail in more than 50% of the patient population. Several efforts are made by scientists to overcome TMZ failure, e.g. by using other adjuvant therapeutics. The present work aims at studying proteins that are dysregulated upon TMZ resistance in GBM. Here, the technique used to study proteins and their concentration changes with utmost accuracy and reproducibility is liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based proteomics. This technique was used at the sub cellular level to study the roles of proteins in sustaining TMZ resistance in GBM cell line LN-18. Control GBM cells (CTRL) were studied against TMZ-resistant (TMZR) GBM cells. Three subcellular fractions were studied for each of CTRL and TMZR: cytosol, mitochondria and plasma membrane. The extraction method used was efficient enough for crude enrichment however not 100% efficient as some proteins were found in more than one fraction. This could also result from translocation of proteins due to cellular stress response. Each subcellular study is described in a different chapter with discussion on relative protein concentrations seen as dysregulation, protein-protein interactions and functional biology. The detailed analyses presented in this thesis constitute a good basis to study potential biomarkers in more detail for the process of understanding TMZ resistance in GBM.February 202
Strengthening support: service providers’ insights on addressing the complex needs of birthing people facing insecure housing in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Get PDFBackground: Pregnant people experiencing housing instability often have complex needs. Urban Indigenous doulas can benefit from the expertise of social service and healthcare providers to learn best practises for supporting this population in the urban centre of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to gather the experiential knowledge of healthcare and social service providers in inner-city Winnipeg, focusing on their perceptions of essential care practises to support unsheltered Indigenous clients throughout their reproductive experiences. Findings will inform the training curriculum for the She Walks with Me: Supporting Urban Indigenous Expectant Mothers through Culturally Based Doulas project.
Methods: A two-phase mixed methods design was used: Phase 1 used a questionnaire as an informal needs assessment scan of current supports available for pregnant people experiencing housing instability and served as a recruitment tool (n=58); Phase 2 involved exploratory qualitative semi-structured interviews with social service and healthcare providers to explore their approaches and challenges in supporting pregnant people facing housing insecurity or unsafe housing (n=16). Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes.
Results: The questionnaire responses noted various reasons why pregnant people experiencing housing instability seek services at service providers’ workplaces, including accessing mental health services, housing support, and harm reduction supplies. Interviews revealed best practises and approaches to care that emphasise cultural safety, compassion, and interprofessional collaboration. Participants shared nuanced approaches for supporting pregnant people with housing instability, highlighting that care should be nonjudgmental, provide resources and referrals, foster trust, incorporate harm reduction practises, and be client-led. They also identified critical gaps, such as the need for a supportive housing shelter for families that offers onsite support for mental health and substance use through an interprofessional wrap around model of care as a best practise. Further, providers offered practical strategies for self-care to avoid burnout when supporting birthing folks with complex circumstances.
Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of trauma-informed, anti-racist, and client-led care practises in supporting pregnant people facing housing instability in Winnipeg, while recognising urban Indigenous doulas need to foster relationships, provide anti-racist and trauma informed care, and advocate for this population's unique needs.The University of Manitoba Indigenous Students Doctoral Award
The University of Manitoba James Gordon Fletcher PhD Fellowship for Research in Aboriginal Issues
The Prairie Indigenous Knowledge Exchange Network (PIKE-Net) Program
The University of Winnipeg Weweni Future Scholars Award
The Mauro Institute Kanee Mauro Scholars FellowshipFebruary 202
Early childhood caries risk prediction using machine learning approaches in Bangladesh
No full textAbstract Background In the last years, artificial intelligence (AI) has contributed to improving healthcare including dentistry. The objective of this study was to develop a machine learning (ML) model for early childhood caries (ECC) prediction by identifying crucial health behaviours within mother-child pairs. Methods For the analysis, we utilized a representative sample of 724 mothers with children under six years in Bangladesh. The study utilized both clinical and survey data. ECC was assessed using ICDAS II criteria in the clinical examinations. Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and Random Forest (RF) was applied to identify the optimal subsets of features. Random forest classifier (RFC), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), support vector machine (SVM), adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) models were used to identify the best fitted model as the predictor of ECC. SHAP and MDG-MDA plots were visualized for model interpretability and identify significant predictors. Results The RFC model identified 10 features as the most relevant for ECC prediction obtained by RFE feature selection method. The features were: plaque score, age of child, mother’s education, number of siblings, age of mother, consumption of sweet, tooth cleaning tools, child’s tooth brushing frequency, helping child brushing, and use of F-toothpaste. The final ML model achieved an AUC-ROC score (0.77), accuracy (0.72), sensitivity (0.80) and F1 score (0.73) in the test set. Of the prediction model, dental plaque was the strongest predictor of ECC (MDG: 0.08, MDA: 0.10). Conclusions Our final ML model, integrating 10 key features, has the potential to predict ECC effectively in children under five years. Additional research is needed for validation and optimization across various groups
Exploring the essential elements of meaningful public participation in next generation impact assessment: the Colombian context
No full textThe research explored the essential elements of meaningful public participation in next generation impact assessment (NGIA), in relation to the Colombian Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. The goals of the research were to test and inform these elements further and identify approaches to achieving more meaningful public participation in Colombian EIAs. Qualitative methods were used in the research, with data collection including a document review and semi-structured one-on-one interviews with EIA participants in Colombia. Data showed that public participation in Colombian EIA is framed by laws and guidelines, especially Law 99 of 1993 and Decree 2076 of 2015. Guidelines require project proponents to conduct thematic sessions with communities covering preliminary information about the project, impact assessment and management measures workshops, and a presentation of results. Additional mechanisms for public participation include public environmental hearings, the intervening third party, and the right to petition. These practices are common ways for the public to participate in the EIA process in Colombia. Interview participants indicated that the strengths of this process include access to information, legislation and guidelines, and increasing community interest. Challenges include access to education, transparency issues, political violence, armed conflict, and infrastructure deficits in rural areas. These challenges hinder effective participation and lead to power imbalances and conflicts. Exploring the 10 essential elements of meaningful public participation in this context indicated that implementing these elements could enhance the public participation process in EIAs in Colombia – particularly early and ongoing participation, fair and open participation, and learning-oriented approaches. Overcoming challenges such as illiteracy in some communities, conflicts of interest, and public infrastructure deficits in rural areas is, however, also fundamental for achieving more meaningful public participation in the Colombian context.May 202
Anarchy in the punkive: collecting the stories of punk women and creating a local punk music scene archive.
No full textThis thesis explores how the physical records that local music scenes created and hold onto create a historical footprint for music scenes and how these sometimes-unconventional records are legitimate archival records that represent a community’s history. Using the Winnipeg local punk scene during the late 1970s to 1985, this project hopes to portray a vibrant glimpse of a musical community that took part in carving punk rock history in Canada. Looking specifically at the voices of members who participated in the first two all-female bands in Winnipeg using interviews and oral histories, this work captures personal experiences of aspects of being in a band during this time and being a part of the punk community in this city. Each chapter examines the Winnipeg scene specifically, what sort of records this community collects, and how their personal archives contribute to the larger historical location of music history. It then discusses the importance of community archives and how an archive can be recreated through mediation of community members and a archival repository. Finally, this thesis also provides an example of how this material can be incorporated into an exhibit using a local gallery as a template.February 202
Women’s struggles for social wellbeing in the patriarchal dried fish value chains of Bangladesh.
No full textThe social wellbeing of the women who work in the dried fish value chains of Teknaf, Bangladesh is interlinked with the patriarchal society and the state. On the one hand, women are engaging themselves with the value chains as economic actors and contributing to them. On the other hand, they face various patriarchal constraints. Women work as laborers in the processing sites day and night to support the processing site owners but suffer financial exploitation and unequal treatment, and often sexual harassment in return. They also must tolerate social stigma because of working late at night. Furthermore, processing site owners and male laborers belittle the responsibilities of female laborers in the kholas. Women’s mobility is
controlled by patriarchal ideology centered in the family, neighbors, and society. Women support dried fish processing site owners through their home work but without any payment in return. If they are abandoned by their husband, brothers, or sons, their futures become even more uncertain and insecure. The patriarchal orientation of state policy is indicated by women’s exclusion from all fishing related laws and policies.
Nonetheless, women are not passive recipients of these patriarchal constraints, rather they have strategies to negotiate with the patriarchal system for their social wellbeing. Negotiation occurs through their everyday employment and engagements within the value chains. Female laborers between the ages of 35 and 72 have built an unofficial association to argue for financial and other benefits. Often, they accommodate one patriarchal ideology to negotiate with another. Their clothing and where they construct their houses are relevant examples in this regard. Women use symbolic strategies to contest patriarchal constraints within the khola and in society. Moreover, bargaining with the patriarchal system is constantly changing through the everyday engagements of the female laborers within the dried fish value chains in Teknaf, Bangladesh.February 202
Factors associated with suicidal ideation for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples using the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey
No full textSuicide is a global problem that results in a significant number of deaths and disabilities every year. In Canada, approximately 4,500 people die by suicide annually. Indigenous peoples are at an increased risk for suicide, and First Nations and Métis adults experience twice as many suicides as non-Indigenous peoples. The rate of suicide is even higher for Inuit adults, at four times that of non-Indigenous peoples. This project utilized the 2017 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) with a sample of (N = 20,660) to examine unique protective and risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among Canada’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. The prevalence rate of Indigenous respondents who experienced suicidal ideation during the lifetime and last 12 months was found to be 18.9% and 5.6%, respectively. Three protective factors (language, cultural activities, sense of belonging) and nine risk factors (alcohol, drugs, mental health, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, health status, income, housing, and residential school attendance) were analyzed using various statistical tests, including Chi-squared analyses, logistic regression, and multiple logistic regression on the outcome variable of suicidal ideation during the lifetime and last 12 months. Findings revealed only partial support for the hypothesized protective factors and overwhelming support for risk factors.Paul First NationsFebruary 202
Perceptions and experience of interfaith dialogue in Winnipeg: An exploration of understandings and ideas among Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith leaders
No full textThis is an exploratory qualitative study based on the personal experiences and observations of 23 research participants made up of leaders of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith organizations. As such, data generated through this study is not meant to quantify or compare differences between the three faith communities involved. This research project focused on (1) understanding what is happening with interfaith dialogue in Winnipeg from the perspective of leaders of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith-based organizations (FBOs), (2) identifying obstacles to interfaith dialogue among Abrahamic faith organizations in Winnipeg, and (3) identifying perspectives on the potential benefits of interfaith dialogue among Abrahamic faith organizations in Winnipeg.
The research is based on semi-structured one-on-one interviews with leaders of Abrahamic FBOs and the drawing of a personal lifeline identifying landmark events related to faith and interfaith involvement in participants’ lives. The study is rooted in grounded theory and arts-informed methods as the two main inquiry approaches to research. The stories and lifelines generated through these interviews were then analyzed for common themes and data was compiled based on details identifying the occurrence of interfaith dialogue in the city and its perceived obstacles as well as benefits among Winnipeg’s Abrahamic faiths. The data was then used to generate findings, and to propose potential areas for future action and research.
The research is framed by Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) literature on Critical and Emancipatory Peacebuilding, Interfaith Dialogue, and Conflict Transformation to situate the study. By combining an understanding of Winnipeg’s context with the literature and data on interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding, the research explores what is happening with dialogue between religious organizations, what barriers may be preventing dialogue, and what level of willingness exists for FBOs to participate in dialogue.February 202
Navigating ethics in HIV data and biomaterial management within Black, African, and Caribbean communities in Canada
No full textAbstract Background This study explored the ethical issues associated with community-based HIV testing among African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) populations in Canada, focusing on their perceptions of consent, privacy, and the management of HIV-related data and bio-samples. Methods A qualitative community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was employed to actively engage ACB community members in shaping the research process. The design included in-depth qualitative interviews with 33 ACB community members in Manitoba, Canada. The study was guided by a Community Guiding Circle, which contributed to study design, data analysis, and interpretation. A diverse sample was recruited through community agencies, social media, and flyers, with considerations for variations in age, gender, sexual orientation, and geographical location. The study employed iterative inductive thematic data analysis. Findings Participants expressed significant concerns about the collection, sharing, and use of HIV data from healthcare encounters, revealing mistrust towards institutions like police, child welfare, and immigration accessing their health information. Their worries centered on the handling of biological samples, data misuse, potential human rights violations, HIV criminalization, deportations, challenging consent, privacy, and bodily autonomy principles. While open to contributing to medical research, they unanimously demanded greater transparency, informed consent, and control over the secondary use of their health data. Conclusions The study underscores the need for culturally safe approaches in HIV testing and ethical governance in healthcare for ACB communities. It highlights the importance of prioritizing participant empowerment, ensuring transparency, practicing informed consent, and implementing robust data security measures to balance effective HIV information management with the protection of individual rights
Inclusive education in Rwanda: autoethnographic reflections
No full textRwanda has made progress in promoting inclusive education over the past decade. The Government has established a strong legal framework consisting of laws, policies, and commitment to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities. Yet despite national and global commitments to equitable and quality education for all (Sustainable Development Goal 4), children with disabilities in Rwanda face significant barriers. This thesis uses autoethnography to address the problem by exploring three interconnected questions: (1) How does my understanding of Disability Studies concepts and inclusion align with or differ from local understandings? (2) How has my understanding of inclusion influenced my professional choices and perspective on implementing inclusive education in Rwanda? (3) What approaches and practices have I observed about inclusive education in Rwanda at the national and local levels? To what extent have these practices influenced the learning outcomes of children with disabilities? The study draws from personal reflections of lived experiences, including academic and professional engagements, and analysis of Rwanda’s history, education policy frameworks, and community-level interventions to answer the research questions. Disability studies, equity science, postcolonial theory, and intersectionality provide theoretical insights and thematic analysis for data analysis. The results reveal that colonial legacies continue to shape perceptions of disability and inclusion in Rwanda, often perpetuating stigma and segregation. However, pre-colonial values of Ubuntu and solidarity, which align with equity science, provide a culturally relevant foundation for transformative and inclusive education. At the practical level, interventions such as teacher training, community mobilization, and advocacy for systemic changes, including building disability inclusive infrastructure, demonstrate progress in reducing barriers. Meanwhile, resource inequities and gaps between policy and practice hinder consistent implementation. The study concludes that achieving inclusive education in Rwanda requires a transformative approach integrating cultural values, resource equity, intersectionality, and reflexive praxis to dismantle systemic barriers and foster inclusive communities of belonging where all children, including those with disabilities, participate fully in quality and equitable education. This research bridges global frameworks (SDG 4) and local realities, offering actionable insights for designing, implementing, and monitoring inclusive education programs adaptable to diverse contexts globally.February 202