Inscribing identities: Chilean women writers of the post-coup generation

The focus of this research is the literary output of the women writers of the Chilean 'post-coup generation'; that is, authors whose main body of work has been produced in the period following the military coup of 1973. Specifically, I examine the work of the novelists Isabel Allende, Diamela Eltit, Lucia Guerra and finally Pia Barros. My main point of interest is exploring the deleterious consequences of dictatorship, censorship and exile on women's writing, and in establishing the narrative strategies adopted in response to such conditions. The twenty or so years following the coup in Chile were a period of intense socio-political transition, with decisive practical, theoretical and ideological implications. This thesis considers the literary representations of the struggle of the female subject to delineate a subjective identity in the face of the crises of language, semiotics and the very nature of the social contract. The tenets of authoritarianism can be considered a heightened form of the principles of patriarchy, and it is in the light of these hierarchies of power that I examine the female subject's quest for autonomy and the techniques employed in confronting the resultant simulacrum of identity. By carrying out a thematic analysis of the nine novels, I work towards an epistemology of late twentieth-century Chilean feminism, and consider the social, political, cultural and historical imperatives which have defined it. The social negotiations of power, whether these be contextualised within the micro-structure of a family, in the contrived conception of gender or in the inflections of the authoritarian discourse, are evaluated in terms of their contribution to the ontology of the Chilean female subject - an ontology all the more precarious within a nation struggling to assert a cogent identity of its own

Dose-dependent relationship between acidosis at birth and likelihood of death or cerebral palsy

BackgroundThe acid-base status of infants around birth can provide information about their past, current and future condition. Although umbilical cord blood pH &lt;7.0 or base deficit ≥12 mmol/L is associated with increased risk of adverse outcome, there is uncertainty about the prognostic value of degree of acidosis as previous studies have used different variables, thresholds, outcomes and populations.MethodsRetrospective review of routinely collected clinical data in all live-born inborn infants of 35 weeks gestation or more delivered between January 2005 and December 2013 at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Edinburgh, UK. Infants were included if their lowest recorded pH was &lt;7 and/or highest base deficit ≥12 mmol/L on either umbilical cord blood and/or neonatal blood gas within 1 hour of birth. Neurodevelopmental outcome of the infants with encephalopathy was collected from the targeted follow-up database.Results56 574 infants were eligible. 506 infants (0.9%) met inclusion criteria. Poor condition at birth and all adverse outcomes increased with worsening acidosis. Combined outcome of death or cerebral palsy was 3%, 10% and 40% at lowest pH of 6.9–6.99, 6.8–6.89 and &lt;6.8, respectively, and 8%, 14% and 59% at a base deficit of 12–15.9, 16–19.9 and 20 mmol/L or more, respectively.ConclusionsThere is a dose-dependent relationship between the degree of acidosis within an hour of delivery, and the likelihood of adverse neonatal and later neurodevelopmental outcome in infants born at 35 weeks gestation or more.</jats:sec

Field margin botanical diversity, composition and quality on intensively managed farming systems

peer-reviewedRemaining semi-natural habitats are important refuges for farmland biodiversity, and field margins are one such habitat. Field margins consist of strips of herbaceous vegetation that are located between field boundary features such as hedgerows and the main grassland or arable field. However, little is known about their extent or ecological quality on intensively managed farmlands in Ireland. This lack of knowledge can only be addressed through the application of a standardised assessment methodology, which we developed and implemented in this study. A survey of field margins was conducted on 92 intensively managed farms, across three enterprise types (arable, beef and dairy farms) in Ireland. We describe the botanical composition and assess the ecological quality of field margins based on threshold levels of the percentage cover of positive, neutral and negative botanical indicator species that are predominantly informed by existing European Union (EU)-accepted methods for vegetation classification. Positive indicator species occurred in 77% of margins and had a mean cover of 10%. There was a high incidence of negative indicator species, occurring in 93% of margins with a mean cover of 55%. Using our quality appraisal system, 16% of field margins were of high or very high quality, and the majority (55%) were of low or very low quality. Compared to either arable or dairy farms, beef farms had a greater percentage of higher-quality margins, higher species richness and greater percentage of positive indicator species. Retaining areas of high-quality farmland habitat and enhancing those areas that have become ecologically degraded will be key to achieving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) objective of protecting landscapes and biodiversity. However, the implementation of appropriate management decisions requires effective evaluation of the current ecological condition of these habitats. Field margins are ubiquitous habitats in Irish farmlands and comprise a significant proportion of overall farmland habitat area. However, our results show that the majority in more intensively managed systems are in a botanically impoverished condition. Our standardised field margin quality assessment technique may offer an appropriate method of tracking change in habitat quality in response to conservation actions to improve habitat quality

Contribution of neural crest-derived cells in the embryonic and adult thymus

Abstract Neural crest (NC)-derived mesenchyme has previously been shown to play an important role in the development of fetal thymus. Using Wnt1-Cre and Sox10-Cre mice crossed to Rosa26eYfp reporter mice, we have revealed NC-derived mesenchymal cells in the adult murine thymus. We report that NC-derived cells infiltrate the thymus before day 13.5 of embryonic development (E13.5) and differentiate into cells with characteristics of smooth muscle cells associated with large vessels, and pericytes associated with capillaries. In the adult organ at 3 mo of age, these NC-derived perivascular cells continue to be associated with the vasculature, providing structural support to the blood vessels and possibly regulating endothelial cell function.</jats:p

Renewing first year curricula for social sciences and humanities in the context of discipline threshold standards

[Extract] This project evolved out of the work of the Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (DASSH) network for Associate Deans Learning and Teaching (ADLT). As ADLTs, we wanted to better support and advise our colleagues on how to design first year curriculum in their own discipline. Our contexts were determined by Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLOs) that were developed for the Humanities and Social Science disciplines initially through an Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) project (Hay, 2012). We wanted to identify, understand, refine and be able to advocate for teaching and assessment strategies that would set first year students on their way to achieving TLOs in their chosen discipline by the time they graduate. The original aims of the project were to: i. determine the discipline-specific skills and standards that are required to be developed at the first year in order for students to achieve the TLOs and AQF standards prescribed for graduates in the selected disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities; ii. engage first year staff with first year pedagogy and curriculum renewal in the light of threshold standards; and iii. provide a toolkit with examples of discipline-specific assessments and activities that develop those skills in first year students

The Bionic Bra: Using electromaterials to sense and modify breast support to enhance active living

Background: Although the most supportive sports bras can control breast motion and associated breast pain, they are frequently deemed uncomfortable to wear and, as a result, many women report exercise bra discomfort. Given that exercise bra discomfort is associated with decreased levels of physical activity, there is a pertinent need to develop innovative solutions to address this problem. Objectives: This research aimed to evaluate the use of electromaterial sensors and artificial muscle technology to create a bra that was capable of detecting increases in breast motion and then responding with increased breast support to enhance active living. Methods: The research involved two phases: (i) evaluating sensors suitable for monitoring and providing feedback on changes in the amplitude and frequency of breast motion, and (ii) evaluating an actuator capable of changing breast support provided by a bra during activity. Results: When assessed in isolation, the developed technologies were capable of sensing breast motion and actuating to provide some additional breast support. Conclusions: The challenge now lies in integrating both technologies into a functional sports bra prototype, and assessing this prototype in a controlled biomechanical analysis to provide a breast support solution that will enable women to enjoy active living in comfort

Scribble modulates the MAPK/Fra1 pathway to disrupt luminal and ductal integrity and suppress tumour formation in the mammary gland

Polarity coordinates cell movement, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis to build and maintain complex epithelial tissues such as the mammary gland. Loss of polarity and the deregulation of these processes are critical events in malignant progression but precisely how and at which stage polarity loss impacts on mammary development and tumourigenesis is unclear. Scrib is a core polarity regulator and tumour suppressor gene however to date our understanding of Scrib function in the mammary gland has been limited to cell culture and transplantation studies of cell lines. Utilizing a conditional mouse model of Scrib loss we report for the first time that Scrib is essential for mammary duct morphogenesis, mammary progenitor cell fate and maintenance, and we demonstrate a critical and specific role for Scribble in the control of the early steps of breast cancer progression. In particular, Scrib-deficiency significantly induced Fra1 expression and basal progenitor clonogenicity, which resulted in fully penetrant ductal hyperplasia characterized by high cell turnover, MAPK hyperactivity, frank polarity loss with mixing of apical and basolateral membrane constituents and expansion of atypical luminal cells. We also show for the first time a role for Scribble in mammalian spindle orientation with the onset of mammary hyperplasia being associated with aberrant luminal cell spindle orientation and a failure to apoptose during the final stage of duct tubulogenesis. Restoring MAPK/Fra1 to baseline levels prevented Scrib-hyperplasia, whereas persistent Scrib deficiency induced alveolar hyperplasia and increased the incidence, onset and grade of mammary tumours. These findings, based on a definitive genetic mouse model provide fundamental insights into mammary duct maturation and homeostasis and reveal that Scrib loss activates a MAPK/Fra1 pathway that alters mammary progenitor activity to drive premalignancy and accelerate tumour progression

Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef: the next generation of Reef 2050 actions

In short, this Report: Confirms that there are two options for progressing the integration of Traditional Owner interests in the Reef 2050 Plan. Option 1 (Business As Usual) represents a continuation of the current approach of Government-based review and refinement of the (now 23) Traditional Owner actions in the Reef 2050 Plan. Option 2 (Towards Genuine Co-governance) represents Government taking a far more negotiated approach at the GBR-wide level (and subsequently down to local scales) that applies the principles of Free Prior and Informed Consent. Based on extensive engagement concerning the aspirations of Traditional Owners and their support organisations across the GBR, the overwhelming stated desire and demand is for genuine partnership in the overarching governance of the Reef and far deeper ownership of, and participation in, its active day to day management (Option 2). There is an unambiguous view that the foundations set in the Reef 2050 Plan (Option 1), while a step in the right direction, simply reflect Traditional Owner aspirations in someone else’s planning. Meanwhile, a consistent message from Traditional Owners, fuelled by their existing and emerging rights in sea country, is that this more passive form of involvement cannot continue into the future; that a genuine form of agreement making and active implementation (from GBR to local scales) must emerge

Foxn1 Regulates Lineage Progression in Cortical and Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells But Is Dispensable for Medullary Sublineage Divergence

The forkhead transcription factor Foxn1 is indispensable for thymus development, but the mechanisms by which it mediates thymic epithelial cell (TEC) development are poorly understood. To examine the cellular and molecular basis of Foxn1 function, we generated a novel and revertible hypomorphic allele of Foxn1. By varying levels of its expression, we identified a number of features of the Foxn1 system. Here we show that Foxn1 is a powerful regulator of TEC differentiation that is required at multiple intermediate stages of TE lineage development in the fetal and adult thymus. We find no evidence for a role for Foxn1 in TEC fate-choice. Rather, we show it is required for stable entry into both the cortical and medullary TEC differentiation programmes and subsequently is needed at increasing dosage for progression through successive differentiation states in both cortical and medullary TEC. We further demonstrate regulation by Foxn1 of a suite of genes with diverse roles in thymus development and/or function, suggesting it acts as a master regulator of the core thymic epithelial programme rather than regulating a particular aspect of TEC biology. Overall, our data establish a genetics-based model of cellular hierarchies in the TE lineage and provide mechanistic insight relating titration of a single transcription factor to control of lineage progression. Our novel revertible hypomorph system may be similarly applied to analyzing other regulators of development