VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Variational modelling of cavitation and fracture in nonlinear elasticity

Motivated by experiments on titanium alloys of Petrinic et al. (2006), which show the formation of cracks through the growth and coalescence of voids in ductile fracture, we consider the problem of formulating a variational model in nonlinear elasticity compatible both with cavitation and the appearance of discontinuities across two-dimensional surfaces. As in the model for cavitation of Müller and Spector (1995) we address this problem, which is connected to the sequential weak continuity of the determinant of the deformation gradient in spaces of functions having low regularity, by means of adding an appropriate surface energy term to the elastic energy. Based upon considerations of invertibility, we derive an expression for the surface energy that admits a physical and a geometrical interpretation, and that allows for the formulation of a model with better analytical properties. We obtain, in particular, important regularity results for the inverses of deformations, as well as the weak continuity of the determinants and the existence of minimizers. We show, further, that the creation of surface can be modeled by carefully analyzing the jump set of the inverses, and we point out some connections between the analysis of cavitation and fracture, the theory of SBV functions, and the theory of Cartesian currents of Giaquinta, Modica, and Soucek. In addition to the above, we extend previous work of Sivaloganathan, Spector and Tilakraj (2006) on the approximation of minimizers for the problem of cavitation with a constraint in the number of flaw points, and present some numerical results for this problem.

Keywords: created surface
cavitation
invertibility
regularity of the inverse
ductile fracture
Cartesian currents
surface energy
distributional determinant
SBV
singular minimizers
weak continuity of the Jacobian
nonlinear elasticity
Advisor: Ball, J
Metabolic control of energetics in human heart and skeletal muscle

Myocardial and skeletal muscle high energy phosphate metabolism is abnormal in heart failure, but the pathophysiology is not understood. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increase in heart failure due to increased sympathetic drive, and regulate the transcription of mitochondrial uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3), through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α. The aim of the work in this thesis was to determine whether cardiac PCr/ATP ratios and skeletal muscle PCr kinetics during exercise were related to cardiac and skeletal muscle UCP3 levels respectively, thus providing a mechanism for the apparent mitochondrial dysfunction observed in heart failure. Patients having cardiac surgery underwent pre-operative testing, including cardiac and gastrocnemius 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Intra-operatively, ventricular, atrial and skeletal muscle biopsies were taken for measurement of mitochondrial protein levels by immunoblotting, along with mitochondrial function by tissue respiration rates. Fasting plasma NEFA concentrations increased in patients with ventricular dysfunction and with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Ventricular UCP3 levels increased and cardiac PCr/ATP decreased with NYHA class, however, demonstrated no relationship to each other. In skeletal muscle, maximal rates of oxidative ATP synthesis (Qmax) related to functional capacity. Skeletal muscle UCP3 levels increased with NYHA class but were unrelated to skeletal muscle Qmax. Tissue respiration experiments revealed no relationship between ventricular function and indices of mitochondrial coupling, furthermore, indices of mitochondrial coupling were unrelated to tissue UCP3 levels. No evidence was found to support mitochondrial uncoupling, mediated through UCP3, as a cause of the abnormalities in cardiac and skeletal muscle high energy phosphate metabolism.

Keywords: heart failure
mitochondrial uncoupling protein-3
mitochondrial function
Advisor: Clarke, K
Evans, R
Identification of novel interactions between MicroRNAs and pattern-recognition receptor signalling in dentritic cells

Dendritic cells are equipped with a range of different pattern-recognition receptors (PRR) aimed at recognizing foreign pathogens. Recent evidence has suggested that PRR signalling regulates the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, which have been shown to fine-tune innate immune responses.
This thesis describes the discovery of miR-650, a novel PRR-responsive miRNA that is down regulated in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) on PRR stimulation. Chapter 4 describes the characterisation of miR-650 expression in DCs matured by exposure to a variety of different pathogen-derived ligands, or during Influenza A virus infection. When correlating the level of miR-650 to the induction of DC activation markers on the cell surface, an inverse correlation was observed, suggesting a relationship between miR-650 down regulation and the effective dose of the ligand.
Work presented in this thesis further explores the potential function of miR-650 by using a multi-pronged approach encompassing computational biology, genome-wide expression profiling and individual reporter assays, to gain insight into the gene networks regulated by miR-650. While Chapter 5 focuses on the identification and confirmation of individual miR-650:target interactions, Chapter 6 investigates both direct as well as secondary effects exerted by miR-650 on a global level.
The work in these two chapters identifies a number of novel miR-650 targets and suggests a dual role for miR-650 in the innate immune response. Firstly, it is shown that miR-650 directly regulates a group of interferon-stimulated genes with known antiviral activity. Supporting its role in antiviral host defence, miR-650 is also shown to directly target components of the autophagic machinery, and even more importantly, down regulation of miR-650 induces autophagosome formation. Secondly, identified targets also include negative regulators of innate signalling suggesting that, in addition to its antiviral function, PRR-mediated down regulation of miR-650 expression may also provide a negative feedback loop controlling inflammatory responses. Notably, miR-650 displays reciprocal target regulation with miR-155, a well-studied miRNA with established functions in the innate immune system, thus suggesting cooperativity between the two miRNAs.
The original aim of this thesis was to examine the effect of HIV-1 infection on the global miRNAome of DCs using a genome-wide profiling method. However, as outlined in Chapter 3, the data generated suggest that HIV-1 infection has little or no impact on miRNA expression. Further work is needed to establish if this represents deliberate immune evasion by HIV-1, or just indicates the limits of the methodology employed.

Keywords: microRNA
HIV
Dendritic cell
Advisor: Simmons, A
Changes in the phenomenon of icon-painting in Romania from the second half of the nineteenth century to the present day

The thesis aims to prove, on the one hand that the second half of the nineteenth century was the period of maximum deviation from the traditional Romanian style of icon-painting and, on the other hand, that the process following the Romanian Orthodox Church's Synod of 1889, in spite of the proclaimed return to a pure Byzantine style, actually has involved the coexistence of at least two main styles of painting: Eastern Mannerist of Byzantine lineage and Western Mannerist of Renaissance persuasion. In addition to this, a mixture of various elements, even in the painting of the same building, is also present, reaching sometimes the point of kitsch.
As steps towards this end, my thesis discusses the way in which the tradition of the Orthodox Church regarding icon and wall-painting manifested itself throughout Romanian history, with special emphasis on the period from the second half of the nineteenth century to the present day. I investigate whether or not, and how the Romanian modern icons (still) fit into the Byzantine conception of an icon.
The thesis presents the same tradition regarding the requirements of the profession of an iconographer, how they were fulfilled in the past and how they are satisfied today in Romania, in both a monastic and a secular milieu. Traditionally, in addition to their skills and artistic training, it is essential that iconographers should be deep believers, have a solid theological training, and live a very pure life. In Chapter 6 I present the answers of 27 Romanian contemporary iconographers to a 17 item questionnaire regarding the way in which they are trained and keep the canonical rules today, the techniques they use in painting and their own attitude towards their work.

Keywords: Elena Ene Drăghici-Vasilescu
Advisor: Ware, K
Word and wisdom in the ecclesiology of Louis Bouyer

The subject of this study is the ecclesiology of Louis Bouyer of the Oratory. The basic claim of the thesis is that his doctrine of the Church is central to his theological project, second only to his preponderant gaze upon the mystery of the Trinity. Bouyer's ecclesiological vision is specifically driven by the twin motifs of 'Word' and 'Wisdom'. The deep dogmatic material that lies at the heart of his doctrine is the Church's dependence on Christ, who is both Word and Wisdom. The Church is creatura verbi divini and equally creatura sapientiae divinae. It is constituted by the divine Word, and destined by the divine Wisdom for glory and union with God. The combination of a salvation-historical and christologically sacramental 'Word-ecclesiology', and a properly trinitarian and eschatologically oriented 'Wisdom-ecclesiology', is what distinguishes Bouyer's doctrine of the Church.
Chapter One sets the stage for Bouyer's Word-based ecclesiology through an exposition of his reinforced understanding of the 'Word of God'. Chapter Two traces the Word's crucial development into the Christian 'mystery', and finds that it is none other than Jesus Christ and his saving cross. In turn, the mystery must be embodied in the liturgy, in which it is perpetually proclaimed by and actualized hi the Church. Chapter Three then presents Bouyer's Word-ecclesiology in a twofold articulation: the 'Church of the Word' and the 'Word in the Church'. Chapter Four recognizes a second mode of ecclesiological reflection in Bouyer through his Wisdom-motif which penetrates and complements the dominant logocentric perspective. Chapter Five finally argues that Bouyer's construal of the Church's principal actions (liturgical celebration, evangelical witness, and the total life of prayer and Christian discipleship) is consistent with his christological and trinitarian horizon, and that these ecclesial actions respond most appropriately to the divine initiative manifested in the Word and Wisdom.

Advisor: Professor John Webster, T
Tight-binding studies of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes have been subject to a great many theoretical and experimental investigations and have many interesting properties. However, the caps found at the ends of nanotubes have been rather neglected. Previous work has established the possible caps for a given nanotube. This thesis seeks to build on this work to determine which caps are probable. Three representative nanotubes are considered: the (5,5) tube (an example of a metal); the (10,0) tube (an example of an insulator) and the (11,2) tube (for which experimental data is available).
A linear scaling density matrix method based on orthogonal tight-binding theory is used for a systematic study of doubly capped nanotubes. The energetically most stable caps are found for all three tubes and the isolated pentagon rule established for fullerenes is shown to be valid for nanotube caps. No simple rule governing the stability of isolated pentagon caps is found, although the stability of (11,2) caps correlates well with the number of hexagons adjacent to just one pentagon. The local densities of states (LDOS) are calculated for the most stable cap for each nanotube. A localised state is found for the capped (5,5) tube and a resonant state is observed for the capped (11,2) tube. The LDOS for the capped (11,2) tube is compared with experimental observations and questions are raised concerning the nature of the tube observed and the limitations of STM as a method for identifying nanotube caps.

Advisor: Manolopoulos, D
The responsible man: a study in two private prisons

With the expansion of the use of private prisons and detention centres worldwide and the increasing involvement of private actors in the provision of custodial services, this doctoral thesis considers life inside two private prisons in England. Using theoretically informed ethnography it evaluates the effect of responsibility on men imprisoned in two private prisons in England. Firstly, it briefly reviews the background and development of prison privatisation in England and Wales and considers the role and place of private prisons as part of a wider neo-liberal shift. Secondly, using qualitative data gathered inside two private prisons, it evaluates if these prisons, through their regimes, are trying to create responsible self-governing prisoners. The thesis reviews both, how regimes and practices in place in these two prisons attempt to forge responsible prisoners, and how individual men and groups of prisoners experience, feel about, cope with and assimilate penal messages of self-governance and responsibility. Finally, it questions both the impact of responsible prisoners for prisons and the impact of responsibility on prisoners and argues that, whilst there is a benefit to fostering environments in which prisoners are enabled to become responsible and self-governing, a careful balance must be maintained, as for some men the responsibility itself becomes characteristic of the "pain of imprisonment".

Keywords: Private Prison Life
Masculinity
Prison
Advisor: Bosworth, M
A study of the relationship between precipitate structure and chemistry on the mechanical properties of aluminium alloys

The microstructural chemistry of the commercial aluminium alloy 7150, containing Al, Zn, Mg, Cu and some trace impurities, was investigated in detail. This alloy is a precipitation hardening alloy, deriving most of its strength from the fine distribution of solute rich precipitates formed during thermal processing. At peak strength this alloy suffers from the common problem of stress corrosion cracking, leading to unpredictable premature failure in the presence of a corrosive environment. Failure is mainly intergranular, thus the structure and chemistry of the grain boundary regions is of interest. A large number of previous investigations have failed to correlate any individual parameter with the stress corrosion cracking behaviour.
As the analytical techniques have improved over the last three decades, more complex investigations of the microstructure and the microchemistry have been attempted, in order to more fully characterise the development of this alloy during thermal processing. This thesis presents the results of two of the highest resolution techniques available for microchemical analysis. Scanning transmission electron microscopy X-ray analysis, using a VG-HB501 dedicated scanning transmission electron microscope, enables chemical analysis with a 2nm electron probe, while atom probe analysis, using a VG-FIM100 atom probe with an additional position sensitive detector, enables single atom chemical identification with sub-nanometre spatial resolution.
However, both of these techniques have their own experimental limitations which restrict the accuracy of the results obtainable. A detailed description of the many factors limiting both techniques is presented. Combining these techniques has enabled chemical analysis of all the microstructural features present in this alloy on the nanometre scale. A description of the chemical changes occurring during age hardening of this alloy is given in summary.
Respiratory carbon loss in plant tissues under environmental stress

Crop productivity is a balance between carbon gain by photosynthetic assimilation of CO2 and the release of fixed carbon as CO2 via respiration. Respiration is the process by which carbohydrates are oxidised to produce ATP to fuel biochemical reactions, whilst simultaneously releasing CO2 as a by-product; therefore, increased demand for ATP or decreased efficiency of ATP production by uncoupling of the mitochondrial electron transport chain results in greater CO2 production. ATP produced by respiration is either used to support processes involved in growth or to power cell maintenance processes, such as macromolecule turnover or maintenance of membrane ion gradients. Respiration increases when plants are exposed to high temperatures; a factor that will become increasingly important as we try to maximise food production as the global climate changes. However, it is unknown if increased respiration at high temperature is necessary to provide energy to support growth, is a consequence of increased ATP consumption for maintenance processes or is due to increased mitochondrial uncoupling at high temperature.
Flux measurements showed that CO2 production by excised Arabidopsis thaliana roots increases with temperature up to 37°C. Although growth also increased up to 37°C resulting in increased respiration associated with growth processes, the majority of overall CO2 production at high temperatures could be accounted for by non-growth respiration. An analysis of ATP-consuming processes demonstrated that protein turnover and maintenance of ion gradients collectively account for the majority of maintenance respiration, but that ATP consumption for the maintenance of ion gradients is quantitatively more important than protein turnover at high temperature. Furthermore, a decrease in in vivo P/O ratio at high temperature was demonstrated; the results presented suggest that this is most likely due to increased basal proton leak across the inner mitochondrial membrane. It can be concluded that increased CO2 production at high temperature results from a combination of increased ATP consumption for the maintenance of ion gradients and a decrease in coupling of the mitochondrial electron transport chain through a common mechanism of increased membrane fluidity and ion leak.

Keywords: respiration
mitochondria
Advisor: Sweetlove, L
Strontium stable isotope behaviour accompanying melting and magmatism in the earth - moon system

This thesis concerns the application of a new technique for measuring the stable isotopes of Sr, specifically pertaining to mass dependent fractionation in high temperature processes on the Earth and Moon. Processes such as mantle melting and differentiation on Earth and the formation of the Lunar Magma Ocean are investigated by the application of a double-spike TIMS method to terrestrial and lunar material to obtain high-precision 87Sr/86Sr, 88Sr/86Sr and 84Sr/86Sr data. Measurements of mantle-derived mafic material provide insights into the 88Sr/86Sr composition of the silicate mantle. Ocean Island Basalts possess restricted δ88Sr compositions, whilst Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalts from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian ridges reveal variations in δ88Sr, the majority of which is seen within the FAMOUS section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. These variations are attributed partly due to the effects of plagioclase crystallisation and partly due to mantle source heterogeneity. Analyses of mineral separates from three different igneous systems provide an understanding of δ88Sr fractionation at a mineral-scale. The possibility of δ88Sr fractionation as a result of magmatic differentiation has also been assessed, and found to occur between the basalt and rhyolitic end-members of the Icelandic Hekla suite. Variations in the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of these rocks are also found, and considered most likely to be due to contamination. Analyses of lunar rocks indicate that the highland suite appears to be relatively uniform in δ88Sr, whilst significant fractionation to light δ88Sr compositions occurs in the mare basalts. Such variations are thought to be associated with the crystallisation of plagioclase during the differentiation of the lunar magma ocean. Lastly, precise 87Rb/86Sr and 87Sr/86Sr data yield a model age for the Moon of 4.523 ± 0.019 Ga.

Keywords: strontium
thermal-ionisation mass spectrometry
non-traditional stable isotopes
cosmochemistry
Advisor: Burton, KW
Halliday, AN
Porcelli, D
'Maschera della maschera': le traduzioni dall'anglo-americano di Giovanni Giudici (anni 1950-1960)

My thesis focuses on the Italian poet Giovanni Giudici (1924-2011) and specifically on his activity as a translator from Anglo-American poetry, during the decade 1950-1960. I have investigated Giudici’s translations from a twofold perspective. On the one hand, I acquired a detailed overview of the translations, attempting to establish a definitive and accurate chronology of them all – in most cases, the official dates of the individual texts published not coinciding with the later inclusion of the same texts in three separate collections. On the other hand, I analysed the stylistic and literary rendering of the foreign texts, evaluating their specific artistic value and, where relevant, emphasising in what way they are interrelated with Giudici’s original verse. In doing so, I used archival materials, examining drafts and comparing these with the final versions.
In my first chapter, I discussed the emerging notion of error and showed how this soon becomes the bridging element between the poet’s alleged amateurish knowledge of the original languages and his hyperconscious conception of the literary practice. The most innovative aspect of this ambiguous poetics is the poet’s tendency to equate poetic language with what he calls ‘strange language’, that is translation itself.
While dealing with each foreign text individually and showing how it contributes to the poet’s language and themes (such as, primarily, those of error, of strange language and of mask), I also argued that the translations of the 50s could fall under the category of ‘metaphysical poetry’. Not unlike other poets of his day, Giudici familiarised himself with ‘metaphysical poetry’ through T. S. Eliot, as I showed in my second chapter. I here devoted special attention to Giudici’s work on Eliot and presented some early translations of Eliot by him which have hitherto escaped critics’ attention. In the last two chapters, I analyse other foreign poets he translated, ranging from Donne to Emily Dickinson, from Milton to Pound.
Finally, by mapping Giudici’s interests in Anglo-American poetry, my thesis highlights the centrality that translation progressively acquires alongside the production of the original verse and within the use of the poet’s mother tongue.

Keywords: poesia italiana
Giovanni Giudici
poesia inglese
traduzione
Advisor: Gardini, N