This thesis explores how organisations manage new product development (NPD) focused innovation across a portfolio of core, adjacent and breakthrough environments. The study focuses on the search and select phases of the innovation process, and how incumbents identify and validate a range of opportunities. Organisations face the paradox of how to establish search and select routines for focal markets, while also setting up routines to sense and respond to disruptive innovation signals from adjacent and more peripheral environments. The study builds on research into peripheral vision, and considers how organisations operationalise innovation search and select in disrupting environments. To analyse how organisations manage search and select in turbulent environments, the author conducted research in the disrupting higher education (HE) publishing industry using qualitative research methods. The study focused on ten case companies, and the researcher conducted 61 interviews with 63 individuals over a six month period across ten companies publishing 9,000 out of the world’s 32,000 academic journals. The interviewees ranged from CEOs and CTOs to production, operations, editorial, publishing, sales and marketing directors and managers. The analysis revealed 11 search and select capabilities that need to be in place to manage NPD effectively in HE publishing. The research identified five contextual factors that influence how search and select is operationalised in disrupting environments. A framework is proposed to enable the mapping of individual opportunities within a wider NPD portfolio. The project identified ten key market insight areas where firms in the HE publishing sector need to focus. The findings have implications for practice, especially for HE publishers, online media companies, and business to business service organisations. Further research is proposed into how the cognitive frames of boards and senior teams affect the structure and operationalisation of NPD portfolios; how visual media companies search for, develop (ideate) and select programme and film projects in the disrupting media sector; and how workflow mapping and the identification of jobs-to-be-done is deployed within the NPD process in different settings.

Vinclozolin (VCZ), an antiandrogenic fungicide, is an endocrine disrupting chemical that is known to possess high affinity for the androgen receptor (AR) and modulate expression of critical androgen-dependant genes in the prostate. In this study, viability and expression of AR, NKX3.1 and CYP3A4 genes were measured in androgen-sensitive prostate cells LNCaP after exposure to VCZ and VCZ treated with S9 microsomes in a time and dose dependent manner. NKX3.1 is an androgen regulated gene that plays a vital role in prostate development. CYP3A4 is involved in xenobiotic metabolism. VCZ decreased the viability at high doses after 48 hours which was slightly mitigated by treatment with S9 metabolites. Expression of NKX3.1 and CYP3A4 was upregulated while an initial downregulation of AR was observed. NKX3.1 upregulation corroborates with possibility of antiandrogens to act as androgens in LNCaP. The results illustrate that VCZ can interfere with the expression of critical prostate genes.

Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS) / Modulation of the male reproductive system occurs as a result of exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in different life stages. The effects of EDCs on the male reproductive system include infertility, decreased sperm count, function and morphology, abnormal development of secondary sex characteristics, reproductive function and sexual behavior, as well as decreased libido. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring, biologically active chemical compounds in plants. They are divided into different groups. Isoflavonoids and lignans, are the two major groups of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens of teas, coffee and buchu have many beneficial effects on body systems such as antimutagenic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties. They also elicit many adverse events, for example, heavy consumption of green and black tea may cause liver damage and added unwanted effects when combined with other herbal beverages. Chronic heavy consumption of coffee is positively correlated to acute myocardial infarction and can elevate serum cholesterol levels. Rooibos tea decreases steroidogenesis by steroid secreting cell lines.This study investigated the effects of these beverages on the male reproductive system, using a minced testes method for determination of cell viability and hormone (testosterone) production. The first objective of this study was to optimize protein supplement for in vitro testosterone production using human serum albumin (HSA) and foetal bovine serum (FBS). Testicular cultures were prepared and exposed overnight to different concentrations of both sera and then incubated for 4 hours with or without luteinizing hormone (LH). The results showed that addition of protein supplements (HSA or FBS) did not have a significant effect on testosterone production. The second objective of this study was to investigate the effects of green tea, black tea, rooibos tea, coffee and buchu on cell viability of testicular cultures. Cells were treated overnight with varying concentrations of the plant extracts followed by incubation with/without LH for 4 hours. The effects of the plant beverages on cellular protein production were determined by the Bradford assay. The results showed that treatment of cells with varying concentrations of the plant extracts (with/without LH-treatment) had no significant effect on total cellular protein. The third objective of this study was to investigate the effects of black, green and rooibos teas, coffee and buchu on testosterone production by testicular cultures. The results obtained from these experiments showed that rooibos tea and buchu did not affect testosterone production in the presence or absence of LH. The results also indicated that green tea, black tea and coffee inhibited testosterone production by mouse testis cultures in the presence of LH, but not in the absence of LH. Black tea was the most potent inhibitor of testosterone synthesis by mouse testis cultures (IC50= 48 μg/ml), followed by coffee (IC50= 64 μg/ml) and green tea (IC50= 173 μg/ml). Green tea, black tea and coffee inhibited LH-stimulated testosterone synthesis, suggesting that these beverages may impair testicular steroidogenesis in mice. Thus, in spite of their acclaimed beneficial effects, consumption of these beverages in high doses raises concerns for their inhibitory effects on male reproductive function. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are warranted to determine their exact mechanisms of action on the male reproductive system in general and testicular function in particular.

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Obesity is a growing global problem, and it is now considered to be a health problem with epidemic status. The condition is associated with several serious comorbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This makes it highly relevant to seek for solutions to the obesity issue. Diet and exercise are two important components in the area, but studies are also indicating exposure to chemicals so called obesogens, could contribute as well. Bisphenols are chemicals we are frequently exposed to in our every-day environment, mostly through plastics. In this project, the adipogenic effects from a relevant selection of 8 different bisphenols in vitro were examined by a thorough literature search on published data. Concluding results from this research indicated that the structural analogues of BPA appear to be as problematic as BPA with respect to adipogenesis, and should be used with caution. It was also clearly demonstrated that further studies are needed in order to gain more data and understand their adipogenic impact.

Thesis advisor: Rebecca Lowenhaupt / Disrupting systemic racism and moving towards true diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates committed leadership. As a school district’s foremost educational leader, the superintendent has an influential role in ensuring equity. A superintendent may effectively address the systemic inequities present in public education through critically conscious behaviors. To engage in this work effectively, a superintendent needs support. Research has demonstrated that formal or informal networks can positively influence a superintendent. However, there is a gap in the literature explaining how critical consciousness reveals itself in a superintendent’s work and less research about how network participation can advance a superintendent’s critically conscious practices. (Daly Finnigan, 2012; deLima, 2010; Froehlich et al., 2020; Liou & Daly, 2014; Meier & O’Toole, 2003; Moolenaar et al., 2010). In response, this study explored how superintendents understood the tenets of critical consciousness in practice. Additionally, this study examined how social networks influenced a superintendent’s practice and contributed to critically conscious practices. Therefore, the research questions that guided this study are how, if at all, does a superintendent understand the tenets of critical consciousness? And secondly, what role, if any, does a superintendent’s participation in formal or informal networks have on developing critical consciousness and leadership? For the purpose of this study, the tenets of critical consciousness formed the conceptual framework and included critical reflection, critical self-efficacy, and critical action. In addition to this, the literature review of informal and formal networks provided the lens to examine what influence, if any, participation had on superintendents' critical consciousness development. This investigation employed a qualitative case study of six superintendents identified as equity-based leaders and utilized a semi-structured interview process and document review. Findings revealed that superintendents did not use the formal language of critical consciousness. Despite this, evidence showed that the superintendents exhibited the tenets associated with critical consciousness. Additionally, results suggested that both formal and informal networks played a significant role in supporting superintendents, especially during times of challenge. / Thesis (EdD) — Boston College, 2022. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

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Bisphenol A (BPA), the monomer of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, can disrupt intrauterine implantation of fertilized ova in mice. This effect is also induced by exposure to chronic stress or high doses of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer found in polyvinyl chloride products. I assessed the potential combinatory effects of BPA and stress on blastocyst implantation, uterine morphology, adhesion protein expression, and urinary hormone levels. Subcutaneous injections of BPA administered from gestation days (GDs) 1–4 paired with a stressor (rat exposure across a grid) reduced the number of implantation sites on GD 6 at a dose where neither BPA nor stress had this effect on their own. Uterine luminal area was increased by BPA when paired with stress. BPA reduced epithelial cadherin (e-cadherin), a uterine adhesion protein, independently from the stressor. Urinary estradiol was significantly increased by BPA relative to controls, regardless of stress. In other experiments, effects of concurrent BPA and DEHP administered were assessed. Inseminated female mice were injected with BPA, DEHP, or BPA + DEHP from GDs 1–4. Implantation measured in uteri on GD 6 was disrupted by a combined dose but not by the individual doses. This dose also decreased the amount of e-cadherin and cadherin-11, another adhesion protein expressed by cells, while cadherin-11 was also affected by BPA alone. In further experiments designed to elucidate the interaction of BPA and DEHP, mice were fed 14C-BPA and injected with varied doses of DEHP, then tissues were excised and measured for radioactivity. When given DEHP, males and cycling and peri implantation females showed increased BPA deposition in reproductive tissues and serum. As people are commonly exposed to both DEHP and BPA through consumer products, it is important to determine their interactions and also to understand how dose-response is affected by other factors such as stress. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)