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Seen but not heard: Reconstructing the early life history of the Industrial child through carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of dentine collagenObjective This project reconstructs the early life history of the child in industrial London using incremental dentine analysis of both adults (survivors) and children (non-survivors) within a single 19th century London burial population to investigate the effects which changing social and economic conditions during Industrialisation had on their diet, health, and quality of life. Materials & Methods Macroscopic analysis was performed on the excavated assemblage (n=514) of New Bunhill Fields burial ground, Southwark, London (1821-53) to identify those with skeletal evidence of childhood stress (LEH, rickets, residual rickets) who were suitable for isotopic analysis. Radiographic analysis of the dental pulp chamber was also performed on these individuals to identify childhood vitamin D deficiency. A total of 20 adults (20/157) and 22 non-adults (22/357) were chosen for carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope analysis. Incremental dentine analysis was performed on the first permanent molar and isotopic profiles were created spanning from birth until tooth completion/death during tooth development. Results The isotopic data indicated that adult and non-adult diet was consistent with that observed in other 19th century London burial populations. Evidence for breastfeeding was widespread amongst survivors and non-survivors. Radiographic results indicated that vitamin D deficiency during early childhood was much more prevalent within the burial group than skeletal evidence suggested, and it was observed more frequently in those who survived into adulthood (80%) than in those who died during childhood (42%). Concurrent evidence of isotopic physiological stress with LEH formation was observed in some but not all individuals. A pattern of opposing co-variance was observed often in early infancy, most frequently in non-survivors, and isotopic evidence for physiological stress was also observed in the final dentine increments of some who died during tooth development. There was a tentative association observed between adult age-at-death and skeletal stress indicators in early childhood, where the average age-at-death was older in those with fewer childhood stress indicators. Conclusions & Significance This research project found that early life stress was common within this urban community and was associated with negative outcomes later in life, especially amongst those who died in childhood.
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Clinician measurement of spectacle prescription changes and patient tolerance to themPurpose. To investigate the subjective refraction techniques of UK optometrists and their influence on patient-reported problems with new spectacles. Methods. First, an investigation from optical practices’ perspective, with a study investigating the frequency and causes of patient complaints. Three questionnaires follow; i) quantification of patient-reported symptoms with new spectacles, ii) the methods of refraction used by clinicians and iii) part-refracting as a special case of part-prescribing. Finally, the typical cylinder changes prescribed in patients’ refractive history are examined. Results. 2.3% of eye examinations resulted in rechecks. Cylinders were implicated in 38% of causes, of which 42% were oblique. 83% of rechecks were due to inaccurate measurement of prescription; presenting symptoms, prescription changes and improvements in visual acuity (VA) were often not reconciled and 93% reported not measuring VA to full threshold. The change in ocular astigmatism from with- to against-the-rule with age was more than three times more likely to pass through oblique axes than a spherical prescription. 36% of eyes were found to have an oblique cylinder prescribed at least once and of these, 78% were transitory in nature. Conclusions. Subjective refraction, visual acuity measurement, analysis of refractive change and prescribing techniques were often poor and cylinder changes, particularly oblique, were identified as a cause of increasing rechecks with patient age. These are fundamental aspects of optometry, yet need to be more prominent in continuing professional development.
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Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence as Enablers for Circular EconomyThe traditional linear economy, using a take-make-dispose model is resourceintense and comes with adverse environmental impacts. Circular economy (CE) is regenerative and restorative by design and intention and is recommended as the business model for efficient use of resources. Despite the push for businesses and organisations to switch from linear to CE, there are several barriers/challenges that need solving such as business models and the criticism of CE projects often being small scale. Technology can be an enabler toward scaling up CE; however, the prime challenge is to identify technologies that can allow predicting, tracking and proactive monitoring of product's residual value, that can potentially motivate businesses to pursue circularity decisions. In this thesis, an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled decision support system (DSS) for CE business model is proposed. The aim is to effectively enable tracking, monitoring, and analysis of products in real time with focus on residual value. The business model is implemented using an ontological model. This model is complemented by a semantic DSS. The semantic ontological model, first of its kind, is evaluated for technical compliance, quality of modelling and domain coverage, for final reengineering and re-evaluations. The DSS and the ontological model is applied in a real-world use case and demonstrate viability and applicability of the approach to businesses and sustainability via Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) lens. The results of the comparison of this novel model to the linear economy is promising with the novel model proving more profitable and resource efficient.
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A Semantic Complex Event Processing Framework for Internet of Things Applications. Towards Detecting Complex Events in Stream ProcessingThe rapid growth of the internet of things (IoT) has led to an overwhelming volume of data generated by interconnected devices. Effectively extracting valuable insights from this data in real-time is crucial for informed decision-making and optimizing IoT applications. This research explores the integration of traditional complex event processing (CEP) with semantic web technologies to detect complex events in real-time streaming data analysis within the IoT domain. The research develops a semantic complex event processing framework tailored specifically for IoT applications. By leveraging the strengths of traditional CEP in detecting complex event patterns and semantic web technologies in providing standardised data representation and reasoning capabilities, the integrated approach proves to be a powerful solution for event detection. The framework demonstrates enhanced accuracy, real-time analysis capabilities, and the ability to handle heterogeneous data sources. The proposed traditional CEP with semantic web technologies framework is thoroughly evaluated and experimented with to assess its performance and effectiveness in real-time event detection. Performance metrics, including event detection efficiency, scalability, and accuracy of generated insights, are used to compare the framework against traditional CEP. The research findings emphasize the significance of integrating traditional CEP with semantic web technologies in real-time IoT analytics. The proposed framework improves event detection efficiency, scalability, and accuracy, empowering IoT applications with intelligent event processing capabilities. These results provide valuable insights into IoT data analytics and have the potential to revolutionise the way we analyse and leverage IoT data for informed decision-making and optimised system performance.
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Developing Digital Transformation Strategy for Manufacturing Firms. Applying Interpretive Structural Modelling to Explore Causal Relationships of Organisational Management FactorsDigital transformation represents an unprecedented strategic challenge for established manufacturing companies, but the theoretical understanding of its implications is still lacking. It is accordingly difficult for management to develop an adequate digital transformation strategy and decide on appropriate organisational implementation measures. The aim of this work is therefore to address the organisational management challenges related to digital transformation of manufacturing companies through strategic digital transformation programmes. It is based on the input of 39 managers with diverse backgrounds, digital and non-digital, within the manufacturing industry. This study enhances the open systems organisational theory approach and the concepts of temporary organisations. It identifies 21 different organisational management factors that are relevant for the digital transformation of a manufacturing company. Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) has been applied to derive an empirical model that organises those factors according to their level of influence. The factors related to organisational leadership, internal organisational structures and operational capabilities have the strongest influence on the digital transformation challenges. This includes the understanding that in the context of digital transformation, a strategic programme cannot be conceived separately to the embedding company organisation. The practical implications of the empirical model on management are derived by this study as well. It suggests that the non-linear nature of digital transformation requires management to continuously embrace and not restrict organisational and operational complexity. Instead, focus should be placed on establishing frameworks that provide operational guidance, supported by substantial management efforts to foster commitment across all organisational levels towards digital transformation goals.
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Unveiling Employee Crisis Communication on Social Media: Influences and Insights from Experimental Qualitative ResearchBusinesses are increasingly using social media for crisis communication messages, and so do employees. Given the special relationship with employees, organisations should pay attention to understanding employee communication behaviour (ECB) during an organisational crisis. Drawing from the Situation Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) and the perspective of employees as active participants in crisis communication, this study proposes an evidence-based employee-focused conceptual framework of the anticipated ECBs on social media during an organisational crisis and in response to crisis type and the crisis response strategy utilized by organisations. This research aims to examine the impact of crisis types and crisis response strategies on employee communication behaviour outcomes in social media. The research employs a 2 (crisis type: victim crisis or preventable crisis) * 2 (crisis response strategy: accommodative or defensive) qualitative experimental design. 36 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in Kuwait with employees working in different industries in the private sector to investigate: 1) ECB on social media in response to defensive and accommodative crisis response strategies in a preventable crisis type, 2) ECB on social media in response to defensive and accommodative crisis response strategies in a victim crisis type, and 3)Employee-organisation relationship (EOR) influence on ECB on social media during an organisational crisis. This research argues that the anticipated ECB is within four classifications 1) Proactive advocacy ECB, 2) Reactive advocacy ECB, 3) neutral ECB, and 4) Adversary ECB. The findings show that employees are more likely to engage in advocacy ECB if the crisis response is informative, regardless of the crisis type. An adversary ECB is expected when the organisation faces a preventable crisis type and utilizes a defensive response strategy. Additionally, a positive EOR encourages a more advocacy ECB.
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Unravelling the causal associations and path dependencies between Foreign Direct Investment and social development: the case of PanamaAcademics have majorly explored the positive and negative economic spillover and linkages effects of FDI on economic growth, local wages, productivity and technological knowledge. Nonetheless, alternative benefits induced by FDI on social development have been neglected to be explored in-depth, constraining scholarly contributions to welfare economics. Although preceding works have studied social development factors, they traditionally have been addressed as either positive, negative or neutral in different pockets of academic literature. Moreover, none of them offers a robust empirical/structural framework linking FDI and social development. Panel data figures of MNEs classified as FDI recipients in the Republic of Panama are employed in proposing an empirical/structural framework explanatory of the bidirectional association and causal mechanisms between FDI and social development, using the Social Progress Index as a proxy, moderated by proxy variables of productive linkages and household income. A lop-sided circle, negatively inclined on the association flowing from social development to FDI, is suggested to exist. A ‘weak’ positive effect of FDI on social development is found, supported by a locked-in stable loop of FDI yearly feeding on MNEs profit’s reinvestments. Social development is also found to be in a locked-in stable loop, directly exerting a ‘strongly negative’ impact on FDI, which suggests being a constraining determinant for the country to attract ‘green field’ FDI. The empirical/structural framework herein proposed aims to guide future academic research in welfare economics and also serve policymakers in Panama for understanding and structuring national policies to unlock the self-reinforcing path dependency mechanisms preventing social development potential from being unleashed.
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Identity Politics, Indigene-Settler Dynamics and their Implications for Democracy in Jos, NigeriaThis thesis examines the politics of identity construction in contemporary Jos, Nigeria, over a 30-year period (1991-2021). It focuses on the narratives surrounding the Jos City conflict, which primarily revolve around identity issues. While previous literature mainly explores the conflict along ethnic, religious, and ethnoreligious lines, recent discussions have shifted towards the indigene-settler divide. In navigating resource distribution, groups strategically adopt identities to access influence, resulting in the construction and reconstruction of identities. The macro-level conflict involves the Hausa-Fulani against the Berom, Anaguta, and Afizere, while micro-level dynamics emerge among indigenous groups, centring on territory, government participation, and leadership. Identity choices often exploit minority sentiments and target the scope of support and acceptability, drawing attention to discrimination in exclusionary indigeneity politics. Histories of internal migration significantly contribute to the Jos City conflict, with spillover effects in other parts of Nigeria, impacting democracy and democratization processes. To address the conflict's root causes, the government has established panels and commissions. Through qualitative methods and case studies involving 63 participants, this study highlights historical narratives of migration, inheritance, place claims, and place naming. These claims fuel the prominence of identity politics in daily discourse. The thesis provides empirical contributions to our understanding of Jos' politics, filling a significant knowledge gap.
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Can development initiatives reduce the recruitment of adolescents to organised crime groups? Perspectives of the recipients of the Prospera Conditional Cash Transfer Programme in MexicoThis thesis explores the role of Development policy as an alternative to the traditional public security focused strategies for tackling organised crime violence in Latin America and the Caribbean. To do so, it builds bridges between the academic literature of criminology and development. It examines the public experiences of insecurity in Mexico and the social impacts of a development initiative, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme in two municipalities in Mexico. The thesis poses questions about the impacts of Development initiatives upon organised crime violence from the perspectives of those living within areas affected by violence. The CCT programmes seek to address poverty in the short and long-term and research has begun to explore the potential of these programmes to diminish violence and crime, almost exclusively from a quantitative research approach, whereas this study adopts a qualitative design. This research is based on data gathered through interviews, observations, and focus groups to examine the perspectives and experiences of current and former CCT recipients, CCT administrators, public security officials, members of the public, NGO leads, and ex-gang affiliated individuals. This micro-level qualitative methodology adopted in this research contrasts the almost exclusively macro-level, econometric evaluations which have dominated CCT and organised crime research. The findings demonstrated that respondents perceived CCTs as significant in reducing the propensity of young men participating in organised crime violence in their localities. The perspectives of participants in this study provided enough evidence to overturn a common narrative of ‘prevention doesn’t work’ and suggest that in each of the areas targeted by the study there is potential for a reduction of organised crime rooted in development initiatives according to respondents.
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Doing the ‘right’ thing: A sociological exploration of pro-social behaviour by independent witnessesIndividual pro-social behaviour has been explored by academics and others in a variety of situations and contexts. Why people act selflessly on behalf of strangers is an intriguing topic and has not been studied in the specific context of the Crown courts before. This study has three phases. The first allows independent witnesses to describe their emotions, decision-making and motivations for taking part in the criminal justice process where there is no overt benefit for themselves to do so. The study identifies three key points in the witnesses’ journey through the process and tests the reactions of the witnesses at these points. This approach allows any changes in their thinking to be recorded and analysed. The second phase of the research asks other participants who have not been witnesses to imagine themselves becoming aware of three different scenarios where a violent crime is occurring. These participants are asked to think about their reactions to each scenario, and if they expect themselves to act as witnesses, asks what their motivations would be. The imagining witnesses’ reflections are compared to those of the real witnesses from Phase 1. Finally, phase three disseminates the results from phases one and two to senior professionals working in the criminal justice sector. Their thoughts and suggestions are also applied to the results to identify and encourage best practise.
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Investigation of a Novel Formulation from Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes and Antioxidant (Selenium) in Malignant Melanoma CellsIntroduction: Malignant Melanoma (MM), caused by UV radiation-induced DNA damage, is the most invasive form of skin cancer and has an increasing incidence worldwide. The hallmarks of MM include the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and excessive proliferation of tumour cells. Many treatments are available or under investigation as anticancer therapeutics such as cell therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and nanotechnology-based strategies but they all have severe complications and side effects that limit their wider use. Methods: The present in vitro study has evaluated the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of Se and CBSC-derived exosomes, individually and in combination, on lymphocytes from MM patients and healthy controls, and on the CHL-1 melanoma cell line. The comet assay and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay were used to measure genotoxicity and cytotoxicity, respectively, in all cell types. Molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects were explored using transcriptional and protein expression profiling of key cell cycle and apoptosis genes, by employing the RT qPCR and Western blotting techniques. Conclusion: Selenium displays antioxidant and genoprotective effects in human lymphocytes, especially in MM patients. Both Se (10 μM) and CBSC-derived exosomes (120 μL) are well tolerated in lymphocytes, but show significant genotoxicity and cytotoxicity towards the CHL-1 cell line, with combined administration exhibiting a synergistic effect.
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The Geochemistry of Submerged Marine Landscapes: Lipid, Isotopic and Inorganic composition of Sediment Cores from the Palaeo-landscape of DoggerlandTen thousand years ago Great Britain was a part of the European continent, where the surface of the North Sea was about 70 metres below present sea level. The large, prehistoric submerged landmass that connected the island of Great Britain to the European continent is now widely known as Doggerland. 85 samples from six different cores, which were collected from this prehistoric landscape, were studied using multi proxy -organic and inorganic- geochemical methods. Thermal analysis determined the organic matter and carbonate content, which were utilized as characterizing indices, dividing each core into various depositional units. In addition, lipid analysis studying three sets of biomarkers (n-alkanes, fatty acids and sterols), was used to distinguish between various depositional environments, especially between terrestrial and aquatic. Furthermore, the cores were mineralogically analysed using the detected clay and non-clay minerals as depositional indicators; significant states such as high and low energy environments, palaeosoil, type of weathering and stone types were identified and used to recognize any mineralogical and thus depositional alteration. Finally, the sulfur isotope analysis identified different sources of sulfur, which were then used as environmental distinguishing proxies. An integration of these analytical results provided a detailed geochemical history of each core; importantly, a Storegga tsunami deposit was detected in core ELF01A. The primary contribution of this thesis was establishing an analytical approach using combined results from a range of analytical methods. The established approach can be used to study the depositional settings for any cored sediments.
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Development and Evaluation of Organometallic Anticancer Drug CandidatesThere is an urgent need to find novel anticancer therapeutics with different mechanisms of action than platinum-containing drugs, particularly for patients who relapse after having been initially treated with a platinum-containing chemotherapy regimen. This chemoresistance phenomena, along with the serious side effects observed with cisplatin, have led research in Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry to using other precious metals for the design of novel anticancer therapeutics. This work reports on the synthesis and characterisation of a series of organometallic drug candidates based on ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, and iridium, followed by investigation of their cancer-inhibiting properties via in vitro and in vivo studies. The cytotoxicity of these complexes against various human cancer cell lines is presented, as well as preliminary studies on their possible modes of action, determined via gene expression studies, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, reactive oxygen species detection and mitochondrial-membrane potential assays. In addition, to confirm the surprising absence of in vitro toxicity against normal cells exhibited by some compounds, studies on ex vivo/in vitro isolated human lymphocytes from healthy individuals, have been conducted. One lead molecule has been progressed to in vivo studies in mice and toxicity and efficacy were assessed with a series of assays including determination of the maximum tolerated dose and pharmacodynamic studies. Structural modifications of the lead molecule with water-soluble phosphines were subsequently undertaken, with the aim to improve the stability and solubility of the parent 16-electron specie, and evaluations of the biological activity of these novel complexes are presented.
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Community-based Water Management in Urban Informal Spaces: Capabilities and Collective ActionThis thesis contributes to scholarship on applying the Capability Approach (CA) in the informal water sector in post-colonial cities in the Global South. It lays out helpful insights in the field of Sustainable Development Goal no. 6- clean water and sanitation in the backdrop of climate justice. This research aims to translate theoretical roots of the CA into meaningful participatory policy by using a case study approach complimented by different methods of qualitative data collection. The empirical findings are built on in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions with participants from informal settlements in India and Indonesia, members of universities, NGOs, government organizations and peoples’ collectives. This study underscores that cities in the global south are complex and that to study them requires more epistemic diversity guided by a decolonial lens. It starts with a systematic literature review, followed by a purposive literature review. The reviews generated four themes: (i) Human needs, well-being and development; (ii) Social cohesion and community processes; (iii) Water security and psycho-social stress and (iv) Vulnerabilities, resilience and adaption. After which, three overarching theories guided the conceptual framework- Sen’s Capability Approach, Ostrom’s theory of the commons, and combined theories of socio-ecological resilience. Through its findings, it proposes the Capability Locus Pathway for Socio-Spatial Change, along with the concept of the Capability Space, to evaluate what transformative processes look like in informal urban spaces and what power communities have in terms of agency and opportunities to lead such collective action.
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Aligning Corporate Governance Strategy with Sustainability: Managing Oil-Companies and Resource Host-Communities Relationships in the Petroleum Industry in NigeriaPetroleum discovery has been described as a ‘blessing’ and a ‘curse’ for Nigeria. Whilst oil wealth has been a boon to the economy, oil-companies' unwillingness to be ‘sustainably responsible’ to their resource-host-communities has resulted in multiple problems. This study, focusing on Nigeria's petroleum industry, confirms a framework with genuine potential to favourably impact the industry by validating shared dependency and exploring the relationship between two knowledge areas: corporate governance and sustainability. From the standpoint of resource-host-community ‘risks-and-impacts’, the study's overarching goal is to strengthen the oil-companies'/industry's ability to deliver their businesses on time, within/on budget, and at design capacity. A case study of three oil-companies was used, adopting a qualitative (interpretive) research technique. Study finds that in a turbulent business environment, aligning corporate governance with sustainability and managing oil-companies and their resource-host-community relationships is one attempt to deal with the induced-risks. By analysing the distinction between academic and practitioner research, as well as the tensions from this division, the study shows that a hybrid research merging theoretical and practice-guided study is feasible. The study also contributes to stakeholder theory by offering an empirical description of how resource-host-communities’ impact oil-companies decision-making processes with the potential for collaboration, and to breed and engender trust and unanimity. The findings show that stakeholder theory could be used to solve a variety of organisational problems plaguing the industry. This is the first study in the industry emphasizing the relevance of involving resource-host-communities in Joint-Management-Stakeholder-Committees (JMSCs) concept, demonstrating the influence and practical significance in governance.
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The development of a liposomal form Secukinumab – an IL 17 pathway inhibitor in the treatment of psoriasisVarious approaches are currently used to treat and manage psoriasis, and biological treatments are often the latest approaches. All biological treatments have major side effects as they are given systemically via injections. One of the latest biological treatments for psoriasis, one which has shown great efficacy with fewer side effects, is Secukinumab. Secukinumab is an anti-IL17 antibody that works by stopping the action of IL17, a cytokine that is known to have a major role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. This work is based on the development of a new way to commence drug therapy to reduce the side effects of the treatment. Our work is based on the studies of the genotoxicity of the drug Secukinumab in its bulk and liposome form using comet and micronucleus assays on lymphocytes. The results from both assays have illustrated the safety of the drug and demonstrated the reduction of the DNA damage induced in both healthy individuals and patients with psoriasis. Secukinumab significantly decreases-H2O2 induced damage and efficiently attenuates its adverse effects both in the comet (p<0.0001) and micronucleus assays (p<0.01). The two concentrations of Secukinumab used (2.1 and 2.8μg/ml) efficiently decreased H2O2-induced DNA damage in both groups to nearly the level of the negative control. Overall, Secukinumab reveals protective and anti-genotoxic effects by demonstrating its potential in reducing DNA damage caused by oxidative stress and by not inducing any further damage in the lymphocytes of either healthy individuals or patients. Liposomes are highly versatile which have been proven efficient for therapy and research applications. The discovery of new therapies in the treatment of psoriasis is a considerable challenge and is now a necessity. Our study was the first one to determine the genotoxicity of various concentrations of the drug in the lymphocytes of psoriasis patients compared to healthy individuals. In the MTT assay, the data showed a decrease in % cell survival rates after exposure to different concentrations of Secukinumab. Also, the results demonstrated no statistically significant differences on confounding factors such as ethnicity, smoking, drinking habits, gender and age among psoriasis patient and healthy controls. The regulation of gene expression levels of IL-17, IL-22 and RORC were assessed after treatment with Secukinumab in the bulk and liposome form via RT-PCR analysis. Secukinumab bulk (2.1μg/ml) treatment significantly down-regulated gene expression of IL-17, IL22 and RORC to 0.46-fold, 0.47-fold and 0.5-fold, respectively. However, Secukinumab liposome (2.1μg/ml) only decreased the expression of IL-17 and IL-22 significantly, by 0.46-fold and 0.53-fold, respectively. On the other hand, studying the expression of P53 and P21 using qPCR revealed that Secukinumab bulk and liposome has no effect on the expression of these genes in lymphocytes from healthy individuals and psoriasis patients. Western blotting was used to investigate the effect of Secukinumab in both forms on protein expression levels IL-17, IL-22 and RORC. Analysis of the results showed that Secukinumab bulk and liposome had no significant effect on expression levels of any of these proteins in lymphocytes derived from healthy individuals. However, there was a statistically significant down-regulation observed in the protein expression levels of IL-17, IL-22 and RORC in lymphocytes obtained from the psoriasis patients, confirming the sensitivity of the compromised lymphocytes from patient group to Secukinumab treatment. With Secukinumab (bulk form) administration, a 0.5-fold decrease was observed in IL-17, 0.59-fold decrease in IL-22, and a 0.6-fold decrease in RORC expression. However, liposome form reduced their levels to 0.47–fold, 0.5-fold and 0.47–fold, respectively, when compared to the control group. While it had no significant effect on expression of P53 and P21 proteins in lymphocytes from healthy individuals and psoriasis patients and there was no difference observed in their regulation. In conclusion, the use of Secukinumab liposome as topical drug delivery system may be suitable replacement for improving the drug bioavailability and its side effects.
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Wives of the clergy. A Sociological Analysis of Wives of Ministers of Religion in Four Denominations... for the phrase 'clergyman’s wife' has connotations which the phrase 'solicitor’s wife' or 'bank clerk's wife’ does not. The content of the meaning it conveys, is a stereotype picture of what the clergyman’s wife is like, and how her life is organised. The 'typical parson's wife’ is seen as someone who, on the one hand, opens bazaars and dispenses charity to the poor of the parish; and, on the other hand, as someone who visits the sick and bereaved and runs the Sunday School. The two elements in the stereotype are, in this study, characterised as the Lady of the Manor and the Unpaid Curate, and their origins are traced historically, as well as their contemporary relevance being examined through empirical study. ... But the interesting thing about the 'clergyman’s wife' is that it is a stereotype attributed in a sense vicariously; that is, a set of statements about a 'typical' person, attributed by virtue of someone else’s occupation. The clear implication is that, by marrying a clergyman, one automatically adopts a particular way of life and style of life, in a much more clearly defined sense than does a person who marries into almost any other occupational group.
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Genotoxic effects in human peripheral lymphocytes from healthy individuals and head and neck cancer patients after treatment with hydrogen peroxide and pembrolizumab liposomeHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. It has commonly been associated with exposure to tobacco-derived carcinogens and alcohol consumption. Pembrolizumab has shown to be effective in the treatment of many types of cancers such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, due to its antiproliferative, immunoregulatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of naked Pembrolizumab and Pembrolizumab liposome on the level of DNA damage, gene, and protein expressions in peripheral lymphocytes from HNC patients and compared to the healthy individuals by using the Comet and micronucleus assays. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to assess the potential of improving the repair mechanisms after treatment with naked Pembrolizumab and Pembrolizumab liposome. According to the results, Comet assay and micronucleus assay showed a significantly decreased DNA damage in the lymphocytes from HNC patients after being treated with naked Pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab liposome. Furthermore, the results have shown that naked Pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab liposomes (10 μg/ml) greatly decreased the oxidative stress produced by H2O2. Both forms of pembrolizumab have also demonstrated improving the repair mechanisms in lymphocytes from HNC patients by modulating the expression of P53, P21, and Bcl-2 at mRNA and protein levels. This study suggested that Pembrolizumab naked and liposome could have an antioxidant role alongside other actions in the treatment of HNSCC. However, further studies on Cancer cell lines and in vivo observation are required to validate the anticancer potential of pembrolizumab naked with liposome in HNC.
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Refractive management of patients undergoing cataract surgery. The development of pre and post-operative refractive management guidelines for patients undergoing cataract surgery in the UKCataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery within the UK with 400,000 surgeries performed each year. Currently no guidelines exist for clinicians regarding target refraction discussions, spectacle provision post-operatively and driving advice following surgery. The PhD aimed to start the process of developing pre- and post-operative management guidelines for patients developed by both optometrists and ophthalmologists which could then be disseminated to both professions in the hope of improving the overall outcome of surgery. The current literature highlighted target refraction discussions were lacking or non-existent which left some myopes dissatisfied after surgery due to an emmetropic target refraction leaving them unable to read without glasses as they did prior to surgery. Target refraction discussions were found to be linked with years of experience and this needs further exposure in continuing professional development. Post-operative driving advice was found to be inconsistent and vary between practitioners and between optometry and ophthalmology. Advice was found to vary from driving “immediately” following surgery up to 6 weeks post-operatively. Re-analysis of (de Juan et al. 2013) data during our systematic review and meta-analysis found refraction to be stable 1-2 weeks following surgery for 93% of patients. It was found a large change between pre- and post-surgery cylindrical power/axis may be an indicator that refractive stability has not occurred. Although this study had limitations it confirmed refraction is stable sooner than the current guidelines of 4-6 weeks. Finally, we used a Delphi process to develop refractive management guidelines with a total of fifteen recommendations finalised.
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Addressing inequitable maternity service provision in England for asylum seeking and refugee women who present with symptoms of perinatal depression. A post-colonial feminist inquiry into the experiences of asylum seeking and refugee women and the midwives who care for themBackground: Perinatal depression disproportionately affects asylum seeking and refugee (AS&R) women, but they are less likely to receive support than other women. There is no published research which considers the assessment and support for symptoms of perinatal depression provided by midwives for AS&R women navigating England’s maternity services. Aim: To investigate how midwifery practice can be developed to support asylum seeking and refugee women with symptoms of perinatal depression. Methods: A post-colonial feminist inquiry consisting of a scoping survey (study one) and a qualitative research study (study two) using remote interviews with AS&R women and midwives. Qualitative data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Study one demonstrated that midwives who care for AS&R women work within diverse roles and service structures across England. Study two identified that midwives lack the resources and support structures required to effectively recognise and support symptoms of perinatal depression in AS&R women. These factors were sometimes invisible to AS&R women, but still negatively affected their ability to effectively discuss perinatal depression with a midwife and access help for any symptoms. The lack of appropriate resources was harmful to both AS&R women and midwives. Conclusion: AS&R women and midwives who care for them navigate an inequitable maternity system in England. Midwives do not have the appropriate resources to provide a level of care which is equitable to women in the general maternity population. This leaves AS&R women’s perinatal mental health needs unrecognised and unmet, acting as a barrier to receiving effective support.
