Wage matters & globalization: South Florida's low-wage immigrant plant nursery workers and business protectionism in the age of neoliberalism

Ornamental plant production in the State of Florida is an anomaly with respect to current theories of globalization and particularly their explanation of the employment of low-wage, immigrant labor. Those theories dictate that unskilled jobs that do not need to be performed within highly developed countries are outsourced to where labor is cheaper and more flexible. However, the State of Florida remains an important site of ornamental plant production in the US amidst a global economic environment of outsourcing and transnational corporate expansion. This dissertation relies on 50 semi-structured interviews with insiders of the Florida plant nursery industry, focus groups, and participant observation to explain how US trade, labor, and migration policy-making at local levels are not removed from larger global processes taking place in the world since the 1970s. In Florida, elite market players of the plant nursery industry have been able to resist global trends in free trade, operating instead in a protected market. They have done this by appealing to scientific justifications and through arbitrary implementations of neoliberal ideology that keeps small and middle range business alive, while maintaining a seemingly endless supply of marginalized and exploited low-wage, immigrant workers.^

Development of distributed generation infrastructure for microgrid connectivity to operational power systems

Distributed Generation (DG) from alternate sources and smart grid technologies represent good solutions for the increase in energy demands. Employment of these DG assets requires solutions for the new technical challenges that are accompanied by the integration and interconnection into operational power systems. A DG infrastructure comprised of alternate energy sources in addition to conventional sources, is developed as a test bed. The test bed is operated by synchronizing, wind, photovoltaic, fuel cell, micro generator and energy storage assets, in addition to standard AC generators. Connectivity of these DG assets is tested for viability and for their operational characteristics. The control and communication layers for dynamic operations are developed to improve the connectivity of alternates to the power system. A real time application for the operation of alternate sources in microgrids is developed. Multi agent approach is utilized to improve stability and sequences of actions for black start are implemented. Experiments for control and stability issues related to dynamic operation under load conditions have been conducted and verified.

Bone morphology of the femur and tibia captured by statistical shape modelling predicts rapid bone loss in acute spinal cord injury patients

We would like to thank the study participants and the clinical and research staff at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injury Unit, as without them this study would not have been possible. We are grateful for the funding received from Glasgow Research Partnership in Engineering for the employment of SC during data collection for this study. We would like to thank the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Scottish Crucible scheme for providing the opportunity for this collaboration to occur. We are also indebted to Maria Dumitrascuta for her time and effort in producing inter-repeatability results for the shape models.

Bone morphology of the femur and tibia captured by statistical shape modelling predicts rapid bone loss in acute spinal cord injury patients

We would like to thank the study participants and the clinical and research staff at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injury Unit, as without them this study would not have been possible. We are grateful for the funding received from Glasgow Research Partnership in Engineering for the employment of SC during data collection for this study. We would like to thank the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Scottish Crucible scheme for providing the opportunity for this collaboration to occur. We are also indebted to Maria Dumitrascuta for her time and effort in producing inter-repeatability results for the shape models.

Total synthesis of furospongolide and related furanolipid analogues as potential anti-tumour agents

This thesis details the design, development and execution of innovative methodology in the total synthesis of the terpene-derived marine natural product, furospongolide. It also outlines the synthetic routes used to prepare a novel range of furanolipids derivatives and subsequent evaluation of their potential as antitumour agents. The first chapter is a review of the literature describing efforts undertaken towards the synthesis of biologically active furanosesterterpenoid marine natural products. A brief discussion on the sources and biological activity exhibited by furan natural products is also provided. In addition, a concise account of the role of hypoxia in cancer, and the increasing interest in HIF-1 inhibition as a target for chemotherapeutics is examined. The second chapter discusses the concise synthesis of the marine HIF-1 inhibitor furospongolide, which was achieved in five linear steps from (E,E)-farnesyl acetate. The synthetic strategy features a selective oxidation reaction, a Schlosser sp3-sp3 cross-coupling, a Wittig cross-coupling and an elaborate one-pot selective reduction, lactonisation and isomerization reaction to install the butenolide ring. The structure-activity relationship of furospongolide was also investigated. This involved the design and synthesis of a library of structurally modified analogues sharing the same C1-C13 subunit. This was achieved by exploiting the brevity and high level of convergence of our synthetic route together with the readily amenable structure of our target molecule. Exploiting the Schlosser cross-coupling allowed for replacement of furan with other heterocycles in the preparation of various furanolipid and thiophenolipid derivatives. The employment of reductive amination and Wittig chemistry further added to our novel library of structural derivatives. The third chapter discusses the results obtained from the NCI from biological evaluation From a collection of 28 novel compounds evaluated against the NCI-60 cancer cell array, six drug candidates were successfully selected for further biological evaluation on the basis of antitumour activity. COMPARE analysis revealed a strong correlation between some of our design analogues and the blockbuster anticancer agent tamoxifen, further supporting the potential of furanolipids in the treatment of breast cancer. The fourth chapter, details the full experimental procedures, including spectroscopic and analytical data for all the compounds prepared during this research.

Prevalence and control of Clostridium difficile in patients with cystic fibrosis

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the high prevalence of Clostridium difficile in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to control its dissemination. To determine the carriage rate of C. difficile in CF patients, 60 patients were tested for C. difficile and its toxin. In total, 50% of patients were found to be asymptomatic carriers of C. difficile despite toxin being detected in 31.66% of patients. Ribotyping of the C. difficile isolates revealed 16 distinct ribotypes, including the hyper virulent RT078. All isolates were sensitive to both Vancomycin and Metronidazole. The effect of CF and its treatment on the gut microbiota of CF patients was assessed by 16s sequencing of the gut microbiota of 68 CF patients. When compared to a healthy control group, CF patient gut microbiota was found to be less diverse and had an increased Firmicutes to Bacteriodetes ratio. Interestingly, CF patients who were carriers of C. difficile had a less diverse gut microbiota than C. difficile negative CF patients. Multilocus sequence typing was found to be comparable to PCR-ribotyping for typing C. difficile isolates from high risk patient groups. The sequence type ST 26 is potentially associated with CF patients as all seven isolates were found in this group and this sequence type has been previously reported in CF patients in a geographically distinct study. The bacteriophage ФCD6356 was assessed as a targeted antimicrobial against C. difficile in an ex-vivo model of the human distal colon. Despite reducing viable C. difficile by 1.75 logs over 24 hours, this bacteriophage was not suitable due to its lysogenic nature. Following treatment, all surviving C. difficile were immune to reinfection due to prophage integration. However, the ФCD6356 encoded endolysin was capable of reducing viable C. difficile by 2.9 over 2 hours in vitro after being cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli.

Bioengineering of nisin to enhance functionality against dairy pathogens

The bacteriocin class of antimicrobial peptides have emerged as a viable alternative to at least partially fill the void created by the end of the golden age of antibiotic discovery. Along with this potential use in a clinical setting, bacteriocins also play an important role as bio-preservatives in the food industry. This thesis focuses on a specific bacteriocin group, the lantibiotics (Lanthionine-containing antibiotics). Their numerous methods of appliance in a food setting and how their gene-encoded nature can be modified to improve on overall bioactivity and functionality are explored here. The use of a lantibiotic (lacticin 3147) producing starter culture to control the Crohn’s disease-linked pathogen Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was assessed in a raw milk cheese. Although lacticin 3147 production did not effectively control the pathogen, the study provided an impetus to employ a variety of PCR-based mutagenesis techniques with a view to the creation of enhanced lantibiotic derivatives. Through the use of these techniques, a number of enhanced derivatives were generated from the ‘hinge’ region of the nisin peptide. Furthermore, a derivative in which the three hinge amino acids were replaced with three alanines represents the first enhanced derivative of nisin to have been designed through a rational process. This derivative also formed the backbone for the creation of an active, trypsin resistant, variant. Through the employment of further mutagenesis methods a derivative was created with potential use as an oral anti-bacterial in the future. Finally a number of lead nisin derivatives were investigated to assess their anti- Streptococcus agalactiae ability, a mastitis associated pathogen. Also a system was developed to facilitate the large scale production of these candidates, or other nisin derivatives, from dairy substrates.

CLARITY and PACT-based imaging of adult zebrafish and mouse for whole-animal analysis of infections.

Visualization of infection and the associated host response has been challenging in adult vertebrates. Owing to their transparency, zebrafish larvae have been used to directly observe infection in vivo; however, such larvae have not yet developed a functional adaptive immune system. Cells involved in adaptive immunity mature later and have therefore been difficult to access optically in intact animals. Thus, the study of many aspects of vertebrate infection requires dissection of adult organs or ex vivo isolation of immune cells. Recently, CLARITY and PACT (passive clarity technique) methodologies have enabled clearing and direct visualization of dissected organs. Here, we show that these techniques can be applied to image host-pathogen interactions directly in whole animals. CLARITY and PACT-based clearing of whole adult zebrafish and Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected mouse lungs enables imaging of mycobacterial granulomas deep within tissue to a depth of more than 1 mm. Using established transgenic lines, we were able to image normal and pathogenic structures and their surrounding host context at high resolution. We identified the three-dimensional organization of granuloma-associated angiogenesis, an important feature of mycobacterial infection, and characterized the induction of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) within the granuloma using an established fluorescent reporter line. We observed heterogeneity in TNF induction within granuloma macrophages, consistent with an evolving view of the tuberculous granuloma as a non-uniform, heterogeneous structure. Broad application of this technique will enable new understanding of host-pathogen interactions in situ.

Development of tumour imaging and therapy strategies utilising unengineered bacteria

The ability of systemically administered bacteria to target and replicate to high numbers within solid tumours is well established. Tumour localising bacteria can be exploited as biological vehicles for the delivery of nucleic acid, protein or therapeutic payloads to tumour sites and present researchers with a highly targeted and safe vehicle for tumour imaging and cancer therapy. This work aimed to utilise bacteria to activate imaging probes or prodrugs specifically within target tissue in order to facilitate the development of novel imaging and therapeutic strategies. The vast majority of existing bacterial-mediated cancer therapy strategies rely on the use of bacteria that have been genetically modified (GM) to express genes of interest. While these approaches have been shown to be effective in a preclinical setting, GM presents extra regulatory hurdles in a clinical context. Also, many strains of bacteria are not genetically tractably and hence cannot currently be engineered to express genes of interest. For this reason, the development of imaging and therapeutic systems that utilise unengineered bacteria for the activation of probes or drugs represents a significant improvement on the current gold standard. Endogenously expressed bacterial enzymes that are not found in mammalian cells can be used for the targeted activation of imaging probes or prodrugs whose activation is only achieved in the presence of these enzymes. Exploitation of the intrinsic enzymatic activity of bacteria allows the use of a wider range of bacteria and presents a more clinically relevant system than those that are currently in use. The nitroreductase (NTR) enzymes, found only in bacteria, represent one such option. Chapter 2 introduces the novel concept of utilising native bacterial NTRs for the targeted activation of the fluorophore CytoCy5S. Bacterial-mediated probe activation allowed for non-invasive fluorescence imaging of in vivo bacteria in models of infection and cancer. Chapter 3 extends the concept of using native bacterial enzymes to activate a novel luminescent, NTR activated probe. The use of luminescence based imaging improved the sensitivity of the system and provides researchers with a more accessible modality for preclinical imaging. It also represents an improvement over existing caged luciferin probe systems described to date. Chapter 4 focuses on the employment of endogenous bacterial enzymes for use in a therapeutic setting. Native bacterial enzymatic activity (including NTR enzymes) was shown to be capable of activating multiple prodrugs, in isolation and in combination, and eliciting therapeutic responses in murine models of cancer. Overall, the data presented in this thesis advance the fields of bacterial therapy and imaging and introduce novel strategies for disease diagnosis and treatment. These preclinical studies demonstrate potential for clinical translation in multiple fields of research and medicine.

Contents of metal cations exchange capacity of ore minerals in ferromanganese micronodules from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans

Results of experimental studies of ion exchange properties of manganese and iron minerals in micronodules from diverse bioproductive zones of the World Ocean were considered. It was found that sorption behavior of these minerals was similar to that of ore minerals from ferromanganese nodules and low-temperature hydrothermal crusts. The exchange complex of minerals in the micronodules includes the major (Na**+, K**+, Ca**2+, Mg**2+, and Mn**2+) and subordinate (Ni**2+, Cu**2+, Co**2+, Pb**2+, and others) cations. Reactivity of theses cations increases from Pb**2+ and Co**2+ to Na**+ and Ca**2+. Exchange capacity of micronodule minerals increases from alkali to heavy metal cations. Capacity of iron and manganese minerals in oceanic micronodules increases in the following series: goethite < goethite + birnessite < todorokite + asbolane-buserite + birnessite < asbolane-buserite + birnessite < birnessite + asbolane-buserite < birnessite + vernadite ~= Fe-vernadite + Mn-feroxyhyte. Obtained data supplement available information on ion exchange properties of oceanic ferromanganese sediments and refine the role of sorption processes in redistribution of metal cations at the bottom water - sediment interface during micronodule formation and growth.

El dinero en la historia del pensamiento económico: la teoría monetaria postkeynesiana y su confrontación con la ortodoxia

Las disputas en torno a determinados aspectos del dinero, como su neutralidad y el carácter endógeno o exógeno de la oferta monetaria, han sido permanentes entre las distintas escuelas de pensamiento y autores, estando su origen, probablemente, en la época de desarrollo del pensamiento escolástico. En este artículo pretendemos, en primer lugar, realizar un recorrido cronológico e histórico sobre el tratamiento científico económico del dinero, para, en segundo lugar, poner sobre la mesa la macroeconomía ortodoxa a la que han dado lugar las interpretaciones al respecto, así como los enfoques alternativos frente a este pensamiento dominante. Finalmente, intentamos poner en valor los desarrollos monetarios post-keynesianos, integrados en lo que denominan “Economía Monetaria de Producción”, confrontándolos con la llamada Nueva Síntesis Neoclásica.

Radiopacity and Chemical resistance of Elastomer-Barium sulphate nanocomposites

The Human race of our century is in gluttonous search for novel engineering products which led to a skyrocketed progress in research and fabrication of filled polymers. Recently, a big window has been opened up for speciality polymers especially elastomers with promising properties. Among the many reasons why rubbers are widely used in the process industries, three are considered as important. Firstly, rubbers operate in a variety of environments and possess usable ranges of deformity and durability and can be exploited through suitable and more or less conventional equipment design principles. Secondly, rubber is an eminently suitable construction material for protection against corrosion in the chemical plant and equipment against various corrosive chemicals as, acids and alkalies and if property tailored, can shield ionising radiations as X-rays and gamma rays in medical industry, with minimum maintenance lower down time, negligible corrosion and a preferred choice for aggressive corroding and ionising environment. Thirdly, rubber can readily and hastily, and at a relatively lower cost, be converted into serviceable products, having intricate shapes and dimensions. In a century’s gap, large employment of flexible polymer materials in the different segments of industry has stimulated the development of new materials with special properties, which paved its way to the synthesis of various nanoscale materials. At nano scale, one makes an entry into a world where multidisciplinary sciences meet and utilises the previously unapproached infinitesimal length scale, having dimension which measure upto one billionth of a meter, to create novel properties. The nano fillers augment the elastomers properties in an astonishing fashion due to their multifunctional nature and unprecedented properties have been exhibited by these polymer-nanocomposites just to beat the shortcomings of traditional micro composites. The current research aims to investigate the possibility of using synthesised nano barium sulphate for fabricating elastomer-based nanocomposites and thereby imparting several properties to the rubber. In this thesis, nano materials, their synthesis, structure, properties and applications are studied. The properties of barium sulphate like chemical resistance and radiopacity have been utilized in the present study and is imparted to the elastomers by preparing composites.

Vivências de Esposas de Ex-combatentes Diagnosticados com Stress Pós-traumático: uma abordagem fenomenológica

A Guerra Colonial assombrou a sociedade Portuguesa, durante mais de 10 anos. Durante esse tempo, milhares de jovens soldados foram obrigados fazer parte dessa Luta. Grande parte deles desenvolvera a Perturbação de Stress Pós-Traumático, com a qual ainda hoje vivem. A presente Investigação pretendeu descrever e compreender as Vivências das Esposas de Ex-Combatentes diagnosticados com a Perturbação de Stress Pós-Traumático, utilizando uma abordagem Qualitativa de Orientação Fenomenológica. Através deste Método, pretendeu-se conhecer a globalidade do Fenómeno, de uma forma compreensiva. Foram entrevistadas quatro Esposas que vivem de perto com este problema, as quais revelaram informações importantes para a Investigação. Desta maneira, foram recolhidos dados acerca da Infância e Adolescência, Casamento, Doença do Marido e Perspectivas de Futuro, destas Mulheres. Entre outras conclusões, destacamos a emergência de significações existenciais para estas Mulheres e o facto de esta doença ter influência a nível social, pessoal, familiar e económico. Além disso, as inúmeras estratégias de coping relatadas, demonstraram ser uma mais-valia na forma como estas esposas lidam com a doença dos Maridos. Desta maneira compreendeu-se o fenómeno de uma forma holística, o que forneceu dados importantes para entender o que estas Mulheres vivenciam diariamente, tal como uma melhor compreensão do estado Psicológico destas Esposas e dos Maridos. / The Colonial War haunted the Portuguese society, for over 10 years. During that time, thousands of young soldiers were forced to be part of that fight. Most of them developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which they still live with. This research aims to describe and understand the Experiences of War Veterans’ Wives, whose husbands were diagnosed with the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, using the qualitative method and phenomenological orientation. Through this method, we meant to understand the whole phenomenon in a comprehensive manner. We interviewed four Wives who live closely with this problem, which revealed important information for the investigation. Therefore, we collected data on Childhood and Adolescence, Marriage, Husband’s Disease and Future Prospects, of those Women’s. Among other findings, we highlight the emergence of existential meaning for these Women’s and the fact that this disease influences their lives on social, personal, familial and financial issues. Moreover, the many coping strategies reported, have proven an asset in the way this Wives deal with their husbands illness. Thus it was understood the phenomenon in a holistic way, which provided important information to understand what these Women’s live daily as a better understanding of the psychological state of Husbands and Wives.

Exploring the Impact of a Difficult Breastfeeding Experience on Maternal Identity: A Narrative Analysis

Introduction: Due to the implied health benefits for mother and baby, breastfeeding has become a key public health issue. Literature reviewed highlighted the ‘medical’ and ‘natural’ mother discourse which surrounds motherhood and impacts on women’s decisions to breastfeed. Whilst the emotional and physical strains of a difficult experience have been explored, it is unclear how these experiences impact on women’s identities as mothers and in what ways women are able to narrate and share their embodied experiences. Methods: Seven first time mothers who described themselves as having had a difficult breastfeeding experience were interviewed to gather data pertaining to how mothers construct narratives of breastfeeding and the impact of these narratives on their identity as mothers. An interest in both socio-political discourse and embodiment theory derived from the literature review led to the use of visual methods in eliciting narratives and the employment of a critical narrative analysis in exploring the data gathered. Findings: The participants’ narratives drew from ‘medical’ and ‘natural’ mother discourses and were found to constrain subjective experience and leave participants with feelings of guilt, frustration and loss. A prevailing assumption that unruly, excessive bodies must be controlled by a rational ‘mind’ led to the body becoming a site for control and resistance for participants as they attempted to conform to norms of motherhood and breastfeeding. Discussion: Results identified the ways in which women as mothers can see their subjective experiences diminished and their voices silenced due to a lack of available discourse and entrenched ideologies surrounding the ‘good’ mother. It is suggested that adopting a social justice agenda within therapeutic practice might prevent the internalisation of oppressive discourse which can lead to mothers’ psychological distress. Moreover, it is suggested that exploring the body in therapy might resist a mind/body dualism and lead to increasingly compassionate and accepting relationships with our bodies; in turn increasing awareness of subjective experience.

Simplified design method for energy dissipating devices in retrofitting of seismically isolated bridges

Abstract: Highway bridges have great values in a country because in case of any natural disaster they may serve as lines to save people’s lives. Being vulnerable under significant seismic loads, different methods can be considered to design resistant highway bridges and rehabilitate the existing ones. In this study, base isolation has been considered as one efficient method in this regards which in some cases reduces significantly the seismic load effects on the structure. By reducing the ductility demand on the structure without a notable increase of strength, the structure is designed to remain elastic under seismic loads. The problem associated with the isolated bridges, especially with elastomeric bearings, can be their excessive displacements under service and seismic loads. This can defy the purpose of using elastomeric bearings for small to medium span typical bridges where expansion joints and clearances may result in significant increase of initial and maintenance cost. Thus, supplementing the structure with dampers with some stiffness can serve as a solution which in turn, however, may increase the structure base shear. The main objective of this thesis is to provide a simplified method for the evaluation of optimal parameters for dampers in isolated bridges. Firstly, performing a parametric study, some directions are given for the use of simple isolation devices such as elastomeric bearings to rehabilitate existing bridges with high importance. Parameters like geometry of the bridge, code provisions and the type of soil on which the structure is constructed have been introduced to a typical two span bridge. It is concluded that the stiffness of the substructure, soil type and special provisions in the code can determine the employment of base isolation for retrofitting of bridges. Secondly, based on the elastic response coefficient of isolated bridges, a simplified design method of dampers for seismically isolated regular highway bridges has been presented in this study. By setting objectives for reduction of displacement and base shear variation, the required stiffness and damping of a hysteretic damper can be determined. By modelling a typical two span bridge, numerical analyses have followed to verify the effectiveness of the method. The method has been used to identify equivalent linear parameters and subsequently, nonlinear parameters of hysteretic damper for various designated scenarios of displacement and base shear requirements. Comparison of the results of the nonlinear numerical model without damper and with damper has shown that the method is sufficiently accurate. Finally, an innovative and simple hysteretic steel damper was designed. Five specimens were fabricated from two steel grades and were tested accompanying a real scale elastomeric isolator in the structural laboratory of the Université de Sherbrooke. The test procedure was to characterize the specimens by cyclic displacement controlled tests and subsequently to test them by real-time dynamic substructuring (RTDS) method. The test results were then used to establish a numerical model of the system which went through nonlinear time history analyses under several earthquakes. The outcome of the experimental and numerical showed an acceptable conformity with the simplified method.