244 research outputs found
The production of polymer fibres with high performance and FT-Raman spectroscopy at 1.3µm
No full textThe work described in this thesis involved the role of molten metal baths in the quench cooling of polyethylene in the production of polymer Abres with high performance. A melt-spinning rig was designed and constructed. Chapter 2 describes how polymer fibres were produced from the melt by spinning fibres through a reservoir of molten melt which was held at temperatures near the melting point of the polymer. Polyethylene fibres with a tensile modulus of the order of 25 GPa and tensile strength approaching 1 GPa were produced by a process of melt spinning followed by cold drawing to a draw ratio of 15. Raman spectroscopy is an invaluable analytical tool used in a multitude of applications. The ease and versatility of the technique provides a simple method for identification and studying crystallinity of specimens. The fbremost choice of laser source for FT-Raman has been the continuous wave Nd3+: YAG solid state laser operating at 1.064 µm. Chapter 4 investigates the possibility of using the 1.319 µm lasing emission from the Nd3+:YAG laser as an alternate source. The sensitivity of the source is determined, applications are illustrated and the limitations commented upon.</p
sj-docx-1-cpc-10.1177_10556656231191384 - Supplemental material for Patient Factors Influencing Speech Outcomes in Velopharyngeal Function Following Initial Cleft Palate Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
No full textSupplemental material, sj-docx-1-cpc-10.1177_10556656231191384 for Patient Factors Influencing Speech Outcomes in Velopharyngeal Function Following Initial Cleft Palate Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by David C. G. Sainsbury, Caroline C. Williams, Sophie Butterworth, Catherine de Blacam, Matthew J. Fell, Joanne Mullen, William Breakey, Colm Murphy, Peter D. Hodgkinson and Yvonne Wren in The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal</p
Tandem repeat copy-number variation in protein-coding regions of human genes
No full textBACKGROUND: Tandem repeat variation in protein-coding regions will alter protein length and may introduce frameshifts. Tandem repeat variants are associated with variation in pathogenicity in bacteria and with human disease. We characterized tandem repeat polymorphism in human proteins, using the UniGene database, and tested whether these were associated with host defense roles. RESULTS: Protein-coding tandem repeat copy-number polymorphisms were detected in 249 tandem repeats found in 218 UniGene clusters; observed length differences ranged from 2 to 144 nucleotides, with unit copy lengths ranging from 2 to 57. This corresponded to 1.59% (218/13,749) of proteins investigated carrying detectable polymorphisms in the copy-number of protein-coding tandem repeats. We found no evidence that tandem repeat copy-number polymorphism was significantly elevated in defense-response proteins (p = 0.882). An association with the Gene Ontology term 'protein-binding' remained significant after covariate adjustment and correction for multiple testing. Combining this analysis with previous experimental evaluations of tandem repeat polymorphism, we estimate the approximate mean frequency of tandem repeat polymorphisms in human proteins to be 6%. Because 13.9% of the polymorphisms were not a multiple of three nucleotides, up to 1% of proteins may contain frameshifting tandem repeat polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: Around 1 in 20 human proteins are likely to contain tandem repeat copy-number polymorphisms within coding regions. Such polymorphisms are not more frequent among defense-response proteins; their prevalence among protein-binding proteins may reflect lower selective constraints on their structural modification. The impact of frameshifting and longer copy-number variants on protein function and disease merits further investigation
The role of contextual information in expert anticipation
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonWhile it is well established that expert performers can pick up and utilise postural cues to anticipate more effectively than less-skilled counterparts, the role of contextual information in expert anticipation has received relatively little research attention. The aims of this thesis were to highlight the importance of contextual information in anticipation, identify specific sources of contextual information that impact anticipation, and examine how this information is used. In five studies, skilled and less-skilled tennis players were presented with videos or animations of the same open play rallies. The animations omitted postural information, constraining participants to anticipate based on contextual information alone. First, participants anticipated more accurately than chance in both display conditions. Skilled participants were more accurate than less-skilled participants, with the difference being greater in the video condition. Second, gaze data and retrospective verbal reports were collected when viewing the animations. Skilled participants displayed different gaze behaviour and more thoroughly evaluated the presented information than less-skilled participants. Third, animations were manipulated to depict or omit potential sources of contextual information. The preceding shot sequence was shown to be a useful source of contextual information, particularly for skilled participants. Additionally, player positioning could be used to anticipate highly accurately in absence of any other information. Finally, the option generation strategies underpinning expert anticipation were examined. Participants generated fewer options when postural cues were available compared with when constrained to the use of contextual information alone. Moreover, skilled participants generated more task-relevant and fewer task-irrelevant options than less-skilled participants. Collectively, these findings increase understanding of the role of contextual information in expert anticipation and further highlight the complex nature of perceptual-cognitive expertise
Effect of needle aspiration of pneumothorax on subsequent chest drain insertion in newborns: A randomized clinical trial
No full textImportance: Treatment options for a symptomatic pneumothorax in newborns include needle aspiration (NA) and chest drain (CD) insertion. There is little consensus as to the preferred treatment, reflecting a lack of evidence from clinical trials. Objective: To investigate whether treating pneumothoraces diagnosed on chest radiography (CR) in newborns receiving respiratory support with NA results in fewer infants having CDs inserted within 6 hours of diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trialwas conducted from October 7, 2013, to December 21, 2016. The setting was 5 tertiary European neonatal intensive care units. Infants receiving respiratory support (endotracheal ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure, or supplemental oxygen >40%) who had a pneumothorax on CR that clinicians deemed needed treatment were eligible for inclusion. Interventions: Infants were randomly assigned (1:1) to drainage using NA or CD insertion, stratified by center and gestation at birth (<32 vs ≥32 weeks). Caregivers were not masked to group assignment. For NA, a needle was inserted between the ribs to aspirate air and was removed once air was no longer aspirated. A CD was inserted if clinicians deemed that the response was inadequate. For CD insertion, a drain was inserted between the ribs and was left in situ. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was whether a CD was inserted on the side of the pneumothorax within 6 hours of diagnosis. Results: A total of 76 infants were randomly assigned, and 6 (4 assigned to NA and 2 to CD) were excluded because theymet exclusion criteria at enrollment. Of the 70 remaining infants, 33 (16 male [48%]) were assigned to NA and 37 (22 male [59%]) to CD insertion. Their median (interquartile range [IQR]) gestational age was 31 (27-38) vs 31 (27-35) weeks, and their median (IQR) birth weight was 1385 (1110-3365) vs 1690 (1060-2025) g, respectively. Fewer infants assigned to NA had a CD inserted within 6 hours (55%[18 of 33] vs 100% [37 of 37]; relative risk, 0.55; 95%CI, 0.40-0.75) and during hospitalization (70% [23 of 33] vs 100% [37 of 37]; relative risk, 0.70, 95%CI, 0.56-0.87). Conclusions and Relevance: Needle aspiration reduced the rate of CD insertion in symptomatic newborns with pneumothorax on CR. It should be used as the initial method of draining radiologically confirmed pneumothorax in symptomatic infants
Examining facets of the hegemonic: the globalisation discourse in Greece and Ireland
No full textThis paper attempts to make a contribution to the study and understanding of the phenomenon of globalisation and its interplay with national politico-economic systems. How did globalisation resonate and/or dominate in different national contexts? What was the role of national political economies and domestic institutions in this process? What role did specific institutional actors played in it? Focusing on the materialisation of globalisation discourse in Greece and Ireland, the paper presents three main findings: (i) the reproduction of the Greek and Irish politico-economic systems during the 1990s was dominated, to a significant extent, by the same set of meanings and practices (ii) the way in which this set of meanings and practices emerged in the two countries was fundamentally different: in Greece it defined a new zone of contestation, whereas in Ireland it defined a new zone of fundamental consensus (iii) after the end of the 1990s, these two different facets of hegemonic globalisation seemed to converge. The paper draws on these findings to examine the role of political economy and domestic institutions in the communication of the hegemonic discourse of globalisation.Globalisation; Greece; Ireland; models of capitalism; domestic structures; hegemonic discourse
The importance of comparison in a phenomenological study of clients' experience on an assessment group for group psychotherapy
No full textUsing a grounded theory approach, this study explored the experiences of eight clients who attended a group assessment group (GAG) within a UK adult psychotherapy service. The aim of the GAG was to give clients a one off experience of group therapy to enable them to make a more informed decision about the suitability of analytic group therapy. The qualitative analysis revealed comparison to be a key theme for 7 of the 8 clients. Comparison with others was experienced in terms of similarity and dissimilarity of problems and issues and of the behaviour of the group members. These experiences related to issues such as deserving to be there and stigma and this influenced their decisions to opt for group work. Comparisons were also made between the GAG and subsequent group therapy. The issue of social comparison is discussed with reference to previous theory and research and the implications of the study for group therapy and group assessment groups are explored
The alternative within the mainstream: a critical analysis of some recent Irish films
No full textCentral to this thesis is the argument, espoused by a number o f our contemporary critics, that the success o f Angel (Neil Jordan, 1982) and My Left Foot (Jim Sheridan, 1989) resulted in a climate in which Irish filmmakers attempted to appeal to a more global market by adopting mainstream Hollywood formats at the expense o f the more experimental and socially critical cinema which had existed prior to 1987.
While primarily concerned with Irish cinema since the re-establishment o f the Film Board in 1993, the thesis sets out to investigate a number o f different strategies which Irish filmmakers have adopted in an attempt to infiltrate a market which has become totally dominated by mainstream American studio films. Its main concern is the extent to which they may be said to have successfully achieved a balance o f American style and Irish substance, in such a way that these films can be read as less definably “American” and more specifically “Irish”. Each o f the films proposed for examination is alternative, not in the classic sense o f "alternative’ or ‘counter-cinema’, but in the sense that they deviate from the more standardised approach o f much Irish cinema. The thesis is divided into two main sections
A Meta-Analysis of the International Gender Wage Gap
No full textSince the early seventies, hundreds of authors have calculated gender wage differentials between women and men of equal productivity. This meta-study provides a quantitative review of this vast amount of empirical literature on gender wage discrimination as it concerns differences in methodology, data, countries and time periods. We place particular emphasis on a proper consideration of the quality of the underlying study which is done by a weighting with quality indicators. The results show that data restrictions have the biggest impact on the resulting gender wage gap. Moreover, we are able to show what effect a misspecification of the underlying wage equation – like the frequent use of potential experience – has on the calculated gender wage gap. Over time, raw wage differentials world-wide have fallen substantially; however, most of this decrease is due to an increased labor market productivity of females.Gender wage differential, Meta-analysis
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