VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Security and the right to security of person
Keywords: capabilities approach
human rights
security
right to security
personhood
socio-economic rights

This thesis inquires into the meaning of the right to security of person. This right is found in many international, regional and domestic human rights instruments. However, academic discourse reveals disagreement about the meaning of the right. The thesis first considers case law from the European Convention on Human Rights, the South African Bill of Rights and the Canadian Charter. The analysis shows that courts too disagree about the meaning of the right to security of person. The thesis then takes a theoretical approach to understanding the meaning of the right. It is argued that the concept of ‘security’ establishes that the right imposes both positive and negative duties but that ‘security’ does not determine which interests are protected by the right. For this, we need consider the meaning of the ‘person’. The notion of personhood as understood in the ‘capabilities approach’ of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum is then introduced. It is suggested that this theory could be used to identify the interests protected by the right. Next, the theoretical developments are applied to the legal context in order to illustrate the variety of interests the right to security of person would protect and the type of duties it would impose. As a result, it is argued that the idea of ‘security of person’ is too broad to form the subject matter of an individual legal right. This raises a question over the relationship between security of person and human rights law. It is proposed that instead of recognising an individual legal right to security of person, human rights law as a whole could be seen as a mechanism to secure the person, the capabilities approach determining what it takes to fulfil a right and thereby secure the person.
Modernising tradition: the architectural thought of Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960)
Keywords: Giles Gilbert Scott

The architect Giles Gilbert Scott (1880 – 1960) designed the red telephone kiosk, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Battersea Power Station, and the House of Commons Chamber amongst other major projects. Yet this thesis is the first scholarly study of his work as a theorist and practitioner. Scott’s ideas provide a window into how architects, critics, and clients of his generation thought about architecture, helping us to understand the design of the interwar period in a way that the backward projection of our own intellectual frameworks cannot do. Often relegated to a minor place in architectural histories, in his time Scott was one of the best known architects in the world, author of numerous iconic structures and widely influential. By returning him to a prominent place in the narrative, the thesis reveals a world in which so-called traditionalists and modernists were concerned with the exploration of common themes – the social role of the architect, the psychological effect of buildings, the nature of construction and tradition. The first two chapters explore Scott’s ideas about history and architectural context by investigating his work at Oxford and Cambridge. The third chapter focuses on his church work as a way of understanding his ideas about tradition and the role of psychology in architecture. The fourth chapter explores the ways that he gave meaning to his designs using rhetoric and planning. Set against the backdrop of the postwar decline of his reputation, the final chapter examines the legacy of his architectural theories. By returning Scott to the historical narrative, our understanding of interwar architecture is greatly broadened. And by expanding our knowledge of the least understood era of twentieth century architecture, we come to better understand how modern architecture as we know it was forged.
Quantitative dopamine imaging in humans using magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography
Keywords: PET
anatomy
Pallidum
Dopamine Receptor
Substantia nigra
DTI
Positron Emission Tomography
Dopamine
MRI
Basal ganglia
Striatum
Magnetic resonance imaging
Brain
Regions of Interest
Diffusion weighted imaging

Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that is involved in several human functions such as reward, cognition, emotions and movement. Abnormalities of the neurotransmitter itself, or the dopamine receptors through which it exerts its actions, contribute to a wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. Thus far, despite the great interest and extensive research, the exact role of dopamine and the causalities of dopamine related disorders are not fully understood.
Here we have developed multimodal imaging methods, to investigate the release of dopamine and the distribution of the dopamine D2-like receptor family in-vivo in healthy humans. We use the [11C]PHNO PET ligand, which enables exploration of dopamine-related parameters in striatal regions, and for the first time in extrastriatal regions, that are known to be associated with distinctive functions and disorders. Our methods involve robust approaches for the manual and automated delineation of these brain regions, in terms of structural and functional organisation, using information from structural and diffusion MRI images. These data have been combined with [11C]PHNO PET data for quantitative dopamine imaging.
Our investigation has revealed the distribution and the relative density of the D3R and D2R sites of the dopamine D2-like receptor family, in healthy humans. In addition, we have demonstrated that the release of dopamine has a functional rather than a structural specificity and that the relative densities of the D3R and D2R sites do not drive this specificity. We have also shown that the dopamine D3R receptor is primarily distributed in regions that have a central role in reward and addiction. A finding that supports theories that assigns a primarily limbic role to the D3R.
Applications of optical-feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy
Keywords: PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
SPECTROSCOPY
LASERS

This thesis presents two contrasting implementations of the optical-feedback cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (OF-CEAS) technique. OF-CEAS com- bines passive optical-feedback locking of semiconductor lasers with cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy, and is well suited to sensitive detection of pressure- broadened trace gases. Chapters 1 and 2 set the work in this thesis in context, by describing the theory and discussing the motivations behind trace gas sensing by tuneable laser spectroscopy in the near- and mid-IR.
Chapter 3 reviews the theory of OF-CEAS, prior to presenting the results of an experimental implementation based on a near-IR DFB diode laser setup following the traditional V-cavity methodology to spatially decouple the optical- feedback beam from the direct back reflection. The capabilities of the system are demonstrated by accurate determination of a self-broadened half-width at half- maximum of a CO 2 transition, and by detection of acetylene in a car exhaust sample.
Chapter 4 describes the design and implementation of the linear cavity method- ology for QCL OF-CEAS, which is the significant contribution of this work. Successful OF-CEAS locking with the linear cavity is shown for two different DFB-QCLs, with close operating wavelengths (5.5 and 5.2 µm) but quite different operating powers and facet size. Chapter 5 presents quantitative spectroscopic results from the linear cavity OF-CEAS instrument, using both lasers. Spec- troscopy on mixes of N 2 O and NO returned sensitivities, quantified by the α min , of 2.7 × 10 −8 cm −1 in 1 s at 0.28 atm and 2.4 × 10 −8 cm −1 in 1 s at 0.19 atm respectively. Limited by etalon fringing on the baseline, the α min compared well with those obtained with V-cavity QCL OF-CEAS instruments. The temporal stability was investigated by Allan variance calculations and the best minimum detectable concentrations for the linear QCL OF-CEAS instrument were 32 ppm for N 2 O (35 s) and 5 ppb for NO (2 s). For NO, this detection limit compares favourably with other mid-IR QCL-based NO sensors, and is sufficient for mon- itoring NO in polluted urban environments. With the Maxion DFB-QCL, mon- itoring of NO in air outside the laboratory was attempted, and an air sample drying system benchmarked. Although this experiment proved unsuccessful, it was possible detect trace amounts of NO desorbing from the walls of the gas cell. Over the course of one hour the concentration rose from 3.8 ± 0.7 ppb to 28.4 ± 0.2 ppb, leading to a rate of desorption of 6.76 ± 0.01 × 10 −3 ppb s −1 . The sensitivity (α min ) of these spectra was 7.0 × 10 −9 cm −1 in 1 s, improved due to the higher mirror reflectivity at the lasing wavelength of the Maxion DFB-QCL, although still limited by etalon fringing.
Colloidal interfaces in confinement
Keywords: interfacial phenomena
wetting
colloids
phase separation

A fluid-fluid demixing colloid-polymer system provides us with an opportunity to study interfacial phenomena that cannot be observed in molecular systems due to unfavourable length and timescales. We develop such a system compatible with cells of varying dimensions, allowing us to investigate confined interfacial behaviour in real space using Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy.
The degree to which a system is affected by the sedimentation-diffusion gradient is dependent on the ratio of the suspension height to the gravitational length of the colloids. We illustrate that we may control the distance of our interface to the critical point by altering the suspension height, determining the importance of the gravitational field. Furthermore, the timescale on which the sedimentation- diffusion gradient is established is considerably longer than that of initial fluid-fluid demixing. We show that after the formation of the macroscopic interface, the system passes through a series of local mechanical equilibria on the way to achieving full equilibrium. Should the system be of sufficient height, it will pass through the gas-liquid critical point opening up new ways to study critical phenomena.
The time and length scales of the fluid-fluid demixing of our system may be manipulated by altering the density and viscosity of our solvent. We exploit a slowed phase separation process to study the interplay between demixing and wetting phenomena of systems in the vicinity of a single wetting surface, and confined between two parallel plates. We demonstrate that the presence of a surface strongly affects the morphology of phase separation. The growth of the wetting layer is determined by the demixing regime of the system, and may be accelerated by hydrodynamics. The additional restriction by a second surface limits the lengthscale of coarsening domains and may further alter the mechanism of wetting layer growth.
Order book models, signatures and numerical approximations of rough differential equations
Keywords: rough paths
limit order books
numerics of differential equations

We construct a mathematical model of an order driven market where traders can submit limit orders and market orders to buy and sell securities. We adapt the notion of no free lunch of Harrison and Kreps and Jouini and Kallal to our setting and we prove a no-arbitrage theorem for the model of the order driven market. Furthermore, we compute signatures of order books of different financial markets. Signatures, i.e. the full sequence of definite iterated integrals of a path, are one of the fundamental elements of the theory of rough paths. The theory of rough paths provides a framework to describe the evolution of dynamical systems that are driven by rough signals, including rough paths based on Brownian motion and fractional Brownian motion (see the work of Lyons). We show how we can obtain the solution of a polynomial differential equation and its (truncated) signature from the signature of the driving signal and the initial value.
We also present and analyse an ODE method for the numerical solution of rough differential equations. We derive error estimates and we prove that it achieves the same rate of convergence as the corresponding higher order Euler schemes studied by Davie and Friz and Victoir. At the same time, it enhances stability. The method has been implemented for the case of polynomial vector fields as part of the CoRoPa software package which is available at http://coropa.sourceforge.net. We describe both the algorithm and the implementation and we show by giving examples how it can be used to compute the pathwise solution of stochastic rough differential equations driven by Brownian rough paths and fractional Brownian rough paths.
Construction of a synthetic ribosome using DNA as the building material
Keywords: biotechnology
biophysics
DNA origami
DNA walker
DNA nanotechnology

This thesis forms part of an ongoing project in the DNA Group to build and operate a synthetic ribosome. We present two synthetic ribosome designs that can be combined with DNA-templated chemistry to generate libraries of functional synthetic small molecules. In Chapter 2 we use the DNA strand displacement technique to construct a mechanism that is capable of moving along a DNA track. We explore ways to control the speed and the driving force of the mechanism, and present a mathematical model of the system. We discuss the ability of the design to incorporate chemically-functionalised DNA strands. In Chapter 3 we use a 2D DNA origami tile as the basis of the synthetic ribosome mechanism. Functionalised DNA strands are arranged on the surface of the tile, and we demonstrate the ability to template reactions between the strands, and discuss the possibility of creating a library of distinct chemical products from a single origami tile.
Reconfiguring privacy and confidentiality practices: a case study of technological integration in HIV health services
Keywords: health services
technological integration
electronic patient records
NHS
confidentiality
HIV
privacy

Changes to the technological landscape of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK have often raised debates on information privacy and patient confidentiality. This has been especially pertinent in the context of HIV health services, where patient records have been historically segregated from hospital notes to protect confidentiality and account for the nature of the condition as a stigmatised terminal illness. However, as current anti-retroviral treatment extends life expectancy, HIV is increasingly managed in ways similar to other chronic conditions and integrated patient management has been proposed as best practice. This shift offers a unique opportunity to study reconfigurations of privacy and confidentiality practices from the perspective of data users.
This thesis focuses on a technological integration project between the stand-alone systems used in two HIV specialist outpatient centres and the centralised Electronic Patient Records (EPR) of their respective NHS Hospital Trusts. The case study methodology draws on 46 semi-structured interviews with health and IT professionals, supplemented by an analysis of organisational documents and observation of work practices over a period of six months in the two clinics.
In weaving together different theoretical concepts, this thesis contributes to an in-depth, empirically informed understanding of privacy and confidentiality practices in healthcare. Firstly, by looking at how HIV practitioners cultivate their professional identities at the intersection of general medical and HIV-specific confidentiality, this thesis argues that identity work is an important component in the reconfiguration of privacy practices. Secondly, this research draws attention to the role of political negotiations for privacy change, as HIV professionals and EPR developers came in conflict over the ethics of the technological integration project in the hospitals studied here. Thirdly, this thesis illustrates how confidentiality practices are shaped within the co-construction of information infrastructures and medical work, especially in relation to HIV normalisation. A number of implications for practice and policy also emerge from this study.
Investigation of pharmacological and physiological regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in diabetes using hyperpolarised magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging
cardiovascular disease
drug development
magnetic resonance spectroscopy
hyperpolarised
hypoxia
diabetes
cardiac imaging

In type II diabetes, systemic metabolism is perturbed and on a cellular level the balance of fuel use is upset. More specifically, increased fatty acid use is seen alongside decreased glucose metabolism. This altered fuel use is mediated by changes in the activity and expression of multiple enzymes. One such enzyme within the glucose breakdown pathway is pyruvate dehydrogenase, whose activity is known to be reduced in the diabetic state.
The field of real-time metabolic investigation has rapidly expanded over the past few years due to the invention of technology that has enabled the production of 13C labelled hyperpolarised compounds, which can generate high signal levels in magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This has provided the opportunity to measure real-time metabolism of injected hyperpolarised tracers both ex vivo and in vivo.
This thesis aimed to develop the use of hyperpolarised compounds in vivo, to investigate the cardiac and hepatic metabolism of a diabetic rat model. We initially addressed the systemic nature of the disease by establishing a two-slice acquisition for obtaining cardiac and hepatic data during a single injection of hyperpolarised pyruvate. This was tested in the fed and fasted states before being used in the studies described in the subsequent chapters of this thesis.
The value of hyperpolarised compounds in following metabolic modulation by drug treatment was explored in the next chapter. The effect on metabolism of two drugs targeted at pyruvate dehydrogenase, which differed in their isoform specificity, was investigated first in the perfused heart and subsequently in vivo, both in control and diabetic animals. Hyperpolarised magnetic resonance spectroscopy was combined with other established techniques to help both our understanding of the systemic changes that had occurred following treatment, and provide links between cardiac metabolism and function.
The final chapter of this thesis explored the use of hyperpolarised 13C pyruvate to understand the effect of hypoxia on pyruvate dehydrogenase, firstly in healthy animals and subsequently in the diabetic, metabolically altered state. Understanding the combination of diabetes and hypoxia was interesting given the existence of several opposing metabolic effects seen in the two states.
Overall this thesis has demonstrated developments in the use of hyperpolarised pyruvate that, when appropriately combined with other techniques, can yield valuable metabolic information, in terms of following disease progression, drug development, and understanding basic metabolism.
The perception and cortical processing of communication sounds
Keywords: neurophysiology
pitch
psychophysics
auditory cortex
timbre
neural encoding
hearing
ferret

The neural processes used to extract perceptual features of vocal calls, and subsequently to re-integrate those features to form a coherent auditory object, are poorly understood. In this thesis, extracellular recordings were carried out in order to investigate how the temporal envelope, pitch, timbre and spatial location of communication sounds are represented by neurons in two core and three belt areas of ferret (Mustela putorius furo) auditory cortex. Potential neural underpinnings of auditory perception were tested using neurometric analysis to relate the reliability of neural responses to the performance of ferret and human listeners on psychophysical tasks.
I found that human listeners' discrimination of the temporal envelopes of vocalization sounds matched the best neurometrics calculated from the temporal spiking patterns of ferret cortical neurons. Neurometric scores based on the spike rates of cortical neurons accounted for ferrets' discrimination of the pitch of artificial vowels. I show that most auditory cortical neurons are modulated by a number of stimulus features, rather than being tuned to only one feature. Neurons in the core auditory cortical fields often respond uniquely to particular combinations of pitch and timbre features, while those in belt regions respond more linearly to feature combinations. Subtle differences in the sensitivity of neurons to pitch, timbre and azimuthal cues were found across cortical areas and depths. These results suggest that auditory cortical neurons provide widely distributed representations of vocalizations, and a single neuron can often use combinations of spike rate and temporal spiking responses to encode multiple sound features.
Time-integrated and time-resolved optical studies of InGaN quantum dots
Keywords: biexciton
time-resolved
exciton
InGaN
decoherence
spectroscopy
micro-photoluminescence
quantum dot

The construction of a high-resolution optical microscope system for micro-photoluminescence (µ-PL) spectroscopy is described, and a range of time-integrated and time-resolved experimental work on single InGaN quantum dots (QDs) is presented. Time-integrated measurements demonstrate the existence of InGaN QDs in three different samples via the presence of sharp exciton recombination lines in the µ-PL spectra. The narrowest peaks display a linewidth Γ of ~230 µeV, implying a decoherence time T2 ≥5.7 ps. Time-resolved measurements on exciton recombination lines from single self-assembled InGaN QDs reveal typical lifetimes of ~2.0 ns (which decrease with increasing temperature), while typical lifetimes for excitons in single selectively-grown micropyramidal InGaN QDs are found to be ~0.4 ns. The shorter exciton recombination lifetime in selectively-grown QDs is believed to be due to a stronger coupling of these QDs to the underlying quantum well. Temporal fluctuations (on a timescale of seconds) in the energy, intensity and FWHM of µ-PL peaks arising from the recombination of excitons in single self-assembled InGaN QDs are observed. These are attributed to transient Stark shifts induced by a fluctuating local charge distribution as carriers become trapped in defect states in the vicinity of the QDs. Time-integrated power-dependent measurements are used to demonstrate the presence of biexciton states in single self-assembled InGaN QDs. The exciton–biexciton energy splitting is found to be ~41 meV, in agreement with values predicted by theoretical calculations. Time-resolved studies of the biexciton and exciton decay curves reveal a coupling as the exciton population is refilled by biexciton decays. The biexciton lifetime is found to be ~1.4 ns, compared to an exciton lifetime of ~1.0 ns. Lateral electric fields are applied to a single self-assembled InGaN QD using aluminium electrodes lithographically defined on the sample surface. Application of fields of the order of ~0.17 MVcm-1 is found to cause both a red-shift and a reduction in the intensity of the exciton recombination peak in the µ-PL spectrum.