‘Views grim but splendid’ - the urban image of North-West English industrial towns

The thesis explores the urban images of north-western industrial towns and their relationship to the built environment. Currently the towns seek to reposition themselves in relation to their persistent cultural images through urban regeneration. The thesis analyses this development through three types of urban image focusing on graphic depictions, visual urban planning and the built environment. The research question asks 'What is the urban image of the north-western post-industrial town?' followed by the secondary questions 'How has the urban image shifted throughout time?' And 'How has urban image influenced the urban development of the towns?'. The research first compares and evaluates the current condition and historic urban development of eight similar towns in the region, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, St Helens, Stockport, Warrington and Wigan to evaluate their homogeneity in reference to the Northern cultural image. The study then moves on to interrogate the specific development of the urban image of Stockport as an exemplary case study. The study examines tensions apparent in the repositioning of the towns in relation to their pasts, highlighting issues of history and heritage, identity, scale and ambition. The results of the study show the complex relationship between image and environment, identifying the ways in which the urban images have been constructed, problematized and disseminated. The thesis argues for a more comprehensive and informed approach linking image and urban regeneration in the towns in order to limit the impact of current reactionary practices of urban design

COS-Weak: Probing the CGM using analogs of weak Mg II absorbers at z < 0.3

We present a sample of 34 weak metal line absorbers at $z< 0.3$ complied via the simultaneous detections ($3\sigma$) of the SiII$\lambda1260$ and CII$\lambda1334$ absorption lines, with $W_{r}$(SiII)$<0.2$ \AA\ and $W_{r}$(CII)$<0.3$ \AA, in archival HST/COS spectra. Our sample increases the number of known low-$z$ "weak absorbers" by a factor of $>5$. The column densities of HI and low-ionization metal lines obtained from Voigt profile fitting are used to build simple photoionization models using CLOUDY. The inferred densities and total hydrogen column densities are in the ranges of $-3.3 < \log n_{\rm H}/{\rm cm^{-3}} < -2.4$ and $16.0 < \log N_{\rm H}/{\rm cm^{-2}}<20.3$, respectively. The line of sight thicknesses of the absorbers have a wide range of $\sim$1 pc$-$50 kpc with a median value of $\sim$500 pc. The high-ionization OVI absorption, detected in 12/18 cases, always stems from a different gas-phase. Most importantly, 85% (50%) of these absorbers show a metallicity of $\rm [Si/H] > -1.0$ (0.0). The fraction of systems showing high metallicity (i.e., $\rm [Si/H]>-1.0$) in our sample is significantly higher than the HI-selected sample (Wotta et al. 2016) and the galaxy-selected sample (Prochaska et al. 2017) of absorbers probing the circum-galactic medium (CGM) at similar redshift. A search for galaxies has revealed a significant galaxy-overdensity around these weak absorbers compared to random places with a median impact parameter of 166 kpc to the nearest galaxy. Moreover, we find the presence of multiple galaxies in $\sim80$% of the cases, suggesting group environments. The observed $d\mathcal{N}/dz$ of $0.8\pm0.2$ indicates that such metal-enriched, compact, dense structures are ubiquitous in the halos of low-$z$ galaxies that are in groups. We suggest that these are transient structures that are related to outflows and/or stripping of metal-rich gas from galaxies.Comment: Published (2018MNRAS.476.4965M) after minor revision. Appendix A is newly added

Development of tools for in situ hybridization in human embryonic stem cells

Abstract only availableOur laboratory uses human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to understand how embryonic cells differentiate into the cells of the placenta. The long term goal of my research is to develop in situ hybridization methods and use them to determine where genes are being expressed within differentiating hESC colonies. I focused my research on two genes that code for transcription factors, OCT 4 and GATA 2. OCT 4 is required to maintain stem cells in an undifferentiated state. GATA 2 is thought to be one of the key transcription factors that promote stem cell differentiation into syncytiotrophoblast, a placental cell type. The first step in in situ hybridization is the development of a labeled RNA probe. I designed primers to amplify a 214bp portion of the GATA2 gene sequence by PCR, and then cloned the PCR product into E. coli bacteria. I confirmed the presence and orientation of the insert by using restriction digestion and DNA sequencing. I used bacteria already transformed with a 182bp OCT4 probe sequence to create a riboprobe. I grew up the bacteria overnight, lysed them, and purified the plasmid DNA. I linearized the plasmid with a restriction enzyme, purified it, and transcribed the DNA to RNA, incorporating digoxygenin (DIG) labeled nucleotides. In the near future, I will utilize the same method to transcribe the GATA2 probe, and use both RNA probes to perform in situ hybridizations on hESC.Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Progra

Zine: Policing Disability

Description Social Justice Zines Course Name: Topics in Black Studies: GDST 320-01 Professor: ShaDawn Battle, PhD Topic: The visibility of Black women and girls in media, literature, medicine, and the justice system has been hard to examine because their experiences have been made highly visible insofar as they are objectified, stereotyped, and commodified. Yet, their experiences are also concurrently invisible as they are epistemically, materially, and socially silenced and marginalized. Through the lenses of Black feminist theory and epistemology mainly, this course brings together scholars who will both theorize about the lived realities of Black women, and work to find ways to create systemic and practical change in their lives. The overall goal of this course is to make the experiences of Black women and girls legible, which is my interpretation of the #SayHerName hashtag, which began with the death of Sandra Bland. Project: The Zines, which are a collaged pamphlet, cover the topic of racialized gender- and sexuality-specific forms of racialized police violence.https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/sayhername/1002/thumbnail.jp

Utility of EC 3MTM PetrifilmTM and sanitary surveys for source water assessment in Nyabushozi County, south-western Uganda

The majority of people in developing nations rely on untreated or minimally treated surface and shallow groundwater sources which are prone to faecal contamination. This study evaluated the utility of EC 3M™ Petrifilm™ and sanitary inspection forms (SIFs) as tools to assess 47 water sources and identify hazards of contamination in two rural Ugandan villages (90% were surface sources). Water samples were cultured on EC 3MTM PetrifilmTM, which are intended for the enumeration of E. coli and total coliforms following 24 h incubation at 37ºC. Isolated bacteria were cultured on MacConkey agar and identified using standard biochemical tests, while selected isolates were verified by sequencing 16S rRNA genes. From 105 Petrifilms, 110 presumptive E. coli were isolated and identified to genus level. However, only 33 presumptive E. coli isolates from 14 water sources (representing 27 distinct strains as determined by PFGE) were confirmed E. coli. The other presumptive E. coli isolates were identified as Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Proteus, Salmonella and Yersinia species. SIFs used an adapted survey designed for urban water sources of Uganda. The form yielded an SIF score based on binary data and characterized potential sources of contamination. SIF scores alone offered little information to distinguish between contamination levels of surface water sources, but the information collected in the surveys could be used to identify ways to improve sources. The results of this study suggest that the use of sanitary surveys may assist in identifying potential pollution sources that may be targeted to protect water sources. Bacterial monitoring using EC 3MTM PetrifilmsTM may be effective for the screening of relative levels of contamination of source waters, including surface sources.Keywords: drinking water, developing countries, sanitary survey, EC 3MTM PetrifilmT

Reflections on the journey: six short stories

One of the goals of the 2011 International Year of Chemistry is to celebrate the contributions of women to science. A question that has been frequently asked in this regard is... Why is it necessary to highlight women in the "age of equality"? The reasons are varied but the facts are that many women scientists worked in obscurity throughout the 19th and even well into the 20th century, sometimes publishing anonymously to be heard. This celebration of Women in Science is one way to recognize both the resiliency and passion of these women. As part of this celebration, Chemistry Central Journal's Thematic Series of "Women in Chemistry" includes this article describing the path several women took as they pursued chemistry careers spanning the latter part of the 20th century and into the early 21st century. Sharon Haynie, Nancy Jones, Cheryl Martin, Paula Olsiewski, Mary Roberts and Amber Hinkle each have unique story of their personal journey from childhood to adulthood. As you read these stories, listen generously, and feel free to share your own stories, comments and thoughts

Tissue iron promotes wound repair via M2 macrophage polarisation and the chemokines CCL17 and CCL22

Macrophages are important for effective iron recycling and erythropoiesis, but they also play a crucial role in wound healing, orchestrating tissue repair. Recently, we demonstrated a significant accumulation of iron in healing wounds and a requirement of iron for effective repair. Herein, we sought to determine the influence of iron on macrophage function in the context of wound healing. Interestingly, wound macrophages extensively sequestered iron throughout healing, associated with a prohealing M2 phenotype. In delayed healing diabetic mouse wounds, both macrophage polarization and iron sequestration were impaired. In vitro studies revealed that iron promotes differentiation, while skewing macrophages toward a hypersecretory M2-like polarization state. These macrophages produced high levels of chemokine (C-C motif) ligands 17 and 22, promoting wound reepithelialization and extracellular matrix deposition in a human ex vivo wound healing model. Together, these findings reveal a novel, unappreciated role for iron in modulating macrophage behavior to promote subsequent wound repair. These findings support therapeutic evaluation of iron use to promote wound healing in the clinic

Identification of sleep fragmentation-induced gut microbiota alteration and prediction of functional impact in Sprague Dawley rats harboring microbiome derived from multiple human donors

Objectives: Poor quality sleep, including sleep fragmentation (SF), can result in severe health consequences. Gut microbiota symbiotically coexist with the host, making essential contributions to overall well-being. In this study, the effects of both acute (6-day) and chronic (6-week) SF in a humanized rat model were examined to evaluate the impact of SF on this symbiotic relationship. Material and Methods: Human fecal material was transplanted into antibiotic-treated, microbially depleted, Sprague Dawley rats. Animals were subjected to either acute or chronic SF and shifts to gut microbiota were investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing and predictive functional profiles were constructed with PICRUSt. We also investigated SF-induced intestinal microbial adhesion and penetration or increased microbial invasion of selected tissues and organs; as well as changes in crypt/villi architecture. Results: Microbiota profiling indicated that chronic, but not acute, SF significantly decreased the richness of alpha-diversity of distal ileum microbiota, and altered cecum and distal ileum beta-diversity; although both acute and chronic SF significantly changed select populations of microbiota in all three regions. Neither acute nor chronic SF induced changes to microbial adhesion, penetration, or invasion into intestinal tissues or nearby organs. Additionally, we found that chronic SF caused a reduction in villus height in the proximal colon. Discussion: Our study suggests that acute SF alters the gut microbiota in this humanized rat model, while chronic SF produces more pronounced changes to microbiota populations. This study identified potential microbiota targets for the prevention and/or intervention of the adverse effects of S F

Multiwavelength Observations of the Runaway Binary HD 15137

HD 15137 is an intriguing runaway O-type binary system that offers a rare opportunity to explore the mechanism by which it was ejected from the open cluster of its birth. Here we present recent blue optical spectra of HD 15137 and derive a new orbital solution for the spectroscopic binary and physical parameters of the O star primary. We also present the first XMM-Newton observations of the system. Fits of the EPIC spectra indicate soft, thermal X-ray emission consistent with an isolated O star. Upper limits on the undetected hard X-ray emission place limits on the emission from a proposed compact companion in the system, and we rule out a quiescent neutron star in the propellor regime or a weakly accreting neutron star. An unevolved secondary companion is also not detected in our optical spectra of the binary, and it is difficult to conclude that a gravitational interaction could have ejected this runaway binary with a low mass optical star. HD 15137 may contain an elusive neutron star in the ejector regime or a quiescent black hole with conditions unfavorable for accretion at the time of our observations.Comment: Accepted to A