VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Phenomenological studies of top quark production in the forward region of phase space at the LHC
Keywords: QCD
top quark physics
forward physics

This thesis contains phenomenological studies of top quark production in the forward region of phase space at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The production of highly forward top quarks has so far not been observed in nature. As the LHCb detector at the LHC is instrumented in the forward region, this opens the possibility of studying top quark properties in this yet unexplored region of phase space. This feasibility of performing cross section and charge asymmetry measurements of top quark pairs with available and future LHCb data is studied in detail. In both cases, potential analysis strategies are proposed, and sophisticated theoretical predictions are provided for both signal and background. By studying the expected experimental sensitivity of cross section measurements, the potential constraints on parton distribution functions is quantified. The sensitivity of the proposed charge asymmetry measurements with the full Run II LHCb data is also considered.
Edition and study of Teive’s Epithalamium: The Epodon libri tres (1565) and Neo-Latin kiterature in Counter-Reformation Portugal
Keywords: Diogo de Teive/ Iacobus Tevius (c.1514 - c. 1569)
Counter-Reformation
Reception of Horace - Epodon liber
Reception of Erasmus - Institutio Principis Christiani
Neo-Latin literature in Portugal
Epithalamium (genre)
Generic Enrichment
imitatio and mimesis
Reception of Prudentius - Peristephanon
career criticism

This dissertation comprises the first study of the poetry of the Portuguese humanist Diogo de Teive (1513-14 – c. 1569). It examines and presents a scholarly edition of the Epithalamium which Teive composed on the occasion of the marriage of Princess Maria of Portugal to Alessandro Farnese in 1565. It also critically explores the work in which the poem was published, the Epodon libri tres (Lisbon, 1565).
Because both this and the Epithalamium bring together different strands of Teive’s literary work, Chapter One analyses the development of his literary career, linking it to the ideological and cultural transformations which took place in Portugal from the 1540s to the 1560s, and the author’s attempt to carve his identity and space in the Portuguese literary scene. Chapter Two explores the concepts of ‘imitatio’ and ‘mimesis’ in the Epodon libri tres, shedding light on specific aspects of the Epithalamium. In the eyes of his readers, Teive emerges as a Catholic Horace. This is achieved by means of formal imitation, ‘aemulatio’, and allusion to Horace, a process whereby Teive introduces significant and ideologically motivated differences representative of the impact of Counter-Reformation upon literary writing. The ‘aemulatio’ of Prudentius’s Peristephanon in book II is to be understood in this light. Part Two engages with Teive’s comments on questions of verbal representation in the Epodon libri tres. Chapter Three analyses the Epithalamium from a generic perspective, arguing that it presents instances of generic enrichment, and that these are an example of the appropriation of occasional poetry for the purpose of authorial self-representation. One of the instances of generic enrichment is the incorporation of a didactic passage indebted to the tradition of the ‘speculum principum’, which is analysed in Chapter Four. Part One interprets the rewriting and appropriation of Plutarch and Erasmus as authorising strategies whereby Teive represents himself as an advisor of kings in the Epodon libri tres. Part Two discusses the author’s political thought and opinions, drawing from an analysis of the Epithalamium. Finally, Chapter Five comprises the study of the transmission of the poem, its metrical analysis, edition, translation, and commentary.
Star-forming galaxies in the epoch of reionization
Keywords: Astrophysics

This work presents a search for galaxies at 6.5 < z < 9.8 based on the Lyman-break technique, using the latest HST WFC3 near-infrared data covering ∼ 150 arcmin^2 of the GOODS-South field. With these data, it is possible to find sufficient z ≈ 7−9 galaxies to fit both φ∗ and M∗ of the UV Schechter luminosity function. There is evidence for evolution in this luminosity function from z = 6−7 to z = 8−9, in the sense that there are fewer UV-bright galaxies at z ≈ 8 − 9, consistent with an evolution mainly in M∗. The candidate z ≈ 7 − 9 galaxies detected have insufficient ionizing flux to reionize the Universe, and it is probable that galaxies below our detection limit provide a significant UV contribution. The faint-end slope, α, is not well constrained. Adopting a similar faint-end slope to that determined at z = 3 − 6 (α = −1.7), and a Salpeter initial mass function, reionization could be achieved at z ≈ 7 for an escape fraction of ionizing photons fesc = 0.5 integrating the luminosity function down to M_UV= −15, while at z ≈ 8, for the same fesc, the ionizing photon budget still falls short even integrating down to M_UV = −8. A steeper faint end slope or a low-metallicity population (or a top-heavy IMF) might still provide sufficient photons for star-forming galaxies to reionize the Universe, but confirmation of this might have to await the James Webb Space Telescope.
Probing the effect of oxygen vacancies in strontium titanate single crystals
Keywords: Molecular self-assembly
Electron spin resonance spectroscopy
Surface reconstructions
Strontium Titanate
Scanning tunnelling microscopy
Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy

This thesis describes investigations into the role of non-stoichiometry in the surface and bulk properties of SrTiO3 single crystals. A family of (n×n) reconstructions, where n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are produced by argon ion sputtering of the SrTiO3 (111) single crystals and subsequent annealing in UHV or in an oxygen rich environment. The sputtering process introduces defects or oxygen vacancies in the surface region of the sample, whilst the annealing gives rise to surface reconstructions. The surface preparation conditions such as sputtering time, annealing temperature and environment are optimized to obtain various reconstructions in a controlled and reproducible manner. High resolution STM images of these reconstructions are also obtained and utilized in the investigation of the surface reactivity. Fullerene molecules are deposited on the reconstructed surfaces to elucidate the surface reactivity through template assisted growth. Fullerene molecules are first deposited with substrate surfaces held at room temperature. Being the most highly reduced among the (n×n) family, the 5×5 reconstruction significantly influenced the growth of fullerenes. Both C60 and C70 adsorb as individual molecules and produce clusters with magic numbers. The 4×4 and 6×6 reconstructed surfaces encourage the formation of close-packed structures upon the deposition at room temperature. When the surface covered with fullerenes is heated to a temperature of around 200 °C, epitaxial islands are observed. The 6×6 reconstructed surface appeared to be less reactive than the 4×4.
Electrical transport, cathodoluminescence (CL) and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments are also carried out to investigate the effect of oxygen vacancies on the bulk properties of UHV annealed SrTiO3 single crystals. Thermal reduction leads to carrier doping of the material, which not only gives rise to electrical conduction but also induces room temperature luminescence. Both the electrical conductivity and CL intensity increases with annealing time. The work presented in this thesis provides insight into the defect driven properties in both the surface and bulk of SrTiO3 single crystals, which could play an important role in the development of oxide-based electronic devices.
Oceanic cycling of rare earth elements and the application of Nd isotopes to assess changes in Mesozoic ocean circulation
Keywords: REEs
OAEs
rare earth elements
trace metal cycling
anoxic events
ocean circulation
Cretaceous
Nd isotopes
ICP-MS
Atlantic

Rare earth elements (REEs) and their isotopes (such as Nd isotopes) can be potentially used to trace a wide range of oceanic processes in both modern and ancient oceans, but their successful application as tracers requires a comprehensive understanding of REE cycling in the modern ocean.
Previous studies of REEs in seawater were largely constrained by analytical difficulties in generating accurate and precise REE data from seawater, which typically contain REE concentrations at a sub-ppt to ppt level. A new, and relatively simple, analytical method for precise and accurate determination of all dissolved REE concentrations in reasonably small (&Tilde;100 ml) seawater samples is presented in this thesis.
With the application of the new method, this thesis reports the first full-depth, zonal ocean section of all dissolved REE concentrations, collected during the CoFeMUG cruise along &Tilde;12°S in the South Atlantic. The section approach of this study places the distribution of dissolved REE concentrations in a well-constrained hydrographic context, allowing the first quantitative assessment (by an inverse model) of the relative importance of hydrographic controls resulting from advection/mixing of ocean circulation, together with non-conservative controls resulting from local particle scavenging and remineralization, in controlling the distribution of dissolved REEs in this region. A noteworthy decoupling of Ce and Mn with respect to their cycling in the water column was also observed in this study.
The application of Nd isotopes as a tracer to reconstruct changes in ocean circulation in the NW European chalk shelf sea during rapid climatic events, including the mid-Cenomanian Event and oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE 2), suggests a tight coupling between ocean circulation and transient climatic cooling during the general warm Late Cretaceous. An advected volcanic signal during OAE 2 was registered in the seawater Nd-isotope record from the English Chalk, probably suggesting a period of enhanced ocean ventilation/mixing at this time.
A molecular, anatomical and developmental account of copine-6 protein expression in the rodent brain
Keywords: neurogenesis
dendrodendritic
corpus callosum
interneuron
synapse
Copine-6

This thesis describes the developmental expression and anatomical distribution of Copine-6, a neuron specific member of the Copine family of calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins, in rodent brain. A polyclonal antibody targeting the full Copine-6 sequence has been characterised prior to its employment for the immunohistochemical analysis of rodent embryonic and adult brain tissue. Several different Copine-6 labelled neuron populations in the neocortex, hippocampus and olfactory bulbs were discovered, and one of these with an unusual ‘spiny’ morphology in the adult rodent corpus callosum, bordering the neurogenic subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream, was studied in detail. A full molecular characterisation of these Copine-6 ‘spiny’ neurons showed that these cells are mature, GABAergic, axonless interneurons with putative synaptic communication, unusual for their location in the white matter close to the region of adult neurogenesis. A full bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) birth-dating analysis was performed, which indicated an early embryonic birthdate for the Copine-6 spiny cells. This timeframe is typical of cortical GABAergic interneurons suggesting that their unusual positioning is programmed from embryogenesis. Furthermore, electron microscopic analysis of these Copine-6 interneurons in Chapter 5 confirms that indeed these cells contain vesicles and are synaptically integrated as postsynaptic recipients. The presence of vesicles in the architecturally dendritic processes is suggestive of dendro-dendritic signalling by these cells. Observations from electron microscopic nanoparticle labelling also showed that the Copine-6 protein is restricted to the plasma membrane, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and multi-vesicular bodies.
These embryonically generated Copine-6 labelled axonless interneurons are a novel neuron population in the corpus callosum, and the presence of vesicles in the dendritic processes of these cells suggests that they might have a novel communication mechanism.
The redefined centre, periphery and margin: the long-term interaction sphere of southern China 3000 – 221 BC
Keywords: Chinese Archaeology
Marin
High-fired ceramics
Bronze
Periphery
Southern China
Core
Rice cultivation
World-system
Jade

This thesis investigates southern China as a part of dynamic and extensive interregional networks from the third to the first millennium BC and explores the changing roles of different southern regions within the interregional relationships. This was an important transitional period for southern China as it was the time when several prominent and farreaching innovations of technologies and material culture were made or adopted in the area. Four key sets of materials – rice, bronze, ceramics and jade – are examined with a World-system perspective to reveal interregional contacts in different directions and of different nature between southern China and a number of neighbouring regions.
By stressing on local responses towards different technologies and material culture in different period, an alternative narrative to that stemmed from Chinese historiography is, therefore, suggested. Instead of being a passive and 'backward' periphery in the traditional sense, southern China presents diversification of material culture over time. Many of the mechanisms of transmission and circulation in the south are characterised by 'leaked' technologies and designs, as well as 'selective adoption' and local redevelopment of material culture.
Multiplicative robust and stochastic MPC with application to wind turbine control
Keywords: predictive control
stochastic MPC
control theory
wind turbine control
model predictive control
wind power
MPC
robust control
probabilistic control

A robust model predictive control algorithm is presented that explicitly handles multiplicative, or parametric, uncertainty in linear discrete models over a finite horizon. The uncertainty in the predicted future states and inputs is bounded by polytopes. The computational cost of running the controller is reduced by calculating matrices offline that provide a means to construct outer approximations to robust constraints to be applied online. The robust algorithm is extended to problems of uncertain models with an allowed probability of violation of constraints. The probabilistic degrees of satisfaction are approximated by one-step ahead sampling, with a greedy solution to the resulting mixed integer problem. An algorithm is given to enlarge a robustly invariant terminal set to exploit the probabilistic constraints.
Exponential basis functions are used to create a Robust MPC algorithm for which the predictions are defined over the infinite horizon. The control degrees of freedom are weights that define the bounds on the state and input uncertainty when multiplied by the basis functions. The controller handles multiplicative and additive uncertainty.
Robust MPC is applied to the problem of wind turbine control. Rotor speed and tower oscillations are controlled by a low sample rate robust predictive controller. The prediction model has multiplicative and additive uncertainty due to the uncertainty in short-term future wind speeds and in model linearisation. Robust MPC is compared to nominal MPC by means of a high-fidelity numerical simulation of a wind turbine under the two controllers in a wide range of simulated wind conditions.
Mors immatura: portraits of children on Roman funerary monuments in the west
Keywords: commemoration
valuation
children
funerary
families
Roman
portraits

This thesis examines funerary iconography for evidence of Roman attitudes towards children, childhood and the family. Based on 690 portrait monuments drawn from select areas of the Western Empire, its central hypothesis is that the commemorations are best read as highly artificial constructs which reveal more about the social preoccupations of the commissioners than the lives of the children whom they represent.
The first of the seven chapters defines the parameters of the accompanying catalogue and discusses the benefits of studying a diverse range of monuments (rather than isolated "show-pieces"). The methodological section which follows assesses the cultural limitations and identification problems inherent to funerary material and considers how the terms "child" and "portrait" are best defined in this medium. The four subsequent chapters analyse the following key areas: the ages, genders and attributes of children; the presentation and composition of the family; the iconography of surrogate and extended relationships; and the archaeological context of funerary display. In each case any emotional interpretations which surround the material are discussed and then countered with alternative, and better supported, social readings. It is argued that previous research has been based on samples which are too limited in terms of size, genre and geographical scope and influenced too heavily by a desire to prove parental benevolence and the existence of "love" and "affection" within the Roman household. By exposing demographic biases and iconographic problems, it is shown that commissioners were actually using the image of the child for overtly social purposes, with some of the results being subject to substantial, and hitherto unacknowledged, regional variation. The conclusion then reassesses a well-known example to show that while Roman parents did attach importance to their children, funerary evidence can only prove it to be of a social, rather than an emotional, nature.
Multi-hop localization in cluttered environments
Keywords: Robotic Navigation
ranging
DV-Distance
multi-hop
Adaptive Algorithms
non-line-of-sight
Localization
Multilateration

Range-based localization is a widely used technique for position estimation where distances are measured to anchors, nodes with known positions, and the position is analytically estimated. It offers the benefits of providing high localization accuracy and involving simple operation over multiple deployments. Examples are the Global Positioning System (GPS) and network-based cellular handset localization. Range-based localization is promising for a range of applications, such as robot deployment in emergency scenarios or monitoring industrial processes. However, the presence of clutter in some of these environments leads to a severe degradation of the localization accuracy due to non-line-of-sight (NLOS) signal propagation. Moreover, current literature in NLOS-mitigation techniques requires that the NLOS distances constitute only a minority of the total number of distances to anchors.
The key ideas proposed in the dissertation are: 1) multi-hop localization offers significant advantages over single-hop localization in NLOS-prone environments; and 2) it is possible to further reduce position errors by carefully placing intermediate nodes among the clutter to minimize multi-hop distances between the anchors and the unlocalized node. We demonstrate that shortest path distance (SPD) based multi-hop localization algorithms, namely DV-Distance and MDS-MAP, perform the best among other competing techniques in NLOS-prone settings. However, with random node placement, these algorithms require large node densities to produce high localization accuracy.
To tackle this, we show that the strategic placement of a relatively small number of nodes in the clutter can offer significant benefits. We propose two algorithms for node placement: first, the Optimal Placement for DV-Distance (OPDV) focuses on obtaining the optimal positions of the nodes for a known clutter topology; and second, the Adaptive Placement for DV-Distance (APDV) offers a distributed control technique that carefully moves nodes in the monitored area to achieve localization accuracies close to those achieved by OPDV. We evaluate both algorithms via extensive simulations, as well as demonstrate the APDV algorithm on a real robotic hardware platform.
We finally demonstrate how the characteristics of the clutter topology influence single-hop and multi-hop distance errors, which in turn, impact the performance of the proposed algorithms.
Changing pattern of household expenditure on health and the role of public health insurance schemes for the poor in India: case of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
Keywords: India
Evaluation
Out-of-pocket
RSBY

Background: In order to protect the poor from health shocks, the Government of India launched Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) in 2008. The objectives of this study are: a) to assess the changes in the financial burden of health care on the poor population; b) to estimate the effects of RSBY in reducing the financial burden on the poor; and c) to examine the impact of RSBY on the labour supply of the poor.
Methods: The study is based on data from the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). The sample size is between 100-125 thousand households at the all-India level. The study uses pooled cross-section regression analysis to assess the changing pattern of out-of-pocket (OOP) payments on healthcare. The impact of RSBY on financial risk protection and labour force participation rate in India were estimated using the difference-in-differences (DID) method.
Findings: My thesis consists of three papers. The findings in the first paper, changing pattern of out-of-pocket payments, reflect that the poorest 20% of households, compared to the richest 20%, realised a slower increase in out-of-pocket as a share of the household’s total expenditure (-0.5%) and catastrophic payments (-2%) during the period of 2000-2012. However, during the same period, Scheduled caste/tribe and Muslim households reported an increased burden of out-of-pocket.
The second paper finds reduction in the probability of incurring ‘any inpatient expenditure’ and ‘catastrophic inpatient expenditure’ after RSBY intervention but marginal increase in the ‘per person monthly inpatient expenditure’ and insignificant change in ‘inpatient expenditure as a share of households’ total expenditure’. The effects of the scheme on the total out-of-pocket payment are negligible and non-drug expenditure reflected significant increase.
The third paper finds that women’s labour supply increased (3% per annum) but the elderly labour supply declined (1.5%). Further, men switched from self-employment to casual work while women moved to wage-paid regular and casual jobs at the cost of being self-employed.
Discussion and conclusion: The poor and other less advantaged population groups realised an increasing OOP burden mainly on account of two factors: i) outpatient care is not covered under RSBY; and ii) the benefit package under the scheme is very modest. Women’s labour supply increased and the elderly labour supply declined in favour of leisure because of possible improvements in health. However, the overall labour supply did not change. The Indian government needs to consider broadening the benefit package and including outpatient coverage under RSBY.