Zinc biofortification in wheat grains through phosphorus and zinc fertilization strategies in Manitoba’s Red River Valley

Canada is one of the world’s largest wheat exporters, yet zinc (Zn) concentrations in Canadian wheat often fall below levels considered optimal for human health. We evaluated agronomic biofortification options that align with Canadian prairie practices by testing phosphorus (P) and Zn fertilizer sources and placements, with or without foliar supplements. A plot-based four-year field study was conducted on calcareous soils of contrasting texture (clay vs. sandy loam) in southern Manitoba from 2023 to 2024. Treatments included monoammonium phosphate (MAP), MAP + granular ZnSO4, and MicroEssentials® SZ® (MESZ) placed as broadcast-incorporated, side-band, or seed-row at seeding, with foliar Zn (± glycine betaine + salicylic acid; ± K) applied at Zadok’s growing stages Z12–15 and Z65. Plant nutrient concentrations were determined by ICP-MS following acid digestion, and Zn bioavailability was indexed by the phytic acid:Zn (PA:Zn) molar ratio. Across site-years, Zn fertilization increased grain yield by 8.3% over the Zn unfertilized control, with the highest yields achieved when MESZ was banded at seeding. Grain Zn responses depended on formulation, placement, and foliar supplementation. Seed-row MESZ plus foliar Zn produced the largest and most consistent grain Zn gains, raising concentration by ~27–60% at the two most responsive site-years and achieving ~41–43 mg kg-1. Depending on site-year, adding biostimulants provided small non-significant additional gains, whereas adding K produced no clear effect. Independent of formulation, banding MAP and MESZ generally outperformed broadcast for yield and Zn uptake. Grain PA:Zn ranged ~27–38 and improved (decreased ~25%) where foliar Zn was added to seed-row MESZ, but no treatment reduced PA:Zn below the conventional threshold of 15. Phosphorus fertilization did not systematically elevate grain phytic acid. Overall, integrating seed-row MESZ with well-timed foliar Zn is a practical path to raise grain Zn and improve PA:Zn under Prairie conditions. Further refinement should focus on foliar Zn rate/timing and context-dependent use of K and biostimulants to deliver consistent biofortification across soils and seasons. Future work should prioritize foliar Zn rate and timing and test compatibility with plant-health fungicides to simultaneously support yield and biofortification under Prairie conditions.February 202

Fault Tolerant Euclidean K-Centers

The Euclidean \emph{k}-center problem is a fundamental question in computational geometry and facility location. Given a set $P$ of $n$ points in $\mathbb{R}^d$, the goal is to choose a set $F$ of $k$ center points such that the maximum distance from any point in $P$ to its nearest center in $F$ is minimized. Geometrically, this corresponds to covering all points in $P$ with $k$ balls of minimal radius. We study a natural generalization known as the $\ell$-fault-tolerant Euclidean \emph{k}-center problem, which introduces a robustness parameter $\ell \leq k$. In this variant, each point in $P$ must be covered by at least $\ell$ of the $k$ balls, or equivalently, its distance to the $\ell$th nearest center in $F$ must be minimized. This captures scenarios where redundancy is required for fault tolerance or load balancing. Our contributions include an exact $O(n \log n)$-time algorithm for solving the problem in one dimension ($\mathbb{R}$), where a linear order among points can be exploited. In two dimensions ($\mathbb{R}^2$), we prove that the problem becomes NP-hard. Nevertheless, we present an $O(nk/\ell)$-time algorithm that computes a 2-approximation, offering an efficient and practical solution with provable guarantees.February 202

The design, construction, and testing of a tuned VHF amplifier

This thesis deals with the design and construction of a tuned VHF amplifier. The main requirements are that optimum transducer gain must be attempted with a bandwidth of 6 MHz. Theoretical considerations such as stability, determination of optimum terminations and matching networks will be considered. The design will be carried out using a Fairchild 2N4122 bipolar transistor operating on channel 2 into a 50 olim coaxial system. We shall try to include enough qualitative discussion with a minimum of theory so that a reader with only an elementary background in electronics will be able to apply the concepts to a design of his own

An integrated storage and seed treatment approach for improving oxidative stability and oil quality of canola seeds

Canola (Brassica napus L.) seed quality deteriorates during storage, which leads to elevated free fatty acid value (FAV), oxidative damage, and significant refining losses. This study presents an integrated, three-stage investigation aimed at understanding canola seed degradation mechanisms during storage. The approach further aimed to control lipid hydrolysis, improve oil quality, and storage stability through seed pretreatment techniques. Firstly, the effect of storage temperature (5, 20, and 35°C), relative humidity (35 and 85%), and seed moisture content (4, 8, 14%) on canola seed quality was evaluated. All the conditions resulted in accelerated FAV formation (4-6 fold increase), chlorophyll degradation, and germination loss (50%). Multivariate analysis (PCA and MANOVA) confirmed the strong interactions between storage variables and time, demonstrating the complexity of storage-induced degradation. Secondly, based on the observed increase in FAV during storage, thermal (microwave and infrared) and non-thermal (ultrasound) seed pretreatments were investigated as mitigation strategies. Under optimized conditions, pretreatments increased oil yield up to 32% and reduced FAV by 80%. Microwave and infrared preserved over 90% antioxidant activity, enhanced phenolic content, and maintained peroxide value. As these pretreatments effectively stabilized lipid hydrolysis and improved oil quality, it was essential to evaluate the storage behavior of the pretreated seeds. Finally, optimally pretreated seeds were subject to a storage study to evaluate long-term stability. The pretreated seeds effectively reduced FAV and oxidative deterioration during storage compared to untreated seeds. Safe storage guidelines showed a clear clustering between treated and untreated samples, where IR and MW treated seeds resulted with longer safe storage period. This integrated approach demonstrated a scalable and sustainable pathway for stabilizing canola seed quality, reducing refining losses, and improving industrial oil processing efficiency. Unlike conventional studies, which examine storage or pretreatments individually, this study integrates storage degradation analysis with targeted seed pre-treatment and post-treatment evaluation. Overall, this study established a process-level strategy to stabilize canola seed quality, suppress lipid hydrolysis, and reduce refining losses under industrially relevant conditions.May 202

Supplementary Material for Not your average dairy farmer: Clustering dairy farmers of Western Canada and Ontario based on management practices and well-being

Survey Questions for article abstract: A wide array of operational and management practices characterizes the dairy farming landscape in Canada. This heterogeneity poses challenges in understanding the full range of dairy farming systems, which can lead to incomplete representations and less effective interventions aimed at improving the well-being of dairy farmers. This study aimed to holistically explore the relationship between dairy farmers' well-being and farm management practices. A multiple factorial analysis was used to group dairy farmers based on various factors, including demographic characteristics, mental and physical health outcomes, farming responsibilities, work-life balance, social environment and support, animal housing and management, and concerns about various dairy-related stressors. The analysis identified 4 distinct clusters of farmers defined by 66 significant variables. Key factors influencing the differences among the surveyed dairy producers included age, concern about finances, drought, public perceptions of the dairy industry, policies and regulations, farm responsibilities, satisfaction with professional relationships (such as those with veterinarians and feed representatives), and mental health outcomes. Despite the variations among the clusters, a common theme emerged: most participants selected finding more time for enjoyable activities and reducing their workload as ways to improve their well-being. The findings suggest that the nature of dairy farming and its associated responsibilities may often hinder farmers from achieving a healthy work-life balance. Furthermore, this study highlights the distinct challenges faced by various groups of dairy farmers. The typologies established in this research offer a promising foundation for providing tailored resources and support

Computer vision-enhanced human-robot interaction using a 7 DOF manipulator with application to rehabilitation

Human-robot Interaction (HRI) plays a crucial role in enabling robots to operate safely alongside a human's upper extremity in a rehabilitation environment. This thesis focuses on the design and implementation of a robust HRI system using a 7 degree-of-freedom (DoF) robot for potential use in upper extremity rehabilitation and motor recovery. The system is designed to support multiple interaction modes, including passive, resistive, and assistive modes, tailored to the potential participant's physical capabilities and rehabilitation needs. A real-time vision system enables the 3D visualization of the human body movement and simulation of the robot in a shared simulation environment. Utilizing a camera and pre-trained models, the human body keypoints and the robot's base frame are detected. This visualization enables precise, real-time monitoring of human body movements, primarily in the robot's proximity. To boost participants' engagement and therapeutic outcomes, a custom 2D interactive game was created where participants control a paddle to catch a moving ball, emphasizing shoulder joint movement. The paddle is connected to the robot's end-effector, enabling control through physical movement. The robot provides dynamic assistance or resistance based on the selected mode, making the system adaptable for patients with different levels of motor ability. The game-based interface is designed to motivate participation and support rehabilitation through repeated, goal-focused motor exercises for the shoulder joint. The safe and real-time integration of vision-based human motion capture, multimodal robotic interaction, and gamified therapy creates a versatile platform for potential neurological rehabilitation. This work contributes to the growing field of assistive robotics by providing a scalable, interactive solution that can support physical therapy while maintaining user engagement.May 202

Association of SP Educators (ASPE) Physical Examination Teaching Associate (PETA) Standards of Best Practice (SOBP)

Physical Examination Teaching Associates (PETAs) instruct healthcare professional learners to perform accurate and respectful physical examinations. PETAs are trained to teach physical examination techniques to learners in a standardized manner while providing ongoing feedback to the learner based on the PETA’s experience receiving the examination with their own body. While PETAs fall under the broad umbrella of standardized/simulated patient/participant (SP) methodology, their distinct role necessitates specific Standards of Best Practice (SOBP) tailored to PETA programs. To address this need, the Association of SP Educators (ASPE) used the Delphi process, involving thirteen PETA methodology experts from four countries. The five Domains of the ASPE SOBP as well as the accompanying Principles and Practices were revised to align with the needs of PETA programs. There were modifications to terms and content to reflect the unique scope of PETA practice. The ASPE PETA SOBP is designed for programs where PETAs are involved in formative instructional sessions with learners. As with the prior ASPE SOBP, this aspirational document provides flexibility to adapt to diverse program contexts and will continue to evolve

ARIMA-based forecasting of cerebral physiologic signals in acute traumatic brain injury: a CAnadian high-resolution TBI (CAHR–TBI) cohort study

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major global health issue, with limited progress in reducing morbidity and mortality for TBI patients in need of sedation and intensive care. This has led to increased focus on the mechanisms of secondary brain injury, typically monitored via high-frequency, multi-modal physiologic data reflecting pressure flow and oxygen delivery. However, the complexity and volume of such data pose challenges for clinicians, leading to the use of resolution-reducing techniques, such as moving averages and point sampling. However, data often remains a challenge to utilize clinically for physiologic insult predications and early or pre-emptive interventions. Time series modeling approaches like autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) are valuable in analyzing statistical signal structures, providing insights into temporal dynamics by revealing temporal patterns and forecasting future physiological states. Results: This study evaluated the effects of resolution reduction via averaging on point and interval predictions using ARIMA models. Analysis was performed on both raw signals and derived physiologic metrics of cerebral pressure flow, compliance, and oxygen delivery by utilizing the CAnadian High-Resolution TBI (CAHR–TBI) data set. Temporal resolution was reduced by averaging with non-overlapping intervals, ranging from 1-min to 24-h windows. Data from A total of 376 TBI patients requiring intensive care was analyzed across various temporal resolutions. ARIMA models perform best at high temporal resolutions, particularly for derived cerebrovascular reactivity indices, with accuracy decreasing for raw signals at lower resolutions. The choice of data partitioning method affects performance; however, all methods struggle at the lowest resolutions, highlighting ARIMA's limitations for long-term forecasting of cerebral physiologic signals with lower resolution data commonly recorded in patient records. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant influence of temporal resolution and data partitioning methods on the predictive performance of ARIMA models for cerebral physiological signals. While ARIMA performs well at high temporal resolutions, its accuracy declines for raw physiological signals as resolution decreases. The choice of cross-validation method also impacts forecasting performance. The findings underscore the need for hybrid modeling approaches that integrate ARIMA with machine learning techniques to improve predictive accuracy, particularly for complex cerebral physiological signals

Designing cell and protein-based DON biosensors for use in investigating DON-biotransforming microbes

Fusarium head blight (FHB) poses a major threat to small-grain cereals, reducing yield, quality, and contaminating grains with the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON). Once contaminated, it is difficult and costly to remove DON from grains. New rapid and low-cost assays for detecting the presence of DON are needed in order to screen for novel DON biotransforming microbial strains. This thesis develops and evaluates two novel biosensors for detecting DON: a cell-based Escherichia coli biosensor with a GFP reporter and a protein-based sensor engineered from Fusarium graminearum acetyltransferase TRI101. The Horizon Discovery E. coli Promoter Collection was screened using fluorescence-activated cell-sorting, followed by sequencing and fluorescence plate assays for DON-responsive strains. Strain rmf (ribosome modulation factor) exhibited a reproducible increase in fluorescence (~1.3 1.4× increase) when incubated in the presence of DON. Re-engineering this strain with the brighter GFP variant mClover3 improved peak ON/OFF fluorescence ratio to ~1.6-1.7. A medium-throughput fluorescence assay was developed and tested on 142 cultured soil microbial strains. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to analyze the behaviour of TRI101 in its apo form as well as with a DON ligand. Computational analysis of TRI101 was used to determine the best residue fluorophore conjugation sites to produce a modified TRI101 that could report the presence of DON in a solution. Amino acid residues G421 and A218 were identified as the best candidates and a TRI101-G421C was designed and expressed recombinantly in E. coli. When conjugated to TRI101-G421C, 7-diethylamino-3-(4′ maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPM) produced a detectable response to DON in fluorescence assay with a decrease of 8-9% in emission intensity at the emission maximum wavelength (480 nm). Together, these results show that an E. coli rmf promoter-based biosensor can inexpensively detect DON in liquid samples with relatively high detection sensitivity. A TRI101-based biosensor demonstrated functionality in detecting DON however assay signal contrast and production of recombinant TRI101 remain as limiting factors. Improvements to TRI101 yield, testing A218C and other TRI101 mutants for improved performance, as well as further enhancing the sensitivity and assay signal contrast for both biosensor designs should be the focus of future research.Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants programFebruary 202

The effects of nitrogen availability on plant species in the boreal tundra ecotone

In high latitude biomes, increasing temperatures due to climate change are predicted to increase nutrient availability. Given the boreal region is dominated by plant and fungal species that are adapted to surviving in low nutrient soil, an increase in nutrients like nitrogen may cause a variety of responses in mycorrhizae fungi and their host plants. I found that several plant species responded to three years of 10 – 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen addition by changing their leaf N isotope ratios, morphology and physiology. However, these changes showed no obvious correspondence with mycorrhizal status. Although ectomycorrhizal fungi slow down the mineralization rates of nitrogen, and help to immobilize nitrogen, both ectomycorrhizal host plants, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, and Dryas integrifolia Vahl, increased in total chlorophyll ∂15N while lowering the C:N ratio within their tissue due to fertilizer. The ericoid host plants (Ledum decumbens (Aiton) Lodd. ex. Steud, Vaccinium uliginosum L., and Empetrum nigrum L.) all responded differently from one another and did not respond to nitrogen unlike the ectomycorrhizal host plants. These results suggest that mycorrhizal types do not predict how boreal plant species will take up and utilize inorganic nitrogen. In some regions, climate change has resulted in boreal forests range expanding northwards, especially with a northward shift of coniferous trees. Northward range expansion for conifers on the tundra may involve the establishment and expansion of tree islands: clusters of conifers that create microhabitats on their leeward side. While we predicted these microhabitats would benefit conifer establishment and survival, we did not find this. After planting P. glauca and Pinus banksiana Lamb, seed around tree islands near Churchill, Manitoba, I found higher germination further away from the tree islands and on the windward side.February 202