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Plant polyphenols as natural drugs for the management of Down syndrome and related disorders
No full textPolyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants largely found in fruits, vegetables, cereals and beverages, and therefore represent important constituents of the human diet. Increasing studies have demonstrated the potential beneficial effects of polyphenols on human health. Extensive reviews have discussed the protective effects of polyphenols against a series of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Limited studies have investigated the potential therapeutic effects of these natural compounds on neurodevelopmental disorders associated with intellectual disability, such as Down syndrome (DS), for which mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative stress are hallmarks and contribute to the deleterious symptoms and cognitive decline. This review, starting from the structure, source, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of relevant polyphenols, highlights recent studies on the effect and potential molecular mechanism(s) of action of the phenolic compounds epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol and hydroxytyrosol in restoring mitochondrial energy deficit and in reversing phenotypical alteration in DS. The clinical implications of plant polyphenol dietary supplements as therapeutic tools in managing DS and other intellectual disability-related diseases, is also discussed.13 page(s
Early intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by practice nurse and GP teams : a cluster randomized trial
No full textBackground: Early detection and intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could potentially slow disease progress and minimize harm. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of early intervention by a practice nurse-GP team on quality of life (QoL) and process of care in patients with newly diagnosed COPD, compared with usual care. Nurses and GPs in intervention practices were educated to develop and implement disease management plans for COPD. Methods: A 12-month, multicentre, pragmatic randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment was conducted. Participants were current and former smokers aged 40 to 85 years newly identified as having COPD on post-bronchodilator spirometry. The primary outcome was health-related QoL, assessed with the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Secondary outcome measures were other QoL measures, lung function, disease knowledge, smoking and immunization status, inhaler technique and health service use. Results: Of the 10 234 patients from 36 practices in Sydney invited to a case-finding appointment, 1641 (16%) attended and 287 (18%) were diagnosed with COPD. Nineteen practices (144 patients) were randomized to the intervention group and 17 practices (110 patients) to the control group. Only 15.3% (n = 22) patients in the intervention group saw the nurse for COPD care following case finding. There was no between-group difference in SGRQ score at follow-up (mean difference −0.21; P = 0.86). Influenza vaccination was higher in the intervention group (OR 2.31: P = 0.035), but there were no other significant between-group differences in outcomes. Conclusion: Intervention uptake was low and had no additional beneficial effect, over usual care, on participants’ health-related QoL.8 page(s
The Sum of all fears : conceptual challenges with measuring fear of cancer recurrence [commentary]
No full textFear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is increasingly recognised as a major concern for people with cancer once active treatment is completed. Several instruments have been designed to assess FCR; however, no gold standard has emerged. Many instruments conceptualise FCR as a multidimensional construct. However, this potentially conflates FCR as an outcome with its antecedents and consequences. This is problematic when an aggregate of distinct dimensions is calculated, as is commonly recommended. For example, the total score on the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory is an aggregate of items from seven sub-scales: triggers, severity, psychological distress, coping strategies, functioning impairments, insight and reassurance. Similarly, the total score on the Fear of Progression Questionnaire is an aggregate of affective reaction, partnership/family, work and loss of autonomy. Arguably, the severity and affective reaction domains represent fear, and the other sub-scales represent related concepts, rather than “dimensions” of FCR. The total score represents a combination of concepts whose meaning is unclear. The same total score could be produced by patients with very different experiences, and patients with the same level of fear could have very different total scores. Therefore, we argue that although the level of FCR may be determined by a complex network of antecedents and modifiers and have variable consequences, FCR itself may be a simple concept, which can be assessed using a smaller number of items. Conceptual clarity in its research infancy should prevent FCR becoming a construct that is vaguely operationalised and interpreted.3 page(s
Investigating Word Order Processing Using Pupillometry and Event-Related Potentials
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 154-156.1 Literature Review -- 2 Intermediate Gap processing & Pupillometry in L2 Speakers of English -- 3 Investigating the Processing of German Word Order in Adults -- 4 Investigating the Processing of German Word Order in Children -- 5 Exploring Animacy in Object Relative Clauses using ERP -- 6 Conclusions -- References.This thesis focuses on the processing costs associated with understanding spoken sentences with different word orders and grammatical constructions. These types of constructions are investigated using a psychophysiological (i.e. the physiological measures that underlie psychological processing) measure known as pupillometry, and the last study employs electroencephalography (EEG). Although the unifying goal of the thesis is to examine processing costs using psychophysical measures, the scope of the thesis is quite broad, investigating the processing of several different syntactic constructions and across different populations - children, native speakers of German, native speakers of English, and highly proficient second language speakers (L2) of English. The first empirical chapter (Chapter 2) focuses on filler gap dependences and how native speakers of English and skilled second language speakers of English process these difficult syntactic constructions. It reports an empirical study that uses pupillometry to test whether second language speakers are able to process a type of filler gap dependency, known as an intermediate gap, in the same way as native speakers, and in doing so tests the Shallow Structure Hypothesis (Clahsen and Felser, 2006).1.6.2 Chapter 3 & 4The third and fourth chapters focus on the processing costs associated with different word orders in German sentences, as well as the processing costs that can arise as a result of the inherent ambiguity of some of these word orders. The empirical studies examine the processing of these constructions using pupillometry with adults (Chapter 3) and children (Chapter 4) aiming to test competing theories and to validate pupillometry as an effective method for testing the processing of word order in both adults and children.1.6.3 Chapter 5Chapter 5 focuses on subject and object relative clauses and the role that animacy plays in processing these constructions in English; the empirical study uses electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the processing of these constructions. EEG measures brain activity through electrodes on the scalp, and in Chapter 5 these measurements are averaged together (and the random noise averaged out) giving us event related potentials (ERP), which provide information about brain activity in response to a stimulus (in this case object relative clause constructions). There seems to be a link between brain activity and pupil response (see for example, Aston-Jones & Cohen, 2005), and more research is needed investigating pupil change in relation to brain activity. Chapter 5 aims to test competing processing theories of object relative constructions while manipulating animacy with the aim of a future study that will correlate ERP and pupillometry.Available in electronic formvii, 159 pages illustrations 30 c
Development and analysis of web resources using glycoinformatics
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 81-84.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Development of RINGS: Resource for INformatics of Glycomes at Soka -- Chapter 3. Further development of RINGS -- Chapter 4. Construction of theoretical N -ycan database -- Chapter 5. A tool for predicting glycan synthetic pathways and glycosyltransferases candidates --Chapter 6. Conclusion.Glycans are known to be vital in regard to cell - cell communications and biological development. They are molecules that are synthesized sequentially by enzymes (glycosyltransferases), in contrast to template - based synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins. Currently, glycan - related data obtained by experimental methods are stored in several databases such as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) GLYCAN databases, the Consortium for Functional Glycomics (CFG) and GlycomeDB. Databases have developed independently with individual formats to handle a glycan structure. Therefore it has not been not easy for users to compare the information between databases. Another issue has been that the majority of the algorithms for glycoinformatics research have not been developed as tools, and thus biologists in practice cannot apply their original data to useful algorithms. In present work, in order to enable biologists to utilize these important algorithms for glycoscience research, we have developed two major systems. First, we have develop ed RINGS (Resource for I Nformatics of Glycomes at Soka) which provide s web - based tools for glycan structural analysis that use mathematical and data - mining strategies . I have contributed t o the development of a part of RINGS architectur that links web tool systems and RINGS database . I have also developed two tool systems : Glycan Score Matrix and Glycan Kernel Tool , and two utilities, IUPACtoKCF and GlycoCT{condensed}toKCF . Second, we have developed UniCorn database which stores computationally calculated N - glycans based on the known glycosyltransferase activities of humans. I have collected all of the human glycosyltransferase s related to N - glycan biosynthesis from existing databases including KEGG, GGDB, C AZy, CFG and UniProt. Thereafter, I have developed a system for generating theoretical N - glycans. As a result, we were able to generate over 1 million theoretical N - glycan structures which are saved in UniCorn database. Computational models have been developed to aid the reduc tion of cost and save time for predicting features of glycan structures and synthesis pathways . However, there are gaps between in silico and in vivo studies associated with glycanomics research. In this study, we have filled a major gap in glycosciences by developing the first web resource of data mining tools and algorithms focused on glycan structures as well as developing a comprehensive theoretical N - glycan database. We anticipate that this study will play a key role in filling the gaps between glycobiological analyses in vivo and in silico.1 online resource (xii, 89, xii pages) illustration
Development and evaluation of an information booklet for grandparents of children with cancer
No full textThe needs of grandparents of children with cancer are often overlooked. This study evaluated a new educational resource (booklet) targeted toward grandparents of children with cancer. A multidisciplinary committee developed a printed booklet targeting grandparents' information needs identified in a previous study. Seventy-nine grandparents of children with cancer (63% grandmothers, M[age] = 66.04, SD = 7.0 years) read and evaluated the booklet. Quantitative responses were analyzed with SPSS, and qualitative responses were thematically coded using QSR NVivo 10. Grandparents' responses to the resource were positive, with 92% finding the booklet "informative" (n = 73), "useful" (84%, n = 66), and "very relevant" (50%, n = 39). Qualitative responses reflected an appreciation for the booklet's readability, informative content, and quotes from grandparent experiences. The developed booklet was highly acceptable to grandparents of children with cancer and addressed their need for reassurance and guidance on obtaining further support. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing and evaluating a targeted resource to meet grandparent’s identified information needs.9 page(s
Numerical study on the formation and early developmentof tropical cyclones
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 141-156.1. Introduction -- 2. Data sources and methodology -- 3. MCSs development and rate of TC formation -- 4. Convective-scale system dynamics -- 5. Observed warm core development as revealed by microwave sounding data -- 6. Summary -- References.This study investigates the formation mechanisms and early development of tropical cyclones (TCs) through both observational data analysis and numerical model simulations. Typhoon Ketsana (2003) in the western North Pacific is the major case study and has been simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. First, the roles that mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) play in determining the rate of TC formation is investigated by comparing the simulation of Typhoon Ketsana, which involved multiple MCSs during its formation, with that of Typhoon Dan (1999) with only one MCS involved. Diagnoses of the convection activity, convective energy consumption and recovery show that the longer the convective heating supply from the convective clouds is, the longer is the preconditioning period before TC forms and starts to intensify.In addition, this study further analyses the contribution from the convective-scale vortical hot towers, or, in more general convectively induced vorticity anomalies (CVAs), to the formation of Typhoon Ketsana. Scale separation showed that the activity of the convective-scale vortices correlate well with the development of the MCSs. These convectively induced vorticity anomalies have large values of positive relative vorticity induced by intense low-level convergence but at the same time large downdrafts associated with negative relative vorticity. The system dynamics through which the CVAs can get organised to form the system-scale surface vortex is analysed with several measures, such as merger index and OWZP.Observed TC warm-core structure is also examined in this study. The warm core structures of 17 TCs in monsoon trough of the western North Pacific are analysed using the AMSU-A microwave brightness temperature data. Although there is limitation of the data such as signal scattering by ice, with proper interpretation of the limitations on applications, the temperature retrieval from passive microwave data is able to indicate the warm-core development processes in TCs well. On the other hand, the WRF simulations indicate that every MCS was associated with strong mid- to upper-level heating as typically found in stratiform clouds. However, the simulated warm core development of Typhoon Ketsana shows some interesting development with variation in the warm core height and potential double warm core development. The relationship of such development to MCS activity is discussed.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xii, 156 pages) colour illustration
After Nine Eleven 2001: politics, law and Australian democracy
No full textThesis by publication.Includes bibliographical references.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Terrorism : language and meaning -- Chapter 3. Parliamentary committees : parliamentarians -- Chapter 4. Published works -- Chapter 5. Conclusion -- References -- Appendices.This research combines aspects of politics and law. The focus is on the political and legislative responses by the Australian Parliament to the terrorist attacks in the United States of America on 11 September 2001. These responses were driven, among other things, by power, politics, fear and Australia’s close association with the United States of America. The research was informed by interview responses from a number of parliamentarians sitting in Federal Parliament in the years 2001–4.A focus on the political and legislative responses recognises the significance that politics, including party politics, plays in Parliament when enacting important and contentious legislation. Interview responses highlight the dominant role the office of prime minister played in Australia’s legislative responses. Other outcomes from interviews include the narrowing of community representation in Parliament, the role of fear in political decision-making and a belief that the Parliament was expected to act decisively to protect Australians.The political and legislative responses to terrorism in Australia are underpinned by history and philosophy, with the research being guided by the distinct but equally useful perspectives of Camus’ analysis of rebellion and Luhmann’s social systems theory, combined with interviews of parliamentarians. These interviews had a foundation in Emy’s earlier interviews and analysis of members of Parliament. This approach provided a strong base on which to analyse and discuss Australia’s response to the events of 9/11. Trends and future risks to Australia’s democracy are identified and discussed.A series of papers provide an in-depth discussion and analysis of selected issues, including the Australian–American alliance, the use of secret evidence and closed courts, how and why cogent punishments were handed out to persons convicted in Australia under the new terrorism offences, the impact of terrorism on corporate governance and collateral uses of terrorism legislation by the Government. A common theme emerging from the research is the influence a charged national security environment has in a democracy when conflicts arise over individual versus state rights.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xii, 412 pages
Voicing contrast in Nepali infant-directed speech
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 57-60.1. Introduction -- 2. Literature review -- 3. Method -- 4. Results -- 5. Discussion -- 6. Conclusion -- 7. References -- Appendices.Studies investigating voicing in oral stops using voice onset time (VOT) in IDS and ADS, present mixed results regarding the presence of hyper-articulation of VOT in IDS. However, there have been no studies of VOT in IDS in a language with a four-way contrasts of voicing in stops such as Nepali.Sixteen Nepali speaking mother-infant dyads were recruited. Four target pictures of minimal pair objects, each contrasting in onset consonant voicing (/ɡa.ɖa/ ‘bullock cart’, /ɡʱa.ʈi/‘neck’, /ka.ʈa/ ‘hairpin’, and /kʰa.na/ ‘food’) were selected as targets. Mothers were asked to play with their infant using the target pictures, thereby eliciting IDS. To elicit ADS, mothers were asked to interact with the adult experimenter. Acoustic analysis was then carried out for all word initial stops in the target words that occurred in sentence initial position or in isolation, in both IDS and ADS. Voicing cues were measured as lead time and lag time. In addition, the occurrence of devoicing (complete absence of lead time) in voiced consonants was recorded as a binary variable. Vowel duration was measured to control for speaking rate. The aim of the current study was to test two hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that there would be hyper-articulation of devoicing, lead time, and lag time in IDS compared to ADS.The second hypothesis was that the hyper-articulation might be a side-effect of speaking rate differences.The results showed the absence of hyper-articulation of devoicing, lead time, and lag time in IDS. Rather, the higher rate of devoicing and shorter lag time led to poorer voicing contrasts between the stop categories in IDS compared to ADS. Further, this difference between the categories could not be explained by speaking rate differences between the registers. The longer vowels in IDS suggest that mothers focus more on vowels while talking to infants, and this appears to have the effect of shortening the onset consonants.To our knowledge, this is the first time that the voicing contrast in IDS is being looked at this way. This then has wide ranging theoretical implications for better understanding the nature of IDS and its effects on language learning.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (78 pages) colour illustration