VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Jesuit higher educational leadership: a case study of universities in Asia


This thesis examined the perceptions of the senior management, faculty members, and administrators of Jesuit leadership in four Asian Jesuit universities.
Using a snowball sampling method, I adopted a two-stage research approach to collect the sample. In the first stage, qualitative research included interviews and expert opinions, and in the second stage, quantitative research comprised surveys. This study was conducted across the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan. Altogether, 30 respondents participated in the interview over the Zoom platform, and 44 completed the online survey.
The research question framed in this study was as follows:
What are the conceptualisation, collaboration with others, and challenges of Jesuit higher educational leadership?
The literature review followed three steps of organisation: The first step was to conceptualise the Jesuit educational leadership by reviewing the four periods of distinctive educational theories and models. As a result, I identified six dimensions of Jesuit higher educational leadership, and various characteristics of Jesuit leaders’ collaboration with others were discussed. The second step explained essential concepts in the Jesuit philosophy, comprising the Catholic Church’s philosophy, the background of the Jesuits, and its higher education. Thirdly, I discussed the ideal characteristics of Jesuit educational leaders and their potential challenges in the modern world.
My study made four significant contributions to the scholarly literature. The first contribution was to conceptualise Jesuit higher educational leadership, which comprised six features: interpersonal support, community building, selflessness, equality, integrity, and spirituality. My second contribution was empirically establishing a scale or a model of Jesuit higher educational leadership. My third contribution empirically confirmed that collaboration with others was the mediator between the Jesuit higher educational leadership and the president’s performance. This could be achieved in four ways: activating the resource assistance in a timely manner, ensuring an encouraging workplace for faculty members, mobilising support from various stakeholders, and synthesising collaborative processes. My last contribution was to discover Jesuit higher educational leaders' challenges, identifying conspicuous similarities and differences between the four universities. Similarities encompassed similar, frequently mentioned international challenges as their significant concerns, including seeking resource assistance from other universities through their unique global or Jesuit university network. The differences included a contrast between the socio-economic challenge, the environmental challenge, and the political challenge.

Keywords: Jesuit
leadership
Jesuit leadership
higher education
spiritual leadership
servant leadership
Advisor: Gearon, L
Puttick, S
Development of a beam position monitor based on Cherenkov diffraction radiation for the AWAKE experiment at CERN

The Plasma Wakefield Experiment (AWAKE) at CERN utilises 400 GeV proton bunches from the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) to generate plasma wakefields in a 10 m-long rubidium vapour cell for high-gradient acceleration of 16 MeV electron bunches. The proton and electron bunches propagate closely in time and space within the common beam-line before the entrance of the plasma cell. The proton bunches possess a bunch charge of 48 nC and a RMS bunch length of 200 − 400 ps , while the electron bunches carry a much lower bunch charge of ∼ 600 pC and have a few ps bunch length. The independent position monitoring of both beam bunches is mission critical to ensure a perfect overlap of their trajectories in the plasma cell. Unfortunately, the current electron beam position monitoring (BPM) system operates at 404 MHz, in a spectral region where the electron signal is completely overshadowed by the proton signal. In order to exclusively measure the electron bunches in the presence of the more-intense proton bunches, a BPM operating at a sufficiently high frequency is required, still within the electron bunch spectrum, but well outside the proton bunch spectrum.
The work detailed in this thesis on the development of a novel type of BPM based on Cherenkov diffraction radiation (ChDR) aims at addressing this problem. ChDR is generated by the surface of a dielectric medium, commonly referred to as a radiator, when a charged particle passes in close proximity under the Cherenkov condition. The thesis provides an overview of the currently employed analytical model describing ChDR, comparing it with numerical simulations. It presents the design process of the ChDR BPM for AWAKE, aided by numerical simulations. Furthermore, it details the design and execution of an RF test-bench characterisation of the ChDR radiator for AWAKE, aiming to bridge the gap between numerical simulations and experimental beam tests. Finally, the thesis reports on the systematic beam studies of the physical ChDR BPM devices, performed at AWAKE and at the CERN Linear Electron Accelerator for Research (CLEAR) test facility, involving both proton and electron beams.

Advisor: Burrows, P
Mazzoni, S
Wendt, M
Investigating graph neural networks and classical feature-extraction techniques in activity-cliff and molecular property prediction

Molecular featurisation refers to the process of transforming molecular data into numerical feature vectors. It is one of the key research areas in molecular machine learning and computational drug discovery. Recently, message-passing graph neural networks (GNNs) have emerged as a novel method to learn differentiable features directly from molecular graphs. While such graph-based techniques hold great theoretical promise, further investigations are needed to clarify if and when they indeed manage to definitively outcompete classical molecular featurisations such as extended-connectivity fingerprints (ECFPs) and physicochemical-descriptor vectors (PDVs).
In this thesis, we systematically explore and further develop classical as well as graph-based molecular featurisation methods for two important tasks: the well-studied problem of molecular property prediction, in particular quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) prediction, and the largely unexplored challenge of activity-cliff (AC) prediction. We first give a mathematical description and critical analysis of PDVs, ECFPs and message-passing GNNs, with a focus on graph isomorphism networks (GINs). We then conduct a rigorous computational study to compare the performance of PDVs, ECFPs and GINs for QSAR and AC-prediction. Following this, we mathematically describe a novel twin neural network model for AC-prediction and experimentally evaluate ECFP-based and GIN-based versions of this dual architecture. In an additional project, we introduce substructure pooling as a general mathematical operation for the vectorisation of structural fingerprints that represents a natural counterpart to graph-pooling in GNN-architectures. We propose Sort & Slice as a simple substructure-pooling technique for ECFPs that robustly outperforms hashing at molecular property prediction. Finally, we outline two ideas for future research: (i) a graph-based self-supervised learning strategy to make classical molecular featurisations trainable, and (ii) trainable substructure-pooling via differentiable self-attention.

Keywords: GNNs
PDVs
MIM
hash-based folding
molecular machine learning
AI drug discovery
molecular descriptors
twin neural network
attention
ECFPs
sort &amp; slice
feature extraction
Morgan fingerprints
graph neural networks
neural fingerprint
activity-cliff prediction
hashing
weisfeiler-lehman
self-attention
vectorisation of structural fingerprints
drug discovery
computational drug discovery
message-passing neural networks
MMPs
self-supervised learning
extended-connectivity fingerprints
molecular property prediction
message passing
QSAR
dual architecture
molecular featurisation
feature vectors
gins
mutual-information maximisation
machine learning
filtering
matched molecular pairs
substructure pooling
qsar prediction
deep learning
graph-based machine learning
graph isomorphism networks
smiles
activity cliffs
physicochemical descriptors
Advisor: Lambiotte, R
Morris, G
Hanser, T
Solving the carried interest puzzle

Carried interest is a proportion of the investment return that private equity fund partnerships allocate to the fund’s manager. In the United States and the United Kingdom, carried interest is treated as a capital gain for tax purposes. Many view treating carried interest as a capital gain as unfair, arguing that carried interest (or at least some portion thereof) should instead be treated as earnings from employment. Others vigorously defend the status quo. Both sides of the debate have put forward flawed arguments that obscure a satisfying solution to the carried interest puzzle.
The tax treatment of capital gains is advantageous in two key respects: reduced tax rates and deferred timing of taxation. A number of justifications have been put forward for offering these two tax preferences to capital gains. This paper examines the extent to which these justifications also apply to carried interest. The applicability of these reasons to carried interest would strengthen the argument to maintain the status quo of taxing carried interest as a capital gain. Conversely, the status quo is not defensible if these reasons fail to apply.
The analysis of this paper suggests that taxing carried interest at preferential rates is not supported by the reasons for taxing capital gains at preferential rates. However, taxing carried interest under the realisation principle is defensible, supported by the same valuation concerns that justify taxing capital gains upon realisation. As a result, two proposals to change the tax treatment of carried interest stand out as sensible solutions to the carried interest puzzle. The first is to tax carried interest as ordinary income upon realisation. The second, the cost-of-capital approach, puts the fund manager in the position of financial capital supplier and, therefore, a legitimate recipient of preferential capital gains treatment.

Keywords: venture capital
carried interest
private equity
taxation
capital gains
Advisor: Dagan, T
First full angular analysis of semitauonic B0 -> D* tau nu decays

A novel template-based technique is used to measure the q2-integrated, rate normalised angular coefficients of the B0 → D∗−τ+ντ decay with the full Run 1 + 2LHCb dataset. These coefficients capture the full angular information of the decay and have never before been measured in a comprehensive way. The technique involves creating multidimensional templates from simulated LHCb data, suitably weighted and corrected for the simulation’s imperfection. The selection of the signal decay is optimised to achieve a (28.3 ± 1.3 ± 0.9)% signal fraction in a partiallyreconstructed decay, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. Several data-driven control studies are performed to improve the simulation, especially for the large, double-charm backgrounds. To measure the angular coefficients, a simultaneous multi-dimensional fit is performed, utilising the 3D decay-angle distribution plus a simultaneous fit to two background-suppressing variables. The measured values of the q2-integrated, rate normalised angular coefficients are,

hI1ci = 0.612 ± 0.108 (stat.) ± 0.060 (syst.)
hI1si = 0.611 ± 0.066 (stat.) ± 0.032 (syst.)
hI2ci = 0.123 ± 0.251 (stat.) ± 0.153 (syst.)
hI2si = 0.689 ± 0.159 (stat.) ± 0.087 (syst.)
hI3i = −0.149 ± 0.141 (stat.) ± 0.077 (syst.)
hI4i = 0.040 ± 0.141 (stat.) ± 0.079 (syst.)
hI5i = −0.086 ± 0.072 (stat.) ± 0.039 (syst.)
hI6ci = −0.158 ± 0.191 (stat.) ± 0.117 (syst.)
hI6si = −0.200 ± 0.090 (stat.) ± 0.050 (syst.)
hI7i = 0.045 ± 0.077 (stat.) ± 0.039 (syst.)
hI8i = 0.130 ± 0.163 (stat.) ± 0.094 (syst.)
hI9i = 0.112 ± 0.137 (stat.) ± 0.075 (syst.)

From these measurements, the longitudinal polarisation fraction of the vector charm meson, fD∗L, and the forward-backward asymmetry, AF B, are calculated to be,

fD∗L = 0.428 ± 0.036 (stat.) ± 0.016 (syst.)
AFB = −0.209 ± 0.081 (stat.) ± 0.050 (syst.)

where the 9.2% relative precision on fD∗L is an improvement compared with the 15% relative uncertainty achieved by previous experiments while the AF B result is a world-first measurement. These measurements, in their final published form, will test the Standard Model by providing comprehensive sensitivity to new-physics effects in b → cτν transitions.

Advisor: John, M
Motivating the professional learning community; assembling a framework for generative professional development

This project examined teachers’ motivation to engage with the construction of a framework for professional development (PD), underpinned by generative learning principles in a school requiring a shift in practice for its teacher. The project also explored how generative PD practices within such a framework might support the development of an emergent Professional Learning Community (PLC). It was proposed that a shift in ownership of PD, through the application of generative practices, might enhance teachers’ intrinsic motivation to engage with PD and provide momentum for PLC genesis.
Participants contributed to the school’s PD cycle for one year. TeachMeet principles were employed, where anything of interest within teachers’ professional spheres was shared in a low-stakes setting. Data emanated from semi-structured interviews (SSIs) after the implementation of the generative framework, followed by inductive coding and narrative analysis. This permitted an exploration of beliefs and authentic experiences of each teacher, with a holistic recount of teachers’ experiences of PD throughout their careers emerging, in tandem with their current engagement and motivation regarding the generative framework.
Teachers clearly articulated that some models of PD, such as the deficit model, had been detrimental to motivation. Teachers expressed eagerness to share knowledge and skills with colleagues in the findings, with the generative PD framework facilitating the co-creation of knowledge within spheres of professional interest. Teachers were clear that the new framework supported their motivation to engage with PD and was supportive of their growth as autonomous professionals. These findings indicated that generative learning principles, when applied to PD, supported the early formation of a PLC in the project school and suggested that a significant contributory factor was engaging with the process of seeking to understand teachers’ motivation to engage with the PD framework itself.

Keywords: time
professional learning community
teachmeet
configuration
generative learning
engagement
process theory
sustainability
narrative coding
continuous growth
experience
collaboration
narrative blocking
low stakes
autonomy
professional identity
momentum
deficit model
motivation
professional development
professional knowledge
situation
Advisor: Malgorzata, M
The stereoselective synthesis of heterocycles through cation-triggered annulation

The work described herein details the development of new methodologies for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines and piperidines via an endo-trig cyclisation. This was realised through two approaches: firstly, a Lewis acid catalysed cation triggered annulation strategy, and secondly an asymmetric Brønsted acid catalysed cation triggered annulation strategy.
Chapter 1 is a literature review, providing an overview of the current approaches and limitations associated with the synthesis azacycles, specifically focusing on methods which introduce maximum complexity around the ring in a single step. The lack of approaches which utilise an endo-trig cyclisation required an overview of potential solutions, with contemporary methods to generate carbocations discussed in detail, ultimately forming the basis of the research described in this thesis.
Chapter 2 details the development of a Lewis acid catalysed cation triggered annulation in HFIP which enabled the diastereoselective synthesis of a range of functionalised piperidine and pyrrolidine products. In this approach, a complementary protecting group strategy was developed, before utilising a range of alcohol and non-alcohol electrophiles which were able to act as alkylating agents following the generation of a carbocation.
Chapter 3 presents the extension of the work described in Chapter 2 to an enantioselective transformation. A series of approaches were tested, with chiral phosphoric acid catalysis shown to be the most successful. This method followed the same disconnection utilised previously, with an alcohol employed as an alkylating agent, this time in the absence of both the metal catalyst and HFIP as the solvent.
Chapter 4 documents studies towards the pharmaceutical molecule Atrasentan utilising the method developed in Chapter 2. An extensive optimisation of the substrate synthesis is discussed, along with multiple strategies to derivatise the pyrrolidine core towards Atrasentan.
Chapter 5 provides an overview of the major conclusions of this work and discusses potential future directions for this methodology.
Chapter 6 details the experimental procedures used and documents the spectroscopic data for all the compounds described in this work.
Chapter 7 lists the references cited within this work.

Advisor: Donohoe, T
Localisation of ground range sensors using overhead imagery

This thesis is about outdoor localisation using range sensors as an active sensor and cheap, publicly available satellite or `overhead' imagery as a prior map. Range sensors such as lidars and spinning FMCW radars are ideal for large-scale, outdoor autonomous navigation due to their long sensing range, invariance to lighting conditions, and robustness against weather changes. Nevertheless, existing methods for range sensor localisation typically rely on prior maps collected from a previous mapping phase. On the other hand, off-the-shelf overhead imagery, such as public satellite images, is readily available almost anywhere in the world and can be acquired easily from the internet with little cost or effort.
Public overhead imagery can capture geometric cues of the scene also observable by ground lidars and radars, therefore having the capability to act as a map for range sensor localisation. In particular, in corner case scenarios where the prior sensory map is unusable or unavailable, for example if the robot travels to a place it has not visited before, public overhead imagery can act as an alternative map source for range sensor localisation as a fall-back choice. Under normal operation conditions, the localisation result by comparing range sensor data against overhead imagery can act as an additional information source for redundancy.
In this thesis, we present various methods to solve the localisation of a ground range sensor using overhead imagery by learning from data, enabling them to adapt to different environments. This surpasses the methods in literature which employ hand-crafted features designed for only specific types of scenery. Specifically, we address both topological localisation, also known as place recognition, and metric localisation in overhead imagery maps. Furthermore, we investigate self-supervised strategies that allow the tasks to be learned without accurate ground truth data.

Keywords: robotics
state estimation
mobile robotics
machine learning
Investigating the role of the eosinophil in COPD

Now the third leading cause of death worldwide, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by unpredictable acute worsening of symptoms. A third of these crisis events are associated with an eosinophilic phenotype that has an unknown mechanism of injury. In this thesis, I have shown that RNA-sequencing of eosinophils isolated during exacerbations revealed upregulation of genes related to redox systems. Furthermore, eosinophils isolated during crisis events had increased capacity to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), had a higher resting state of ROS generation, and released more mitochondrial specific ROS compared to neutrophils. Eosinophils also had comparatively low levels of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione, which appeared to be less oxidised, indicating that eosinophils have a weak ability to scavenge excess ROS. Finally, in a co-culture system, eosinophils were shown to disrupt epithelial barriers and induce hyperpermeability, which was further increased upon eosinophil stimulation. These findings would suggest that when COPD patients experience an eosinophilic exacerbation and consequently, an influx of activated eosinophils into the airways, there is damage caused to the local tissue milieu due to the release of ROS. This mechanism proposes a new therapeutic avenue at the point of an eosinophilic exacerbation. Additionally, analysis of serum and sputum samples highlighted IL-5 as a key eosinophil mediator released during eosinophilic exacerbations. Flow cytometry analysis identified the IL-3 receptor as a potential marker of eosinophil activation status.

Keywords: Oxidative stress
COPD
Eosinophils
ROS
Advisor: Bafadhel, M
Morgan, S
Xue, L
Cane, J
Foundations: an integrated landscape analysis of Romano-Celtic temple locations in South-West Roman Britain

Research into rural Romano-Celtic temples in Britain has been predominantly site- based, with consideration of their landscape context generally confined to descriptive observations. This dissertation pilots a landscape archaeology methodology to explore the selection of temple locations by their ‘builders’, with a particular focus on case studies of Cold Kitchen Hill and Lamyatt Beacon. The methodology draws on the academic and grey literature, modern and historic mapping, aerial photography and LiDAR data, supplemented by field visits. The use of GIS, including visibility analysis, is also central to the project, which is underpinned by relevant theory.
The results provide new evidence for roads, villas and field systems, whilst viewshed analysis offers insights into the visual relationships between the temple locations and the surrounding landscape. An interpretation of the synthesised evidence suggests that the Cold Kitchen Hill location is likely to have been selected by the native elite based at Brixton Deverill villa for its pre-existing and potentially sacred significance dating to the Iron Age, together with its strategic importance at the convergence of three roads and on the boundary of three civitates. Whilst Lamyatt Beacon is likely to have been connected to the villa at Ditcheat, its accessibility and visual prominence are likely to have been key factors in the selection of its location. These attributes coupled with the adoption of same cult as Cold Kitchen Hill are likely to have combined to attract pilgrims, including people from the civitas capital at Ilchester and its prosperous environs. The success of this ‘new’ temple at Lamyatt Beacon is illustrated by its connections with the later temple at Brean Down.
The wider implications include further evidence for close connections between temples and villas, and that notions of elite social display might be usefully extended to Romano-Celtic temples. Furthermore, that binary interpretations in the literature, particularly those relating to concepts such as ‘estate temples’ or ‘cult centres’, and ‘sacred’ or ‘secular’, risk masking the complexity of decision making regarding the selection of temple locations. Additionally, rural temples may not have been as isolated as previously suggested, and notions of local pilgrimage offer much potential for future research. Finally, the dissertation is significant in demonstrating that a landscape archaeology methodology can make an important contribution to the interpretation of Romano-Celtic temples.

Keywords: Roman
Romano-Celtic temples
archaeology
Roman religion
landscape archaeology
Romano-British
Advisor: Griffiths, D