The Mbam languages of Cameroon have a unique position in Bantu linguistics. Being in between “narrow” Bantu and “wide” Bantu, they sometimes pattern with the one and sometimes with the other, and... Show moreThe Mbam languages of Cameroon have a unique position in Bantu linguistics. Being in between “narrow” Bantu and “wide” Bantu, they sometimes pattern with the one and sometimes with the other, and as such are a rich motherlode for comparative and historical research. The Mbam languages have another point of interest as well. They have been previously analysed as standard 7 vowel languages (/i,e,ɛ,a,ɔ,o,u/) with Advanced Tongue Root (ATR) harmony. While vowel harmony in African languages has received a lot of attention and study, and the vowel-harmony systems of not a few of the Mbam languages have been studied, most of the previous studies have been on individual languages. This study seeks to analyse and compare the vowel systems of ten Mbam languages as a group: both their vowel inventories and their vowel-harmony systems. Various issues in vowel harmony, such as neutral vowels, directionality in and domains of vowel harmony are discussed. This study also proposes a phonological explanation for the functioning of the complex vowel-harmony systems found in the Mbam languages. Finally this study considers the internal classification of the Mbam languages and their position in the wider linguistic context of the Bantu and Bantoid languages. Show less
Genetic alterations such as mutations, genomic rearrangements and aneuploidy, are commonly observed in tumors. To counteract this cells have multiple genome maintenance and surveillance systems to... Show moreGenetic alterations such as mutations, genomic rearrangements and aneuploidy, are commonly observed in tumors. To counteract this cells have multiple genome maintenance and surveillance systems to minimize the rate at which genomic alterations arise. The aim of the thesis is to gain understanding of processes and pathways that contribute to the maintenance of genome stability and to establish how defects in these processes and pathways abrogate the DNA damage response and consequently may promote genomic instability and development of cancer. The work described in this thesis addresses various aspects of the cellular response of mammalian cells to DNA damaging agents including changes in post translational modifications that occur after genotoxic stress. The role of poly-adenosyl ribose modification in nucleotide excision repair is investigated and found to be important for the recruitment of a chromatin remodeling protein and repair. Phosphoproteomic analysis identified changes in the global phosphorylation state of proteins following genotoxic stress. Key kinases responding to DNA damage are ATR and related kinases. A detailed study into the requirements for ATR activation after UV exposure indicates that at least two distinct modes of activation exist. Finally we describe the profound sensitivity of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome cells to DNA damage. Show less
This thesis investigates the grammar of Gaahmg, a Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic language spoken in the Blue Nile Province of North Sudan. The comprehensive description provides an analysis of the... Show moreThis thesis investigates the grammar of Gaahmg, a Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic language spoken in the Blue Nile Province of North Sudan. The comprehensive description provides an analysis of the phonology, morphology, and syntax. Ten texts of various genre are given to help illustrated the grammar in context. Gaahmg is morphologically rich, employing many suffixes and clitics on nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Tone and [ATR] quality distinguish a significant number of lexemes and grammatical functions. Several specific processes of consonant weakening, vowel elision, [+ATR] spreading, [+round] spreading, and morphological tone rules, account for the vast majority of alternations when morphemes are combined. The syntax is equally interesting. Agentive passive, agentless passive, antipassive, and causative verb forms are syntactically and morphologically distinct and combine in nearly all possible ways. All pronouns use vowel features to represent the person referred to, the three persons coinciding with the language's three vowel harmony pairs. Body part locatives are similar in form and meaning to inherently possessed body part nouns, but are a distinct lexical category in form and function. These and other features make the description a valuable resource for Nilo-Saharan linguists as well as those interested in the typology of African languages. Show less
