Bradford Scholars
Bradford Scholars is the University of Bradford online research archive. Access is free to anyone interested in research being conducted at Bradford. In the repository you will find a range of materials from journal articles and conference papers to research reports and theses.
Contact the repository team via openaccess@bradford.ac.uk with any queries about Open Access or how to deposit your research papers.
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Publication Characterisation of Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) protein complex expression in human cancer cells to identify novel therapeutic targetsSUMOylation is a post-translational modification where a number of small ubiquitin-like modifier proteins (SUMO) are conjugated to lysine residues of the target proteins and contribute to various cellular functions essential for cancer cell survival and proliferation. The unique behaviours, phenotypic and molecular adaptations found in the naked-mole rat (NMR) suggest a high stability and effective functioning of the molecular machinery that counteracts damage accumulation in its genome. NMR can reach 32 years, shows no signs of ageing, and possesses a very efficient mechanism of resistance to cancer. This study aims to investigate the regulation of SUMOylation machinery between NMR tissues in comparison to human cancer cells, to find novel targets for cancer therapy. Gene expression of SUMO isoforms between NMR and humans, were investigated through qRT-PCR. The data suggests a significant low expression level for most SUMO machinery (except PIAS4) in NMR brain and intestine tissues compared to MCF-7, DLD-1, SH-SY5Y, and MCF-10A cells. Western blotting analysis also revealed high protein expression of PIAS4 in NMR compared to SENP1 and Ubc9. SUMO machinery expression levels from NMR are recapitulated in cancer cells either by silencing (hUBE2I: shRNA, hSENP1: shRNA) or overexpression (Myc/hPIAS4: Exp) to study functional effects. Cytotoxicity assays were analysed in relevance to Doxorubicin in MCF-7, 5-Fluorouracil in DLD-1 and Methotrexate in SH-SY5. Additionally, functional clonogenic and invasion assays were performed including apoptotic mechanisms (Bcl-2, and BID). In conclusion, the data revealed important differences in SUMOylation machinery between NMR and human cancer cells, which provides a future therapeutic path for cancer treatment.Publication Wind energy conversion system. Review and Investigation of Wind Energy Conversion Systems and their Selection for Optimum DesignThis thesis presents various methods for assessing wind energy resources which have realistic potential for converting into electricity, and proposes a procedure for system selection. This approach uses climatological features and wind turbine rotor design together with comprehensive analyses, which have been partly adapted from published work, to evaluate the extractable wind energy at any location. The results of the analyses are then used to determine the principal wind machine design parameters and specifications. Wind energy has long been studied as one possible commercially viable alternative energy source to fossil fuels. The selection of an appropriate wind turbine for a particular site and location is important, not only from the point of view of technical design but also for economic reasons. A database from 18 meteorological stations has formed the basis for the analysis: wind speed and wind direction. Cumulative frequency diagrams of monthly and yearly patterns of wind speeds have been constructed; Weibull probability models have been fitted and the validity of such models has been tested. Using calculated wind turbine rotor energy capture coefficients in conjunction with various rotor configurations, hub heights and different terrain roughnesses, a method is presented by which the wind power potential of a given site can be estimated and wind turbine performance at that site can be predicted.Publication Synthesis, Computational Modeling and Biological Evaluation of FPR-1 AntagonistsFPR-1(Formyl peptide receptor-1), a member of the 7TM GPCR superfamily, plays a key role in cell host defence and immune response. FPR-1 is activated by ANX-A1 and short-chain formyl peptides such as fMLF, both of which are produced by necrotic cells. FPR-1 activation upregulates cellular signalling pathways, leading to chemotaxis, angiogenesis, and cell survival. Over expression of FPR-1 has been observed in highly malignant (grade III and IV) astrocytic brain tumours. It is hypothesised that this overexpression combined with the necrotic and hypoxic nature of the tumour microenvironment promotes cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and the infiltrative nature of tumours. A small molecule antagonist of FPR-1, ICT12035, has been synthesised at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, demonstrating exceptional potency with an IC50 of 34 nM in U87MG Glioblastoma cell lines and in vivo efficacy in a subcutaneous model. The aim of the project is to synthesise novel analogues of the ICT12035 with more favourable physiochemical properties, such as modifying the lipophilicity of the molecule making it more CNS penetrant, while maintaining its potency. Structural analysis and docking studies were performed using computational software and key residues were identified at the binding pocket. six compounds, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 and 32 were synthesised and tested for toxicity using MTT assay and a functional Ca2+ mobilisation assay was performed to establish their potency. All synthesised compounds are not toxic with the exception of (21) at 100µM. Both (21) and (23) demonstrated promising potencies with IC50 values of 75 nM and 20 nM respectively.Publication The influence of German development cooperation on foreign direct investment decisions of German investors(2025)This study critically examines the relationship between the neo-liberal economic precepts of development cooperation, overseas development assistance and foreign direct investment (FDI). Specifically, it explores how Germany’s neo-liberal Marshall Plan with Africa influences the investment decisions of German companies. The analysis is based on in-depth semi-structured key informant interviews conducted with German companies, business associations and development cooperation institutions currently active in Côte d’Ivoire – one of the largest French-speaking countries in Africa. It introduces an analysis of the reputational and network effects of development cooperation on FDI. This study contributes to theory by demonstrating how the reputational and network effect of development cooperation provides a clear signal to the private sector through an improved image of the host country due to its reform partner status. The study also extends the fundamental theories of the official development aid-FDI nexus by showing that new forms of development cooperation can significantly impact FDI. It further contributes to the country image literature by suggesting that development cooperation should be included in a country’s reputation frameworks – which is a key government policy for most emerging economies seeking to attract FDI.Publication Gender Justice and Decentralised Energy Resources: Perspectives from the United Kingdom and Nigeria(Oxford University Press, 2025)This chapter analyses the legal dimensions of the challenges and prospects of decentralised energy generation, through a feminist lens. First, decentralization has implications for the ownership structures of the energy systems, establishing new hierarchies in operation, ownership, and distribution structures. The establishment of these hierarchies necessitates the development of a fair, effective, and functional decentralised governance system, presenting the legal challenge of establishing a governance system that upholds gender and energy justice while maintaining efficiency in energy production and consumption. Second, one of the objectives of energy decentralisation is to promote universal access to energy by making it available to places and households that were previously excluded from the grid under the centralised system. This presents the legal issue of the establishment of a balance between the democratisation of energy access and the commercial viability of energy decentralisation by addressing the factors that previously prevented universal connection to the centralized grid within existing legal frameworks. Finally, the production, storage, and consumption of decentralized energy requires adaptation to emerging technologies to maintain environmental sustainability. This capital-intensive practice presents the legal issue of the establishment of a balance between environmental sustainability and universal connectivity to decentralized energy. These three legal issues require direct focus in energy laws and governance systems, to ensure that women and other marginalized groups can access decentralized energy resources (DERs) to address energy poverty and other environmental and equity concerns that are exacerbated by the prevailing centralized energy systems. Against this backdrop, the chapter examines the effectiveness of the energy laws and policies in Nigeria and the United Kingdom in integrating a gender justice lens in DERs design and implementation. Recommendations are made for legal reforms to address the critical challenges of gender equity in the deployment of sustainable DERs in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.