The thesis, "General Sikorski and the Polish Government in Exile 1939-43: A Study of Polish Internal Émigré Politics in Wartime", seeks to examine the impact of Polish 'domestic' politics on wartime diplomacy in exile. Foreign policy naturally dominated the exile agenda, but this thesis considers the extent to which internal politics affected the Polish government's ability to pursue its wartime and post-war aims. The thesis considers whether internal divisions in exile and in the Polish resistance undermined national unity and diverted attention away from the war effort to the anticipated power-struggle after liberation. It assesses the degree to which domestic opposition hampered Sikorski's ability to achieve rapprochement with the USSR, the contribution his critics in the Polish army and wartime administration made to the collapse of his Soviet strategy and the extent to which Sikorski's policies failed because they constituted too blatant a contradiction of what the majority of Poles perceived as national traditions or national interests. It also considers whether his inability to impose his vision of post-war Poland on his compatriots destroyed the prospects of a new era of Polish- Soviet relations after liberation. Within this context, the thesis argues the impact of national history and tradition on exile foreign and 'domestic' policy. It assesses the consequences of key features of Polish interwar politics and society on politics in exile. It also examines the general nature of 'politics in exile', the interplay of Polish exile 'domestic' and foreign policy, and the nature and consequences of Sikorski's leadership. Sikorski came to power with a unique opportunity to unite the Poles in the fight for liberation. This thesis examines the impact on Polish history and the history of the Second World War of his failure to achieve this aim.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Surgery / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Chapter IV examines the increasing level of British interest in the Yugoslav revolt. Inadequately informed, and under pressure from internal and external sources, the British government resolved during autumn 1941 to offer exclusive support to Mihailovic. This decision was taken despite the knowledge that fighting had broken out between the insurgent groups. Chapter V covers the first part of 1942. Despite a growing awareness of the Partisan contribution to the anti-Axis struggle, and of the existence of civil war within Yugoslavia, the British continued to offer their full moral support to Mihailovic, and to attempt to rally all Yugoslavs to him. Chapter VI shows how during the second half of 1942, due to growing doubts over Mihailovic's political objectives and military strategy, the British policy consensus gradually disintegrated. Consequently, the reaffirmation of British support for Mihailovic at the end of the year was little more than a facade. Finally, the conclusion illustrates how British expectations of Mihailovic were based on a fundamental misevaluation not only of the latter's capabilities, but also of the very nature of the Yugoslav resistance movements.

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The study of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has been hindered by the absence of animal models of late-onset/age-related AD (also termed sporadic AD) (95% of AD cases) since current transgenic mouse models exhibit pathological changes dependent on overexpression of mutant human genes linked to early-onset, familial AD (5% of cases). Oxidative stress is considered to be a causative factor in age-related AD, and we have found that aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh2) null mice exhibit not only oxidative stress, but also display many AD-like pathologies. The current study used behavioral analysis to assess whether Aldh2-/- mice also exhibit memory and cognition deficits. Male and female wild type and Aldh2-/- mice were tested monthly beginning at three months of age, using the open field novel object recognition test (a measure of recognition memory), as well as spontaneous alternations in the Y-maze (a measure of spatial working memory). In both tasks, significant decreases in performance occurred in Aldh2-/- mice by 3.5-4 months of age, and this progressively declined over the next three months compared to wild type mice. Sex-related differences in memory impairment were not observed. These results, together with the findings that AD-like pathologies are also present, suggest that Aldh2-/- mice represent a new, oxidative stress-based model of age-related cognitive impairment and AD. This model may prove useful both for assessing AD therapeutics and for gaining better insight into the pathogenesis of AD. / Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-26 11:20:00.023

This thesis begins with a background chapter which explores the current diabetes epidemic and examines the role of obesity and oxidative stress as causative factors. Current dietary recommendations for prevention of type 2 diabetes are critically evaluated. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the independent role of fruit and vegetables in preventing diabetes. Convincing benefit for greater consumption of green leafy vegetables was demonstrated. An insignificant trend towards benefit was observed for fruit and vegetables. The Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Glucose Control Study (FIVE) is a sub study of the Let’s Prevent Diabetes Study. FIVE includes cross sectional analysis of baseline plasma vitamin C, (a biomarker for fruit and vegetable intake) from 2101 participants. FIVE further includes 12 months analysis of individuals with impaired glucose regulation, randomised to receive group education or usual care. Results demonstrate 29% of the population consumed at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Fewer South Asian individuals met the recommendation compared to White Europeans (21% vs. 30% p = 0.003). Each additional piece of fruit or vegetable consumed (21.8μmol/l plasma vitamin C) was associated with a reduction of 0.04% in HbA1c, 0.05mmol/l in fasting and 0.22mol/l in 2 hour blood glucose. Participants who consumed 5 portions a day compared to those who did not, had a 24% associated reduced risk of being diagnosed with impaired glucose regulation (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.98). At 12 months follow up those receiving lifestyle education had greater levels of plasma vitamin C compared to those in the usual care arm (36.1μmol/l (SD 20.7) vs.29.9μmol/l (SD 20.3)). No statistical difference in mean change between intervention arms was seen. The thesis provides novel, robust nutritional biomarker data from a large at risk, multi ethnic population. Results support recommendations to promote fruit and vegetables in the diet to prevent diabetes. The potential for tailored advice on increasing green leafy vegetables among those at risk of diabetes should be investigated further.

During 2010 and 2011, the Loreto region of Peru experienced a dengue outbreak of unprecedented magnitude and severity for the region. This outbreak coincided with the reappearance of dengue virus-2 (DENV-2) in Loreto after almost 8 years. Whole-genome sequence indicated that DENV-2 from the outbreak belonged to lineage II of the southeast Asian/American genotype and was most closely related to viruses circulating in Brazil during 2007 and 2008, whereas DENV-2 previously circulating in Loreto grouped with lineage I (DENV-2 strains circulating in South America since 1990). One amino acid substitution (NS5 A811V) in the 2010 and 2011 isolates resulted from positive selection. However, the 2010 and 2011 DENV-2 did not replicate to higher titers in monocyte-derived dendritic cells and did not infect or disseminate in a higher proportion of Aedes aegypti than DENV-2 isolates previously circulating in Loreto. These results suggest that factors other than enhanced viral replication played a role in the severity of this outbreak.