What is Going on Here? Police Framing, Misframing and Reframing of Criminal Responsibility in Intimate Partner Violence Cases

Police officers responding to intimate partner violence (IPV) calls face numerous challenges, including distinguishing IPV from stranger violence, addressing conflicting information, and, notably, utilizing their discretion. This research aimed to scrutinize the decision-making processes employed by police officers during IPV calls for service. To achieve this, Goffman’s (1974) frame theory was applied to analyze semi-structured interviews conducted with one Winnipeg Police officer and three Winnipeg service providers. The objective was to observe participants’ conceptual maps that highlight the use of discretion, implicit biases, and the cognitive processes underpinning police decision-making. Participants were asked open-ended questions regarding their experiences with working alongside the police or as an officer responding to IPV calls for service. The findings show that, like other professionals, the officer in the study relied on past experiences and personal identity (such as being a woman or a mother) in their decision-making. While the officer justified their actions using professional guidelines (like arrest mandates and reasonable grounds), there were inconsistencies in the application of the guidelines alongside personal biases. To better understand police behaviour in responding to intimate partner violence (IPV), it is helpful to adopt a sociological lens. This approach examines how social structures, cultural norms, and power dynamics influence officers’ actions and the factors beyond their control that affect their decisions and outcomes. It is important to note that the sample used in this study cannot be generalized, but as an exploratory study, it contributes to the ongoing discourse about what is necessary to enhance police response to IPV.Master of Arts in Criminal Justic

Open Scholarship @ UWinnipeg

At UWinnipeg, we prioritize student success, offer outstanding academic research programs and opportunities for students, support Indigenous achievement, embrace inclusivity, and foster meaningful connections on campus and across community. Open Scholarship is a necessary and central part of this work, as it makes our teaching and research expertise available freely, globally, and welcomes everyone into the conversations happening at our University. Across the UWinnipeg campus there are many projects and initiatives occurring to increase access to teaching, research, and knowledge. Some of these are connected with The Library and Research Office, some of these are occurring in departments or in other siloed locations. Many of these initiatives are great as is and don't need to scale up, but many projects could benefit from having 1. Larger campus awareness and championing, in order to involve more people more effectively 2. Some form of sustainable resourcing and 3. Policy support in key areas

Owning History: Indigenous Histories and Records Access; Conference Proceedings, 26 April 2024

(From the Introduction:) As anyone who has set out to do research with Indigenous records knows, this research, already difficult just by the nature of the topic itself, can be even more challenging when researchers must negotiate labyrinths of confusing access requirements across a range of different organizations and archives. For academic Indigenous historical researchers and Indigenous families and communities alike, locating and accessing critical Indigenous records can be extraordinarily difficult and frustrating. Over the course of our work with the Manitoba Indigenous Tuberculosis History Project (MITHP), we’ve faced challenges and delays in accessing Indigenous records held in colonial archives, and in disseminating the information we have found when we have been able to gain access. As other researchers can attest, these challenges and delays can be exhausting, and have drawn on resources that could have been otherwise used toward actual research and knowledge creation. In addition, the ways in which access is managed deeply impacts the questions researchers can ask and the histories we can tell. During the Owning History conference, we discussed the challenges of undertaking Indigenous archival research and explored how these experiences might inspire concrete changes in records access that could lead us toward a more respectful and honourable future.... We hope that the presentations shared, and the dialogues they inspire, will support research and researchers, stimulate new ways of engaging in and approaching this kind of research, inform strategies, and deepen our understanding of the many ways records access impacted and continues to impact Indigenous individuals, families, and communities and the pursuit of justice."The Owning History: Indigenous Histories and Records Access conference and the conference proceedings were made possible in part with the generous support of the support of the University of Winnipeg, the University of Winnipeg Department of History, the Riley Fellowship in Canadian History, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council.

Fusarium head blight detection, spikelet estimation, and severity assessment in wheat using 3D convolutional neural networks

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most significant diseases affecting wheat and other small-grain cereals worldwide. Developing FHB-resistant cultivars is critical but requires field and greenhouse disease assessment, which are typically laborious and time consuming. In this work, we developed automated applications based on three-dimensional (3D) convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that detect FHB symptoms expressed in wheat, estimate the total number of spikelets versus the total number of infected spikelets on a wheat head, and subsequently calculate FHB severity index. Such tools are an important step toward the creation of automated and efficient phenotyping methods. The data used to generate the results are 3D point clouds consisting of four colour channels——red, green, blue (RGB), and near-infrared (NIR)——collected using a multispectral 3D scanner. Our 3D CNN models for FHB detection achieved 100% accuracy. The influence of the multispectral information on performance was evaluated; the results showed the dominance of the RGB channels over both the NIR (720 nm peak wavelength) and the NIR plus RGB channels combined. Our best 3D CNN models for estimation of total and infected number of spikelets achieved mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 1.13 and 1.56, respectively. Our best 3D CNN models for FHB severity estimation achieved 8.6 MAE. A linear regression analysis between the visual FHB severity assessment and the FHB severity predicted by our 3D CNN showed a significant correlation.This research was funded by Mitacs (Accelerate IT25876), Western Economic Diversification Canada (Project No. 15453), and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2023-012

Virtual Drive Thrus: Is OnlyFans the McDonalds of the Sex Industry?

This thesis explores sexual labour on the virtual platform OnlyFans to understand the labour process of sex workers within a gig work platform. This research utilizes interpretive qualitative methods such as interviews and virtual participant watching to understand the experiences of four sex workers who utilize the platform. Employing McDonaldization as a conceptual framework, my thesis argues that labour on OnlyFans is a unique intersection between gig work and voluntary sex work. This thesis addresses the following questions: 1) How has the intersection between gig work and sex work on virtual platforms attracted people to sex work as a form of labour? 2) How does this impact our way of understanding, and regulation of, online sex work? 3) How do sex workers on a gig work platform define the work they do? Three major themes emerged from the data, including an understanding of the labour process on the platform, using the voice of my participants to define the work they are engaging in, and issues experienced with platform-based work. The findings demonstrate that McDonaldized aspects of the platform, such as efficiency with distributing content and predictability through similarities with social media sites, have drawn sex workers and non-sex workers to use OnlyFans as a platform. Further, given the changing nature of societal attitudes and views towards sexual content, participants indicated that they are simply capitalizing on content they would have shared on alternate social media sites. Finally, findings suggest that many aspects of the labour are comparable to that of gig workers on platforms such as Uber, Etsy, or SkipTheDishes. I suggest that certain forms of platform-based sex work require a regulatory framework which differs from current Canadian sex work regulations which criminalize the purchase of sexual labour, and instead, one which recognizes the voluntary and gig-work aspect of the labour.Master of Arts in Criminal Justic

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of INSL5 in a DSS-Induced Model of Ulcerative Colitis

Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) is a novel gastrointestinal (GI) hormone, primarily expressed in the distal colon and rectum. Its cognate receptor is the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) relaxin family peptide receptor 4 (RXFP4), which is expressed in a variety of tissues and cells, including the vagus nerve, colon, liver, heart, kidney, and gonads. Current research suggests that INSL5 is involved in satiety, glucose homeostasis, colonic propulsion, the male and female reproductive systems, and the progression of cancer. Our lab has recently found RXFP4 expression in all murine immune organs and some innate immune cells, implying that RXFP4 and therefore INSL5 may be involved in the immune system. Due to the high levels of INSL5 in the distal gut, it may play a homeostatic role in conditions of chronic inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The gut is intimately linked to the spleen via the spleen-gut axis and it is well documented that hyposplenism (splenic dysfunction) is correlated with GI disorders. The first objective of this study is to determine if DSS treatment induces inflammation in the spleen. The second objective is to determine if INSL5 influences immune cell responses in the murine spleen. I hypothesize that dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis will also induce hyposplenism. Additionally, I hypothesize that INSL5 exerts anti-inflammatory effects via RXFP4 expressed on splenic macrophages in a mouse model. To test these hypotheses, eight C57BL/6 strain male mice aged eight to twelve weeks were exposed to 2% DSS in their drinking water for seven days, while eight mice of the same strain and age were given regular drinking water as a control. Following euthanasia, blood samples were taken, the spleens were extracted, weighed, and some sections were kept for histological or molecular analysis while the rest were dissociated into RPMI cell culture media to generate primary culture of splenocytes. Histological preparations of whole spleen were stained with Prussian blue to test for thrombosis while blood smears were analysed for the presence of Howell-Jolly bodies and hypochromic erythrocytes, markers of hyposplenism. RNA was extracted from splenic macrophages of eight control and eight DSS-treated mice for qPCR analyses, and RNA from the spleens of four control and four DSS-treated mice was sent for RNA-sequencing. For the transcriptomic analysis, k-means clustering was performed to identify gene clusters associated with the largest standard deviation in gene expression across samples and the list of genes falling into each cluster were tested for enrichment using the GO Biological Process database. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the transcriptomic data using an FDR 1.5; the list of DEG’s was used for a gene enrichment analysis using the EnrichR database. Meanwhile, the aliquots of dissociated splenocytes were enriched for macrophages and then exposed to one of four treatments; control (no treatment), lipopolysaccharide (1.0 μg/ml LPS from Escherichia coli per well for 24 hours), co-treatment (100 nM INSL5 and 1.0 μg/ml LPS for 24 hours), and INSL5 pre-treatment (100 nM INSL5 hormone for 12 hours followed by 1.0 μg/ml LPS for 24 hours). Cytokine profiles and other macrophage markers were measured via qPCR and ELISA assay. Our histological, hematological, and qPCR results showed that DSS-induced colitis resulted in hyposplenism via the spleen-gut axis. According to the RNA seq data, DSS-treatment resulted in the upregulation of 146 genes and the downregulation of 21 genes, most of which were associated with the immune system or erythrocyte development. The results of the experiment on macrophage enriched splenocytes indicated that INSL5 played a minor role in alleviating inflammation by reducing the expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, the results of the cell culture experiment from the DSS-exposed murine spleens indicated that they experienced hyposplenism too extreme for LPS or INSL5 treatment to cause any significant change in immune gene expression. Unfortunately, the ELISA data did not show any significant effect of INSL5 in the spleen, however this may be a result of human error. Overall, our results indicate a strong relationship between the disorders of the gut and the spleen, however INSL5 appears to have a minimal role on immunological role of the spleen. Rather, the RNA-Seq data showed that DSS played a greater role in affecting its erythropoietic function. Further research is warranted, especially into the role of INSL5 in the gut, where it is most highly expressed, and where data mining indicate that its cognate receptor RXFP4 is found on diverse immune cell subsets. Research into the immunological role of INSL5 may be helpful for treating GI disorders such as ulcerative colitis.CIHR; NSERC; The University of Winnipeg Foundation - the Dr. Beni Sahai FundMaster of Bioscience, Technology and Public Polic

Land as a Teacher: Indigenous Food Knowledges and Perspectives from Long Plain First Nations

This study adopts a community-based Indigenous research approach to understanding Indigenous food knowledge and perspectives from Long Plain First Nation, Manitoba. Through in-depth interviews with nine community participants, this study emphasizes that land-based learning is not merely an educational method, but a profound way of life for Anishinaabe people, that sustains cultural continuity and resilience. For Long Plain First Nation, the land serves as an everlasting foundation of knowledge, embodying centuries of knowledge sharing, re-visioning, and reciprocity. Elders and knowledge keepers in their vital role as the bridge between the past and present, ensure that traditional food practices and transfer of knowledge is passed on to future generations. The community participants shared engaging stories on the intricate relationships among plants, animals, other relatives including stars, all living beings, and Anishinaabe stewardship. These stories also offer practical insights into sustainable way of life that are increasingly relevant in a contemporary environmental context. By recognizing the land as a teacher and prioritizing the voices of the Elders and knowledge keepers, Long Plain First Nation is reclaiming its Indigenous food systems and paving the way for future generations. It advocates for a holistic, community-centered approach to learning that respects, and amplifies Indigenous voices, fostering a sustainable future, thinking seven generations ahead.Shailesh Shukla; Shirley Thompson; Indigenous Studies, University of WinnipegMaster of Arts in Indigenous Governanc

Taxonomic diversity, Pest Vulnerability, and Carbon Storage of the Urban Forest in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Canadian prairie cities face a number of challenges when managing urban forests, one of which is reduced tree diversity due to more severe climate constraints to tree survival. This thesis reports on diversity and carbon storage for the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Approximately 24,500 trees were surveyed and measured across 77 Winnipeg neighborhoods, including trees on private lots, which had not been previously reported for the city. Using these data, I evaluated tree species diversity measures for city neighborhoods and compared diversity measures between trees on public and private property. Private properties exhibited higher tree diversity and better health status across all metrics. I also adapted the Pest Vulnerability Matrix (Lacan & McBride, 2008) to environmental conditions found in the city of Winnipeg to identify pests with the most potential to impact city forests and neighborhoods as well as areas most at risk of new pest invasion. Exploring carbon storage in the city, I used methods developed by Wayson et al. (2015) to create prediction intervals (a measure of reliability for the prediction of an observation) around biomass equations used by city foresters. I then estimated carbon storage in residential areas across the city. I found 58% of carbon stored in trees surveyed was in American elm (Ulmus americana), and no other tree species in the survey had an equivalent amount of stored carbon (based on mean DBH). This research incorporates the first large scale private tree inventory within Winnipeg, providing a more comprehensive assessment of tree species diversity and carbon storage values across the city. This study will allow urban forest managers to have a clearer understanding of the existing tree inventory and implications for future urban forest management activities to protect and increase the city’s urban forest resource.City of Winnipeg, Urban Forestry BranchMaster of Science in Bioscience, Technology, and Public Polic

Spectral Effects of Heating C3.00-Ungrouped Chwichiya 002 and Other Type 3 Carbonaceous Chondrites Under Vacuum

Three petrological type-3 carbonaceous chondrites; C3.00-ungrouped Chwichiya 002, CV3ox NWA 14743, and CK3 NWA 15337 were heated under vacuum up to 700℃. Additionally, carbonaceous chondrite matrix constituents: saponite and serpentine were also heated under the same conditions up to 900℃. Bi-directional reflectance spectroscopy data were collected under vacuum. The spectra show variability in their albedo as temperature increases. Measurements were made using a Bruker 80v FTIR spectrometer, at a resolution of 4 cm-1, relative to Spectralon and InfraGold in the VISNIR and IR, respectively. The 2.7 µm OH-associated absorption feature remains consistent in the meteorites, whereas the phyllosilicates display a gradual weakening of the same feature. The aromatization and volatilization of carbon, organic matter, and opaques such as sulfides could explain the increase in albedo observed. As heating ensues, the reaction of primary silicates with evolved water could lead to deepening and the persistence of the 2.7 µm band in the meteorites. The characterization of the spectral properties of the primitive carbonaceous chondrites presented in this study could help understand and interpret future experiments and help establish any links to parent-body asteroids.This project was supported by the National Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (CGS-M). Thanks to the Europlanet Research Infrastructure (RI) Transactional Access (TA) programme 2022 and 2023 for their financial support. Also, thanks are due to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Manitoba Research Innovation Fund (MRIF), and the University of Winnipeg for supporting this study.10.36939/ir.202412161522Master of Science in Environmental and Social Chang

The Effects of Short Chain Fatty Acids on Growth Factors and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Enteric Glial Cells

Enteric glial cells (EGCs), the major cell type in the enteric nervous system, are involved in maintaining intestinal homeostasis by secreting growth factors that attenuate intestinal inflammation, support enteric neuronal health, and enhance the intestinal epithelial barrier. However, when exposed to inflammatory stimuli, EGCs become reactive and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines that may be detrimental to the intestinal barrier. Recently, butyrate, a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) characterized as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, has been shown to elevate expression of growth factors and reduce expression of cytokines in intestinal epithelial cells and glia of the central nervous system. However, it remains unknown if SCFAs affect EGCs in a similar manner. This study investigated the following: (1) if treating EGCs with SCFAs influences production of growth factors; (2) whether SCFAs alter pro-inflammatory cytokine production in EGCs. We hypothesized that SCFAs enhance levels of growth factors and inflammatory cytokine levels in EGCs. An established rat enteroglial cell line was treated with butyrate (0-10 mM), propionate (0-10 mM) or pharmacological HDAC inhibitors suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) or trichostatin A (TSA) (0.1 mM-10 mM) for 8h-72h with or without IFNg (10 mg/mL) to stimulate EGCs into their activated phenotype. Changes in growth factors (GDNF & TGF-b1) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1b, and TNFa) in EGCs were assessed using qPCR and western blotting. Both butyrate and propionate elevated GDNF transcript abundance in EGCs, whereas SAHA and TSA reduced GDNF transcript abundance. At the protein level, butyrate and propionate did not alter GDNF whereas both SAHA and TSA reduced GDNF protein levels. Differences could be explained by cytotoxic effects of prolonged exposure of cells to SAHA and TSA. In contrast butyrate, propionate, and SAHA reduced TGF-b1 transcript abundance and protein levels in EGCs whereas TSA had no effect. Furthermore, treatment with SCFAs significantly lowered TNFa transcript abundance in EGCs. However, at the protein level, only butyrate was effective at lowering TNFa. In contrast, SCFAs elevated IL-6 transcript abundance in EGCs but had no effect on IL-6 protein. Neither butyrate nor propionate altered IL-1b protein levels in EGCs. Collectively, these results suggest that the effects of SCFAs on functional aspects of EGCs varies depending on the type of growth factor and pro-inflammatory cytokine being assessed. Overall, the data presented in thesis provides a new understanding of how SCFAs modify EGCs function, which advances the understanding of EGCs in intestinal physiology and glial cell biology.Master of Science in Bioscience, Technology, and Public Polic