Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Public Health Sciences. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on July 31, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

No / Although p53 has long been known as the “guardian of the genome” with a role in tumor suppression in many tissues, the discovery of two p53 ancestral genes, p63 and p73, more than a decade ago has triggered a considerable amount of research into the role of these genes in skin development and diseases. In this review, we primarily focus on mechanisms of action of p53 and p63, which are the best-studied p53 family members in the skin. The existence of multiple isoforms and their roles as transcriptional activators and repressors are key to their function in multiple biological processes including the control of skin morphogenesis, regeneration, tumorigenesis, and response to chemotherapy. Last, we provide directions for further research on this family of genes in skin biology and pathology.

Continuous development and improvement of the modern disposable diaper is crucial for the optimization of product performance. Several methods are used for evaluation and improvements to sustain high quality diapers being produced. The aim of this thesis was to develop a new test method that follows liquid distribution in real time by combining two pre-existing measurement systems. Rewet is the amount of liquid that returns to the surface of diapers when subjected to pressure. Distribution of absorption material is examined by exposing the product core to radiation. These two measurement systems don’t convey anything about the course of the liquid in the diaper when tested separately. This method development is meant to be beneficial for research and development purposes at SCA, working as a complement to the pre-existing methods being used in the laboratory. The following questions are of interest: • Can the rewet test method be performed on a baby diaper while simultaneously exposing the product core to radiation so the course of the liquid can be followed in real time? • Is the liquid distribution (wet area) affected by different product compositions e.g. SAP or thickness? By modifying the current methods, rewet can be performed inside the x-ray equipment while studying the consistency of absorption material and following the liquid behavior in the product core. The developed method was verified by testing on handmade products with different compositions. The developed method’s rewet value has proved to be equivalent to the one tested outside, showing no significant difference between the two.

Incontinence diapers or disposable absorbent pads provide essential help to people having such a physical difficulty. However, during prolonged used of these products in daily life, the skin inside pad area may get fragile and damaged which are difficult to recover in old ages. Therefore a skin friendly sensor can be added to the inner layer of pad that would monitor the skin condition and signal any abnormalities to the wearer. Smart materials which can change color upon variation of skin pH were incorporated with synthetic nonwoven layers of the pad. Among various incorporation methods of these materials, ‘sol-gel’ coating technique was found to be successfulfor applications on optical sensor and on fewother fabric types. Thus ‘sol-gel’ method with modified recipe for different dye and chemical combinations were experimented in this project.Several developed samples showed color change (e.g. yellow to red) that can be easily detected by wearers’ eyes.Additionally, the methods and materials involved showed no adverse effect on health and environment. Thus this study succeeds to provide with a mean for skin health monitor based on nonwoven textiles by incorporation of color changing materials.