As part of a project to demonstrate the science of decay, a series of mass spectrometry imaging experiments were performed. The aim was to demonstrate that decay and decomposition are only part of the story and to show pictorially that atoms and molecules from dead plants and animals are incorporated into new life. Radish plants (Raphanus sativus) were grown hydroponically using a nutrient system containing (15)N KNO3 (98% labeled) as the only source of nitrogen. Plants were cropped and left to ferment in water for 2 weeks to create a radish "tea", which was used as a source of nitrogen for radish grown in a second hydroponics experiment. After 5 weeks of growth, the radish plants were harvested and cryosectioned, and sections were imaged by positive-ion MALDI and SIMS mass spectrometry imaging. The presence of labeled species in the plants grown using (15)N KNO3 as nutrient and those grown from the radish "tea" was readily discernible. The uptake of (15)N into a number of identifiable metabolites has been studied by MALDI-MS and SIMS imaging.

I would first like to thank the EPRSC for funding my PhD and Prof Neil Bricklebank for being an understanding and patient supervisor. I would like to give special thanks to my and dear friend Ian Stansfield, for spending many hours' proof reading my thesis and correcting my work. I would like to thank Michael Cox of the Technical staff at Sheffield Hallam University, who spent many hours helping me with many instruments of various ages and capabilities. Without him I would not have half the data I do. I would also like to thank Gareth Hopcroft for his help during the Afterlife project. Thank you to Bence Paul and Dany Savard of Iolite 3.32 who gave me so much support with the data processing of the LA-ICP-MS. Bob Burton and Deeba Zahoor of MERI, Sheffield Hallam university, for performing analysis with XRD, XRF and Raman Spectroscopy. Also, I would like to thank Dr Antonio Feteira of MERI for allowing me to use their ball mill. I would like to thank Bryn Flinders of the FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands for performing the Meta-SIMS imaging of the radish. I would like to thank all my friends and family for believing in me and keeping me focused during some very difficult times, particularly, Ian Dickinson Emma Pearson and Lucy Sweeny. I would like to thank my husband David Seaman and son Baden Fixter-Seaman for supporting me through this difficult journey and listening to me moan about everything.

No abstract

Introduction: Both expressive and receptive language development begins early in life. While the benefits of reading to toddlers (over 12 months old) is well-established, benefits of reading to infants (birth to 12 months old) is less established. This study's objective is to determine if consistent reading to infants improves expressive and receptive language development during the first year of life.Methods: We prospectively randomized infants at a family medicine clinic during their 2-week-old visits and gave them a collection of books. Group A (n = 16) received no instructions, while patients in Group B (n = 18) committed to read 1 book a day. Parents in Group C (n = 18) enrolled after 34 weeks gestation, committed to read 1 book a day, and watch an infant brain development video. We obtained average book counts and both expressive and receptive language testing at standard preventative visits through 12 months.Results: Language scores did not differ between randomized groups. Always reading 7 books per week led to higher expressive, receptive and combined language scores at 9 months than sometimes reading fewer than 7 books per week (P = .025, 0.009 and 0.011 respectively). These differences increased by 12 months (P = .004, 0.002, and 0.003, respectively). Instructing parents to read daily encouraged parents to read more books per week at 4 months (P = .031) and 6 months (P = .049).Discussion: Early, consistent reading demonstrates improved language scores as early as 9 months of age. Setting expectations of minimal daily reading impacted daily reading compliance early in life.