The lateral spinal nucleus (LSN), located in the dorsolateral funiculus, is an area that has been poorly understood, but has been implicated in nociception. To investigate the function of this nucleus, three broad areas were investigated: responses to nociceptive stimuli, neuroc…
"377" Result
Sort By:
This thesis aims to examine a number of issues related to exchange rate movements at different time horizons: long-run, in terms of investigating equilibrium real exchange rates; medium-run, in terms of investigating predictability of exchange rates in out-of-sample forecasting …
The mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is a key multi-enzyme assembly linking the glycolytic pathway to the TCA cycle via the specific conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA and, as such, is responsible for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis in humans. PDC comprise…
Abstract There has been considerable interest in developing microsensors integrated within lab-on-a-chip structures for the analysis of single cells; however, substantially less work has focused on developing "active" assays, where the cell‘s metabolic and physiological function…
The vascular endothelium contributes to the maintenance of vascular health by regulating vascular tone and leukocyte adhesion, amongst others. The vasoregulatory actions of the endothelium are mediated through coordinated release of vasodilators such as nitric oxide (NO) and pro…
Machine failure is often an important source of variability and so it is essential to model breakdowns in manufacturing simulation models accurately. This thesis describes the modelling of machine breakdown durations in simulation models of engine assembly lines. To simplify the…
The accurate distribution of a fully replicated, intact genome perhaps defines the purpose of the cell cycle, which is a complex, organized series of events pertaining to the production of daughter cells. Every eukaryotic cell undergoes two alternative life cycles mitosis or mei…
Salmonella species can cause wide-ranging disease from mild food-poisoning enteritis to a systemic, sometimes fatal typhoid infection. These bacteria have evolved to survive in different environments within and outside the host and do so through the regulation of differential ge…
Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a highly host-specific, ubiquitous herpesvirus that results in asymptomatic infection for the majority of those infected. However, it produces serious clinical disease in neonates and immunocompromised individuals such as transplant recip…
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults, characterised by multiple tissue involvement and caused by an expansion of a (CTG)n repeat within the 3’-UTR of the DMPK gene (19q13.3). Normal individuals contain between 5 and 35 CTG repea…
CD23 is a Type II glycoprotein that exists in both membrane-bound (mbCD23) and soluble (sCD23) forms and functions as the low affinity receptor for IgE. CD23 interacts with a range of proteins to fulfil its function in vivo. Through interactions with its ligands IgE and CD21, CD…
The principal aim of this thesis was to investigate the ability of surface topography in inducing bone cell differentiation for biomedical purposes. In orthopedic research, regeneration of bone defects can be performed in vitro using biomaterials. Third generation biomaterials a…
Stomatins belong to the band-7 (or SPFH domain) family (short for Stomatin, Prohibitin, Flotillin HflC/K) of diverse membrane proteins. This protein family is evolutionary conserved with members found in all sequenced eukaryotes and in most prokaryotes. Band-7 family proteins ha…
Purine transport in malaria parasites has become an important potential drug target because the malaria parasite is unable to synthesis purine de novo and has to salvage it from the host milieu through transporter(s). Knowledge of the number, selectivity and kinetic parameters o…
cAMP is a secondary messenger that is involved in a variety of signalling pathways through its effectors including EPAC, PKA and ion channels. cAMP signalling regulates processes such as memory, muscle contraction and inflammatory responses. PDE enzymes offer a mechanism to nega…
Leishmania species are protozoan parasites which have a complex life cycle, which is coordinated with its cell cycle. There are 11 cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) and 11 cyclins present in the Leishmania genome reflecting the complexity of cell cycle control in this parasite, pe…
We study approaches for finding good solutions, and lower bounds, for three difficult combinatorial optimisation problems. The supply ship travelling salesman problem is a simplification of a situation faced by a naval logistics coordinator who must direct a support vessel taske…
Protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium are the causative agent of malaria. The four human pathogenic species infect more than 500 million people each year, causing the death of at least 1 million people. The most severe form of human malaria is caused by P. falciparum, whic…
This is a general investigation of the SPECT imaging process. The primary aim is to determine the manner in which the SPECT studies should be performed in order to maximise the relevant clinical information given the characteristics and limitations of the particular gamma camera…