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Storied places: decolonizing settler colonial urban landscapes with Indigenous public art in Winnipeg, Treaty One
Get PDFContemporary Indigenous public art can serve as a transformative (re)mapping medium. Through spatial expressions on the land, art can perform as a creative tool that aids in decolonizing the commons, by deconstructing biases, (re)storying histories, and igniting landscape narratives. In Canada, Indigenous public art can also provoke reconciliatory understandings regarding First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Indigenous communities and peoples. This dissertation uses mixed methods and methodologies of critical place inquiry to create a decolonial framework for arts-based research that is transdisciplinary and intersectional. Data collection tactics are deployed through a variety of strategies such as ethnography, storywork, and site-writing. Through a feminist lens, I work to be a critically reflexive ethical researcher while asking: How do I continue to confront my position as a White settler female academic in the academy? By weaving together both Indigenous and non-Indigenous epistemologies and ontologies, I work to See with Two Eyes through this work.
The first of three case studies examines the Métis community of Rooster Town and the public artwork Rooster Town Kettle and Fetching Water, by Ian August. The second investigates The Forks and the artwork Niimaamaa by KC Adams, Jaimie Isaac, and Val Vint, a sacred symbol of women, water, and the Earth that binds Indigenous peoples to the history of this site. The final case study examines the insurgent and resurgent activism of Indigenous temporal public art created through acts of 'counter-monumenting.' Two images of Queen Victoria, George Frampton’s Queen Victoria Statue, and Roland Souliere’s Mediating the Treaties, reveal the history and effects of the IRS system. Indigenous public art has the power to aid in reconciliation, while unsettling dominant hegemonic power structures through spatial expressions on the land. In this research, decolonial methods and methodologies work to dismantle power imbalances by creating intersectional stories of land, peoples, and histories that converge with contemporary interventions of public art in Winnipeg, Treaty One.Faculty of Graduate Studies Research Completion Scholarship (1,500), 2023, Manitoba Arts Council Learn Scholarship (2,000), 2021, Maxwell Starkman Travel Grant, Faculty of Architecture (3,000), 2020, Faculty of Architecture Entrance Scholarship ($5,000), 2019.May 202
Structure-property relationships in borophosphate glasses for soft-tissue regeneration: Insights from NMR spectroscopy and dissolution behaviour
Get PDFBioactive glasses have emerged as promising biomaterials for hard- and soft-tissue regeneration due to their ability to bond with biological tissues and stimulate healing. Originally introduced in 1969, silicate-based bioactive glasses such as 45S5 Bioglass, have paved the way for various glass compositions, including borate and phosphate glasses. While silicate and phosphosilicate bioglasses are primarily employed in orthopedic and dental applications, borate glasses have shown significant potential in soft-tissue engineering due to their higher degradation rates and ability to deliver therapeutic ions.
This research focuses on the structural and dissolution properties of borophosphate glasses designed for soft-tissue regeneration, aiming to establish an understanding of the composition-structure-property relationship to fine-tune the degradation rate of borophosphate glasses for optimal wound healing applications. A primary objective is the structural analysis of borophosphate glasses to detail their short- and medium-range order using magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, defining how borate and phosphate species form the glass network and how these structural units correlate with dissolution behaviour. While glass-ceramics have been widely studied in silicate-based bioactive glasses, little is known about phase separation in borophosphate glasses. This thesis examines the dissolution behaviour of phase-separated borophosphate glasses and its implications for bioactivity, particularly for applications such as tendon-to-bone repair. To enhance antimicrobial properties and promote wound healing, borophosphate bioactive glasses are doped with silver as a therapeutic ion. The degradation rates of these glasses will be optimized to ensure a controlled release of bioactive ions at the wound site, providing an alternative to antibiotic treatments. By correlating glass structure with dissolution behaviour and investigating the effects of phase separation and therapeutic ion incorporation, this research will contribute to the development of advanced biomaterials for soft-tissue engineering. The findings will aid in designing tunable bioactive glasses for wound healing applications, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing regenerative medicine.February 202
Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and children in Canada: a Delphi consensus project
Get PDFBackground: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus that effects both pediatrics and adult patients in Canada and is increasing in prevalence. No Canadian focused best practice recommendations currently exist to guide clinical practice.
Methods: The study used a modified Delphi technique to develop evidence and expert opinion-based recommendations for providing care for patients with EoE. The Delphi process consisted of 3 rounds of quantitative surveys and qualitative consensus meetings. Experts were included in the Delphi if they had experience caring for EoE patients in Canada within one of the following professional groups: allergist, adult gastroenterologists, pathologists, pediatric gastroenterologists, and dieticians.
Results: Delphi rounds were completed between May 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024. A total of 31 experts in EoE care from across Canada were recruited to participate in the Delphi consensus process. All participants completed all three rounds of Delphi surveys. The final statement includes 38 recommendations for the care of patients with EoE organized into three sections: definition, diagnosis, and management. A Table of research gaps is provided to stimulate further knowledge development on this topic.
Conclusion: This consensus statement includes actionable recommendations to support quality care of patients with EoE at any age across Canada. We encourage EoE centers in Canada to come together in a multi-disciplinary form to not only provide clinical care but also do much needed research on Canadian specific topics and gaps in EoE care
Economic evaluation of capivasertib as a second-line therapy for advanced breast cancer
No full textBackground: The activated PI3K/AKT pathway is the most common mechanism of resistance to endocrine therapy, affecting nearly half of patients with advanced breast cancer. Capivasertib, a first-in-class AKT inhibitor, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) in November 2023 as treatment for patients with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN-altered, hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer. However, capivasertib is costly, raising questions about its cost-effectiveness and financial impact. My thesis provides the first evidence to address these questions.
Methods: First, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to assess whether the approved combination of capivasertib with fulvestrant for either all patients or only postmenopausal women offers better value for money relative to fulvestrant monotherapy. Next, we performed a budget impact analysis from healthcare third-party payer perspective that estimated cost implications of introducing capivasertib as a second-line therapy for PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN-altered, HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer.
Results: In the cost-effectiveness analysis, we found that the addition of capivasertib to fulvestrant for all patients incurred an additional cost of 280,854 per QALY gained. If treatment with capivasertib was restricted to only postmenopausal women, this narrower indication led to lower costs (281,907 per QALY gained). The price of capivasertib had the greatest impact on the ICER. When varying the price of capivasertib over a wide range, we identified a threshold price of 30,847,687 in net costs over three years, corresponding to an increase of 33,415,148, which would be partially offset by a reduction of 1,888,730 in follow-up costs.
Conclusions: My thesis findings established the very first economic evidence on the addition of capivasertib to fulvestrant in the treatment of HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer with AKT-pathway alterations. The cost-effectiveness analysis indicated that addition of capivasertib to fulvestrant as a second line therapy was not cost-effective vs fulvestrant alone, primarily due to the high price of capivasertib. Concurrently, the budget impact analysis provided insights into economic implications of adopting capivasertib into clinical practice, given an estimated increase in overall payer’s budget. Together, these findings helped inform payers in making reimbursement decision of capivasertib.February 202
The impact of polypyrrole:carboxymethyl cellulose composite nanostructure on conductivity and capacitance
Get PDFPolypyrrole is a popular conjugated polymer that becomes highly conductive in its p-doped state. The intrinsically non-polar nature of the conjugated bond network limits the processing options of such polymers. Surfactants and polyanions help increase dispersity of conductive polymer in suitable solvents for processing. However, while such dispersions can be highly stable, they are formed by complex nanostructures that significantly impact the conducting polymer composite’s bulk properties. Similarly, complex nanostructures can be formed when surfactants or polyelectrolytes serve as templates during the polymerization of the conducting polymer precursor. Following the report of polypyrrole:carboxymethyl cellulose composites in battery electrodes as conductive binders, we are here investigating the role that nanostructure control can have in optimizing their performance. Using methyl orange as a structural template, we can control the composite’s nanoscopic shape between nanospheres and nanofibers. In the bulk material, the latter gives rise to significantly increased electronic conductivity and capacitance in battery use conditions, underlining the opportunities for improved performance of conducting polymer composites by controlling synthesis conditions
Micro-bubbles enhance photon utilization efficiency in ultraviolet-based advanced oxidation processes
Get PDFMicropollutants are important issues in water treatment because some of them pose health risks to humans and the environment. Ultraviolet-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have emerged to be effective in micropollutant control, which relies on UV photons to split oxidants into radical species that can destroy micropollutants. However, the photon utilization efficiency in most UV-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is usually low, and the fundamental reason is that the UV photons travel too short a path length in the water before they hit and be absorbed by the reactor walls and other accessories (i.e., be wasted). To address this issue, this study integrated microbubbles into the system to “trap” photons in the water. The surfaces of numerous microbubbles scatter or reflect photons, changing the photons’ pathways from straight to torturous. This will keep the photons in the water long enough to interact with oxidants and less likely to reach the walls, resulting in performance enhancement.
This study is designed to compare two widely used AOPs, UV/H₂O₂ and UV/chlorine, in micropollutant control at bench scale, with and without microbubbles. Nitrobenzene, benzoic acid, and caffeine are selected as representative micropollutants. The impact of microbubbles on AOP performance is evaluated under different conditions by monitoring the kinetics of oxidant (i.e., H₂O₂ or chlorine) and micropollutant decay and are quantified using the enhancement ratio kair/kno-air. The different test conditions are achieved by varying oxidant doses, reactor sizes (short vs long path lengths), water matrices (low transmittance vs high transmittance), and lamp types (low pressure and medium pressure). Microbubbles were generated using a CARMIN diffuser, producing stable bubbles predominantly in the 10–100 µm range.
Results showed that aeration consistently enhanced oxidant decay and micropollutant removal, confirming that microbubbles improve photon availability by scattering and reflecting UV light within the reactor. The magnitude of enhancement depended on oxidant dose, bubble concentration, reactor geometry, and lamp type. Medium-pressure UV lamps exhibited the strongest response to aeration, given their broader emission spectrum and greater baseline photon losses. A distinct optimal bubble concentration was identified; too many bubbles reduced UV penetration, while too few provided minimal scattering benefit. Caffeine showed the highest enhancement among the micropollutants due to its faster radical-reaction kinetics, while nitrobenzene, the most resistant compound, exhibited modest but consistent improvement under aerated conditions.
Overall, the findings demonstrate that microbubble-enhanced UV-AOPs offer a promising pathway to improve treatment performance, reduce photon losses, and optimize energy use in water treatment systems. The study provides experimental evidence and practical insights that can guide future reactor design, optimization of bubble parameters, and scale-up of aeration-assisted UV technologies.February 202
Measurement and prediction of draft force for a HSD implement
Get PDFThe increasing global demand for food production continues to drive the need for efficient and sustainable tillage systems. High-Speed Compact Disk (HSCD) implements have gained widespread use due to their ability to perform shallow tillage, manage crop residue, and enhance field productivity at higher operating speeds. However, the draft force and soil disturbance characteristics of these implements under varying field conditions remain insufficiently quantified. Existing predictive models for implement draft forces were primarily developed for traditional; low-speed implements and may not accurately represent the dynamic soil–tool interactions of modern HSCD equipment. In this study, field experiments were conducted using a Versatile HS180 Fury HSCD to measure draft force and soil disturbance under different tillage depths and operating speeds. Draft forces were measured using a calibrated load-cell system connected between the tractor and implement, while soil disturbance was assessed with soil surface roughness, residue incorporation, and cone index measurements. Field data were used to develop a draft force prediction equation through regression, and the prediction results were compared with those from existing equations. Results demonstrated that both tillage depth and operational speed had significant effects on draft force and soil disturbance. Draft force increased consistently with both parameters, ranging from approximately 6.5 kN at 25 mm depth and 10 km/h to 31 kN at 125 mm and 20 km/h. The regression model developed for draft force prediction showed a strong fit (R² = 0.9837) with minimal residual error (±1700 N), confirming its capability to capture the interaction between tillage speed and depth. Comparison with the ASABE D497.7 equation indicated relative mean errors between -37% and 10%, all within the acceptable accuracy range of the standard. In addition, higher speeds and depths increased soil surface roughness and residue incorporation, reflecting more intensive soil engagement. These results underline the strong interdependence of mechanical power demand and soil disturbance parameters in high-speed tillage operations. This research provides valuable empirical data for validating and refining existing predictive models, supporting more accurate tractor–implement matching, and contributing to the development of efficient, sustainable high-speed tillage systems.February 202
Evocative autoethnography for (more) ethical classroom living: a study of formative assessment through the eyes of a middle school teacher
No full textThis is a story of praxis couched in evocative autoethnography (Bochner & Ellis, 2016). Situating formative assessment research within my practice, I use memory and experience to make visible the complex and problematize the obvious. Meaning making is grounded within a theoretical braiding of lifeworld, praxis, and sociocultural theories. A narrative of becoming is woven throughout, in a continuous bumping up of assessment theory and concept with real-world classroom living.
This research emerges from personal experience and simultaneously tangles with a global phenomenon. History affirms the tendency of the summative to overshadow the process of the formative, thus disengaging students from their learning. I have experienced this tension in personal ways and witnessed its effects on students. Through a storying of experience, this autoethnographic research challenges technical rational attitudes and movements that mar relational ways of mutual growing. Reflexive–reflective research culminates in a personal curriculum of assessment that leans into aspirational ways of assessment being and doing.
My emergent and living curriculum of assessment uses metaphor as gateway into assessment principles that address language, process, feedback, and teamwork. It is a curriculum of assessment that strives to keep technical rational demands from narrowing a dynamic learning journey, hence elevating assessment from static thing that simply ranks and labels (White, 2017) to “source of insight” (Shepard, 2000, p. 10). In this, the curriculum emphasizes an embodied language, a persevering perspective that preserves the explorative nature of assessment process, feedback that keeps learning in motion, and teamwork engaged with democratic step. Relational ways of being have consequence on pedagogical doing, and so my curriculum of assessment develops from a relational pedagogy perspective (Spector, 2015).February 202
The Impact of thioredoxin-1 on adult neurogenesis and neuronal maturation in hippocampal-derived neural stem cells (NSCs)
No full textCellular redox balance is maintained through a tightly regulated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their scavenging ability by cellular antioxidants. Amongst the antioxidants, the cytoplasmic isoform thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) has demonstrated a plethora of functions. While Trx-1 was originally identified for its role in DNA synthesis, its involvement in adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) remains to be explored.
The fate of neural stem cells (NSCs) in AHN is dependent on redox balance, and changes in intracellular ROS level can dictate their quiescence versus activated state. Trx-1 is a key regulator of ROS in cells, I aimed to examine the importance of Trx-1 in hippocampal NSCs. Notably, reduced levels of Trx-1 have been observed in the brains of aging individuals or those affected by neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Coincidently, neurogenesis is also declined in aging and AD, whether this decline can be explained by Trx-1 depletion, remains to be determined. In my project, I aimed to examine the impact of Trx-1 depletion on NSC behaviour in the hippocampus.
Hypothesis: A depletion of Trx-1 alters the NSCs capacity to proliferate, differentiate, and mature in AHN.
Methods: A neuron-specific Trx-1 knockout (Trx-nKO) mouse model was used in this project. NSC’s were analyzed by immunohistochemical assessment of the hippocampal region, as well as in hippocampal-derived NSCs. Self-renewal and differentiation capacity of these cells were tested using specific markers. ROS level was measured using dichlorofluorescein and CellROX Deep Red, and western blotting examined protein expression level.
Results: Immunohistochemistry analysis displayed increased immature and reduced mature neurons in the hippocampus of Trx-nKO mice, accompanied by astrocyte activation and impaired axonal development. Trx-nKO hippocampal-derived neurospheres displayed significantly smaller diameter, which indicated a lower self-renewal turnover capacity. This coincided with lower expression of Trx-1 in Trx-nKO neurospheres and was associated with elevated levels of ROS in these cells. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed a decrease in mature neurons in the Trx-nKO.
Conclusion: This study may suggest a role for Trx-1 in neuronal maturation. Further examination and understanding the precise mechanisms by which Trx-1 influences NSC behavior could provide valuable insight into developing therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.February 202
Negotiations of the Tamil-Canadian identity in Ontario’s K-12 science education
Get PDFWith Ontario home to the largest Tamil diaspora outside South Asia (Government of Canada, 2023), there exists a federal obligation under the Canadian Multiculturalism Act (1985) to support the preservation of Tamil language and culture. Given that Tamil-Canadian youth attend K–12 schools and frequently pursue STEM-related careers, this study investigates how Ontario’s science classrooms influence and sustain—or marginalize—their Tamil identities. The central research questions are: (1) What are Tamil-Canadian university students’ motivations for pursuing science in K–12 schooling? and (2) How are their identities (re)shaped through their experiences within Ontario’s K-12 science education? Grounded in narrative inquiry (Connelly & Clandinin, 1990), the study leverages the author’s Tamil-Canadian positionality to co-construct participant narratives, analyzing how youth negotiate their “figured worlds” within the context of school (Holland et al., 1998). Drawing on decolonial thought (Tuck & Yang, 2012) and Critical Race Theory (Crenshaw et al., 1997; Ladson-Billings, 1998), the study critically examines systemic barriers and cultural erasure within science education. Through thematic analysis, the findings reveal that Tamil-Canadians in this study pursue science not out of interest, but as a means of social mobility through credentialism, leading to identity fragmentation. This research is significant in its contribution to the limited scholarship on Tamil-Canadian experiences, particularly within the field of science education.February 202