Writing a Research Dissertation 2011

8/6/2019 Writing a Research Dissertation 2011

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Writing a Research Project

Dissertation

Professor Neil I. Ward Dr Scott Turner

[email protected] [email protected]

2011


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Overview

Formal instructions

Missing the Deadline

Final Dissertation Content Guideline Example

What not to do!

Questions


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Formal Instructions

Deadline 10am May 9th 2011 (DK)

Copies: supervisor, second examiner

(separate appendix only 1 copy) All final reports must be written in WORD

(or similar word processor)

Must also send an electronic copy tosupervisor you can do this later than the

deadline


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Missing the Deadline

If the final dissertation is handed in late without a valid

reason (e.g. doctors note), the usual penalty will be

applied. See handbook for details. Note that

submissions after 10am are considered late.

BSc dissertations will contribute 45% of the final year

project mark

MCh

em dissertations will contribute 45% of the finalyear project mark


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Marking

dissertation will be marked for scientific

content andpresentation

style and correct grammarare important your supervisor is notallowed to correct

the English for you, so this is your

responsibility

once you have written your dissertation,

read through it again, and again, and

again.


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Plagiarism

Plagiarism is strictly forbidden under all

circumstances. Do not copy verbatim

m

aterial from

previou

s projects or theprimary literature. Any infringement

and you will be severely penalised.

Remember that your supervisor will

have undoubtedly read the samearticles that you will read and will have

read the previous dissertations


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Summary

The body of text is to have 50 pages maximum:

Front cover/Title page not part of the 50 pages

Abstract not part of the 50 pages

Contents page(s) not part of the 50 pages

Acknowledgement(s) not part of the 50 pages

Body of text with intro, experimental, discussion,

data, interpretation etc part of 50 pages

Conclusion part of 50 pages

References not part of the 50 pages

Appendices (if any) not part of the 50 pages

Back Cover a blank sheet of paper not part of the 50

pages


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Cover Page

A cover page containing the following

(i) The university logo right justified

(ii) The project title about half way down the page (Times

New Roman, centred, bold, 18pt)(iii) Below the title write Research Dissertation (Times

New Roman, centred, bold, 18pt)

(iv) Below that put your name and course (Times New

Roman, centred, 16pt)(v) Below that write Supervisor(s): followed by his/her

title and name (Times New Roman, right justified, 14pt)


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Initial Pages

Use page numbers (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), etc

Abstract

List of ContentsList of Figures, Tables and/or Schemes

List of Abbreviations

Acknowledgements Remember: not part of the 50 page limit


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Abstract

maximumA4 page (~150 300 words)

this is a very concise summary

must outline the project aim(s), mainfindings and conclusions (i.e. impact)

no references, no paragraphs, no bullet

points, no 1st

/2nd

person (I, we, they..) written in past tense (it was done)

very important to get this right possibly

the last thing you write


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Abstract

Analytical methods were developed and validated for the determination of the tota

concentration of trace elements (Se, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca, Mn, Mo, I, Cd and Pb) and th

various organic and inorganic selenium species present in human body fluids. Total

elemental analysis involved the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometr

(ICP-MS). Speciation analysis utilised ion-pair high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) coupled on-line to a hexapole collision cell ICP-MS. The methods that were

developed were then applied to three separate studies. The effect of psychological stres

on human fertility was determined by comparing the trace element levels in blood seru

from 47 infertile women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Elemental data

was compared with stress-hormone (plasma prolactin and serum cortisol) levels an

Spielberger stress questionnaires. Statistical analysis showed no relationship betwee

stress-hormones and blood serum trace element levels and that stress-hormones do not

have an adverse effect on human fertility. A further study examined the total trace element

levels of blood serum, follicular fluid, endometrial fluid and scalp hair from a stud

population of 97 women aged between 24 44 years undergoing IVF treatment. Selenium

levels in blood serum were significantly lower in IVF patients in contrast to 18 (age an

gender matched) control cases (P = 0.001, 35 degrees of freedom). This was in agreemen

with a previous study with infertile women, aged < 35 years. Zinc and manganese were

determined in endometrial fluid, both showing a high degree of correlation (P = 0.001, 1

degrees of freedom) in the IVF population (no control samples were available fo

analysis). The levels of each element measured in scalp hair showed no correlation with

the levels determined in any other matrix. A major contribution of this research involve

speciation analysis of selenium in blood serum, seminal plasma and urine. Commercial

selenium supplements were consumed over 28 days and the effect that this had on

selenium levels (total and species) within the human body fluids was investigated

Consumption caused an increase in the levels of selenium within all human body fluid

and in general, the total level of selenium was found to be higher than the sum of the

species present. An in-vitro bioavailabilty procedure was performed on the supplements

and showed that two selenium yeast commercial products contained different seleniu

species. Some selenium species were identified and the implications of this are discussed.


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List of ContentsAbstract iContents ii

List of Figures ixList of Tables xii

List of Equations xivList of Abbreviations xvAcknowledgements

xviii

Chapter One: General Introduction 1

1.0 Introduction 21.1 Classification of Elements 2

1.1.1 Essentiality and toxicity of elements 31.1.2 Role of trace elements in human health 4

1.2 Human Infertility 91.2.1 Female and male infertility 101.2.2 External factors 121.2.3 Role of trace elements in human infertility 13

1.3 Biological Fluids and Other Media Investigated 141.3.1 Whole blood, plasma and serum 141.3.2 Follicular fluid 161.3.3 Seminal plasma 181.3.4 Endometrial fluid 201.3.5 Urine 201.3.6 Scalp hair 22

1.4 Elemental Analysis 251.4.1 Total elemental analysis 251.4.2 Trace element speciation analysis 251.4.3 Trace elements chosen for this research 26

1.4.3.1 Selenium 271.4.3.2 Iron 29

1.4.3.3 Copper 321.4.3.4 Zinc 341.4.3.5 Magnesium 36

1.4.3.6 Calcium 371.4.3.7 Manganese 38

1.4.3.8 Molybdenum 401.4.3.9 Iodine 411.4.3.10 Cadmium 42

1.4.3.11 Lead 43

1.5 Analytical Review 45

1.5.1 Methods for total trace element analysis 451.5.2 Methods for speciation analysis 45


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List of TablesList of Tables

Page

1.1 Disorders related to excesses and deficiencies of certain elements. 81.2 Normal levels of trace elements in blood serum. 161.3 Level of trace elements in follicular fluid of women with tubal and

unexplained infertility. 18

1.4 Classification of male infertility. 191.5 Normal levels of trace elements in seminal plasma. 191.6 Normal levels of trace elements in urine. 211.7 Normal levels of trace elements in scalp hair. 241.8 Separation techniques. 461.9 Detection techniques. 471.10 Review of speciation literature. 482.1 CP-MS interferences on selenium isotopes. 672.2 sotopes used and their isotopic interferences. 772.3 Polyatomic interferences from common solvents (DDW, H2SO4, HCl). 782.4 Polyatomic interferences caused by HNO3. 782.5 Choice of internal standards for the elements of interest. 812.6 Methodology of the Average Method for internal standard correction. 822.7 Methodology of the Ratio Method for internal standard correction. 822.8 Elemental content of the synthetic serum solutions. 942.9 sotopes affected by polyatomic interferences. 1042.10 Limit of detection for certain trace elements, obtained using the

Finnigan MAT SOLA

CP-MS. 1062.11 Accuracy and precision of82Se+ levels in synthetic and pooled serum. 1072.12 Determined and certified reference material values (Seronorm

Trace Element Serum) (Lot 704121). 109

2.13 Determined and certified reference material values (GBW 09101Reference Hair). 109

2.14 Determined reference material values (TMDA-54.2) (Lot 1298). 1103.1 Microwave digestion procedure. 1283.2 ETV programme for cadmium analysis of blood serum using the

ELAN 6000 CP-MS and HGA-600MS. 132

3.3 Seronorm Trace Element Serum (Lot 704121) values obtained usingPSN- CP-MS. 133

3.4 Total elemental content of stress blood serum samples. 1353.5 Distribution of each element. 1463.6 Total elemental content of control blood serum samples. 1473.7 Student t-test trace elements in blood serum. 1493.8 Significant element element correlations in blood serum. 1534.1 Determined and certified values for certified reference material

Seronorm Trace Element Serum (Lot 704121). 166

4.2 Determined and certified values for certified reference material


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List of AbbreviationsList of Abbreviations

A Sub-group who consume alcoholAAS Atomic absorption spectrometryACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormoneAES Atomic emission spectrometryAFM Analytical figures of meritAFS Atomic fluorescence spectrometryAID Artificial insemination by donoras After supplement had been consumedBMR Basal metabolic rate

bs Before supplement had been consumedBS Blood serumc Number of channelsC Control groupCE Capillary electrophoresiscGSH-Px Cellular glutathione peroxidase

CRH Cortico releasing hormoneCRM Certified reference materialCV (%) Coefficient of variationDC Direct currentDCP-MS Direct current plasma - mass spectrometryDDW Double distilled deionised waterDIN Direct injection nebulisationDMSe DimethylselenolDNA Deoxyribonucleic acidEDL Electrodeless discharge lampEF Endometrial fluideGSH-Px Extra-cellular glutathione peroxidaseESI-MS Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometryET-AAS Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometryETV Electrothermal vaporisationFAAS Flame atomic absorption spectrometry

FF Follicular fluidFP Forward powerFProt Fast proteinFSH Follicle stimulating hormoneFWHM Full width half maximumG1 Tubal infertilityG2 Unexplained infertilityG3 Male factor infertilityGF Gel filtrationGH Growth hormoneGIFT Gamete intra fallopian transferGnRH Gonadotropin releasing hormoneGSH-Px Glutathione peroxidase


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Main Body of Text

Chapters (balance the length)

an introductory chapter, that sets the

scene, details the scope of the work anddescribes any prior work

a methodology and/or synthesis chapter

results discussion / interpretation of data

the final chapter conclusion (the impact)


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References

throughout the main body of the textparticularly important in the introduction

e.g. RSC formatting

http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ReSourCe/AuthorGuidelines/ArticleLayout/sect4.asp

use a wide selection ofrelevant

references from the primary literature include review articles, book chapters,

previous dissertations or theses


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References

web sites are only valid if the content hasbeen verified by peer review or other

validation (and date viewed must be cited)

Can you use Wikipedia? References can be in the main text or

table and figure legends

Note reference style can be subjectspecific, so ask your supervisor about

the style of inserting references in text

and Bibliography


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This is the fastest growing area of development and consequently, there is a wide

spectrum of separation and detection methods available. Examples of some of the

separation methods available are shown in Table 1.8 (Dunneman and Schwedt,

1988).

Table 1.8: Separation techniques (Dunneman and Schwedt, 1988 ).

Separation techniques Mode Type

Extractive Solid/ liquid, liquid/ liquid

Membrane Ultrafiltration, dialysis

Chromatographic Liquid chromatography Gel filtration (GF), ion-exchange

(IE), adsorption, reverse-phase

(RP), hydrophobic interaction,

affinity, fast protein (FProt)

Gas chromatography Capillary, Packed

Electrophoresis Native, pore gradient


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Reference Styles

High intakes of iodine (2 mg or more per day) can cause toxic

modular goitre and hypothyroidism (Delange, 1994). Deficiency of

iodine (adults; < 10 Qg per day) (Hetzel, 1989) can cause endemic

goitre, impaired growth and development (Thurston, 1970).


modular goitre and hypothyroidism [1]. Deficiency of iodine (adults;

< 10 Qg per day) [2] can cause endemic goitre, impaired growth and

development [3].


modular goitre and hypothyroidism1. Deficiency of iodine (adults;

Writing a Research Dissertation 2011

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