title: A Comparison of Equine Adipose Tissue, Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood as Sources of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

authors: Redmond Hubbard, Amy Louise

subjects: Mesenchymal

abstract: Lameness is a significant cause of wastage in equine athletes, with reportedly 66% days lost from training being contributed to musculoskeletal injuries. The use of regenerative cell therapies has been suggested as an alternative to current treatments which have low tissue restorative success. Although stem cell treatments are currently utilised, the optimal tissue source of equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for treatment has not been determined.

The aim of the project was to compare the recovery of MSCs from adipose tissue (AT), bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (pB). Stem cell characteristics including adherence, proliferation, multipotency, as well as gene expression for stemness and differentiation markers were investigated. 

Adipose tissue, bone marrow and peripheral blood samples were isolated from six mares and grown to confluence to investigate MSC yield and proliferation rate. The samples were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen and then placed into a trilineage differentiation assay to assess tissue-dependent plasticity. Messenger RNA was isolated before and during differentiation to assess changes in gene expression. 

All three tissue sources yielded fibroblast MSC-like cells however, AT and BM were found to be superior source of MSCs compared to pB. Trilineage differentiation capacity was demonstrated in AT and BM derived MSCs while peripheral blood derived stem cells were not investigated for multipotency due to a low number of samples. The selected pluripotent ‘stemness’ markers were not widely expressed in any of the three cell types and may not be suitable for use with multipotent stem cells of equine origin. Bone marrow derived stem cells displayed superior expression of differentiation markers compared to adipose derived stem cells.

Adipose tissue was found to be a rich reliable source of MSCs however, this cell source displayed lower efficiency for chondrogenic differentiation. Overall, bone marrow derived stem cells appeared to be a superior source of equine MSCs. An in vivo investigation of treating musculoskeletal injuries with BM and AT derived MSCs is required to determine which source of MSCs offers the best therapeutic benefit for injured horses.

text: A Comparison of Equine Adipose Tissue, Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood as Sources of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Lameness is a significant cause of wastage in equine athletes, with reportedly 66% days lost from training being contributed to musculoskeletal injuries. The use of regenerative cell therapies has been suggested as an alternative to current treatments which have low tissue restorative success. Although stem cell treatments are currently utilised, the optimal tissue source of equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for treatment has not been determined.

The aim of the project was to compare the recovery of MSCs from adipose tissue (AT), bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (pB). Stem cell characteristics including adherence, proliferation, multipotency, as well as gene expression for stemness and differentiation markers were investigated. 

Adipose tissue, bone marrow and peripheral blood samples were isolated from six mares and grown to confluence to investigate MSC yield and proliferation rate. The samples were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen and then placed into a trilineage differentiation assay to assess tissue-dependent plasticity. Messenger RNA was isolated before and during differentiation to assess changes in gene expression. 

All three tissue sources yielded fibroblast MSC-like cells however, AT and BM were found to be superior source of MSCs compared to pB. Trilineage differentiation capacity was demonstrated in AT and BM derived MSCs while peripheral blood derived stem cells were not investigated for multipotency due to a low number of samples. The selected pluripotent ‘stemness’ markers were not widely expressed in any of the three cell types and may not be suitable for use with multipotent stem cells of equine origin. Bone marrow derived stem cells displayed superior expression of differentiation markers compared to adipose derived stem cells.

Adipose tissue was found to be a rich reliable source of MSCs however, this cell source displayed lower efficiency for chondrogenic differentiation. Overall, bone marrow derived stem cells appeared to be a superior source of equine MSCs. An in vivo investigation of treating musculoskeletal injuries with BM and AT derived MSCs is required to determine which source of MSCs offers the best therapeutic benefit for injured horses.

year: 2014

title: Squeezed states and quantum nondemolition measurements

authors: Milburn, Gerard James

abstract: The first four chapters of this thesis are concerned with the detailed mathematical and physical properties of special minimum uncertainty states of the electromagnetic field: the “squeezed states”. These are states with reduced quantum fluctuations in certain observables (the quadrature phase amplitudes).

In chapter two it is shown that the one mode and two mode squeezed states are obtained by acting on the vacuum state with elements of the sympletic group in one and two dimensions respectively. 

In chapter three properties of squeezed states in a quantum optical context are investigated. The complex P representation of Drummond and Gardiner is shown to be especially useful for discussing the non-classical statistics of these states, and the complex P-representation for a squeezed state is obtained. An analysis of the effect of irreversible dynamics on squeezed states is also given. 

In chapter four a detailed analysis of three devices proposed to produce squeezed states; degenerate parametric oscillation, two photon absorption and dispersive optical bistability, is presented. It is shown in an exact, fully quantum treatment that the reduction of fluctuations obtainable in all these devices is limited, when operated in a steady state regime. The greatest reduction of fluctuations (a factor of two) occurs in the parametric oscillator operated at threshold. The addition of a second driving field in this device enables the direction of squeezing to be changed.

The final two chapters are given over to a discussion of Quantum Non Demolition (QND) measurements. In chapter five a particular QND scheme (back action evading) is analysed. This is based on a parametric amplification interaction. The complex p representation is used to discuss the non-unitary effects of damping and state reduction in a unified way. It is shown that the parametric amplifier, despite being non back action evading, is useful for making QND measurements. 

Finally in chapter six, two quantum counting QND schemes, based on quantum optical four wave mixing interactions, are analysed. The effect of state reduction is included, thus enabling an analysis of a measurement sequence.

text: Squeezed states and quantum nondemolition measurements The first four chapters of this thesis are concerned with the detailed mathematical and physical properties of special minimum uncertainty states of the electromagnetic field: the “squeezed states”. These are states with reduced quantum fluctuations in certain observables (the quadrature phase amplitudes).

In chapter two it is shown that the one mode and two mode squeezed states are obtained by acting on the vacuum state with elements of the sympletic group in one and two dimensions respectively. 

In chapter three properties of squeezed states in a quantum optical context are investigated. The complex P representation of Drummond and Gardiner is shown to be especially useful for discussing the non-classical statistics of these states, and the complex P-representation for a squeezed state is obtained. An analysis of the effect of irreversible dynamics on squeezed states is also given. 

In chapter four a detailed analysis of three devices proposed to produce squeezed states; degenerate parametric oscillation, two photon absorption and dispersive optical bistability, is presented. It is shown in an exact, fully quantum treatment that the reduction of fluctuations obtainable in all these devices is limited, when operated in a steady state regime. The greatest reduction of fluctuations (a factor of two) occurs in the parametric oscillator operated at threshold. The addition of a second driving field in this device enables the direction of squeezing to be changed.

The final two chapters are given over to a discussion of Quantum Non Demolition (QND) measurements. In chapter five a particular QND scheme (back action evading) is analysed. This is based on a parametric amplification interaction. The complex p representation is used to discuss the non-unitary effects of damping and state reduction in a unified way. It is shown that the parametric amplifier, despite being non back action evading, is useful for making QND measurements. 

Finally in chapter six, two quantum counting QND schemes, based on quantum optical four wave mixing interactions, are analysed. The effect of state reduction is included, thus enabling an analysis of a measurement sequence.

year: 1982

title: Secondary school subject choice: an ethnographic study

authors: Darnell, Doreen Anne

abstract: This study of subject choice followed two groups of pupils through the decision-making process at two state, co-educational high schools in the North Island of New Zealand. The high schools were similar in size, location, ethnic composition and range of home background of pupils, but had differing option systems. 
At the end of their form two year, 53 children (27 boys, 26 girls) were interviewed at their respective primary or intermediate schools while they were considering the options offered to them in form three at one of the two high schools. The children were re-interviewed the following year at their respective high schools. A further 37 pupils (17 boys, 20 girls) were interviewed in form four at their respective high schools while they were choosing fifth form subjects and were re-interviewed the following year after they had experienced the subjects they had chosen. All children in the study were chosen by their teachers as being representative of the range of pupils at their schools, in terms of ability, ethnic origin and home background. 
In addition, parents of eight of the younger children were interviewed in their homes and 31 teachers, representing all the subjects offered to the children at the two high schools, were interviewed at their respective schools. 
Analysis of interview transcripts showed that pupils’ decisions were influenced by the structure of the option systems, the attitudes of parents and peers and by the overt and covert actions of teachers. Access to information was found to be a key component of decision making. Children’s and parents’ views about the school subjects showed a strong measure of agreement, but there was less agreement between children’ views and teachers’ views. 
A model of decision making was elicited from the data and case studies illustrated the range of pupils’ individual experience, in particular, the experience of Maori pupils identified as ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in the school system.

text: Secondary school subject choice: an ethnographic study This study of subject choice followed two groups of pupils through the decision-making process at two state, co-educational high schools in the North Island of New Zealand. The high schools were similar in size, location, ethnic composition and range of home background of pupils, but had differing option systems. 
At the end of their form two year, 53 children (27 boys, 26 girls) were interviewed at their respective primary or intermediate schools while they were considering the options offered to them in form three at one of the two high schools. The children were re-interviewed the following year at their respective high schools. A further 37 pupils (17 boys, 20 girls) were interviewed in form four at their respective high schools while they were choosing fifth form subjects and were re-interviewed the following year after they had experienced the subjects they had chosen. All children in the study were chosen by their teachers as being representative of the range of pupils at their schools, in terms of ability, ethnic origin and home background. 
In addition, parents of eight of the younger children were interviewed in their homes and 31 teachers, representing all the subjects offered to the children at the two high schools, were interviewed at their respective schools. 
Analysis of interview transcripts showed that pupils’ decisions were influenced by the structure of the option systems, the attitudes of parents and peers and by the overt and covert actions of teachers. Access to information was found to be a key component of decision making. Children’s and parents’ views about the school subjects showed a strong measure of agreement, but there was less agreement between children’ views and teachers’ views. 
A model of decision making was elicited from the data and case studies illustrated the range of pupils’ individual experience, in particular, the experience of Maori pupils identified as ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in the school system.

year: 1985