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John's interpretation of Mark: composition as exegesis in the Fourth Gospel
No full textAlthough recent decades have brought about a shift in the receptiveness of many interpreters to the idea that John’s Gospel used Mark’s Gospel as a source, this remains a highly debated question, not least because of the spectrum of similarity and difference between the texts. This study contributes to this conversation by examining John’s Gospel alongside the corpus of Second Temple era Jewish texts called Rewritten Scripture. The authors of these texts considered themselves to be inspired interpreters of antecedent tradition, inhabiting a later context and rewriting earlier authoritative texts for the purpose of exegesis. Rewritten Scripture texts provide a useful analogue to John’s possible engagement with Mark because these texts exhibit a range of agreement and disagreement with the source material, seeking to participate in its authoritative discourse, extend its voice to a new situation, and guide reader interpretation of what came before. In a pre-canonical era of textual fluidity and pluriformity, the creative and varied compositional practices utilized in these texts attest to the diversity and flexibility of ancient Jewish literary culture, and I suggest that John is participating in this culture. That is, I suggest that John is utilizing similar practices as the Rewritten Scripture texts in his engagement with Mark’s Gospel, and he similarly presents himself as an inspired interpreter of this earlier text. This study proceeds in two parts, with the first three chapters situating John within the context of Jewish source reuse and interpretation, and the final five chapters examining five parallel passages in John and Mark alongside an analysis of the rewriting practices of five particular Rewritten Scripture texts (from Jubilees, Temple Scroll, Genesis Apocryphon, Philo’s De Vita Mosis, and Josephus’ Jewish Antiquities, respectively) for the purpose of comparison, in order to show how John could have reinterpreted Mark in a similar fashion as the Rewritten Scripture texts reinterpret their source material. I aim to show that a comparison with these texts indicates that John engages in very similar practices in his engagement with Mark, and that examining John alongside Jewish exegetical rewriting in particular can advance our understanding of how John exhibits such a spectrum of similarity with and difference from Mark without needing to appeal primarily to variability in oral tradition or to isolated, sectarian Johannine idiosyncrasies
Why do ectopic pregnancies happen?
No full textAn ectopic pregnancy (EP), by definition, is when a blastocyst implants in an area outside of the uterus, and it is estimated to affect 1-2% of all pregnancies. EP mainly occurs in the Fallopian tube (over 95%), termed a tubal ectopic pregnancy (tEP). tEP is a major health burden which can lead to a life-threatening intra-abdominal haemorrhage if untreated. Many risk factors for tEP have been established, including smoking, which is known to double the risk of tEP. However, the exact mechanism underlying the ectopic attachment and invasion of a blastocyst to the Fallopian tube epithelium remains unknown. There is mounting evidence that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biological process whereby epithelial cells undergo phenotypical changes resulting in mesenchymal-like characteristics, such as increased invasion/migration capacity and impaired cell polarity, is involved in normal embryo implantation. There are also similarities between proteins known to be expressed in the Fallopian tube epithelium in samples of tEP and those expressed in the uterine luminal epithelium during normal intrauterine implantation. Therefore, there is a need to establish whether EMT in the Fallopian tube epithelial cells can lead to an increased risk of ectopic blastocyst attachment and invasion in the Fallopian tube, resulting in tEP.
In this thesis, I used an in vitro model of tEP with a normal implantation model as a control to investigate: 1. The ability of a major EMT inducer, TGF-β1, to increase the likelihood of blastocyst attachment to the Fallopian tube epithelial cells by stimulating EMT; 2. Whether carcinogenic cigarette smoke components increase the risk of tEP by stimulating EMT; and 3. Whether inhibiting TGF-β1 before exposure to a carcinogenic cigarette smoke component in Fallopian tube epithelial cells can block the effects of the component on blastocyst attachment.
Firstly, I optimised an in vitro model of tEP using murine blastocysts co-cultured with immortalised human Fallopian tube epithelial cells and, as a control, a ‘normal’ implantation model using immortalised human endometrial epithelial cells. Under control conditions, blastocyst attachment to the Fallopian tube epithelial cell line was around 20%, whereas blastocyst to the endometrial epithelial cell line was 80%. Significantly lower blastocyst attachment levels to the Fallopian tube epithelial cells compared to the endometrial epithelial cells suggests that the model of tEP is physiologically relevant to the incidence of tEP in humans. By exposing immortalised human Fallopian tube and endometrial epithelial cells to TGF-β1 prior to the start of co-culture with murine blastocysts, I have shown that blastocyst attachment to the Fallopian tube cells was higher compared to blastocyst attachment to the endometrial cells. Increased proliferation and/or migration and altered F-actin cytoskeleton assembly of Fallopian tube cells after stimulation with TGF-β1 was consistent with an EMT-like phenotype. However, when I analysed mRNA expression of EMT-related target genes, I found no differences in gene expression. Similarly, I found an increase in blastocyst attachment to Fallopian tube cells after exposure to carcinogenic cigarette smoke components Benzo(a)Pyrene [B(a)P] and Nicotine-derived Nitrosamine Ketone (NNK). However, I did not find any evidence of EMT in the Fallopian tube cells after exposure to these components. Despite this, I found that inhibiting TGF-β1 signalling in Fallopian tube cells before exposure to B(a)P in co-culture blocks the increase in blastocyst attachment caused by B(a)P.
Overall, these results are a step towards uncovering one of the major pathways involved in the occurrence of tEP. The results provide evidence that TGF-β1 is involved in stimulating blastocyst attachment to Fallopian tube epithelial cells. The results support the hypothesis that carcinogenic compounds in cigarette smoke may increase the chance of ectopic blastocyst attachment to Fallopian tube epithelial cells. Furthermore, B(a)P may act through the TGF-β1 signalling pathway to facilitate this increased blastocyst attachment. These results, therefore, warrant further investigation to determine if EMT is one of the mechanisms involved in tEP
The association between language context and cognitive control in Maltese-English bilinguals
No full textEarly research on the association between bilingualism and cognition used a dichotomous approach: bilinguals and monolinguals were compared on cognitive measures and the context in which a study took place was not considered. Some studies showed that bilinguals outperform monolinguals on specific cognitive tasks, while others found no differences between language groups. The 2010s saw the development of models and research that stressed the importance of sociolinguistic variables. These models accommodate conflicting evidence by suggesting that different contexts of language use place different demands on cognitive control processes. The present research focuses on the Maltese sociolinguistic context. In Malta - a small island country south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea - both Maltese and English are official and widely used languages. Whilst Maltese-English bilinguals typically code-switch amongst themselves, they need to restrict their use of Maltese when communicating with individuals - typically foreigners - who do not speak or understand the language. Thus, within the Maltese sociolinguistic environment, single-language contexts may upregulate cognitive control to a greater extent than code-switching contexts do. To address this prediction, three studies were carried out.
Using an experimental approach, the first study (Chapter 3) focuses on the effect of single- language and code-switching contexts on selective attention and attentional switching. Participants (N=101) took part in ecologically valid focus groups, followed by an attention task, and finally a language background questionnaire. The groups (3-4 people) consisted of either (A) Maltese-English speakers only or (B) Maltese-English speakers and at least one person who speaks English but not Maltese. Condition (A or B) did not affect performance on the attention tasks, however language use during the focus groups was associated with attentional control: whilst producing more code-switches was linked to lower attentional control, being in a context where others produce more code-switches was linked to higher attentional control. Higher levels of self-reported code-switching was also associated with lower performance on the attention tasks.
The second study (Chapter 4) collected word associations from Maltese-English speakers. Using a within-subjects design, participants (N=58) were given cue words in Maltese and English, and for each cue they were asked to type the first three words that came to their mind, be it in English or Maltese. The aim of this study was to prepare stimuli for the third study (Chapter 5), which investigated ‘false memories’ - situations in which people remember events that never occurred. The false memory experiment investigated the effect of single-language (Maltese or English) and code-switching (Maltese-English) contexts on false memories, theoretically mediated through selective attention. Participants (N=101) were allocated to one of three between-subjects conditions: (1) Maltese, (2) English, or (3) Maltese-English word lists. Importantly, the lists were based on the word associations of the target population - as per Study 2. For example, the sleep study list in the English condition consisted of the 15 most frequent word associations in English to the cue word sleep, but not the word sleep itself (the ‘false memory’). Whilst participants had false memories, language condition did not affect the probability of their occurrence.
Taken together, the experiments presented in this thesis do not support the hypothesis that between-group manipulations in temporary language context affect attention or memory. However, more fine-tuned analyses of language use suggest that individual differences in code-switching production and listening may be associated with differing levels of attentional control: whereas single-language contexts may benefit attentional control in the speaker, code-switching contexts may upregulate the same processes in the listener. This finding highlights the importance of considering more fine-grained variations in the sociolinguistic context in bilingualism-cognition research
The sweet life: sugar and development in Malawi’s Lower Shire Valley
Get PDFIn Africa, a resurgent focus on large-scale agriculture has found traction in recent policy debates, leading to a revival of the plantation model. Narratives of ‘win-win’ investment opportunities position large-scale agriculture as a major catalyst for development. However, critics question whether plantations can truly deliver on these development promises. Scholars debate the extent to which plantations can create sustainable livelihoods and enrich rural economies.
In Malawi, large-scale plantation agriculture has been a feature of the country’s agricultural-led development strategies in the six decades since its independence. Malawi has adopted outward-facing approaches to agricultural development and encouraged large-scale investment in land. And yet, little empirical research has been conducted on Malawi’s plantation economy in a post-colonial context. Ethnographic insight into the realities of life on a contemporary industrial plantation in Malawi is lacking.
Within the global sugar literature, analytical focus on the pivotal role of sugar in shaping the economic history of the modern world and the development dynamics of poor countries, is extensive. Historical debates between capitalist and Marxist views on trade and production have explored the role of sugar as a root of underdevelopment in historical contexts such as the Caribbean. In Africa, sugar has been framed as a catalyst for development. The political economy of corporate sugar production has been topical in the context of southern and eastern Africa. And yet, within this canon of literature, the story of Malawian sugar remains under researched.
This thesis is an ethnography of sugar production in Malawi’s Lower Shire Valley. Using ethnographic research methods and drawing on intersectional feminist scholarship, this thesis asks: what is the impact of corporate sugar production on development in Malawi’s Lower Shire Valley? How do organisational models and productive decisions in a sugar value chain shape development outcomes? What is the lived experience of sugar labour, and how do intersectional identities impact the dynamics of work? What do the economics of sugar production mean for sugar workers and growers, and what impact does this have on the rural economy of the Lower Shire Valley?
Using Nchalo Sugar Estate as a field site, this research is a qualitative, multivocal, interpretative work of ‘thick description’, based on the ‘insider knowledge’ gained through immersion in the everyday lives of sugar workers and growers in the Lower Shire Valley.
I first provide a history of sugar and development in Malawi, explored through literature and archival material. I situate this within the broader story of global sugar, and the specific story of a plantation enclave economy in Malawi’s Lower Shire Valley. Next, I analyse the sugar value chain at Nchalo, exploring the role of Illovo Sugar in shaping interfirm relationships and industry dynamics. I detail the stages of the sugar production process, and consider how productive decisions and market contexts shape development outcomes. Next, I explore the lived experience of plantation labour, illustrating the subjectivity of individual experiences, based upon the intersectional dynamics of workers’ social location. Next, I consider the livelihoods outcomes for households deriving sugar income. I show that households earning sugar income are substantially better-off in the valley than households without. However, I note a divergence of experience depending upon the asset portfolios and structural conditions of different worker positionalities. Finally, I consider what ‘development’ means for people in the valley, and illustrate the perceived markers of economic success. I note a series of factors which question assumptions around the permanence of development, garnered through a ‘sweet life’ shaped by employment, which is ultimately transient.
Ultimately, I argue that the sugar industry brings economic stability to thousands of people in the Lower Shire Valley, and that sugar fosters a unique community across the valley as a social space. The degree to which sugar is truly transformative, however, is not fully realised through employment alone. An organisational model which incorporates stronger inclusion for grower models, and more opportunities for the social upgrading of local firms, would deliver a stronger picture of rural development in the Lower Shire Valley, in addition to the benefits of employment alone
Feed Balances: Using earth observation data to assess feed security
Get PDFPresented at Building the Resilience and Prosperity of Pastoralists and Dryland Communities, Nairobi, Kenya, 1-2 October 202
Self-assembly Spirulina platensis/gallic acid hydrogel for gastrointestinal diseases
Get PDFGastrointestinal (GI) diseases encompass a range of disorders affecting the GI tract and accessory digestive organs. In 2019, these diseases accounted for 2276.27 million estimated prevalent cases and 2.56 million deaths worldwide. This poses a significant health challenge worldwide. Oral administration remains the predominant route for GI disease treatment. However, traditional drug therapies are limited by poor bioavailability and biocompatibility. Thus, developing innovative oral drug delivery strategies is crucial. Recently, the selfassembly of natural compounds to supramolecular hydrogels has been highlighted as a promising approach to treat diseases due to their biocompatibility and enhanced bioavailability. In this study, I developed a novel self-assembled hydrogel strategy (SP@GA-gel) to treat GI diseases via oral administration. This composite hydrogel co-delivers gallic acid (GA), a natural small molecule polyphenol noted for its outstanding pharmacological effects, and Spirulina platensis (SP), a helical-shaped cyanobacterium approved by the FDA for human consumption. A high-concentration homogenous GA solution was prepared through heating and natural cooling processes, followed by the integration of SP samples. The fibrous flocculation SP@GA-gel formed spontaneously via π-π stacking and hydrogen bond interactions, resulting in a three-dimensional network structure. Notably, the SP@GA-gel increased the water solubility of GA, delivered favorable adhesion and release properties, and improved retention and biodistribution within the GI tract. In vitro experiments demonstrated that SP@GA-gel exhibited remarkable protective effects and reactive oxygen species scavenging ability when challenged with lipopolysaccharide or oxidative stress. This study provides preliminary evidence that SP@GA-gel possesses exceptional characteristics, for treating GI diseases and paves the way for in vivo development and safety testing
Engineering YAP1/TAZ reporter human ES cell lines to study endothelial-to-haematopoietic transition
No full textHaematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplants are a powerful tool in treatment of certain blood borne diseases. However, access to HSC is outweighed by patient demand, affecting some patient groups disproportionately. One potential solution is the generation of HSCs de novo from pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem (hES) cells. Current in vitro haematopoietic differentiation protocols, however, fail in generating HSC efficiently in the absence of genetic alteration due to not recapitulation of key developmental cues. In the embryo, a small subset of endothelial cells (ECs) lining the dorsal aorta (DA), called the haematogenic endothelium (HE), can undergo an endothelialto- haematopoietic transition (EHT) culminating in the emergence of HSCs. The molecular mechanisms that underpin HE formation and EHT remain poorly understood, partly due to lacking marker combination distinguishing between haematogenic and nonhaematogenic EC. Recent publications suggest that blood-flow related physical cues exerted on the DA during HSC emergence contribute to EHT. Thus, a lack of adequate mechanical cues in current protocols may explain difficulties in HSC generation. Additionally, unpublished data from our lab suggests that central mechanotransducers YAP1 (Yes-associated protein 1) and TAZ (transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif) are downregulated as ECs undergo EHT. Therefore, we hypothesised that YAP1 and TAZ mechanoregulation needs to be downregulated for EHT to occur. We decided to pursue this hypothesis using human ES cells as model as it is a tractable system that allows imaging during EHT and manipulation of physical microenvironment through altering the culture conditions. First, to facilitate continuous imaging during in vitro EHT, I established a novel in vitro EHT protocol, which enables the haematopoietic maturation of phenotypically defined HE in a monolayer, which can be readily imaged. Then, to measure endogenous expression of YAP1 and TAZ during in vitro EHT and allow for functional analysis of relevant populations, I generated two independent hES reporter cell lines H9ʸᴬᴾ¹⁻ᵖ²ᴬ⁻ᵐᶜʰᵉʳʳʸ and H9ᵀᴬᶻ⁻ᵍˡʸ.²⁻ᵐᴺᵉᵒⁿ. In vitro haematopoietic differentiation of H9ʸᴬᴾ¹⁻ᵖ²ᴬ⁻ᵐᶜʰᵉʳʳʸ and H9ᵀᴬᶻ⁻ᵍˡʸ.²⁻ᵐᴺᵉᵒⁿ cell lines recapitulates downregulation of YAP1-mCherry and TAZ-mNeon with progressing EHT, respectively. Furthermore, chemical inhibition of YAP1/TAZ-signalling in ECs increases the numbers of generated haematopoietic progenitors, which suggests that YAP1/TAZ downregulation indeed contributes to EHT
Rethinking urban play opportunities and urban landscape for children and young women living in extremely densely populated neighbourhoods of Dhaka, Bangladesh
No full textThe changes in contemporary societies have influenced childhood experiences. For instance, children’s play opportunities, habits and activities are diverting from outdoors to indoors, thereby contributing to more sedentary lifestyles. This development is exacerbated by contemporary global trends of increasing screen-based play and a growing preference for indoor games. One key negative impact of this is the rise in childhood obesity, impacting approximately 40 million children under the age of five globally. This can also be attributed to factors such as inadequate PA, which were amplified by the COVID-19 lockdowns. In the context of increasingly dense cities in developing countries like Dhaka in Bangladesh, where significant densification of residential areas in both built and population aspects is taking place, outdoor spaces for play are now absent in many neighbourhoods of this city. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a minimum of 5,000 to 10,000 square metres of public green space within 300 metres of residents' homes in urban areas. However, Dhaka falls significantly short of this standard, with less than one square metre of open space available per person in central areas. This is concerning, especially considering that 33% of the country’s population is children under 18. Consequently, a significant percentage of the population now has limited access to the urban landscape, resulting in negative impacts on the physical, cognitive, and social development of children and young women.
What can be done about this? How can play opportunities and the rights of the child to play, as stated by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, be re-established in dense cities like Dhaka? This research investigates the possibility of reversing this trend in Dhaka by examining the needs of children and young women, a social group with particular problems in Dhaka’s conservative Muslim society. How do young women (16-20 years) perceive the urban landscape, and how can the provision of outdoor activities and opportunities for social interaction be particularly enhanced for them? This study follows a case study approach to investigate the potential for creating both immediate and long-term outdoor spaces and play opportunities in selected neighbourhoods, considering the neighbourhood scale. This research is designed following two methodological approaches for the two distinct demographic groups: children and young women (16- 20 years). Methods such as spatial analysis, participant observation, focus groups, interviews, analysis of children’s drawings, photovoice, and co-design workshops were employed for data collection. Underutilised and unrecognised spaces were identified through spatial analysis and engagement with the community in the selected study areas. The concept of Urban Acupuncture, which involves small-scale interventions with significant community impact, has been used to incorporate play opportunities within these identified spaces. The results of this research present potential play opportunities in urban neighbourhoods for children and young women, considering their needs and perceptions of outdoor activities.
This research addressed the design and policy interventions regarding the use of urban landscapes by children and young women. The primary findings of this research were the location of potential sites for ‘urban acupuncture’ to accommodate children and young women in extremely densely populated study neighbourhoods, providing approximately 2.6 sqm of open space per child in a neighbourhood block where there had previously been almost no accessible or useable open space per person. These findings and methodology can be replicated to improve these individuals' well-being and promote a more inclusive and sustainable urban landscape in the neighbourhoods of Dhaka
Coastal change adaptation – are we prepared?
No full textThis report reviews the maturity of coastal change adaptation planning across Scottish local authorities and the efficacy of coastal change adaptation planning guidance and funding
Flexibility in heat and energy efficiency regulations – property characteristics
No full textThis report investigates property data from public and private datasets to understand the number and location of properties in Scotland that may need flexibility in future Heat in Buildings regulations
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