The physiological significance of insemination in programming pregnancy outcome

The cellular and molecular environment of the uterus during the pre - and peri - implantation period of early pregnancy is critical for implantation success and optimal fetal and placental development. Perturbations to this environment not only have consequences for the success of pregnancy and neonatal health and viability, but can also drive adverse health outcomes in the offspring after birth, particularly the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity, hypertension and insulin resistance. The influence of seminal plasma on the cytokine and immune uterine environment has been previously well characterised in mice, however the effects of disruption in uterine seminal plasma exposure for pregnancy outcome have not been investigated. The studies described in this thesis employed the use of surgical seminal vesicle ablation in males and embryo transfer experiments to investigate the physiological significance of uterine seminal plasma exposure on programming fetal and neonatal outcomes, and growth and metabolic status in adult offspring. We demonstrate that in the absence of seminal plasma, oocyte fertilisation and embryo implantation are reduced, showing that seminal plasma acts primarily to facilitate fertilisation, possibly by promoting sperm transport and survival in the reproductive tract. In addition we show that pregnancies initiated in the absence of seminal plasma give rise to offspring which display accelerated growth after birth and increased adiposity in adulthood, compared to those developed in a tract exposed to seminal plasma at the time of conception. Offspring conceived in the absence of seminal plasma also displayed alterations in serum leptin and adiponectin content, similar to those known to be associated with obesity in the mouse. Using embryo transfer experiments, we showed that some, but not all aspects of the perturbed postnatal development are recapitulated when embryos fertilised in the presence of what semen are transferred to a recipient tract which has not been exposed to seminal plasma. More severe perturbations were seen in 2 - cell transfer than in blastocyst transfer experiment. Additionally, there was a significant effect of the embryo transfer procedure, irrespective of seminal plasma exposure, on fetal and postnatal development that confounded interpretation of these experiments. In addition, we investigated the potential mechanisms by which the influence of seminal plasma is exerted. Mediators of pre - implantation embryo development, implantation and the modulation of the maternal immune response to pregnancy were all assessed for regulation by seminal plasma using QRT - PCR. It was demonstrated that seminal plasma exposure induces the up - regulation of key embryotrophic factors, LIF, GM - CSF and IL - 6, in the oviduct following insemination. Factors important in tissue remodelling required for implantation and angiogenesis, MMP - 2, MMP - 3 and VEGF - C, were also shown to be increased at the time of implantation after seminal plasma exposure. Additionally the generation of T - regulatory cells in uterine tissues, demonstrated by the up - regulation of the transcription factor FOXp3 was shown to be dependent on semen exposure. The influence of seminal plasma on embryonic development, implantation and modulation of the maternal immune response to pregnancy may therefore be mechanisms which contribute to the adverse outcomes seen in pregnancies initiated in the absence of seminal plasma. Together these experiments show a role for seminal plasma signalling at the time of insemination in influencing the pre - implantation embryo to program later fetal and neonatal development, thereby impacting on the metabolic health of offspring. We conclude that seminal plasma is not simply a transport medium for sperm, but acts also as a key regulator of a female tract environment providing optimal support for the developing embryo.Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, 2006

Loss of control testing of light aircraft and a cost effective approach to flight test

Copyright @ The Society of Flight Test EngineersLoss of control in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) is the most common cause of fatal accidents involving light aircraft in the UK and probably worldwide. Understanding why LoC events occur and why there are apparent differences between aircraft types is currently under investigation by Brunel Flight Safety Laboratory (BFSL). Using a case study approach for selected light aircraft used in the training environment and based upon a 29 year study of UK fatal accidents, BFSL undertook a qualitative and quantitative review of fatal stall/spin accidents using a combination of statistical and qualitative analysis. Aircraft/model design differences and published material were reviewed with respect to performance and handling qualities for possible clues, and informal interviews were conducted with type-experienced students, pilots and flying instructors. A flight test programme was executed using multiple examples (for fleet-wide attributes) of aircraft models to enable assessment and comparison of flying qualities (both qualitatively and quantitatively). Working within the continuous budget constraints of academia, a creative and cost effective flight test programme was developed without compromising safety. The two-man team (TP & FTE) used standard (unmodified) flying club and syndicate aircraft in conjunction with non-invasive low cost flight test instrumentation. Tests included apparent longitudinal (static and dynamic) stability and control characteristics, stall and low-speed handling characteristics and cockpit ergonomics / pilot workload. During this programme, adaptations were also made to the classic Cooper-Harper “point tracking” method towards a “boundary avoidance” method. The paper describes tools and techniques used, research findings, the team's lessons learned and proposed future research. It also discusses the possible application of research results in aircraft, pilot and environmental causal factors, enabling a better understanding of LoC incidents and future avoidance within the light aircraft community.Financial support from the Thomas Gerald Gray Charitable Trust Research Scholarship Scheme was used in this study

Flight test: Supporting the investigation of factors affecting loss of control of light aircraft

A quarter of all fatal General Aviation accidents in the UK during the period 1980 to 2006 involved Loss of Control (LoC) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). LoC has consistently appeared in accident statistics over this period, but at apparently different rates for different aircraft types. This raises two important questions - why do these LoC events happen and why is there a difference between aircraft types?. One case in point is that of the Cessna 150 /152 and over the 27-year period analysed, the Cessna 150 falls approximately on the average for fatal accidents in the UK GA fleet, whereas the Cessna 152 exhibits a lower accident rate. Brunel Flight Safety Laboratory, in conjunction with the UK General Aviation Safety Council, undertook to try and understand why this is so. The key design differences in relation to performance and handling qualities were researched using available published material and informal interviews with type-experienced students, pilots and flying instructors. A flight test programme was conducted using examples of both aircraft types to gather additional research data, to assess and compare the apparent performance and handling qualities (both qualitatively and quantitatively). Flight tests were performed at three different CG conditions relevant to the key design differences, concentrating upon apparent longitudinal (static and dynamic) stability and control characteristics, stall and low-speed handling characteristics, and cockpit ergonomics / pilot workload. In all tests, normal (unmodified) flying club aircraft were used, in most cases with a 2-man (TP+FTE) crew. Data was recorded manually on test cards and automatically using a low-cost, commercially available, portable FDR. Proven theory was used to estimate static margins and pilot stick forces and gradients in the region of the stall, the pre-cursor to an LoC event.General Aviation Safety Council (GASCo

International approaches to child protection: what can Australia learn?

The provision of child protection services varies considerably across the world. This paper offers a broad overview of some of the main approaches to child protection used internationally. Using examples from Canada, Sweden, Belgium and the Gaza Strip, it offers policy-makers the chance to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, as well as how these examples might be used to inspire improvements within the Australian context. One way in which policy-makers can reflect critically on Australia’s child protection systems is to develop knowledge of the ways in which different jurisdictions around the world structure and conduct child protection services, and condsider how this knowledge may be relevant to the Australian context. It is often argued that there are two broad orientations to child protection: the “child protection” orientation (evident in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom) and the “family service” orientation (of many European countries, including Belgium, Sweden and Denmark). Attempts to respond to rising demand have seen countries that have traditionally possessed a child protection orientation (e.g., Australia) increasingly move towards a family service orientation. A third orientation to child protection has been employed by “child-focused community-based groups”, which have emerged in emergency, transitional and developmental contexts, most notably in Africa and Asia. As country-level service systems are embedded in complex cultural, social and historical contexts, it is not always possible to determine whether different approaches are “evidence-based”, “promising” or “untested”. However, it is possible to identify the strengths and limitations of each service model, as well as their potential applicability to the Australian context

Internationalizing Teacher Education: A Case Study of a School of Education

Schools of Education across the US are some of the furthest behind in the race to internationalize departments across campuses in higher education. What does this mean for students in the K-12 classroom? The purpose of this case study is to explore the internationalization of teacher education within the context of a medium-sized state university in the South-East of the US. Working with the School of Education on this campus, qualitative interviews and surveys were administered to faculty and pre-service teachers to understand the extent of internationalization at the university, and the needs of the K-12 classroom. For this research, global competencies were identified to demonstrate the success of an internationalized teacher education program and were used to explore these research questions: What factors affect the global education of pre-service teachers at the mid-sized South-Eastern University? How is the School of Education internationalizing teachers’ education and what changes would stakeholders like to see? What steps need to be taken to implement more comprehensive internationalization? Using Knight’s Internationalization Framework and The Longview Foundation Framework for Internationalizing Teacher Preparation, this research explores the needs of K-12 students in the current classroom, challenges to internationalizing teacher education and the steps needed to successfully implement changes to the existing teacher education program. The research found state and national requirements for certification were believed to be a barrier but with strategic planning and faculty support, a more cohesive approach to international education can be integrated into the curriculum, programs, and campus programing

Suspicious Fires in Slums: A Comparison Across Cities

Suspicious Fires in Slums presents a vivid visual backdrop to its clearly highlighted points about the issues surrounding slum fires. Heather\u27s poster examines the causes and effects of slum fires in developing cities, highlighting the national flags of Brazil and India. The light-colored text and circular shapes provide an effective contrast to the dark, menacing background. Key visual elements: Bold background image Light/dark image and text contrasts Brief, effective bursts of text This was created for the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (CURF) Undergraduate Research Symposium.https://repository.upenn.edu/showcase_posters/1003/thumbnail.jp

Criteria for acceptable stick force gradients of a light aeroplane

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.During the period 1980 to 2008 there were 359 fatal accidents involving UK registered light aeroplanes of which 36% occurred in visual meteorological conditions. In all, 216 lives were lost with accidents being attributed to the pilot 'failing to maintain proper control resulting in a stall or spin'. Dissimilar fatal stallrelated accident rates are evident for aeroplane makes & models of similar design. During the course of this programme of research, flight testing of two similar aeroplane models using a case study method showed marked differences in the variation of stick force with airspeed or stick force gradient in all flight conditions. This suggested that 'control feel' was a contributory factor towards the pilot’s failure to maintain proper control. Current certification standards for light aeroplanes rely upon the subjective assessment of stick force gradients by test pilots, requiring that substantial changes in airspeed are accompanied by clearly perceptible changes in stick force with no specified minimum gradient. This programme of research has been carried out to determine acceptable criteria for stick force gradients of a light aeroplane in all flight conditions. Criteria has been determined from flight tests of aeroplanes with different in-service safety records and subjective pilot workload assessment using simulated flying tasks with different stick force gradients performed by twenty GA pilots. Simulation tests indicated that pilot mental demand increased significantly (p > 0.05) when stick force gradient was reduced to ‘zero’, representing an aeroplane with neutral longitudinal static stability. A predictive model has been developed to estimate stick force gradients for a light aeroplane in any flight condition under quasi-static, longitudinal, non-manoeuvring flight and 1-g loading conditions. The model builds upon previous published work limited to cruising flight, and enables the estimation of stick forces and gradients due to high lift devices in the climb and landing condition by consideration of the combined effects of wing loading, CG, elevator gearing, flaps and elevator trim setting. Implemented using MATLAB, the model has been validated by comparing with flight test results for the case study aeroplanes and showed mean differences of ±0.025 daN/kt. The predictive model should be used in preliminary aeroplane design to assess tendencies towards neutral stability in high workload, safety critical flight conditions such as the take-off and landing. In addition, the model should be used to analyse existing aeroplanes with comparatively low or neutral stick force gradients in safety critical flight phases and to predict the effects of changing CG and/or flap limits to increase stick force gradient and improve control feel. The combined results of these studies suggest that a minimum acceptable stick force gradient for a non-aerobatic light aeroplane in all flight conditions should be nonzero and between 0.10~0.13 daN/kt. A stable and predictable stick force variation with airspeed will ensure that any substantial deviation from trimmed airspeed is accompanied by a stick force change clearly perceptible to the pilot and also provide additional warning of the proximity to the stall. The use of specific criteria to complement qualitative test pilot opinion, will assist in confirming compliance and provide consistency with current standards for sailplanes/powered sailplanes and large commercial aeroplanes, both of which already have defined minimum acceptable gradients.This study is funded by the Thomas Gerald Gray Charitable Trust Research Scholarship Scheme and the Brunel University School of Engineering and Design/Department of Mechanical Engineering

Factors affecting the attachment of Metallosphaera hakonensis during the colonisation of low grade mineral sulphide heaps

This thesis pertains to the extraction of copper via heap bioleaching, focussing specifically on the bioleaching of the mineral sulphide, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). Industrial heap bioleaching offers an attractive alternative to conventional extraction methods, such as smelting, for processing low grade ores. There remain a number of operational challenges associated with bioleaching heaps, such as the lag time before efficient extraction is achieved and ineffective heap inoculation, as well as the difficulty in controlling the conditions within the heap