Hemodialysis catheter occlusion compromises hemodialysis adequacy and increases the cost of care. Repeated administration of alteplase in hemodialysis catheters typically produces only short-term benefits. The purpose of this study was to design, implement and evaluate the efficacy of a step-by-step algorithm to optimize the management of hemodialysis catheter occlusion. The study had a prospective quasi-experimental design in two parts. Baseline data on the use of alteplase and catheter exchange were collected during Part I; while, Part II consisted of algorithm implementation. Rates of alteplase use and catheter exchange per 1000 catheter days were main outcomes of the study. One-hundred and seventy-two catheters in 131 patients were followed up during the course of the study. The vast majority of the study population were on clopidogrel or aspirin (75%); whereas, approximately 11% were on warfarin. The adjusted rate of alteplase use was not significantly different after algorithm implementation (Part I vs. Part II relative risk: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.73 – 1.65, p > 0.05). Similarly, catheter exchange rates were not significantly different in both parts of the study (1.12 vs. 1.03 per 1000 catheter-days, p > 0.05). Regression analysis showed that the rate of alteplase use was inversely related to the catheter age (p < 0.05). In a secondary analysis on a subgroup of patients with occlusion-related catheter exchanges (n = 28), the number of alteplase administrations significantly increased with longer waiting time for catheter exchange (p < 0.05). In conclusion the hemodialysis catheter management algorithm was not effective in decreasing the rate of alteplase use.

Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) curve has acquired great significance in the field of Computer Aided Design and Machining due to their ability to draw a large variety of shapes in an interactive computer graphics environment. A biarc curve is a composition of two circular arcs such that they are tangent continuous at the point of join. Biarcs have replaced traditionally used line segments in approximating curves and surfaces for generating tool paths of Computerised cutting machines called CNC (Computerised Numerical Controlled) machines. This is due to their ability to be at a greater proximity to the original curve with fewer number of segments. Since most of the machining tools can move only in straight lines and circular arcs, it is desirable that the tool paths be composed of biarcs and/or straight line segments. Shape preserving interpolation is a technique of drawing a curve through a set of points such that the shape represented by the data points are preserved. Both NURBS and biarc curves are not essentially shape preserving curves; however, if certain constraints are imposed on them, they are able to preserve the shape represented by the data points. This work proposes a technique that incorporates both NURBS and biarcs to perform the interpolation. The advantages are twofold; it acts as a common platform for the two techniques to operate together, which is novel, and the fitted NURBS curve can be approximated by biarcs, which has applications in the machining industry.

Normal cellular behaviour in multicellular organisms is achieved by tight control of signaling pathway networks. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is one of these signaling networks, that when deregulated can lead to cellular transformation. Activation of the RAS-RAF-MEK-MAPK (ERK) signal transduction pathway or the SAPK2/p38 pathway results in the activation of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinases 1 and 2 (MSK1/2). Subsequently, MSKs go on to phosphorylate histone H3 at Ser10 and Ser28.Here, we demonstrate that the activities of ERK and MSK1, but not p38, are elevated in Hras-transformed cells (Ciras-3) relative to these activities in the parental 10T1⁄2 cells. Analyses of the subcellular distribution of MSK1 showed that the H3 kinase was similarly distributed in Ciras-3 and 10T1/2 cells, with most MSK1 being present in the nucleus. In contrast to many other chromatin modifying enzymes, MSK1 was loosely bound in the nucleus and was not a component of the nuclear matrix. Our results provide evidence that oncogene-mediated activation of the RAS-MAPK signal transduction pathway elevates the activity of MSK1, resulting in the increased steady-state levels of phosphorylated H3, which may contribute to the chromatin decondensation and aberrant gene expression observed in oncogene-transformed cells. Furthermore, upon activation of the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways, the MSK1/2- mediated nucleosomal response, including H3 phosphorylation at serine 28 or 10, is coupled with the induction of immediate-early gene transcription. The outcome of this response, varying with the stimuli and cellular contexts, ranges from neoplastic transformation to neuronal synaptic plasticity. Here, we used sequential co-immunoprecipitation assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays on mouse fibroblast 10T1/2, Ciras-3 and MSK1 knockdown 10T1/2 cells to show that H3 serine 28 and 10 phosphorylation leads to promoter remodeling. MSK1, in complexes with phospho-serine adaptor 14-3-3 proteins and BRG1 (the ATPase subunit of the SWI/SNF remodeler) is recruited to the promoter of target genes by transcription factors such as ELK-1 or NFκB. Following MSK1-mediated H3 phosphorylation, BRG1 associates with the promoter of target genes via 14-3-3 proteins, which act as scaffolds. The recruited SWI/SNF remodels nucleosomes at the promoter of immediate-early genes enabling the binding of transcription factors like JUN and the onset of transcription. Since RAS-MAPK activated MSKs mediate H3 phosphorylation that is required for expression of various immediate-early gene products involved in cellular transformation, inhibition of MSK activity may be a therapeutic target that could be exploited in cancers with upregulated RAS-MAPK signaling.

This practicum focuses on end-of-life care for older adults in rural Canada. Specifically, it addresses links between domesticity and terminal illness amongst adults within the building typology of hospice. The objective of the practicum is the creation of a model for hospice design in rural Manitoba. The hospice will be supported in pre-fabricated housing. The practicum will address contemporary issues arising from publicly-funded healthcare, the aging Canadian population, and cultural issues surrounding dying, death, and grieving. The main goals to be achieved with this project were the creation of care facilities that encourage dialogue, education, and wellbeing for all users. Additionally, the facilities will be designed as multi-sensory environments where all human senses can be stimulated, expanding beyond typical visual stimuli.

Background/Project Description: There is a growing interest in the contribution of late preterm (34 – 36 week gestational age (GA)) birth to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Late preterm infants have an increased incidence of both respiratory and non- respiratory complications over the first year of life. Rates of prematurity as well as morbidity/mortality in infancy are higher in lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups but how GA and SES interact is relatively unexplored. Methods/Participant Population: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken utilizing anonymized data housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP). A population-based cohort of infants born at 34 to 41 weeks of GA was assembled; individual and area-level income information was used to develop SES groups. Outcomes studied included diagnoses received during the birth hospitalisation, neonatal and post-neonatal admissions. Regression models were constructed to explore the effects of GA and SES as well as control for multiple perinatal variables. Appropriate approvals and safeguards for data privacy were maintained. Results: GA and SES exerted a gradient effect on morbidity, which persisted after controlling for multiple confounding variables. The effect of GA was strongest during the birth hospitalisation but persisted throughout the first year with increased morbidity evident with each week of decreasing GA. The detrimental association of low SES with morbidity increased in effect size throughout the first year surpassing that of GA for post-neonatal admissions. An interaction effect of maternal diabetes, respiratory morbidity and SES was suggested and merits further investigation. Neonatal stays of 3 days or longer negated the association of GA with readmission within the first 28 days; in addition shorter stay infants had the highest risks of readmission at 37 weeks as compared to the late preterm gestations. Conclusions: The consistent associations between poverty, prematurity and morbidity require both further study and attention. Attention to the neonatal health of both late preterm and term infants is important due to their large numbers and population impact. The added risk of poverty merits urgent and multifaceted interventions to lay the groundwork for healthy childhood and long-term success.

Migrating from a wired to a wireless implementation for communication system used in industrial applications is a logical move to avoid the many shortcomings associated with wires. When operated under harsh environments, those wires can break and could cause not only damage to the system but also endanger human lives. However, it is not well documented how well a wireless protocol can work under such harsh industrial environments. This thesis attempts to answer this research question in the point of view of gauging the performance of a wireless protocol under the influence of electromagnetic noise. More specifically, the type of noise signal that is the focus of this investigation is the random, pulsed type (e.g., discharges caused by sparking) that creates a hyperbolic broadband disturbance in the frequency domain. Consequently, a fractal noise model is used to study noise of this nature. The steps toward achieving this goal include: requirements gathering, wireless technology selection; noise modelling and synthesis; real noise capture and analysis to validate the chosen noise model; high-frequency fractal noise emulation in hardware; the use of a novel noise injection method for empirical work; and the conducting of a controlled synthetic noise-to-wireless node performance evaluation to obtain performance measure in the form of packet error rate (PER). Performance data in terms of PER versus signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for various nodes separation have been collected. There were three significant findings: the obtained performance curves follow the standard 'S' trend; for a specific desired reliability (denoted by a certain PER), the SNR at the transmitter needs to be boosted as the correlation of the noise being present increases; and the maximum distance between nodes separation for a certain reliability to be achieved depends exponentially with the transmitter‟s SNR. The relationship in the third finding assists in placement of wireless nodes, which in turn can determine the minimum amount of wireless nodes required for an industrial system to reach the desired system reliability, thus boasting network cost saving.

Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV) is a tick-borne, hemorrhagic fever-causing member of the Flaviviridae. With infections annually ranging from 50 to 1000 people in south-west India and the lack of effective treatments, a better understanding of this virus is needed. The development of a Reverse Genetics System for KFDV would provide the opportunity to address these issues in future studies. Using molecular techniques, the KFDV genome sequence was elucidated and the reverse genetics system was created. Utilizing this system live, infectious KFDV particles were produced from mammalian cell culture, thereby validating the success of the reverse genetics system. The implementation of this system will enable researchers to better study pathogenesis and disease progression, virus-host interplay, virion structure, genome replication and the emergence of effective therapeutics and vaccines.

The objective of this research project was to simulate the behavior of armor metals at high strain rates and large strains, using the Johnson-Cook visco-plastic model, while incorporating the formation of adiabatic shear bands. The model was then to be applied to three armor metals, namely maraging steel 300, high hardness armor (HHA), and aluminum alloy 5083-H131; supplied by the Canadian Department of National Defense and tested in compression at the University of Manitoba. The Johnson-Cook model can accurately simulate the behavior of BCC metal (steels) up to a point of thermal instability. Conditions for complete shear failure in the model match closely to conditions at which adiabatic shear bands formed in specimens tested experimentally. The Johnson-Cook model is not quite valid for FCC metals, such as aluminum, where strain rate and temperature effects are dependent on the strain while in the Johnson-Cook model, these parameters are separable.

An experimental study was carried out to determine the effect of compaction on arching of wheat flour in storage. A model bin 475 mm in height and 600 mm × 375 mm in cross-section was used to conduct tests and wheat flour at moisture contents (MC) of 8.6% and 14.2% was tested. Direct shear tests were performed to determine the angle of internal friction and cohesion of wheat flour subjected to various compaction pressures. It was observed that the internal friction angles were about the same for the wheat flour at two moisture contents (37.1 vs. 37.5), but cohesion for 14.2% MC was 32% higher than that for 8.6% MC. The flowability of wheat flour decreased with increasing compaction pressure sharply at the initial stage of compaction. Compaction led to a 64% increase in required hopper opening for arching-free flow for flour at 8.6% MC, and 49% at 14.2% MC. However, compaction pressure had little effect on arch formation after it reached above 5 kPa.

This thesis describes the experimental study of electron scattering processes from laser-excited barium and ytterbium atoms. These include the electron-impact ionization-excitation from Ba (...6s6p) 1P1 and Ba (...6s5d) 1,3D1,2 to Ba+ (...6p) 2P3/2, the elastic electron scattering from Ba (...6s6p) 1P1 and Ba (...6s5d) 1,3D1,2, and the electron-impact excitation from Yb (...6s6p) 3P1 to Yb (...6s7s) 3S1, Yb (...6s6p) 1P1, and Yb (...6s5d) 3D1,2,3. The experiments utilized electron impact energies in the range of 5 eV to 50 eV. Differential and integral scattering cross sections were determined, and are presented both on absolute and relative scales. By controlling the laser polarization, alignment and orientation parameters characterizing the scattering processes were determined. Additionally, the barium ionization-excitation study observed polarization dependencies of ion line emission fluorescence for radiative decay from Ba+ (...6p) 2P3/2 to Ba+ (...6s) 2S1/2, providing information about the final ionic state composition. Along with experimental measurements of electron-atom collisions, this thesis describes the design and development of a computer-controlled data acquisition system and a laser frequency stabilization system.