VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The LMR spectra of free radicals

Laser Magnetic Resonance (LMR) is a very sensitive, accurate and high resolution spectroscopic technique. Transitions of paramagnetic species are brought into coincidence with a fixed frequency laser using Zeeman tuning. Three different LMR spectrometers are described, two of which use the CO laser as a radiation source and the other used optically pumped far-infrared lasers. These LMR spectrometers have been used to study four radicals, germanium hydride (GeH), tellurium deuteride (TeD), iron hydride (FeH) and iron deuteride (FeD).
Transitions in the fundamental and first hot bands of the GeH radical have been detected by CO LMR. The transitions occur within both 2Π1andfrasl;2 and 2Π3andfrasl;2 manifolds. These data have been fitted with previously published data for GeH and GeD to determine the parameters of a single model effective Hamiltonian which describes all naturally occurring isotopomers. Details of the Hamiltonian are given.
The same Hamiltonian was used to model transitions in the fundamental and first two hot bands of the TeD radical that were also recorded using CO LMR. Resonances from the seven most abundant isotopomers, including the two with I = ½, have been identified.
Seven transitions in the fundamental band of FeH have been observed using Faraday CO LMR. Due to the complicated electronic structure for FeH it is not possible to model these data using a single model effective Hamiltonian. It has been possible to fit the parameters of a second order Zeeman expression to these FeH data and so determine accurate zerofield transition wavenumbers for six of these transitions.
Pure rotational transitions in the ground state of FeD have been observed using FIR LMR. As for FeH the parameters of second order Zeeman expressions can be fitted to these transitions and zero field wavenumbers determined.

Advisor: Brown, J
Melancholy and the doctrine of reprobation in English puritan culture, 1550-1640

The thesis examines the relationship between reprobation fears and melancholic illness in puritan culture over a period of approximately ninety years. Reprobation formed part of the Calvinist doctrine of double predestination, by which God had chosen a few for salvation (the elect), and many for destruction (the reprobate). When a person came to believe that they were reprobate, this could give rise to symptoms of fear and despair similar to those associated with melancholy (an imbalance of black bile believed to affect the brain). The thesis shows how puritans used explanations based on melancholy in order to explain how otherwise godly people came to doubt their election.
The first chapter shows how the Calvinist physician, Timothy Bright, incorporated ideas from medieval scholastic and medical texts into his Treatise of melancholie (1586), in order to explain how physiological causes could be at the root of reprobation fears. The second and third chapters examine the religious context in which Bright was writing. The second chapter shows puritan ambivalence about pronouncing a person to be reprobate through an examination of responses to the death of the apostate, Francesco Spiera. The third chapter shows how the Elizabethan puritan clergy developed a form of consolation for those suffering from despair of salvation based on the medieval idea that melancholy was the ‘devil’s bath’. The fourth and fifth chapters show the importance of physiological explanations for despair in defending the reputations of the dying. When a godly person despaired on their death-bed, or committed suicide, this was blamed on a combination of forces external to themselves – melancholy and the devil. The final chapter shows how Robert Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy adapted puritan ideas about despair, to be more acceptable in the context of growing resistance to the preaching of double predestination in the 1620s and 30s.

Keywords: predestination
sickness
puritan
suicide
melancholy
Advisor: Pelling, M
Mortimer, S
Atmospheric Sounding using IASI

The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) provides atmospheric observations with high spectral resolution and its data have been shown to have a significant positive impact on global Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and trace gas retrievals.
A fundamental component of the retrieval of atmospheric composition is the radiative transfer model used to simulate the observations. An accurate representation of the expected emission spectrum measured by the satellite is essential given that differences in the reproduced atmospheric spectra propagate through a retrieval procedure and produce an altered estimate of the atmospheric state.
The importance of the assumptions within the forward model are discussed and it is established that in the simulation of spectra from satellite-borne instruments the choice of the model parameters can have a large impact upon the resulting output. These assumptions are explored in the context of the Reference Forward Model (RFM), which is further configured to optimise its output for simulating the IASI spectrum in the troposphere.
In order to ascertain the consistency of different radiative transfer models, comparisons are carried out between the RFM and the Radiative Transfer model for TOVS (RTTOV) in order to quantify any discrepancies in the reproduction of IASI measurements. Good agreement is shown across the majority of the spectrum, with exceptions caused by CO2 line mixing effects and the H2O continuum. Alongside model comparisons, the RFM is validated against real IASI measurements.
Being a Fourier Transform Spectrometer, there are a large number of channels available from the IASI instrument, which leads to a very large quantity of data. However, this can lead to problems within retrievals and data assimilation. Choosing an optimal subset of the channels is an established method to reduce the amount of data; maintaining the information contained within it whilst eliminating spectral regions with large uncertainties. The method currently used at the UK Met Office to select their spectral channels is re-assessed and a modified method is presented that improves upon the modelling of spectrally correlated errors.

Keywords: retrievals
radiative transfer models
channel selection
remote sensing
atmospheric physics
IASI
Advisor: Dudhia, A
Eyre, J
Living with environmental change in the endorheic oasis systems of the Northern Sahara

The oases of the northern Sahara illustrate the possibility that people and nature can work together to enhance life in a harsh and variable environment. This research investigates fifty years of experiences of living with environmental change in oasis systems, bringing together new data, archived environmental records and cultivators` observations. These are combined to gain insight into the environmental change processes, and the experiences gained by people through living with them in this regional context. Two detailed case studies deepen understanding of the socioeconomic dimensions and significance of these changes over the past two decades.
The findings show how environmental changes constrained smallholders` traditional ecosystem management practices. Collective associations were weakened or disintegrated. National systems for environmental management and monitoring were overwhelmed. International recommendations for economic approaches to resource management and innovation to address water scarcity did not prove effective. On the other hand, instances where the international market transition appeared to be creating new opportunities for the restoration of common pool resource management were also identified.
This investigation enabled a new perspective on the global dryland management debate to be generated in a context where research has most commonly been concentrated on national sectoral objectives for productivity and desert reclamation. Theoretical insights regarding the application of interdisciplinary research to understand environmental change, further research needs, and potential solutions are directly transferable to other regions where desiccation, salinization and groundwater degradation are accelerating due to climatic and global market-driven changes in land and water use.

Keywords: oasis
Sahara
Advisor: Thomas, D
Hope, R
The Australian High Commissioner's Office

The thesis is a history of the office of Australian High Commissioner in London from its creation in 1909 to the eve of the Second World War. It tests the validity of the conventional view that the office was invariably used as a political reward and, prior to the 1930s, marginal to the conduct of Anglo-Australian relations. It sets the office in the context of colonial representation in London since the 1850s, and notes the limits to the position of the High Commissioner created by the Agents- General of the Australian States and the institutions established by the Imperial government for the conduct of Anglo-Dominion relations. The careers of the first five High Commissioners are examined with reference to the principal issues in Anglo- Australian relations during their High Commissionerships, and their roles are analysed in terms of their relations with the Commonwealth government, the British authorities and, to a lesser extent, the Agents-General. The thesis argues that there was always scope for a High Commissioner to play a diplomatic role within Anglo- Australian relations, and that the post also gradually acquired functions in a more general system of inter-imperial consultation which mirrored the wider political development of the Dominions. The Australian government, however, was also hampered by a limited choice of candidates and invariably appointed senior politicians, as exercises in patronage, but also because they were the most eligible representatives. Yet, reflecting underlying values in Australian political culture, legislators were determined to create a non-political High Commissionership. The combination of political appointments and a non-political office, however, meant that High Commissioners often found it difficult to adapt to the demands of their new position and did not enjoy the full confidence of the government.
Modulation of innate immune responses by hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) establishes a chronic infection in about 70% of infected individuals that is associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms by which HCV avoids clearance by the host immune response are not fully understood.
The first aim of this project was to determine whether immune cell subsets could become infected by HCV in vitro. None of the haematopoietic subsets analysed expressed all of the required entry factors, CD81, SR-BI, claudin-1 and occludin. Also, PBMCs were not susceptible to infection with HCVpp and HCVcc expressing glycoproteins of hepatotropic strains. Infection by a supposedly lymphotropic strain (SB) was found to be inefficient.
The second aim was to identify in vitro immunomodulatory effects of HCV on innate immune cells that may impact on the immune response activated in acute infection. Crosslinking of CD81 on NK cells by antibody was found to have a minor inhibitory effect on their activation via CD16, but CD81 crosslinking by viral particles had no detectable effect. In contrast to other viruses, HCVcc elicited very little interferon-α production by pDC. HCVcc also did not affect pDC or mDC responses to TLR ligation.
Systemic cytokine and chemokine responses were analysed in subjects with primary acute HCV infection and in HCV-infected patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). Interestingly, induction of systemic type I and type III interferon was not observed in either group. Marked perturbations in systemic cytokine and chemokine levels were detected in uninfected LT patients, precluding use of HCV-infected LT patients to study the innate immune response activated in response to acute viral replication.
Together, these results suggest that HCV may principally evade innate immune cell responses by avoidance rather than impairment strategies.

Keywords: hepatitis c virus
interferon
natural killer cells
liver transplantation
toll-like receptors
dendritic cells
lymphotropism
Advisor: Borrow, P
Klenerman, P
Bayesian analysis of stochastic point processes for financial applications

A recent application of point processes has emerged from the electronic trading of financial assets. Many securities are now traded on purely electronic exchanges where demand and supply are aggregated in limit order books. Buy and sell trades in the asset as well as quote additions and cancellations can then be interpreted as events that not only determine the shape of the order book, but also define point processes that exhibit a rich internal structure.
A large class of such point processes are those driven by a diffusive intensity process. A flexible choice with favourable analytic properties is a Cox-Ingersoll-Ross (CIR) diffusion. We adopt a Bayesian perspective on the statistical inference for these doubly stochastic processes, and focus on filtering the latent intensity process. We derive analytic results for the moment generating function of its posterior distribution. This is achieved by solving a partial differential equation for a linearised version of the filtering equation. We also establish an efficient and simple numerical evaluation of the posterior mean and variance of the intensity process. This relies on extending an equivalence result between a point process with CIR-intensity and a partially observed population process.
We apply these results to empirical datasets from foreign exchange trading. One objective is to assess whether a CIR-driven point process is a satisfactory model for the variations in trading activity. This is answered in the negative, as sudden bursts of activity impair the fit of any diffusive intensity model. Controlling for such spikes, we conclude with a discussion of the stochastic control of a market making strategy when the only information available are the times of buy and sell trades.

Keywords: point processes
Bayesian statistics
Advisor: Clifford, P
Innovation and development in the psychology and epistemology of Epictetus

The subject of this thesis is the relationship of the psychology and epistemology of the philosopher Epictetus (c.55-135 A.D.) to the Stoic tradition to which he belonged. Epictetus' psychology is characterised by the subsuming of psychological functions and development under the single term prohairesis, and his epistemology under a corresponding term 'use of impressions' (chrêsis phantasiôn); the two terms being used largely interchangeably. The status of the prohairesis as a faculty is investigated and it is concluded that it is the principal over-arching faculty of the governing-principle of the soul (hêgemonikon), and thus occupies a similar position to that occupied by Reason (logos) in the Stoic tradition. Prohairesis is used to define the 'end' and 'good' for man in Epictetus' teaching, displacing 'wisdom' and 'virtue' with 'prohairesis as it ought to be'. Epictetus thus seeks to reflect the concerns of the 'person making progress' by making the end an extreme point on a continuum of mental and moral states on which he already occupies a place.
The self-contemplating ability of prohairesis allows it to be used to define the human self as a single unified consciousness, and also distinguish it from 'external' things outwith our power. The redefining of all things external to the mind as outwith our power is Epictetus' most significant innovation.
Epistemology is closely linked to psychology. The 'use of impressions' involves using 'preconceptions' (prolêpseis) and 'rules' (kanones) to test incoming impressions. The aim is not to allow any false judgement to be installed permanently in the prohairesis and thus hinder moral progress. The substitution of the term judgement (dogma) for 'cognition' (katalêpsis) allows Epictetus to draw attention to the need to replace poor judgements with better ones.
The thesis concludes that Epictetus introduces a number of innovations to Stoicism and also develops established doctrines to reflect his emphasis on the 'inner life' and on the moral development of ordinary people.
Understanding the teaching of biology at A level

This research focuses on uncovering, from the perspectives of practitioners themselves, the practical knowledge and understanding that shapes three teachers' successful teaching of biology at A level. Adopting a case study approach, it investigates the ways in which these biology teachers characterise their successful teaching of the subject at A level. It also explores the subject matter knowledge and understanding that shapes and accounts for these characterisations without making assumptions about the nature of this knowledge.
Data are collected through the non-participant observation of a connected series of the teachers' A level biology lessons as well as informant-style interviewing following the observed lessons.
The findings suggest that the main aim of the teachers' successful teaching of biology at A level is to ensure their students achieve examination success. In light of this, their teaching can be characterised in terms of three central features. First, they believe that to achieve this aim their students only need to know the substantive dimension of biological knowledge - they do not consider knowing the syntactic dimension to be a prerequisite to examination success. Second, they believe that their students need to conceptualise this substantive biological knowledge in several patterned ways. Third, they believe that the best way to encourage their students to develop and retain these specific conceptualisations is by adopting carefully controlled and highly structured teacher-centred pedagogical strategies. The teachers' characterisations appear to be shaped and accounted for by specific conceptions of biology which provide an overall structure to substantive biological knowledge - a structure that is determined by various guiding principles.
This research provides a first attempt to map out the practical knowledge and understanding that shapes the successful teaching of biology at A level from the perspectives of teachers themselves. The ways in which these teachers characterise their teaching differ significantly from the ways in which such teaching is described in most of the extant literature in science education on teaching and learning. This study suggests that the teachers, far from lacking in knowledge, skills and understanding, are highly skilled practitioners who respond to the local and national contexts in which they work and, taking account of these, shape their subject matter teaching accordingly such that their main aim - student examination success - is achievable. This study highlights the discrepancy between academic writing in science education on practice and practice itself. The thesis ends with a consideration of the implications of the study for the research agenda in science education, the school science curriculum and the curriculum for teacher education in both preparing and supporting the professional development of science teachers.

Advisor: Dr Hazel Hagger, G
The USA and Southern Rhodesia, 1953-1969

Existing studies of this topic have not made enough use of the British archives. Nor have they analysed the American domestic response to UDI in sufficient depth. The policies of successive American administrations as regards the Rhodesian problem can only be fully understood as part of Washington’s attitude to Britain, to Africa in general, and to southern Africa in particular. And, because the issue of white minority rule in Africa raised powerful emotions both in the African American community and among white opponents of civil rights, the Rhodesian crisis became a part of the politics of racial equality within the USA, playing a key role in the developing ideologies of these two communities.
This thesis is based on research in both American and British archives and aims to show that the prevailing interpretation, especially of the policies of the Johnson Administration once Rhodesia had made its illegal declaration of independence in November 1965, is mistaken. Scholars have tended to take at face value the oft-repeated claim of US policy-makers that Rhodesia was a British problem, that they wished to be no more than helpful bystanders, supporting British efforts to see the downfall of the illegal regime and the creation of a government based on majority rule, and that when they did intervene, it was merely to urge the British to be firmer in their resolve to end the rebellion. The central contention of this thesis is that the officials shaping African policy in the Johnson Administration were intimately involved in the management of the crisis and that, far from resisting a solution that legitimised the white minority regime, they actively encouraged the British to settle with the illegal government.

Keywords: USA
Wilson
Rhodesia
Johnson
Smith
UDI
Advisor: Tuck, S
Sexton, J
Mechanics of swelling and damage in brain tissue: a theoretical approach

Following trauma, such as an impact injury or stroke, brain tissue can swell. Swelling is the result of water accumulation in the tissue that is driven by pathological changes, such as increased permeability of the capillary walls and osmotic pressure changes within the tissue. Swelling causes increased intracranial pressure and mechanical deformation of the brain tissue, exacerbating the original injury. Furthermore, prolonged local swelling can lead to the spread of damage to the (initially undamaged) surrounding tissue, since compression and increased intracranial pressure may restrict blood flow in this tissue.
In this thesis, we develop mathematical models to examine the consequences of pathophysiological damage mechanisms on the swelling, and associated stress and strain, experienced by brain tissue. Mixture theory is used to represent brain tissue as a mixture of elastic solid, fluid and solutes. This modelling approach allows elastic deformations to be coupled with hydrodynamic pressure and osmotic gradients; the consequences of different mechanisms of damage may then be quantified.
We consider three particular problems motivated by experimental observations of swelling brain tissue. Firstly, we investigate the swelling of isolated, damaged, brain tissue slices; we show that mechanisms leading to an osmotic pressure difference between the tissue slice and its surroundings can explain experimental observations for swollen tissue slices. Secondly, we use our modelling approach to demonstrate that local changes in capillary permeability can cause significant stresses and strains in the surrounding tissue. Thirdly, we investigate the conditions under which a locally swollen, damaged, region can cause compression of the vasculature within the surrounding tissue, and potentially result in damage propagation. To do this, we propose a coupled model for the oxygen concentration within, and mechanical deformation of, brain tissue. We use our model to assess the impact of treatment strategies on damage propagation through the tissue, and show that performing a craniectomy reduces the extent of propagation.

Keywords: brain edema
soft tissue modelling
Biomechanics
mixture theory
Advisor: Goriely, A
Vella, D
Waters, S