VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Radiofluorination of squalenoylated drug analogues

The conjugation of drugs with squalene derivatives has found wide spread application due to the ability of the conjugates to form nanoparticles in aqueous solutions. The conjugated drugs exhibit increased bioavailability and effectiveness against the targeted disease. Although in vitro experiments revealed the mechanism of action at a cellular level, in vivo whole-body distribution studies have not been performed yet.The aim of this work was to develop a radioactive analogue of a squalenoylated drug to determine its pharmacokinetic and -dynamic properties through Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
In Chapter 1, a general introduction about the physical and biological properties of squalenoylated drugs is given alongside introductions to PET and previously employed strategies to radiolabel nanoparticles with [18F]fluoride. The chapter will conclude in a proposed radiolabelling strategy for squalenoylated drugs on the example of squalenoyl gemcitabine.
Chapter 2 discusses the successful synthesis of a fluorinated analogue of squalenoyl gemcitabine (F-Sq-Gem). The nanoparticles of the novel conjugate were characterised with Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and exhibit similar properties to squalenoyl gemcitabine nanoparticles. The modification in the squalenoyl chain was well tolerated and the radiolabelled compound can be expected to behave similar to the native compound in vivo.
In the third chapter, different radiofluorination methods are reviewed and analysed for their potential to radiolabel vinyl boronic esters. The copper-mediated radiofluorination of aryl boronic esters offered the potential to be applied to vinylic substrates and therefore for the radiolabelling of squalenoylated drugs. Finally, the synthesis of a terpenoid based vinyl boronic ester precursor is presented.
In Chapter 4, the radiofluorination of vinyl boronic esters is discussed. The reaction required a Lewis basic moiety in proximity of the vinyl boronic ester to afford the desired products, which was not present in the envisaged precursors for squalenoylated drugs. Several attempts to adapt the target synthesis for this requirement are described. The most promising results were obtained using an allylic ether, which can be removed post-labelling.

Advisor: Gouverneur, V
Judicial discretion and contempt power: two elements of equity that would benefit the EAPO and future EU-wide provisional and protective measures

A person filing a civil claim faces the risk of being unable to enforce a favourable judgment. This is because their opponent may dissipate his assets and consequently be unable to satisfy a judgment given against him. Several mechanisms seek to alleviate this risk by preserving the defendant’s assets pending judgment. These are predominantly the civilian in rem order and the common law freezing order.
Fundamental differences between the common and civil law traditions may be observed in the freezing order and its civilian counterpart. Primarily, these are to be found in the margin of discretion given to the judge and the sanctions against non-compliance. The latter issue is closely related to the entity against which an order is directed: in the common law it is directed against the person, while in the civil law, against the asset. The significantly diverse approaches in these areas show the different course each of the legal families has taken in the administration of justice.
The problem of preserving assets pending judgment becomes more complicated when the assets are not located in the same country as the courts with jurisdiction on the merits. The recently introduced European Account Preservation Order (‘EAPO’) regulation is a pre-judgment instrument which enables a litigant to obtain an order preventing the transfer of funds held by the respondent in a bank account within the EU. It is the first of what may become several EU-wide provisional and protective measures. At first glance, the EAPO resembles the continental model rather than its common law counterpart, and, thus, brings into the open the differences between the two traditions in the area of provisional and protective measures.
This work examines whether the features of the common law tradition—which in fact derive from the law of equity—ie judicial discretion in granting or refusing relief and contempt of court sanctions, could improve the EAPO as well as other EU-wide provisional and protective measures that may follow. It is argued that greater judicial discretion and a contempt sanction, provided that they are kept within certain limits, would improve the EAPO and similar measures in terms of efficiency and fairness.

Advisor: Zuckerman, A
Soviet economic thought and economic policy in the 1940s. Influence on 1950s-1960s reforms.

The present thesis looks at the Soviet economy in the 1940s-1960s period. It specifically focuses on the influence of economic policy and thought developed in the late 1940s on the post-Stalinist era. The thesis’ aim is to prove that several key elements of 1950s-1960s economic reforms had already been conceptualised, proposed or implemented during the Stalinist period.
The pillars of this 1940s-1960s reforming continuity which the research deals with are khozraschet, economic levers (profit, value, market, prices, credit, bonuses), perspective planning, the balance of the national economy method, as well as the debates concerning the law of value and the repeated attempts at drawing up a General Plan and at drafting a new Party Programme.
The key figure this thesis focuses on is N.A. Voznesensky, top Soviet planner in 1939-1949. In the late 1930s he revived practices and methods discontinued after 1928, while under his aegis, policies and debates that later influenced post-Stalinist reforms were developed in the late 1940s.
The thesis relies on primary evidence gathered at four Russian state archives (RGAE, GARF, ARAN, RGASPI) and on research carried out at British, Russian, Italian and German libraries.

Keywords: Soviet Union
N.A. Voznesensky
Planning
Command economy
Reform
Advisor: Davis, CM
Radiotherapy dose-fractionations and outcomes in cancer patients

Radiotherapy cures many cancers, but the optimum total doses and fractionations used to treat different cancer types remain uncertain. While conventional fractionation (≈2 Gy per fraction) is common in many countries, UK practice has been highly variable.
This thesis compared different curative-intent radiotherapy dose-fractionations used in non-small cell lung and breast cancer. These two cancers together make up over a quarter of UK cancer incidence and mortality, and radiotherapy can increase cure rates of both cancers.
Two studies were conducted: (A) A meta-analysis of randomised radiotherapy trials in non-small cell lung cancer and (B) A cohort study of non-small cell lung and breast cancer radiotherapy in the Thames Valley.
For the meta-analysis, a systematic search was conducted. Eligible studies were randomised comparisons of two or more radiotherapy regimens. Median survival ratios were calculated for each comparison and pooled. 3,795 patients in 25 randomised comparisons of radiotherapy dose were studied. When radiotherapy was given alone, the higher dose within-trial resulted in increased survival (median survival ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.22). When radiotherapy was given with concurrent chemotherapy, the higher dose within-trial resulted in decreased survival (median survival ratio 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.71-0.97).
For the cohort study, multiple Public Health England data sources were combined to obtain information on radiotherapy, patient characteristics, and outcomes. Multivariable Cox regressions were conducted separately by cancer site. 324 non-small cell lung, 8,879 invasive breast, and 477 ductal carcinoma in situ patients were studied. In analyses of both non-small cell lung and invasive breast cancer, increasing radiotherapy dose was associated with improved survival in some treatment centres, while in other centres the opposite was true. These opposite trends by treatment centre were unlikely to be explained by chance, and they suggest that differences in patient selection were driving results. There were insufficient events among ductal carcinoma in situ patients to assess associations.
Findings from the meta-analysis support consideration of further radiotherapy dose escalation trials, making use of modern methods to reduce toxicity. Findings from the cohort study suggest that it is not possible to use observational studies to examine causal effects of radiotherapy dose-fractionation. This thesis therefore shows the continued importance of conducting sufficiently large randomised trials to ascertain optimal dose-fractionation in radiotherapy.

Keywords: radiotherapy dose-fractionation
PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND
lung cancer
epidemiology
radiotherapy
META-ANALYSIS
breast cancer
Radiation
THAMES VALLEY
CANCER REGISTRATION
cancer survival
Advisor: Taylor, C
Darby, S
Density, temperature and magnetic field measurements in low density plasmas

Low density plasmas are found throughout the known universe. Therefore, accurate diagnostic methods have implications for our understanding of a variety of topics, ranging from star formation to the semi conductor industry.
Low density plasmas are ubiquitous in the material processing industry. However, measurements of the electron temperature and density, two of the most fundamental plasma properties, are not straightforward. In the laboratory, we create a low density, radio frequency, helium plasma with a bi-Maxwellian electron distribution, similar to those found in the semiconductor processing industry. We use optical emission spectroscopy to perform a non invasive measurement of the plasma conditions. We compare this to measurements obtained using a Langmuir probe, a commonly used invasive diagnostic. The optical emission spectroscopy is found to be insensitive to electron density but good agreement is found between the two techniques for values of the temperature of the hot electron component of the bi-Maxwellian.
Plasmas created with high-intensity lasers are able to recreate conditions similar to those found during astrophysical events. This development has led to these condi- tions being explored in laboratories around the world. An experiment was performed at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Didcot, UK, investigating the properties of supersonic turbulent jets. For the first time a magneto-optic probe was used to measure the magnetic field in a low-density supersonic turbulent plasma. The re- sults were compared to measurements taken using a magnetic-induction probe. Good agreement was found between measurements of the magnetic field strength within the plasma; however, the magnetic power spectra di↵er. We attribute this to the dif- ference in integration length between the two measurements. Statistical properties of the velocity field are inferred from the magnetic field measurements, which compare favourably to astrophysical observations and hydrodynamic simulations.

Keywords: Plasma
Laser
Verdet crystal
Magnetic field measurements
Radio Frequency Discharge
gamma regime
supersonic jets
Advisor: Gregori, G
Essays on firms and employee compensation

This DPhil thesis is a collection of three empirical papers that study the role of firms in the UK labour market. Each chapter focuses on firms at different points in their lifecycle.
Young firms are an engine of job creation but little is known about the quality of the jobs that they offer. In Chapter 1, I use a matched employer-employee dataset to study how starting wages and lifecycle earnings of employees differ between young and mature firms. I find that young firms pay a small premium to new hires, but subsequent wage growth is better at mature firms, both within continuing job matches and when individuals change jobs. Crucially, highly-paid and stable jobs at young firms have become increasingly rare over time, as young firms themselves have become less likely to survive and attain high productivity levels—both in absolute terms and relative to mature firms over the same period. Policies that aim to stimulate job growth by encouraging the formation of new firms should therefore pay close attention to the types of firms that form.
Chapter 2 asks what determines the proportion of a firm’s income that workers receive as compensation. I use longitudinal firm data from a period of substantial labour share variation to understand the firm-level determinants of the labor share of income—a question that has typically only been addressed with country- and sector-level data. Estimating a dynamic model using GMM, I find that firms with greater market power and a higher ratio of capital to labour allocate a smaller proportion of their value added to workers. Testing the impact of tangible and intangible capital on low- and high-wage firms leads to conclusions consistent with the hypothesis of capital-skill complementarity. Overall, the results suggest that firm-level drivers play a key role in the evolution of the aggregate labour share, which has declined significantly since the 1970s.
Chapter 3 co-authored with Brian Bell, focuses on mature firms and asks how wages at such firms respond to idiosyncratic firm-level cost shocks. We create a unique dataset that links longitudinal data on workers’ compensation to the unexpected costs related to firms’ legacy defined benefit pension plans. We show that firms are able to share the burden of such costs when a significant share of their workers are current or former members of the plan. We also find that firms that respond to deficits by closing down the pension plans effectively reduce the total compensation of plan members. These results point to significant frictions in the labour market, which we show are a direct result of the pension arrangement that workers have. Yet closing schemes has an implicit cost for firms, since it reduces the frictions that workers face, and increases mobility.

Keywords: Wages
Pensions
Market Power
Employment
Compensation
Start-ups
Advisor: Bond, S
Bell, B
Precarity and persistence in Canada's company province

Contemporary scholarship of neoliberalism tends to emphasize its ubiquity, underscoring capitalism’s permeation into life’s most intimate spheres. However, I show through careful ethnographic description that even within the paradigmatically capitalist conditions of New Brunswick, Canada – popularly christened a ‘company province’ – marginalized communities continue to maintain anti-capitalist moralities. Based on eighteen months of participant observation, this ethnography examines how an Acadian forest community in northwestern New Brunswick cultivates an alternative regime of values and also how those values are contained, eroded, and politically disarmed. I explain how a moral system based in the division between insiders and outsiders emerged to ensure the survival of rural Acadian communities throughout longstanding historical conditions of material precarity. This moral dualism serves to maintain fierce egalitarianism between insiders while justifying underhanded and illegal techniques for appropriating resources from the outsider sphere. While the persistence of this communitarian, egalitarian, anti-materialist insider moral order and the sharing economy it sustains is notable, especially given prevalent scholarly assessments about neoliberalism’s colonization of our very imaginations, I show that maintaining the insider moral order in the face of community members’ increasing material engagements with capitalism produces compromises, contradictions, and violences. The Acadians’ dualist moral system absorbs hierarchies such as race and gender in ways that ultimately violate insider aspirations to egalitarianism and obstruct the development of insider moral persistence into more politically transformative resistance. Preservation of the insider sphere also demands periodic renegotiation of its boundaries under the pressures of new forms of precarity, such that the cost of maintaining the insider community is the expulsion of some of its members. This dissertation is thus a study of how capitalism comes to accommodate dissident moralities in its midst in ways that defuse their political threat, and the mechanisms by which compliance with capitalism is coaxed and coerced even in contexts of ideological opposition.

Advisor: Clarke, M
Greenhouse, C
Fairness and stability in structured environments

In many social and economic situations, networks are the primary vehicle for strategic interactions among multiple players. On the one hand, networks connect individuals and represent how they interact with each other. On the other hand, networks describe relations between objects that are of interest to multiple decision-makers. The aims of the thesis are two-fold: first, to describe how the underlying network structures affect the existence of desirable outcomes of strategic interactions; and second, to discuss computational issues that arise when considering problems with connectivity constraints imposed by a network. In particular, we will consider two settings in which networks play a critical role: coalition formation and fair division restricted by networks. Specifically, we will study a model in which the space of feasible outcomes is restricted to the connected subgraphs of an underlying network. In essence, we show that acyclicity of a network is a necessary and sufficient condition for desirable outcomes to exist and to be efficiently computable.

Advisor: Elkind, E
Quantum Hall Edges Beyond Luttinger Liquid

We consider a series of problems regarding quantum Hall edges, focusing on both dynamics and the mathematical structure of edge states.
We begin in Chapter 3 with a limiting case of the Laughlin state placed in a very steep confining potential, but which is weak compared to the interactions. We find that the eigenstates have a Jack polynomial structure and an energy spectrum which is extremely different from the well-known Luttinger liquid edge.
In Chapter 5 we analyse the inner products of edge state wavefunctions, using an effective description given by a large-N expansion ansatz proposed by J. Dubail, N. Read and E. Rezayi, PRB 86, 245310 (2012). As noted by these authors, the terms in this ansatz can be constrained using symmetry, a procedure we perform to high orders. We then check the conjecture by calculating overlaps exactly for small system sizes and comparing the numerics with our high-order expansion to find excellent agreement.
Finally, Chapter 6 considers the behaviour of quantum Hall edges close to the Luttinger liquid fixed point that occurs in the low energy, large system limit. We construct effective Hamiltonians using a local field theory description and then consider the effect of bulk symmetries on this edge. The symmetry analysis produces remarkable simplifications which allow for very accurate descriptions of the low-energy edge physics even relatively far away from the Luttinger liquid fixed point.

Keywords: Conformal Field Theory
Quantum Hall Edges
Advisor: Simon, S
Realistic, strong and provable key exchange security

Authenticated key exchange protocols are ubiquitous in modern-day life. They are used to secure numerous types of data exchange, ranging from online banking to instant messaging conversations. In this thesis, we extend the state of the art for authenticated key exchange security, following the three themes of realistic, strong and provable.
First, we tackle the theme of provable security. We develop generic techniques, applicable to a wide range of security models, to assist in proofs of security of cryptographic schemes. Specifically, a "game hopping" proof is a powerful technique to prove strong statements about the security of a protocol. However, the proof technique often involves esoteric and repetitive steps. We demystify the methodology and prove generic theorems to reduce the length and complexity of a wide class of game hopping proofs.
Next, we use this new framework to analyse strong and previously unstudied formal security guarantees of authenticated key exchange protocols. These protocols are able to achieve strong security guarantees because they share and update state across sessions. Using our framework, we are able to push the state of the art by defying the folklore of what was previously thought provable of authenticated key exchange protocols. Specifically, it was previously thought that no protocol can achieve a security guarantee about communication with a peer if the peer was already fully compromised. We show that this is not true by formally defining a new concept, which we name post-compromise security. We capture an intuitive "self-healing" property of protocols. We then construct and formally prove protocols can achieve this strong security notion.
Finally, we leverage all of this work to analyse realistic protocols. Signal, which is used to encrypt messages in WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Google Allo amongst others, is one such protocol we consider. Despite being used by billions of people, Signal was completely unstudied in the academic literature prior to this work. Two reasons for this were that Signal had no documentation at the time and it did not fit into existing models: it shares state across sessions and has over ten different types of key, most of which continually update. Despite its complexity, we are able to use the other work in this thesis to give the first ever analysis and proof of security of Signal. Overall, this thesis aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the current state of the art of authenticated key exchange protocols.

Advisor: Cremers, C
Simpson, A
Methodological considerations and cognitive factors underlying sustained attention

The active, ongoing maintenance of an adequate level of performance over time on task is an essential cognitive faculty, and has been described in multiple frameworks since the earliest days of cognitive research. Theoretical accounts of performance maintenance focused on the timely fluctuations of attention components, using the partially overlapping constructs of sustained attention, arousal, vigilance and alertness. In this thesis, particular attention is given to sustained attention, arguably the most useful and frequently used construct in a clinical context. Chapter 1 provides an introductory overview of the literature, focusing on the theories and paradigms available to assess sustained attention and other closely related constructs. Chapter 2 introduces a new task for assessing sustained attention, based on a variation of the Continuous Performance Task (CPT), and discusses the contribution of various task factors to performance patterns. In Chapter 3, the newly established paradigm is used to assess sustained attention among stroke survivors and the healthy ageing, and relate task-performance to subjective reports of daily lapses in attention. A detailed discussion is devoted to identifying the task indices that best represent sustained attention capacity, favouring measures incorporating the notion of change in performance over time. Chapter 4 applies the same approach of estimating change in performance over time to studying sustained attention among children with genetic developmental disorders. Chapters 5 and 6 show how performance in a CPT is influenced by the pace at which stimuli are presented in the task. It is argued that individuals are sensitive to varying levels of temporal regularities; consequently, when measuring sustained attention, researchers must account for the rhythmic pattern that the CPT may introduce. Chapter 7 will present an intervention study combining brain stimulation and a spatially-lateralised CPT paradigm, demonstrating changes in components of Selective Attention as defined by a computational model. The thesis is concluded in Chapter 8, which discusses the contributions of the experimental findings to the understanding of sustained attention and associated experimental methods. The thesis proposes a clear mapping of sustained attention with relation to other closely related constructs, and attempts to provide useful tools for improving clinical assessment.

Advisor: Demeyere, N
De Ozorio Nobre, A