30921 research outputs found
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Monitoring fish stocks of Lake Winnipeg using environmental DNA techniques and gillnet index surveys
No full textTraditionally, Lake Winnipeg fish stocks have been monitored using gillnetting techniques by the Province of Manitoba to collect critical information on fish population estimates, age, and sex ratios. However, gillnetting can be lethal and is often biased towards larger, pelagic, more active, mature, and abundant species. A monitoring technique that does not require the physical capture of fishes is environmental DNA (eDNA). Although eDNA is unable to provide information on the age and sex ratios of Lake Winnipeg’s fish stocks, some studies have shown success in detecting species underestimated in gillnets such as smaller-bodied, less active, immature, less abundant, and benthic species, as well as estimating the relative abundance of species. Therefore, the main goal of my Chapter 2 was to investigate the biases of gillnetting and compare them to eDNA, and how they may be affected by environmental factors for seven species in Lake Winnipeg: walleye (Sander vitreus), sauger (Sander canadensis), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus), spottail shiner (Hudsonius hudsonius), Coregonus spp. (lake cisco (Coregonus artedi), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), shortjaw cisco (Coregonus zenithicus), bloater (Coregonus hoyi), and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). My study found that eDNA was able to provide a broader scope of the fish community than gillnetting, especially for rainbow smelt that were detected using eDNA, but none were caught in gillnets. Year was an important factor that affected eDNA presence or absence, but not gillnetting. Environmental factors did not appear to have a greater impact on either eDNA or gillnet presence or absence. In Chapter 3, my research question was to investigate if there was a relationship between gillnetting and eDNA relative abundance estimates. A positive relationship was observed for some models of yellow perch, Coregonus spp., and trout-perch; however, additional research will be required as some models only had a positive relationship for sites across Lake Winnipeg as a whole, but not observed within local groups of sites, or vice-versa.Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC) – Manitoba Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund (FWEF)
University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Graduate Studies
University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Science – Science Enhancement of Graduate Stipends (SEGS) and Field Work Support Program (FWSP)
Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium (LWRC)
Genomic Network for Fish Identification, Stress and Health (GEN-FISH; funded through Genome Canada and the Ontario Genomics Institute)
Fisheries Management and Conservation Careers in Science and Technology (FishCAST; funded through the NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program)October 202
Developing metric for assessment of bumpers for orbital debris protection of satellite
No full textHuman exploration of space is continually expanding, leading to a proportional increase in orbital debris generated by these missions. The presence of such debris poses a significant threat to spacecraft and satellites, carrying potentially exorbitant costs or, in the case of manned spacecraft, fatal consequences. Consequently, the escalating risk of Micrometeoroids and Orbital Debris (MMOD) underscores the critical need for space structures protection. Various shielding methods exist for space structures, including the Whipple Shield (WS) and the Stuffed Whipple Shield (SWS). Recently, researchers have shown a heightened interest in multifunctional panels such as the Foam-Core Sandwich Panel (FCSP). These panels offer a dual advantage by providing both structural integrity and protection against MMOD. However, they fall short in defending space structures from larger projectiles and require an additional layer of protection. Previous research indicates that augmenting external bumper is the most effective method for enhancing the protection level of FCSP.
The objective of this thesis is to elevate the protective capabilities of the FCSP by proposing a tool for evaluating alternative designs for the bumper. Initially, two novel metrics, namely the Specific Impulse Metric (SIM) and Maximum-Momentum Fragment (MMF), were introduced to facilitate the comparison of different bumpers. The integration of these metrics into the SIM-to-MMF ratio emerged as a reliable criterion for predicting bumper effectiveness. This criterion was subsequently employed as a method to evaluate the viability of alternative bumper designs.
An assessment was conducted on an aluminum bumper coated with Silicon Carbide (SiC) and a multilayer Nextel bumper as a potential substitute for standard shielding solutions.May 202
Uncovering effects of temperature on dietary-fibre-associated inflammatory response in inflammatory bowel disease
No full textDietary fibres are not digested in the human gut but require resident gut microbes to ferment them into beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). However, some IBD patients express intolerance to high-fibre foods, which our lab previously found may be due to reduced fibre fermenting microbiota and interaction of select unfermented fibres (e.g., β-fructans) with TLR2, driving gut damage and inflammation. In contrast, b-glucan and pectin fibres displayed null or anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting that regardless of gut microbiota changes, select fibres could be beneficial in IBD. Traditional medicines have recognized the benefits of high-fibre beverages, although scientific evidence is limited. Moreover, there is also a gap in understanding how heat exposure during processing affects the biological role of these beverages. The traditional Ethiopian beverage, Kineto, is made from straining (room temperature) or boiling barley (β-glucan) and citrus fruits (pectin). Based on our prior investigations demonstrating a potential benefit of select fibre subtypes in IBD, I hypothesized that Kineto could promote anti-inflammatory pathways and that altering the fibre physiochemical properties through temperature exposure could further improve these anti-inflammatory effects. Our pilot study examining the inflammatory responses of the Kineto components (barley [BW], citrus peel [PLW] and pectin [PW]) in PBMCs (n=7) and THP-1 cell lines (n=3) suggested a potential anti-inflammatory role for PW. Subsequently, the complete Kineto solution in ex vivo human gut biopsies suggested anti-inflammatory trends of Kineto (e.g., reduced IL1B, CCL4, TNF), particularly at 70°C. The overall findings from physicochemical properties suggest that the anti-inflammatory trends for Kineto at 70°C (K70) could be from the observed increase in phosphorus, phytic acid, amylose and gel content, along with decreased protein. The observed beneficial trends of Kineto also come from the pectins and polyphenols found in citrus fruits, as seen from the relatively reduced pro-inflammatory markers (e.g., TNF, CCL3) in response to pectins with polyphenols (P1+ph). This was further supported by examining individual fibres found in Kineto, which revealed that unfermented citrus pectins inhibited pro-inflammatory IL-1B. These findings suggest the health-promoting potential of Kineto and encourage further research into this beverage as a prebiotic product.RFHS Masters Studenship
Weston Family FoundationFebruary 202
Lifting the curtain on the emergency department crisis: a multi-method reception study of Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System
No full textBackground
Despite growing evidence of the potential of arts-based modalities to translate knowledge and spark discussion on complex issues, applications to health policy are rare. This study explored the potential of a research-based theatrical video to increase public capacity and motivation to engage with the complex issues that make Emergency Department wait times such an intractable problem.
Methods
Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System is a digital musical micro-series developed from extensive research examining system-level causes of Emergency crowding and the ineffectiveness of prevailing approaches. We released individual episodes and a revised full-length version on YouTube, using organic promotion strategies and paid advertising. We used YouTube Analytics to track views, engagement and viewer demographics, and content-analyzed viewer comments. We also conducted five university-based screenings; 92 students completed questionnaires, rating Larry on 16 descriptors using a 7-point Likert scale.
Results
From June 2022 through May 2023, Larry garnered over 100,000 views (76,752 of the full-length version, 35,535 of episodes), 1329 likes, 2780 shares, and 139 comments. Views and watch time were higher among women and positively associated with age. Among YouTube comments, the predominating themes were praise for the video and criticism of the healthcare system. Many commenters applauded the show’s accuracy, humor, and/or resonance with their experience; several shared healthcare horror stories. Students overwhelmingly agreed with all positive and disagreed with all negative descriptors, and nearly unanimously deemed the video informative, thought-provoking, and entertaining. Most also affirmed that it had increased their knowledge, interest, and confidence to participate in discussions about healthcare issues. Neither gender, primary language, nor employment in healthcare predicted ratings, but graduate students and those 25+ years old evaluated the video most positively.
Discussion
These findings highlight the promise of research-informed musical satire to inform and invigorate discourse on an urgent health policy problem. Larry has reached tens of thousands of viewers, garnered excellent feedback, and received high student ratings. Further research should directly assess educational and behavioural outcomes and explore what facilitative strategies could maximize this knowledge translation product’s potential to foster informed, impactful policy dialogue
Investigating the role of IRE1 in brain regeneration using a larval zebrafish model
No full textTraumatic brain injury (TBI) results in permanent neurological deficits and impacts an estimated 69 million people around the globe each year. Though mammals retain endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) into adulthood, these NSCs do not regenerate lost neurons post-TBI. Stimulating mammalian NSCs to increase regeneration may be a potential therapy for patient suffering from TBI. However, the cell responses governing NSCs in vivo post-TBI are unclear. In contrast, the zebrafish is an excellent model to study in vivo brain regeneration because its NSCs produce new neurons post-TBI. The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a vertebrate conserved stress response that may regulate NSC-driven regeneration post-TBI. Inositol requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is a vital UPR protein that regulates mammalian neurons, astrocytes, and microglia post-TBI. However, whether IRE1 activity changes during successful regeneration post-TBI remains unknown. The objective of this study is to characterize IRE1 signaling during the proliferative stages of brain regeneration using a larval zebrafish model.
Larval Tg(xbp1s:eGFP) transgenic fish that express GFP upon IRE1 activation were studied at 5 days post-fertilization, when IRE1 activation appeared to stabilize during early development. Structure of the larval telencephalon was assessed along the rostral-caudal axis so that a novel larval TBI model could be designed to accurately create a lesion in a single hemisphere of the larval telencephalon. Upon inducing TBI, larvae were bathed with the proliferative marker, EdU, before sacrifice for immunostaining. Forebrain tissue was analyzed for GFP expression and NSC proliferation (EdU+/Sox2+). Analysis of GFP signal showed that IRE1 activity rapidly increased by 1-hour post-TBI but significantly decreased by 1-day post-TBI. Proliferation increased by 2 days post-TBI. This study yielded valuable insight into the dynamics of IRE1 activity induced by TBI in a model of successful neuroregeneration.University of Manitoba; Rady Faculty of Health Science Graduate StudentshipMay 202
Does the use of higher versus lower oxygen concentration improve neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18–24 months in very low birthweight infants?
No full textBackground
Immediately after birth, the oxygen saturation is between 30 and 50%, which then increases to 85–95% within the first 10 min. Over the last 10 years, recommendations regarding the ideal level of the initial fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) for resuscitation in preterm infants have changed from 1.0, to room air to low levels of oxygen (< 0.3), up to moderate concentrations (0.3–0.65). This leaves clinicians in a challenging position, and a large multi-center international trial of sufficient sample size that is powered to look at safety outcomes such as mortality and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes is required to provide the necessary evidence to guide clinical practice with confidence.
Methods
An international cluster, cross-over randomized trial of initial FiO2 of 0.3 or 0.6 during neonatal resuscitation in preterm infants at birth to increase survival free of major neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 and 24 months corrected age will be conducted. Preterm infants born between 230/7 and 286/7 weeks’ gestation will be eligible. Each participating hospital will be randomized to either an initial FiO2 concentration of either 0.3 or 0.6 to recruit for up to 12 months’ and then crossed over to the other concentration for up to 12 months. The intervention will be initial FiO2 of 0.6, and the comparator will be initial FiO2 of 0.3 during respiratory support in the delivery room. The sample size will be 1200 preterm infants. This will yield 80% power, assuming a type 1 error of 5% to detect a 25% reduction in relative risk of the primary outcome from 35 to 26.5%. The primary outcome will be a composite of all-cause mortality or the presence of a major neurodevelopmental outcome between 18 and 24 months corrected age. Secondary outcomes will include the components of the primary outcome (death, cerebral palsy, major developmental delay involving cognition, speech, visual, or hearing impairment) in addition to neonatal morbidities (severe brain injury, bronchopulmonary dysplasia; and severe retinopathy of prematurity).
Discussion
The use of supplementary oxygen may be crucial but also potentially detrimental to preterm infants at birth. The HiLo trial is powered for the primary outcome and will address gaps in the evidence due to its pragmatic and inclusive design, targeting all extremely preterm infants. Should 60% initial oxygen concertation increase survival free of major neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18–24 months corrected age, without severe adverse effects, this readily available intervention could be introduced immediately into clinical practice.
Trial registration
The trial was registered on January 31, 2019, at ClinicalTrials.gov with the Identifier: NCT03825835
Nonlinear association between the triglyceride-glucose index and diabetes mellitus in overweight and obese individuals: a cross-sectional retrospective analysis
No full textAbstract
Background
The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is linked to both the development and progression of diabetes, while obesity remains a significant risk factor for this disease. However, the relationship between the TyG index and overweight or obese diabetes remains unclear.
Methods
This study was a cross-sectional analysis of data from 40,633 participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24 kg/m2 who were screened from January 2018 to December 2023 at Henan Provincial People’s Hospital. Participants were divided into groups of overweight or obese individuals with diabetes and those without diabetes according to the diabetes diagnostic criteria. The TyG index, the dependent variable, was determined using the equation ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. We explored the association between TyG index and diabetes in overweight or obese individuals through multivariate logistic regression, subgroup analysis, generalized additive models, smoothed curve fitting, and analysis of threshold effects.
Results
Patients who were overweight or obese and had diabetes had higher TyG index levels than those without diabetes. After adjusting for confounders, our findings indicated a significant association between the TyG index and the risk of diabetes in overweight or obese individuals [odds ratio (OR) = 7.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.98–7.81]. There was a J-shaped nonlinear association between TyG index and diabetes. When TyG index was > 4.46, the risk of diabetes increased sharply. Notably, a high baseline TyG index (Q4 group) correlated with a notably greater risk of diabetes than did the Q1 group, with an OR of 22.72 (95% CI: 20.52–25.16). Subgroup analysis revealed that the association between TyG and diabetes was stronger in females than in males (OR = 7.57, 95% CI: 6.76–8.48,), more significant in individuals with a BMI of 24–28 kg/m2 than in those with a BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 (OR = 8.40, 95% CI: 7.83–9.02), and increased with age (OR = 8.15, 95% CI: 7.25–9.17) (all P for interaction < 0.001).
Conclusion
Among overweight or obese individuals, a higher TyG index is associated with an elevated risk of diabetes, especially when TyG is > 4.46. Furthermore, factors such as sex, age, and BMI significantly influence the risk of diabetes in overweight or obese individuals. Specifically, older women with a BMI of 24–28 kg/m2 are at a greater risk of diabetes under similar TyG index conditions
A comparison of social media usage and preferences between clear aligner patients and orthodontists
No full textPurpose: The purpose of the current study was three-fold: (1) to evaluate the social media use and preferences of prospective clear aligner patients; (2) to investigate whether differences in social media use exists between patients seeking clear aligner therapy and orthodontists that provide clear aligner therapy; and (3) to explore the preferences of clear aligner patients for their treatment provider. Methods: An online survey was administered by Dynata (Shelton, CT) to prospective patients in Canada and the United States. Questions were designed to describe patient demographics and social media use, preferences, and content interest. Archival data was used to describe orthodontist demographics and online marketing strategies. ANOVAs with corresponding Dunnett’s t-tests and Pearson’s’s chi-squared were used to analyze parametric and non-parametric data, respectively. Results: 204 patients and 211 orthodontists completed the two surveys. Patients preferred an orthodontist as the treatment provider (x ̅=4.11), followed by their family dentist (x ̅=4.02). The three most common social media platforms used by patients are YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram (x ̅=4.47, 4.41, 4.05). Gender differences in social media usage revealed that female patients have higher engagement on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter (p<.0001, p<.05, p<.0001) compared to males, particularly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and during evenings (p<.05, p<.05, p<.01, p<.01, p<.05). USA patients showed increased Twitter usage (p<.05), particularly in the early mornings (p<.05) and expressed higher interest in viewing patient photos/videos (p<.01), compared to Canadian patients. Patients aged 19-29 are more active on social media during nighttime compared to patients aged 40-65 (p<.05) and exhibit higher Facebook usage compared to those aged 30 and above (p<.05). However, they engage significantly less on TikTok (p<.05). Employment status impacts social media preferences, with full-time employed patients preferring orthodontists (p<.0001) and showing greater interest in contests and hashtags (p<.05, p<.05). Patients surpass orthodontists in social media activity across all platforms (p<.0001), with peak activity on Monday, Friday, and Saturday evenings (p<.0001). Content related to treatment costs is crucial for patients, and before/after photos are the most interesting (p<.0001). Notable variations exist between patients and orthodontists regarding the days, times, and content focus on social media (p<.0001, p<.01, p<.0001), as well as the significance of interactions like hashtags, polls, live sessions, and sharing patient posts (p<.0001, p<.0001, p<.0001). Conclusions: Patients predominantly use Facebook daily, with YouTube being the second most popular platform. Likewise, Facebook is the preferred platform among orthodontists. However, patients show significantly higher activity across all platforms compared to orthodontists, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter, and Pinterest. Patients’ engagement is particularly notable during the evening hours at the beginning and end of the week, as well as on weekends. In contrast, orthodontists exhibit increased activity throughout the week, particularly during morning and afternoon hours, corresponding to regular working days. To better align with patient behaviours, orthodontists may consider adjusting their social media marketing strategies.October 202
Characterization of the antihypertensive and antioxidant properties of hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa L.) and protein-derived peptides in individuals with high blood pressure
No full textThe purpose of this study was to produce bioactive peptides in the form of a hemp seed protein hydrolysate (HPH) and assess the antihypertensive and antioxidant properties in comparison to whole hemp seed protein and casein using a clinical trial design. Bioactive peptides were generated using a previously established method utilizing gastrointestinal enzymes (pepsin and pancreatin) and optimized time, temperature, and pH conditions. Thirty-one individuals with hypertension participated in the study, following a randomized crossover design. They consumed the three treatments (50 g casein, 50 g hemp seed protein, or 45 g hemp seed protein + 5 g HPH) for six weeks each with 2 weeks washout period in between treatments. During the study, 24-hr blood pressure (BP) was measured at various timepoints and blood samples were collected to determine the level of enzymes and biomarkers involved in the BP regulation. The treatment containing HPH showed greater BP lowering effect compared to whole hemp protein and casein. This hypotensive effect was observed for both 24-hr systolic and diastolic BP. Although, we could not differentiate the effects of hemp protein and HPH on angiotensin converting enzyme, renin and nitric oxide, the peptides demonstrated an ability to enhance the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase while reducing plasma total peroxides and reactive oxygen species to a greater extent than hemp protein and casein. Furthermore, the attenuation of 24-hrBP was correlated with the increased level of epoxy oxylipins, which are involved in the relaxation of smooth muscle cells and subsequently vasorelaxation. These findings propose, for the first time from a clinical trial that hemp seed bioactive peptides may have a potential role as hypotensive and antioxidant agents as an alternative therapy for individuals with hypertension.University of ManitobaFebruary 202
The impact of patient-facility language discordance on potentially inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotics in long-term care home in Ontario, Canada: a retrospective population health cohort study
No full textAbstract Background Appropriate use of medication is a key indicator of the quality of care provided in long-term care (LTC). The objective of this study was to determine whether resident-facility language concordance/discordance is associated with the odds of potentially inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotics (PIP-AP) in LTC. Methods We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study of LTC residents in Ontario, Canada from 2010 to 2019. We obtained resident language from standardized resident assessments, and derived facility language by determining the proportion of residents belonging to each linguistic group within individual LTC homes. Using linked administrative databases, we identified all instances of PIP-AP during a 1-year follow-up period. PIP-AP was defined using the STOPP-START criteria, which have previously been shown to predict adverse clinical events such as emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. The association between linguistic factors and PIP-AP was assessed using adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results We identified 198,729 LTC residents consisting of 162,814 Anglophones (81.9%), 6,230 Francophones (3.1%), and 29,685 Allophones (14.9%). The odds of PIP-AP of were higher for both Francophones (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.08–1.23) and Allophones (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 1.08–1.15) when compared to Anglophones. When compared to English LTC homes, French LTC homes had greater odds of PIP-AP (aOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05–1.20), while Allophone homes had lower odds of PIP-AP (aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.77–0.86). Residents living in language-discordant LTC homes had higher odds of PIP-AP when compared to LTC residents living in language-concordant LTC homes (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.10). Conclusion This study identified linguistic factors related to the odds of PIP-AP in LTC, suggesting that the linguistic environment may have an impact on the quality of care provided to residents