VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The making of the modern British family: the transformation of women’s and men's lives in the family formation process
Keywords: Gender
Life course
Family

BACKGROUND The improved economic position of women over the last few decades is likely to have altered gender relations within families. This dissertation presents three empirical chapters to examine the evolving role of families as an institution for gender display. The period covered is from 1991 to 2017, during which the total fertility rate in the United Kingdom experienced a re-growth and more women were in the labour force.
OBJECTIVE and METHODS This dissertation uses data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the “UK Household Longitudinal Study” (UKHLS) and fixed-effect regressions. I investigate how women’s gender-role attitudes are associated with different combinations of employment and motherhood statuses, the changing relationships between the within-couple division of labour and childrearing across periods, and the dynamics of women’s and men’s paid work time and housework time in the family formation and development process.
MAIN FINDINGS First, women’s gender-role attitudes are associated with the changing conflict between employment and childcare responsibilities. Second, the positive, reciprocal relationship between a traditional division of labour and childrearing has substantially weakened. Couples with a traditional division of labour are no longer more likely to have a child. Third, women’s time allocation had become less strongly dependent on their family roles over the last 25 years, whereas the relationship between men’s time allocation and their roles as husbands and fathers remains unchanged.
CONTRIBUTIONS This dissertation highlights that the incompatibility between employment and family responsibilities plays a central role in shaping women’s and men’s lives when they form and maintain a family. The documented changing roles of marriage and parenthood in framing gender relations over the last 25 years reveal the latest consequences of the gender revolution on family lives. These findings also uncover the progress and challenges of gender equality.
Development of a coaxial circuit QED architecture for quantum computing
Keywords: Off-chip flux bias line
Cross resonance
Decoherence
Flux tuning
Gradiometric
Circuit quantum electrodynamics
Spin locking
Quantum computing
Fast flux
Transfer function
Qubit
Out-of-plane wiring
Superconducting qubits
Coaxmon
Off-chip control
Cross coupling
Characterisation
Crosstalk
T2 spectroscopy

Superconducting circuit QED is a promising approach for building a quantum computer. In order to realise superconducting circuits at a sufficient scale for useful near-term applications, an architecture with an extensible design is required which implements good connectivity between qubits, and allows for selective readout and control of the qubits without introducing detrimental crosstalk or decoherence.
This thesis describes the development of a new coaxial circuit QED architecture that fulfils this requirement of extensibility by incorporating out-of-plane wiring into the sample holder. Single-qubit unit cells consisting of a transmon qubit and readout resonator with coaxial geometries are fabricated on opposing sides of a substrate, and selective control and readout of the qubits is achieved via a capacitance to coaxial wiring built into the device enclosure. Unit cells of qubit and resonator can be arranged in a 2D array without modification of the wiring scheme. A single-qubit unit cell of this architecture is used to implement dispersive circuit QED, and a full characterisation of the Hamiltonian is performed. The device is shown to have parameters comparable to those found in other approaches, such as a coupling between qubit-resonator of ~100 MHz and a coherence time of order ~10 µs. The extension of this scheme to 2D arrays of qubits is then presented, and realizations of two-qubits gates are demonstrated with fidelities all above 87% on a four qubit device. Further evaluations are performed on multi-qubit devices, including a characterisation of the drive isolation of the mode-matched drive ports, finding values in the range of 50 dB and 30 dB for measurement and control respectively. Similarly, the cross coupling between circuits is shown to have values ~2% of the coupling within a unit cell. The effective circuit temperatures are measured, finding typical values of ~100 mK, and the techniques of spin-locking and T2 spectroscopy are employed to probe the noise environment. Finally the architecture is extended to incorporate frequency tuning of qubits with gradiometric SQUID loops by way of off-chip flux bias lines (FBLs). These lines are used to tune qubits with a signal isolation of >99%. Furthermore, the ability of these FBLs to dynamically control the qubit frequency is shown by demonstrating switching of the frequency on a nanosecond time-scale, and parametric driving over a frequency range of gigahertz.
Aristotle on metaphor
Keywords: Aristotle
Metaphor

Aristotle is the first philosopher in the Western tradition to engage philosophically with the phenomenon of metaphor. Despite his pioneering role I will argue here that his account of metaphor has been widely misrepresented or simply misunderstood. This thesis reconstructs his theory of metaphor against the background of contemporary philosophy of metaphor. I proceed in three steps. Firstly, I develop an interpretation of Aristotle’s remarks about proper and deviant words which lays the foundation for Aristotelian metaphors. In a second step I apply these findings to the account of metaphor he develops in Poetics 21. I argue that Aristotle provides a consistent classification of metaphor against a majority of scholars who think he does not, that his account is not dependent on the notion of substitution, and that he does not defend a semantic theory of metaphor. Finally, in my third chapter I make a fresh start at a theory of metaphor in Aristotle, building primarily on his account of similarity as well as his discussion of ways of seeing a portrait in the Poetics and De memoria. I conclude that Aristotle unites Gricean and noncognitivist strands in his thinking about metaphor, accounting both for the communicative as well as the associative and creative side of metaphor.
Can speech stream segmentation instruction improve listening comprehension and listening self-efficacy in lower intermediate learners?
Keywords: ALSLA2017
French
self-efficacy
listening
ALSLA
segmentation
L2

This study investigated the effects on listening comprehension and self-efficacy of teaching speech stream segmentation to a group of Grade 11 learners of French over a period of 15 weeks. Participants (N=45) came from two intact groups of French as a second language at a school in the south east of England. In the experimental group (n=24), learners undertook a variety of listening exercises aimed at improving their ability to segment the speech stream. The comparison group (n=21), taught by the same teacher in the previous academic year, followed a syllabus which included the same amount of listening work, but with no specific work on speech stream segmentation. Listening proficiency was measured at the beginning and the end, and in addition the experimental group completed a self-efficacy questionnaire. As hypothesised, the experimental group outperformed the comparison group on the final control measure (p<0.5) for comprehension. The hypothesis that confidence levels would increase was also verified. Ten participants in the intervention group were interviewed and data from the transcripts provided evidence as to why speech stream segmentation work appeared to be a successful intervention to boost the listening skills and self-efficacy of this group of lower intermediate learners of French.
Neutron scattering studies of low-dimensional quantum magnets
Keywords: Neutron Scattering
Quantum Magnetism

This thesis presents studies of the spin dynamics in quantum magnets using inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and linear spin wave theory (LSWT). The first system considered is Ba2CuTeO6, proposed to realise weakly-coupled antiferromagnetic two-leg spin-1/2 ladders. Ba2CuTeO6 orders magnetically, but with a small Neel temperature relative to the exchange strength, suggesting that the interladder couplings are only just able to stabilise magnetic order and placing Ba2CuTeO6 close in parameter space to the critical point separating the singlet phase and Neel order. By comparing powder INS data with LSWT and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) calculations, values are proposed for all relevant exchange parameters, which place the system on the ordered side of the phase diagram in proximity to the critical point. High-field magnetisation data are also compared with the QMC predictions. In addition, single-crystal INS measurements are presented of the spin-1/2 triangular antiferromagnet Ba3CoSb2O9. Sharp magnons are observed throughout the Brillouin zone with a strong scattering continuum extending up to at least 4x the maximum one-magnon energy. The magnon energies are strongly renormalised downwards and the intensity decreases faster upon increasing energy than predicted by LSWT, which is attributed to a transfer of spectral weight to the continuum. An empirical model of renormalisations to the LSWT dispersion is proposed that can capture quantitatively the magnon dispersions throughout the Brillouin zone. Consistent with the observation of sharp magnons throughout, it is explicitly verified that kinematic constraints disallow one- to two-magnon decays for this renormalised dispersion. There is considerable structure and signal extending to much higher energies that cannot be explained by two-magnon simulations, suggesting significant quantum fluctuations beyond LSWT. The magnon dispersions have also been measured in fields up to 9 T, observing an evolution of the dispersion relations in field that is consistent with the presence of two equal-weight domains of opposite chirality.
Origami-inspired honeycombs as energy absorbing materials
Keywords: honeycomb
energy absorption
Origami

This thesis proposed a type of origami-inspired honeycombs for energy absorption. The major findings of this thesis were as follows.
First, a novel design of origami-inspired honeycomb with self-locking and stiffness gradient was proposed. The design used the concept of Miura-ori pattern to create the unique Miura-ori honeycomb, with a core layer being at the middle sandwiched by two secondary flange layers. The self-locking feature realized by the prior densification of the flanges increased the overall energy absorption whilst keeping the peak load low. It was found that properly designed honeycombs could reduce the peak force by more than 50% and meanwhile possess good specific energy absorption (SEA) in comparison with conventional square honeycomb.
Second, derivative Miura-ori-based honeycomb cores were used to create a family of hybrid origami honeycombs. Experimental and numerical results were presented to study the energy absorption capacity of the hybrid honeycombs. It was found that the hybridization could notably affect the peak load and SEA when compared to the individual cores that was constructed in the same form. Especially, it was seen that the hybridization built in a weak-strong-weak manner could reduce the peak force and meanwhile increase the energy absorption efficiency.
Third, the effects of dynamic loading on origami honeycombs were investigated numerically. The mechanical behaviors of derivative Miura-ori-based honeycombs, including the hybrid origami-honeycombs were studied under different compressive loading conditions. It was found that under dynamic loading condition, the hybrid origami-honeycomb with stiffness gradient in weak-strong-weak order could noticeably reduce the impact and transmitted force, and increase the energy absorption efficiency at the same time.
In conclusion, this thesis presented new paths for creating programmable energy absorbing materials with controllable mechanical properties.
Postcolonial identities in Russophone women’s writing from the Caucasus and central Asia
Keywords: Russophone
Central Asia
Caucasus
Post-Soviet
Literature
Women's writing
Postcolonial

My project examines how post-Soviet women writers outside of Russia, namely those in the Caucasus and Central Asia, respond to the post- Soviet transition and define their post-Soviet identities. The starting position of my thesis is that the current developments in the post-Soviet region cannot be understood without reference to postcolonial theory and that, to a large extent, post-Soviet identity is a postcolonial identity. Using theoretical tools of postcolonial studies (Bhabha, Vizenor, Tlostanova, Mbembe, Haraway), my enquiry spans a wide array of topics which most distinguish Russophone women’s prose: post-Soviet ‘unhomely’ trauma, immigration, NGOs and utopias. Yet, all of these themes are interlinked because the social perspectives and representational strategies are shared. Victimisation is eschewed in terms of ludic auto- stereotyping, mischief, and various kinds of strategically significant folly or outsider commentary, and authors push boundaries in order to creatively engage with otherness, evoking different kinds of unusual, uncanny, or even inhuman, senses of self. The project considers Russian studies as an expanding, trans-geographical field, while also enriching postcolonial studies by expanding its Eurocentric hermeneutics to include territories that are at most debatably ‘European’.
Electrophysiological signals for closed-loop deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease
Keywords: Parkinson's Disease
Neuroscience
Deep brain stimulation
Computer brain interface
Closed-loop DBS
Brain modulation
Subthalamic nucleus

Continuous high-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an established treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Current developments focus on trying to widen the therapeutic window of such treatments. Closed-loop DBS, where stimulation is dynamically controlled by feedback from biomarkers of pathological brain circuit activity, is one such development. Numerous electrophysiological signals extracted from local field potentials (LFPs) or electrocorticography (ECoG) in the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuit relate to symptom severity and have consequently been proposed as real-time biomarkers. These signals include phase-amplitude coupling, beta-oscillatory bursts, single neuronal firing patterns, and features of waveform morphology. The neuronal basis and interdependency of these signals, however, are poorly understood. To address this a two-fold approach was taken. First, subthalamic macro- and micro electrode recordings of LFPs and single unit activity were studied in human PD patients undergoing DBS-surgery. Simultaneously recorded ECoGs were analysed in order to relate previously proposed cortical biomarkers to subthalamic neuronal activity. Second, selective optogenetic stimulation of basal-ganglia or cerebellar receiving thalamus was deployed in rodents to investigate if cortical electrophysiological signals observed in PD could be generated from driving inputs to motor thalamus.
In human PD patients, phase-amplitude coupling in the STN was found to reflect the locking of spiking activity to network beta oscillations and this coupling increased progressively with beta-burst duration, suggesting subthalamic beta bursts to capture higher levels of input-output synchronisation. Furthermore, cortical beta bursts were associated with several other cortical and subthalamic biomarkers and cortical waveform sharpness was linked to subthalamic neuronal synchronisation. In rodents, cortical phase-amplitude coupling in the ECoG could be produced by driving basal-ganglia, but not cerebellar recipient thalamus. Thus, providing experimental evidence to a theory of a basal-ganglia-thalamic origin of cortical phase-amplitude coupling in PD. Overall, this thesis gives novel insights into the neuronal basis of electrophysiological biomarkers in PD with direct implications for future closed-loop DBS trials.
Building bridges, blurring boundaries: the contribution of multiethnic individuals to intergroup relations
Keywords: brokers
intergroup contact
prejudice reduction
intergroup friendship
social network analysis
multiethnic individuals
multiracial individuals

Multiethnic people constitute an increasingly prominent share of the population in the UK and beyond. Nevertheless, most research on intergroup relations continues to focus on people on either side of a clearly defined group divide. The aim of this thesis is to integrate multiethnic populations into research on intergroup relations and to investigate a question that is often raised about multiethnic individuals: whether they build bridges between members of different monoethnic groups. Chapter 1 outlines the theoretical and empirical context of my research, as well as the multi-method approach adopted throughout this thesis. Across three empirical chapters, I then present research on monoethnic individuals’ context-level exposure to multiethnic people, and on their individual-level contact experiences with multiethnic friends. This thesis includes research conducted in England, South Africa, and the US, and combines experimental, social network, and multi-level survey data. Chapter 2 investigates whether the presence alone of multiethnic individuals in a social environment can improve relations between members of different monoethnic groups. I report that context-level exposure to multiethnic people is unlikely to affect monoethnic individuals’ intergroup relations. Chapter 3 addresses further the bridge- building potential of multiethnics by studying their location within friendship networks and how they are evaluated by monoethnics. I find that multiethnics tend to be evaluated with intermediate levels of favourability, that they often occupy broker positions within their friendship networks, but that this may have both positive and negative implications for intergroup relations. Chapter 4 focusses on monoethnic individuals’ contact experiences with multiethnic friends and suggests that the bridge-building potential of multiethnic individuals may be realised most effectively through direct and indirect intergroup contact. I discuss these findings further in Chapter 5, which also addresses the implications of my research for our understanding of intergroup relations in the increasingly heterogeneous societies of the 21st century.
Interferometric scattering microscopy: from bacterial dynamics to molecular assembly
Keywords: TRAP
Myosin V
iSCAT
Single Molecule Biophysics
Tubulin
Interferometric Scattering Microscopy
Pili

We explore the capabilities of interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT) by investigating a series of biophysical systems that span a range of particle sizes, down to the single particle level.
The work presented starts with single particle tracking of 20 nm gold nanoparticles bound to single myosin 5a molecules. We identify temporally and spatially constrained transient states of the different domains of myosin 5a, shedding light on the structural transitions that the molecule undergoes. The work demonstrates iSCAT's ability to reveal global conformational changes and relative motions of different domains in a single protein.
Next, we make the transition to explore iSCAT's capability for label-free studies of complex biophysical systems. By minimising iSCAT's phototoxicity, we visualise bacterial protein filaments extending from the bacterial cell body. This allows us to understand the roles of different proteins which are employed under varying friction environments to maintain pili function.
By further improving iSCAT's ability to measure smaller scattering signals, we next monitor the assembly kinetics of a MDa-sized gold coordinated protein cage, label-free, in solution. The work demonstrates iSCAT's suitability to determine kinetic information from biological systems, as a dynamic approach complementary to cryoEM.
Lastly, we present an experimental assay to measure the dissociation constant of a simple interaction between two 55 kDa proteins, highlighting the potential for iSCAT to become a universal analytical tool for quantifying protein-protein interactions.
Sartre and the possibility of authentic love
Keywords: Love
Maternity
C20th French Philosophy
Phenomenology
Jean-Paul Sartre
Existentialism

In 'Being and Nothingness', Jean-Paul Sartre claims that all love is doomed to failure. According to Sartre, love is a bad faith attempt to capture the Other’s freedom in order to secure for oneself a fixed nature. This thesis presents a novel argument for the possibility of authentic romantic love. I propose that the capacity for authentic romantic love is grounded in a prior experience of authentic love in early infancy.
Drawing on Sartre’s characterisation of the mother-child relationship in 'The Family Idiot', I argue that mother and infant exist in an ambiguous union; a relation where the boundaries between self and Other are in a process of becoming. The infant’s original awareness of the Other as a subject is acquired through being the object of a loving Look. This Look, since it is non-conflictual, allows for an authentic relation of mutual comprehension to develop between mother and child.
However, as the child matures, she comes to realise her ontological separation from the Other; this, combined with her socialisation into bad faith, is what makes the Look turn hostile. Alienated by the Other’s Look, the child takes up the bad faith project of trying to capture the Other’s freedom, causing relations with others to become conflictual.
I argue that authentic romantic love is the result of a dialectical movement that combines and surpasses the original ambiguous union and our alienated separation from the Other. In authentic love, the lovers comprehend each other as ambiguous beings whilst retaining an awareness of their ontological separation. This thesis therefore concludes that authentic romantic love is possible. I consider an implication of this for Sartre’s ontology: by tracing the ontological formation of the subject, we can enhance our understanding of being-for-the-Other.