This thesis is an ethnographic study of a purpose built, co-educational Roman Catholic comprehensive school that was conducted between April 1973 and July 1974, when the researcher took a part-time teacher role in the school. The main methods of social investigation were: participant observation, unstructured interviews and documentary evidence. The study examines the operation of the school from a teacher's point of view. Special attention is given to the ways in which teachers and pupils define and redefine situations within the school. An opening chapter surveys the problems, theories and methods that were used in the study. Part one locates the school in a social context and examines the extent to which its physical division into Houses and Departments influenced the Headmaster's conception of the school and the definitions and redefinitions of the situation that were advanced by Heads of Houses and Departmental staff. There are chapters on the Headmaster's conception of the school, House staff and Department staff, and an analysis of the social processes involved in three social situations. Similar themes are examined in part two in relation to Newsom pupils and their teachers. There are chapters on Newsom pupils and Newsom teachers and the definitions, redefinitions and strategies that were used in classrooms by teachers and pupils. The thesis concludes that the physical division of the school into Houses and Departments influenced staff recruitment, school organization and the ways in which teachers and pupils defined and redefined their activities. The evidence in this study suggests that although different pupils were brought together in a comprehensive school on a single site, it is doubtful whether one school was in operation as the label 'comprehensive' appeared to cover a diverse set of activities. An appendix examines the problems of conducting ethnographic research in a comprehensive school.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Psychology. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Keith Hutchison. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 37-39).

This cross-cultural study investigates the interpersonal perception of parents and young people in Lebanon and Britain. The aims were (1) to compare the students' degree of accuracy in perceiving their parents' opinion with the actual opinions of the parents. Similarly, the parents' accuracy in perceiving their children's opinion is compared with the actual opinions of young people, (2) to assess the students' level of security and find its relationship to accurate prediction, (3) to compare the two generations, the two sexes, and the two cultural groups quantitatively and qualitatively in their attitudes to the various areas of opinion. Using two questionnaires, three different scores were obtained for each student: a security score, an accurate prediction score and an agreement score. The personal security of the student was measured by Ainsworths' Security-Insecurity test. The prediction and agreement scores were obtained using an opinion statement questionnaire administered to both parents and students. By varying the instructions for both groups and by the scoring procedure it was possible to go beyond a mere accuracy score. The findings were as follows: 1. Security and accurate prediction are highly correlated for the Lebanese women students but non-significant for the other three groups (especially after partialling out agreement). Results were explained within the contexts of the Middle Eastern culture and Riesman's theory of 'inner directed society'. 2. Agreement and accurate prediction are highly related only for the Lebanese men and British men students. Various explanations were discussed of which one was found within the theory of cognitive dissonance. 3. Accurate predictions of both parents and children correlate significantly, suggesting the reciprocal nature of accurate perception. A. Agreement and accurate prediction are highly related. The possible effects of 'Real' and 'Assumed' similarity are pointed out. 5. Broadly, the qualitative and quantitative comparison of both generations, sexes and cultures are, with a few exceptions, generally in accordance with expectations. These findings were discussed within the social structure of each culture.

No description available.

Some in vitro reactions of peroxynitrite are examined using 15N CIDNP NMR spectroscopy to elucidate more information about the radical nature of nitration, nitrosation and isomerisation mechanisms. Preliminary work on the nitration of tyrosine with H15NO3 confirms that 3-nitrotyrosine forms predominantly by the same radical mechanism established for other activated aromatic compounds such as 4-methylphenol. Reaction of alkaline [15N] peroxynitrite with biotarget-type molecules such as tyrosine, a tyrosine-containing tripeptide and thiol-containing amino acids allows nuclear polarisation effects to be discerned which are consistent with free and solvent-caged NO2 and HOo or CO3. The phase of the nitrate signal observed during peroxynitrite isomerisation at pH 7.4 is opposite to that observed during reaction with a biotarget-type molecule, suggesting dimerisation of NO2 to N2O4 and its subsequent hydrolysis in addition to in cage geminate pair collapse. Mechanisms in accord with the observations are suggested and their implications and extent to which they concur with established theories are discussed. Kinetic simulations are used to estimate the relative importance of nitryl chloride and peroxynitrite as in vivo reactive nitrogen species. Three furazan 2-oxide (furoxan) derivatives with potent NO- donating activity were synthesised according to literature methods and their decomposition in aqueous solution to yield NO was examined using EFR spectroscopy by spin trapping with Fe2+-N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (Fe2+-MGD). Ammonia, arising from thiol-mediated reductive decomposition pathways, was also detected in quantities up to approximately 8% of the nitrogen- containing decomposition products. A commercially-available enzymatic assay based on reductive amination of 2-oxoglutai-ate using L-glutamate dehydrogenase and NADPH was used. The proportion of furoxan giving rise to these products is estimated and possible mechanisms for their generation are suggested.

The ability of substituted N-hydroxyguanidines to act as nitric oxide donor drugs has been previously established. To further investigate the potential of this class of compound as nitric donor drugs a number of new N-hydroxyguanidines were prepared. The compounds were synthesised and then subjected to a number of chemical and biological tests. A number of the examples prepared were indeed shown to be oxidised under chemical conditions to give nitric oxide. The nitric oxide was tested for using the Greiss test. One example, 1-benzyl-1-methyl-2-hydroxyguanidine showed biological activity and was found to be a vasodilator. In addition an X-ray crystal structure of this compound was obtained which gave a further insight into the conformation of this type compound and related analogues. A number of ureas were also prepared for use in the biological and chemical testing. Under chemical conditions the ureas were not oxidised thus indicating that the hydroxyguanidine functionality was required for nitric oxide generation. O-Substituted N-hydroxyguanidines were also prepared in an effort to examine the possibility of selectively targeting the molecule to the site of action for nitric oxide release. These compounds were found to produce a small amount of nitric oxide under chemical oxidation, therefore confirming their potential as potential nitric oxide donor compounds. Acid catalysed decomposition of O-THP-1,1,-dibenzyl-2- hydroxyguanidine was studied. The reaction was carried out at various pHs and was monitored using HPLC. It was found that the THP protecting group could be removed to give the free N-hydroxyguanidine. More easily removed O-substituents are probably required to produce successful prodrugs. However the reaction only gave a reasonable rate at a very low pH (t1/2 = 122 s at pH 0). A number of O-substituted hydroxylamines were then prepared in an attempt to increase the range of O-substituted N-hydroxyguanidines that could be obtained.

The coenzyme B12-dependent enzyme, glutamate mutase (E. C. 5.4.99.1), catalyses the reversible carbon-skeleton rearrangement of (2S)-glutamic acid to (25.35)-3-methylaspartic acid. Glutamate mutase is the first enzyme on the mesaconate pathway. A variety of glutamate and 3-methylaspartate analogues (which also include isotopically labelled molecules), were synthesised as molecular probes of the enzyme. Synthesis of stereospecifically labelled 3-ethylaspartic acid: (2S,3S)-[3'-C2H3], and (2S,3S)-[C2H2C2H3]-ethylaspartic acids were constructed using appropriately labelled iodoethane. (2S,3S)-2-Bromo-3-methylsuccinic acid was synthesised via the diazotization of (2S,3S)-3-methylaspartic acid, in the presence of bromide ion. (2S)-Methylsuccinic acid was synthesised by the catalytic hydrogenation of (2S,3S)-2-bromo-3-methylsucdnic acid. Biological studies of the synthesised compounds (including the labelled isotopomers) displayed no activity against glutamate mutase. 3-Methylaspartate ammonia-lyase, the second enzyme in the mesaconate pathway, catalyses the deamination of (2S,3S)-3-methylaspartic acid to mesaconic acid. A range of 1-substituted cyclopropane 1,2-dicarboxylic acids were synthesised using short efficient routes and were found to be good to potent inhibitors of 3-methylaspartase. X-ray crystallographic studies have determined the absolute stereochemistry. The mode of action of the most potent inhibitor, (1S,2S)-1-methylcyclopropane 1,2-dicarboxylic acid (20 mumol dm-3), is consistent with it acting as a transition state analogue for the central substrate deamination reaction catalysed by the enzyme. beta-Amino acids are constituents of many biologically active peptides. A general procedure for the synthesis of alpha-substituted-beta-amino acids has been developed. The synthesis involves a Baylis-Hillman amine catalysed conversion of methyl acrylate, with an appropriate aldehyde, to give the alpha-(hydroxyalkyl) acrylate. Bromination and subsequent azide displacement furnishes the azido alkene, which is catalytically hydrogenated, to furnish the beta-amino ester.

The question under examination is whether there are various 5-HT receptor types present in the hearts of different species of molluscan bivalves. In order to examine this question, the actions of 5-HT and some analogues on the hearts of several species of bivalve molluscs were investigated in two different preparations. The effects of 5-HT and analogues were examined on isolated whole ventricle preparations and on the unitary currents of patch-clamped myocytes from some of the same species. The 5-HT receptor activated in Mya arenaria and Mercenaria mercenaria myocytes produced a decrease in unitary current activity across the membrane, which correlated with the effect seen by elevation of cAMP intracellularly. This fits well with the excitation of the whole hearts by 5-HT, and the earlier literature. In Geukensia demissa the presence of another 5-HT receptor was observed which when activated also causes an increase in K+ unitary current activity; which was not mimicked by elevation of intracellular cAMP. This also correlated with some of the mixed effects of 5-HT on the whole hearts. However, 5-CT and 5-MEOT caused a decrease in K+ unitary current activity; which also correlated with the inhibition of the whole hearts by 5-CT and 5-MEOT. The effects observed with 5-HT, 5-CT, 5-MEOT in Geukensia demissa appear to be linked to the activation of an intracellular pathway independent of cAMP. The results described from the whole heart and the myocytes experiments suggest that there are in fact more than one conformation of 5-HT receptor present in the hearts of bivalves.

The mechanism of action of some conventional (sodium nitroprusside, NP and S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine, SNAP) and novel (iron-sulphur cluster nitrosyls) nitric oxide (NO) 'donor' drugs has been studied. Experiments were performed on segments of internally-perfused, rat isolated tail artery. Bolus injections (10μl) of SNAP and NP produce fully reversible (transient or T-type) vasodilator responses. Injections of Roussin's black salt (RBS), an iron-sulphur cluster containing 7 ligated nitrosyl groups, and a related cubane-like iron-sulphur cluster with 4 ligated nitrosyls (CUB), produce conventional T-type responses at doses below a critical threshold concentration (Dt). However, both compounds generate extraordinarily long- lasting (sustained or S-type) responses when the injected dose >Dt: these comprise an initial, rapid vasodilation, followed by partial recovery only. The resulting 'plateau' of reduced tone persists for several hours. Histochemical and X-ray microprobe analyses demonstrate that the plateau is due to slow release of NO from RBS or CUB taken up into the endothelium. RBS and CUB are also shown to be photosensitive: vasodilator responses to both compounds are potentiated by light. A study has also been made of the mechanism of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) photorelaxation. The phenomenon is shown to be due to release of NO from a photodegradable molecular store, which probably exists in the form of nitrosothiol(s), located in VSM cells. The store can be depleted by exposure to laser light, and then regenerated in the dark. The repriming process is dependent on basal release of NO: it is prevented by known inhibitors of NO synthase and by haemoglobin. Prior treatment of vessels with ethacrynic acid, a thiol alkylating agent, also prevents repriming. The therapeutic implications of these findings are discussed.