Language, Indigenous Peoples, and the Right to Self-Determination

Language has always played a significant role in the colonization of peoples as an instrument of subjugation and homogenization. It has been used to control nondominant groups, including Indigenous peoples, often leading to their exclusion or assimilation. Many Indigenous groups, however, use language as a tool to connect the members of their community, to assert their group identity, and to preserve their culture. Thus, language has been used both as a means of oppression and as a mobilizer of Indigenous groups in their struggles for national recognition. Recognizing the significance of language in the identity and culture of Indigenous peoples, this article analyses how language rights can be viewed as an aspect of the right to self-determination of these groups

Maglev for Dark Matter: Dark-photon and axion dark matter sensing with levitated superconductors

Ultraprecise mechanical sensors offer an exciting avenue for testing new physics. While many of these sensors are tailored to detect inertial forces, magnetically levitated (Maglev) systems are particularly interesting, in that they are also sensitive to electromagnetic forces. In this work, we propose the use of magnetically levitated superconductors to detect dark-photon and axion dark matter through their couplings to electromagnetism. Several existing laboratory experiments search for these dark-matter candidates at high frequencies, but few are sensitive to frequencies below $\mathrm{1\,kHz}$ (corresponding to dark-matter masses $m_\mathrm{DM}\lesssim10^{-12}\,\mathrm{eV}$). As a mechanical resonator, magnetically levitated superconductors are sensitive to lower frequencies, and so can probe parameter space currently unexplored by laboratory experiments. Dark-photon and axion dark matter can source an oscillating magnetic field that drives the motion of a magnetically levitated superconductor. This motion is resonantly enhanced when the dark matter Compton frequency matches the levitated superconductor's trapping frequency. We outline the necessary modifications to make magnetically levitated superconductors sensitive to dark matter, including specifications for both broadband and resonant schemes. We show that in the $\mathrm{Hz}\lesssim f_\mathrm{DM}\lesssim\mathrm{kHz}$ frequency range our technique can achieve the leading sensitivity amongst laboratory probes of both dark-photon and axion dark matter.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figure

Physiological Impact of Lipoxin A4 on Cystic Fibrosis Bronchial Epithelium

This thesis reports a novel role of lipoxin A4 (LXA4) in mediating physiological effects within the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. CF is caused by a mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. This mutation leads to a dysfunctional chloride transport system resulting in dehydration of the airway surface liquid (ASL) layer, impaired mucociliary clearance, lung infection and inflammation. The eicosanoid LXA4 described as a signal of the resolution of inflammation and produced at the site of inflammation has been reported to be decreased in the lungs of patients with CF. The decrease in LXA4 observed in CF lungs could participate to chronic airway inflammation in this disease. Using live cell imaging, we investigated the role of LXA4 on ASL height in non-CF and CF bronchial epithelial cells cultured in air/liquid interface. We also examined the effects of TA39, LXA4 stable analogue, in mediating ASL height. LXA4 and TA39 increase the ASL height in a dose and time dependent manner in both the non-CF and CF airway epithelium. The mechanism behind the increase in ASL height was also investigated and we found that LXA4 stimulated an apical adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release in bronchial epithelial cells to activate a purinoreceptor pathway, in particular the P2Y11 pathway, which increased intracellular calcium (Ca2+) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Inhibition P2Y11 purino-receptor with NF340, prevented the ASL height increase induced by LXA4. The ASL height increase and ATP release induced by LXA4 were both blocked by the ALX/FPR2 receptor inhibitor, Boc-2. Our lab has previously reported the increase in tight junction formation in non-CF bronchial epithelium; however, the effect of LXA4 on C F tight junctions had yet to be reported. We examined the effect of LXA4 on tight junction formation in C F bronchial epithelium and the resulting physiological effects it may have on bacterial invasion and epithelial integrity. Using a gentamicin exclusion assay, confocal microscopy and Western blotting, we investigated the role of LXA4 on epithelial integrity of bronchial epithelial cells when infected with Psudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginsosa). Exposure of P. aeruginsosa to bronchial epithelial cells decreased the amount of ZO-1 protein (integral member of tight junction complex) synthesised and induced disruption of tight junctions. LXA4 not only increased ZO-1 protein synthesis but also prevented the decrease in expression of ZO-1 proteins and tight junction disruption induced by P. aeruginsosa in both non-CF and C F bronchial epithelium. Pre-treatment with LXA4 for 24 h prior to inoculation with P. aeruginosa, significantly delayed the invasion of non-CF and C F bronchial epithelial cells by P. aeruginosa, while LXA4 alone did not affect the growth of P. aeruginosa. This thesis provides evidence for a novel effect of LXA4 in mediating physiological responses that result in the protection of C F bronchial epithelial cells from bacterial invasion.These novel findings may open a new therapeutic avenue for suffers of C F lung disease

The decline of laparoscopic sterilisation

Female sterilisation is an extensively used method of contraception all over the world but there appears to be a decline in the performance of this procedure in Ireland. There also appears to be an increased uptake of safe, long-acting contraceptive alternatives. We set out to establish the extent of the decline of laparoscopic sterilisation and to explore possible explanations. Data for female sterilisation from Ireland was obtained from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry Scheme (HIPE) section of the Economic and Social Research Institute for the years 1999 to 2004. Recent sales figures for long acting reversible contraceptives, specifically the levo-norgestrel-loaded intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) (Mirena) and the etonogestrel implant (Implanon) were also obtained. Laparoscopic tubal ligations reduced from 2,566(1999) to 910 (2004). In the corresponding period the use of Mirena coils increased from 4,840 (1999) to 17,077 (2004)

Physiological Impact of Abnormal Lipoxin A 4

Lipoxin A4 has been described as a major signal for the resolution of inflammation and is abnormally produced in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). In CF, the loss of chloride transport caused by the mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl− channel gene results in dehydration, mucus plugging, and reduction of the airway surface liquid layer (ASL) height which favour chronic lung infection and neutrophil based inflammation leading to progressive lung destruction and early death of people with CF. This review highlights the unique ability of LXA4 to restore airway surface hydration, to stimulate airway epithelial repair, and to antagonise the proinflammatory program of the CF airway, circumventing some of the most difficult aspects of CF pathophysiology. The report points out novel aspects of the cellular mechanism involved in the physiological response to LXA4, including release of ATP from airway epithelial cell via pannexin channel and subsequent activation of and P2Y11 purinoreceptor. Therefore, inadequate endogenous LXA4 biosynthesis reported in CF exacerbates the ion transport abnormality and defective mucociliary clearance, in addition to impairing the resolution of inflammation, thus amplifying the vicious circle of airway dehydration, chronic infection, and inflammation