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Low-temperature thermochronology of the Midland Valley of Scotland: insights into its thermal evolution
No full textAbstract not currently available
Investigations of the retinal and systemic vasculature in type 1 diabetes: the impact of endothelial metabolism
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Older Scots poetry in Italian translation
Get PDFThis thesis discusses Italian translation of poetry written in Older Scots, a historical Germanic language related to English and spoken in large parts of Scotland until the seventeenth century. It has a bipartite objective.
Firstly, it assesses critically, for the first time, all traceable published translations of Older Scots poetry into Italian, bringing together within one single study different translations that were published at different times for different publishers and different audiences. By adopting and expanding Maria Vittoria Molinari’s translator-philologist (TP) approach (Molinari 2002), the thesis integrates analytical techniques drawn from Translation Studies within the broader philological analysis which underpins this study to examine the strategies adopted by translators. It thereby delineates and assesses the rationale behind, and the function of, the target texts within the discrete communicative specificities of the sociocultural and editorial contexts in which they were published.
Secondly, mapping to the main points emerging from the analysis of the published poems in the first half of the thesis, it will show through illustrative examples how a TP approach can be adopted to produce translations of Older Scots poems that have never been translated before in Italian. The TP approach disputes that translators of medieval literature should adopt one single edition as their unique source text. Rather, the second half of the thesis illustrates how to engage critically with both manuscript and print sources of the published translations, arguing that readers should be made aware of medieval literature’s textual ‘instability’ – meaning the frequent impossibility to establish an archetypal version of the text as it may have been originally conceived and transmitted.
By clearly demarcating the texts discussed herein as translations of literature written in Older Scots, the thesis seeks to advance much-needed recognition for Older Scots language and literature as a distinct yet contiguous entity to English/Middle English studies within an italophone academic context. Through this, it aims to promote wider awareness of the unique development of the Scots language. This action is urgently needed, given that Scots is now officially recognised as a minority language at risk of disappearing – and that its history, both within and beyond Scotland, is barely known
Why high-achieving students avoid STEM careers: a Q-methodology study in China and Scotland
Get PDFStudying students’ STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) career aspirations has been a critical area of research for understanding students’ perspectives, motivations, and attitudes. However, many countries face a significant shortage of STEM talent, compounded by the concerningly low proportion of high-achieving students aspiring to STEM-related careers. To investigate why some high-achieving students opt against STEM pathways, this study focuses on China and Scotland—two nations with a high proportion of academically high-achieving students but a comparatively low interest in STEM careers. Despite these shared characteristics, the contrasting educational and cultural contexts of China and Scotland provide unique perspectives for understanding students’ career aspirations.
This study employs Q-methodology to explore students’ perspectives on STEM careers, combining Q-sorting and interviews to collect data. A systematic literature review and a questionnaire were used to develop 31 statements for the Q-sorting activity, representing potential reasons for students’ lack of interest in STEM careers. These reasons were framed using the Expectancy-Value-Cost (EVC) model and Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). A total of 15 Chinese and 10 Scottish students participated in the Q-sorting exercise, ranking the statements based on their personal views. Post-sorting interviews followed to allow participants to elaborate on their reasoning and provide additional insights. Data from the Q sorts were analysed using PQMethod 2.35 software, while the interviews underwent thematic analysis using NVivo 14.
The analysis identified three distinct factors among Chinese participants: I Lack Competitiveness, I Prefer a Non-STEM Career, and STEM Careers Come at a High Cost. For the Scottish participants, two factors emerged: I Don’t Belong to STEM Fields and STEM Is Not My Dream Job. The findings highlight nuanced perspectives within and across the two cultural contexts, revealing both similarities and differences in how students perceive STEM careers. Findings further revealed the application of the EVC model in describing students’ intention to avoid or leave STEM careers.
This study concludes by emphasising the significant value of the EVC and SCCT frameworks in understanding students’ STEM career aspirations. In particular, the EVC framework proved instrumental in analysing the lack of career aspirations or intentions to withdraw from STEM pathways. Practical recommendations for educators, policymakers, and researchers are proposed, including strategies to overcome barriers to STEM career aspirations, foster deeper student engagement with STEM disciplines, and design educational policies that are better aligned with students’ motivations, aspirations, and needs. Furthermore, the study addresses its limitations, offering a solid foundation for future research to examine the intricate relationships between motivational factors, perceptions, and contextual influences within diverse cultural and educational landscapes
Psychosocial influences on the health and wellbeing of autistic individuals
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Using simple and complex wound in vitro biofilm models for testing of novel therapeutics
Get PDFChronic wound infections, driven by resilient polymicrobial biofilms and escalating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), present a critical therapeutic challenge that requires alternative interventions. This thesis investigates innovative strategies to combat biofilm-associated infections, primarily focusing on cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and repurposed compounds as alternatives to conventional therapies. Using in vitromodels mimicking chronic wound microenvironments, including mono- and triadic- species biofilms of Staphylococcusaureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candidaalbicans, the study evaluates three key themes relating to antimicrobial testing.
CAP monotherapy (chapter 3) demonstrated time- and strain-dependent antimicrobial efficacy, with ≥3-log10 reductions in biofilm viability linked to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and reactive species generation. S. aureus exhibited strain-specific tolerance, while CAP disrupted polymicrobial community dynamics and induced oxidative damage visible via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Dual therapies (chapter 4)combining CAP with repurposed agents (e.g., KHS 101 hydrochloride) or antiseptics H₂O₂, and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) overcame biofilm tolerance, achieving synergistic eradication (>3-log10 CFE reductions) in recalcitrant S. aureus-containing models with the novel dual intervention: KHS+CAP emerged as a lead strategy, destabilising biofilm matrices and enhancing oxidative stress. H₂O₂-antibiotic combinations(chapter 5) showed that H₂O₂ potentiated flucloxacillin and gentamicin against early-stage S. aureus biofilms, particularly in strain Newman. Synergy depended on treatment sequence, suggesting that such an intervention, if used clinically, would require careful consideration.
Key findings from this thesis have shown that such alternative therapies could be utilised for biofilm treatment in chronic wound management. In particular, the broad-spectrum activity of CAP and synergy with a repurposed agent (KHS) offers a potential replacement for antibiotic interventions during the care of such patients, which was demonstrated here using in vitro model systems. Alternatively, H₂O₂-mediated antibiotic re-sensitisation offers another pathway to mitigate AMR. Ultimately, multi-modal approaches rather than single-agent treatments, particularly those that “break” antimicrobial tolerance provide the most promising alternatives
Effects of modifiable lifestyle choices and related public health policy in pregnancy. Impact on maternal and offspring outcomes, a population-based linkage study
Get PDFAlcohol and opioid use during pregnancy are associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. This thesis examines the impact of public health interventions on alcohol consumption during pregnancy and on perinatal outcomes. Associations between different levels of alcohol consumption and maternal and childhood outcomes are also explored. Finally, the impact of different opioid substitution therapies, Methadone and Buprenorphine, on perinatal outcomes is systematically assessed.
Population-based data from Scotland is used to conduct an interrupted time series analysis of the impact of three public health interventions on alcohol consumption during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes (Chapter 2). To explore different levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes, women who consumed less than or equal to four units of alcohol per week were compared to women who consumed no alcohol, and women who consumed greater than four units of alcohol per week. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the associations between alcohol consumption and perinatal outcomes (Chapter 3). Finally, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compare methadone and buprenorphine therapies on pregnancy outcomes (Chapter 4 and 5).
In Scotland, approximately one in four women report drinking alcohol in pregnancy. Minimum unit pricing was associated with a reduction in volume of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and in babies born small for gestational age, neonatal unit admissions, and stillbirths. Alcohol consumption of under four units of alcohol per week was not associated with any increase in adverse perinatal outcomes, but harm was more likely to occur as consumption increased. In a meta-analysis of opioid substitution therapies, Buprenorphine compared with Methadone was associated with improvements in neonatal and maternal outcomes in both RCTs and Cohort Studies.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is common, with many women consuming less than four units per week. The implementation of a universal policy to increase the cost of alcohol was associated with a fall in alcohol consumption among pregnant women and improvement in pregnancy outcomes, and this can be monitored using routinely collected data. Buprenorphine improved perinatal outcomes compared to Methadone.
This body of work uses routinely collected healthcare data to examine the impact of public health measures and treatment strategies to minimise harm from exposure to alcohol and drugs in the pregnant population. A combination of narrative review, systematic review and meta-analysis, time-series analysis, and regression modelling was used to achieve this. The studies included in this thesis highlight the importance of population-based public health measures and evidence-based treatments, demonstrating that such interventions have a positive impact on the pregnant population resulting in improved maternal and childhood outcomes
Characterising the transcriptional, spatial and behavioural consequences of TLR7-driven neuroinflammation
Get PDFNeuropsychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety, are a burden for both the people living with them and from a socioeconomic viewpoint. Traditional pharmacological interventions for these syndromes primarily focus on altering levels of monoamine neurotransmitter availability within the brain. From this patient group, a non-responsive fraction to these monoamine treatments has emerged. This calls for better understanding of alternative pathophysiology that can lead to these clinical conditions. From this search for different causative pathways of neuropsychiatric conditions, an inflammation-driven theory emerged. This neuroinflammation-focused pathophysiology proposes that raised intracerebral pro-inflammatory cytokines can alter neural circuits and ultimately result in behavioural changes.
The molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning neuroinflammation are relatively poorly understood. To further understand these neural changes, this work uses the Aldara model of non-invasive toll-like receptor (TLR)-7-driven neuroinflammation. The Aldara model involves topically applied cream containing imiquimod (IMQ), which is a TLR7 agonist. This has been found to trigger both a peripheral dermal psoriasis-like response and cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) to directly activate TLR7-expressing CNS-resident cells. This thesis focuses on characterising the transcriptional global and region-specific TLR7-driven neuroinflammation. Both brain-resident microglia and peripheral T cell populations will be explored in respect to their cytokine production and reactive status. To characterise the interplay between microglia and mature lymphocytes, RAG2KO mice which lack B and T cells were used. Spatial transcriptomics was used to evaluate the immune cell response within the Aldara model and transcriptionally investigate brain regions linked to reward behaviours. To further characterise inflammation-driven behavioural changes, a battery of behavioural tests have been implemented to characterise anxiety-like and anhedonia-like behaviours.
This data presents a transcriptionally-validated global neuroinflammation response within the Aldara model. Both microglia and T cells are found to actively produce cytokines in the TLR7-driven neuroinflammation. Spatial transcriptomics identified 5 potential subclusters of immune cells within the CNS. These had a primary pro-inflammatory transcriptional signature with suggestions of a potential anti-inflammatory response. Immune-rich neighbourhoods in the brain were found uniquely in Aldara-treated mice via spatial transcriptomics. RAG2KO Aldara-treated mice still displayed heightened microglial reactivity via Iba1+ staining. Brain regions associated with reward circuity were found to upregulate pro-inflammatory transcriptional responses and downregulate synaptic signalling-related genes. Behavioural tests documented an anhedonia-like phenotype within Aldara-treated mice. This work presents the Aldara model as a useful non-invasive tool to study neuroinflammation
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