Development of reference ELISA assays for urinary oestrone-3 ¯-glucuronide and pregnanediol-3 ¯-glucuronide using timed urine specimens : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biochemistry at Massey University

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) have been developed which measure oestrone glucuronide (E1-3G) and pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) in timed, diluted urine samples. Measurement of these urinary metabolites allows information to be collected, non-invasively, on the hormonal interplay between the ovaries and the hypothalamicpituitary axis, which determines or helps to make predictions about the potentially infertile and fertile phases of the human menstrual cycle. Immunoglobulin Class G (IgG) antibodies raised in sheep against the analyte of interest (E1-3G and PdG) were adsorbed onto polystyrene microtitre wells. The enzyme conjugate tracer was horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and was prepared by conjugation with either E1-3G or PdG using the active ester coupling procedure. A direct competitive immunoassay configuration in which both analyte and tracer were added to the wells simultaneously allowed a direct competition between them for the immobilised antibody sites. A chromogenic detection system involving o-phenylenediamine (OPD) was used for the measurement of the amount of bound tracer (HRP conjugate) which could be related to the amount of analyte in a urine sample. The sensitivity of the E1-3G assay was 3.4 nmoles/ 24 h, and for the PdG the sensitivity was 0.5 μmoles/ 24 h. Both assays were reliable, and were successfully validated against World Health Organisation (WHO) assays performed on the same urine samples in a multicentre study of the Ovarian Monitor (project #90905). The E1-3G and PdG reference assays developed in the present study are acceptable for use in the laboratory and can be used to validate new non-instrumental colour tests, or other home fertility kit assays currently being developed

Bayesian Model Selection with Future 21cm Observations of The Epoch of Reionisation

We apply Bayesian statistics to perform model selection on different reionisation scenarios via the Multinest algorithm. Initially, we recover the results shown by 21CMMC for the parameter estimation of 21cmFAST models. We proceed to test several toy models of the Epoch of Reionisation (EoR) defined in contrasting morphology and scale. We find that LOFAR observations are unlikely to allow model selection even with long integration times. HERA would require 61 dipoles to perform the same analysis in 1080 hours, and becomes comparable to the SKA with 217 dipoles. We find the SKA requires only 324 hours of observation to conclusively distinguish between our models. Once model selection is achievable, an analysis of observational priors is performed finding that neutral fraction checks at specific redshifts add little to no inference. We show the difficulties in model selection at the level of distinguishing fiducial parameters within a model or distinguishing galaxies with a constant versus power law mass-to-light ratio. Finally, we explore the use of the Savage-Dickey density ratio to show the redundancy of the parameter Rmfp within 21cmFAST.Comment: 20 pages, 16 figures - Accepted for publication by MNRA

Poling of VDF/TrFe copolymers using a step-wise method

A new poling technique is presented, in which a series of five consecutive pulses of electric field, and with successively increasing strength is applied between the two electrodes of 65/35 VDF/TrFE copolymer based sensor. Between each pulse, the applied electric field is reduced to zero (short circuit). This allows deformations and space charges to be relax, resulting in more homogeneous electric field distribution with less risk for an electric breakdown. It is conducted at room temperature and is compatible with semiconductor technology. This step-wise poling technique is characterised by a low breakdown rate and yields a high pyroelectric coefficien

X-Secure:protecting users from big bad wolves

In 2014 over 70% of people in Great Britain accessed the Internet every day. This resource is an optimal vector for malicious attackers to penetrate home computers and as such compromised pages have been increasing in both number and complexity. This paper presents X-Secure, a novel browser plug-in designed to present and raise the awareness of inexperienced users by analysing web-pages before malicious scripts are executed by the host computer. X-Secure was able to detect over 90% of the tested attacks and provides a danger level based on cumulative analysis of the source code, the URL, and the remote server, by using a set of heuristics, hence increasing the situational awareness of users browsing the internet

Motivation as a predictor of dental students’ affective and behavioral outcomes: Does the quality of motivation matter?

Since the motivation to study and engage in academic activities plays a key role in students’ learning experience and well-being, gaining a better understanding of dental students’ motivations can help educators implement interventions to support students’ optimal motivations. The aim of this study, grounded in self-determination theory, was to determine the predictive role of different types of motivation (autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and amotivation) in the affective and behavioral outcomes of dental students. Amotivation is the absence of drive to pursue an activity due to a failure to establish relationships between activity and behavior; controlled motivation involves behaving under external pressure or demands; and autonomous motivation is an internalized behavior with a full sense of volition, interest, choice, and self-determination. A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in 2016, in which 924 students (90.2% response rate) from years one to six agreed to participate, granting permission to access their current GPAs and completing four self-reported questionnaires on academic motivation, study strategies, vitality, and self-esteem. The results showed that self-determined motivation (i.e., autonomous over controlled motivation) was positively associated with vitality, self-esteem, and deep study strategies and negatively associated with surface study strategies. The contrary results were found for amotivation. In the motivational model, deep study strategies showed a positive association with students’ academic performance. Contrary results were found for surface study strategies. This study extends understanding of the differentiation of motivation based on its quality types and suggests that being motivated does not necessarily lead to positive educational outcomes. Autonomous motivation, in contrast to controlled motivation and amotivation, should be supported to benefit students with regard to their approaches to learning and well-being since it can promote students’ vitality, self-esteem, deep over surface study strategies, and enhanced academic performance

Interconnectivity of habitats in soil:combining X-ray micro tomography and thin sectioning to reveal fungal-soil structure interactions

The extreme heterogeneity and interconnectivity of the 3-dimensional pore space within soil makes it a unique habitat for the diverse microbial population and has a pivotal role in microbial interactions. Manipulation and quantification of the 3-dimensional pore space and the spatial distribution of micro-organisms is therefore essential if we are to fully understand microbial interactions. Here we pack soil microcosms at different bulk-densities to manipulate soil structure and use x-ray micro tomography and soil thin sections to analyse the effect on the connectivity of the pore volume and on fungal exploration

Exploring the etiological pathways of Problematic Pornography Use in NoFap/PornFree rebooting communities: A critical narrative analysis of Internet forum data

Objective: Problematic pornography use (PPU) has been extensively studied in terms of its negative implications for various life domains. The empirical literature reveals measured outcomes of interpersonal and intrapersonal dysfunction in participants’ everyday living, supporting its classification as a disorder. The increasing number of complaints around PPU opens the door to the creation of online self-help rebooting communities. Method: This qualitative study aims to provide a better understanding of this behavior by investigating potential etiological pathways contributing to the onset of PPU, as they were expressed by members of the online NoFap/PornFree self-help communities with self-perceived PPU. Results: The critical narrative analysis reveals a complex web of mutually informing causal connections. The dialectical relationship between situational resources, material conditions and an embodied spectator gives rise to an online persona with motivations of self-exploration, experimentation and socializing. A sense of vulnerability, also, renders the use of pornography as a means of escape and validation. Furthermore, commitment to abstinence, framed by the notions of recovery and relapse, is found to be a major factor for maintaining distress. Conclusions: The study highlighted the need for a thorough understanding of the etiological pathways of PPU for a more effective and targeted intervention. Moving beyond biomedical conceptualizations suggests an intervention whereby PPU is placed in a context of a crisis of meaning

Vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy: a review

AbstractVagus nerve stimulation is an empirically based method for treatment of epilepsy by repeated stimulation of the left vagus nerve through implanted electrodes. Despite studies in animals and man, which show changes in brain electrophysiology, metabolism and neurochemistry, the mode of action remains unknown. Clinical testing has presented methodological challenges, as it is difficult to assess under double blind conditions a treatment which requires surgery and produces a sensation every time the stimulator comes on. This has nevertheless been successfully addressed in parallel design, controlled trials comparing high and low stimulation schedules. These have been performed in adults with medically intractable partial seizures, and demonstrated efficacy, safety and good tolerability. Efficacy, both in the controlled trials and in numerous reports arising from the considerable post-marketing experience is modest. Some 30% of patients achieve a 50% seizure reduction after 3 months of treatment, but this proportion progressively increases to about 50% after 18 months. Side-effects comprise: discomfort in the face or neck when the stimulator is activated, coughing, breathlessness on exertion and hoarseness of voice. All are related to intensity of stimulation and rapidly habituate in most subjects. In those patients who respond, a stimulus level can therefore generally be found which is acceptable to the subject. No indication other than refractory partial seizures in adults has been the subject of controlled trials, but post-marketing experience and uncontrolled reports indicate comparable efficacy and safety in a wide range of epilepsies, partial and generalized, idiopathic, cryptogenic, or symptomatic, in patients of all ages

Lived experience of mental distress and sense-making in black ethnic groups according to cultural heritage

Objective: Previous research has highlighted men and women from black ethnic groups are more likely to be diagnosed with poor mental health and may have difficulty recognising experiences as such, due to perceptions of stigma and culturally defined attributions of distress. The aim of this research was to explore how black ethnic groups experience mental distress and find meaning in their experiences according to cultural heritage. Method: Semi-structured interviews with four participants and an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were conducted. Results: Findings describe an awareness of cultural stigma relating to mental health, emotional distance impacting disclosure within the family, mental health as a misunderstood concept and feelings of empowerment through acceptance and supported disclosure. Whilst cultural heritage was important for developing awareness and understanding of stigma, attributed meanings of mental distress were individualistic. Discussion: Awareness of how stigmatic cultural conceptualisations are generationally represented and systemically maintained is vital to understanding how people from black ethnic groups experience mental distress. Clinical implications are discussed to explore how the socio-cultural and mental health needs of this population can be met