VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The development of a hepatitis C virus prophylactic vaccine strategy

The success of directly-acting antivirals (DAA) has revolutionised hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, yet a prophylactic HCV vaccine remains an important clinical asset to achieve HCV elimination by 2030. To date, the development of a prophylactic HCV vaccine has been hindered by viral genomic variability. In human trials, a viral vectored genotype (gt)-1b immunogen induced genotype-1b specific T cell responses targeting highly variable dominant epitopes that displayed reduced cross-recognition of epitope variants at the population level. Therefore, a simian adenoviral vectored (ChAd) HCV T cell vaccine encoding conserved sequences across HCV genotypes was developed, containing known T cell epitopes.
In this thesis, I show that conserved sequence vaccines (ChAd-gt1/3, -gt1-6) induce broad, high magnitude, and functional T cell responses that target subdominant highly conserved HCV epitopes in mice, that can be increased by encoding the novel genetic adjuvant—truncated shark invariant chain (sIi47-72) at the 5’ end of the transgene. In addition, I demonstrate that conserved HCV epitopes were not targeted by a ChAd-gt-1b prime and an MVA-gt-3a boost vaccination, unlike a ChAd-gt1-6 prime-boost vaccination, highlighting the importance of priming naïve T cells specific for conserved epitopes. Furthermore, I show that a mixed modality HCV vaccination strategy—combining ChAd-gt1-6 and the recombinant E2Δ123HMW protein does not compromise either the T cell or antibody response compared to either vaccine alone. For the prospects of a single viral vector vaccine that encodes both the gt1-6 T cell immunogen and the E2D123 protein sequence (a ‘bivalent’ vaccine), I demonstrate that a monovalent ChAd-E2D123 prime vaccine induces higher antibody titres targeting E2 and CD81-binding epitopes that neutralise HCVpp/cc, when compared to recombinant E2Δ123HMW protein-induced antibody responses. This body of work represents a significant step forward in the development of a universal prophylactic HCV vaccine and the next step is the assessment of HCV bivalent vaccine induced cross-reactive T cells and broadly neutralising antibodies.
A universal HCV vaccine that will contribute to the global elimination strategy will need to target multiple HCV genotypes that circulate in a population and conserved epitopes that can resist viral escape. The work described in this thesis is the next step towards the generation of a universal prophylactic HCV vaccine.

Keywords: vaccine
adenovirus
T cell
HCV
Antibody
Advisor: Barnes, E
Synthesis and ultrafast spectroscopy of porphyrin molecular wires

Porphyrins, found in nature in cyclic light harvesting arrays, are a fascinating class of compounds. Their synthesis and assembly into advanced light harvesting architectures have challenged chemists for decades, and their resulting photophysical properties such as energy transfer and charge localisation continue to teach us about fundamental physical effects. This thesis explores both of these aspects, starting first with the synthesis of a porphyrin nanoball before exploring the ultrafast spectroscopy of porphyrin molecular wires.
Chapter 1 introduces the chemistry of porphyrins. The syntheses of porphyrin monomers are discussed, highlighting the key route to functionalised porphyrins. A range of cyclic porphyrin arrays are presented, and the syntheses compared and contrasted. Finally, 3D porphyrin nanostructures are discussed, comparing and contrasting their formation via self-assembly and template-directed syntheses.
Chapter 2 presents a novel 3D pyridyl template for the formation of a 10-porphyrin nanoball. Several ball precursors are identified and synthesised, before ball formation proved unsuccessful. The factors affecting the unsuccessful ball formation are discussed in detail with the help of 1H NMR and UV-vis-NIR titrations. The lessons learnt are applied to the design of a new template, for which a synthesis is suggested.
In Chapter 3 π-conjugated compounds are summarised. Two ultrafast spectroscopy techniques are introduced, 2D-infrared and time-resolved infrared, and their spectra derived from model examples to aid the reader in interpretation. The literature regarding ultrafast spectroscopy applied to π-conjugated polymers is summarised, before an area of underexplored research is identified.
Chapter 4 presents an in-depth ultrafast spectroscopic study of the radical cations of porphyrin oligomeric molecular wires. Using spectroelectrochemistry to generate the radical cations, 2D-IR and TRIR were undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of infrared band activation. The data show that the intensification of infrared bands upon oxidation is a result of strong coupling between vibrational motion and charge.

Keywords: Ultrafast Spectroscopy
TRIR
Organic Chemistry
Organic Electronics
Supramoleculer Chemistry
2D-IR
Advisor: Anderson, H
tRNA fragments in preeclampsia: expression, function and biomarker potential

Background: Preeclampsia is a placental disease, resulting in maternal hypertension and multi-organ impairment. The relationship between placental pathology and the widespread inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia is incompletely characterised. Mismatch between placental nutrient supply and fetal demands induces stress in the syncytiotrophoblast, the placental layer in contact with maternal blood. Such stress alters the content and release of extracellular vesicles (STB-EVs) into the maternal circulation. I have previously shown 5’-tRNA fragments (5’-tRFs) constitute the majority of small RNA in STB-EVs in healthy pregnancies. 5’-tRFs are produced in response to stress. In this thesis, I hypothesise STB-EV 5’-tRFs release might change in early-onset preeclampsia. I aim to 1) characterise STB-EV 5’-tRFs in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia; 2) investigate STB-EV tRFs in maternal blood; 3) evaluate tRFs as circulating biomarkers in preeclampsia; 4) explore functional activity of STB-EV tRFs in preeclampsia dysfunctional cells.
Methods: Placentas from eight cases and six controls were perfused, comparing smallRNA sequences from STB-EVs using various bioinformatic approaches. EVs, STB-EVs and total RNA were isolated from different plasma samples and tRFs quantified using qPCR. The actions of the most abundant preeclampsia-dysregulated 5’-tRFs were investigated in monocytes, macrophages and endothelial cells.
Results: 5’-tRFs constitute the majority of small RNA in STB-EVs from both preeclampsia and normal pregnancies. >4000 small RNA fragments are differentially expressed in preeclampsia STB-EVs. Preeclampsia-dysregulated 5’-tRFs are detectable in maternal plasma, where a placentally-derived load circulates. 5’-tRFs do not currently represent blood biomarkers for preeclampsia. The most abundant preeclampsia-upregulated small RNA, 5’-tRF-Glu-CTC, induces inflammation in macrophages but has no direct effect on monocytes or endothelial cells. The conditioned media from 5’-tRF-Glu-CTC-activated macrophages reduces endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and increases adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells.
Conclusions: STB-EV tRFs are placental endocrine signals which contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia at a molecular level.

Keywords: extracellular vesicles
tRNA
preeclampsia
Advisor: Vatish, M
Redman, C
Lo, D
The sub-stance of Joyce's gramma(r) and language(s) at the Wake

The aims of the thesis are to show how "grammar,' etymological sense of "art or technique of the letter, to the composition and narrative-thematic structuring of Finnegans Wake as well as to illustrate its treatment in several languages used in Finnegans Wake.
The first section will define the critical perspectives, starting with a survey of the elaboration of the Wakean poetics of is crucial language(s). We shall then summarise the manuscript approach in Wakean scholarship before attempting to redefine the notion of "theme" and "thematic criticism" from this genetic angle. This will include a brief discussion of the reflexive, metafictional dimension of Joyce’s work.
The second section will consider some significant aspects of how language(s) and meaning operate in the text. We shall assess the structural and formal implications of "metaphor" for the language, narrative, themes and composition of the Wake, and then focus on various fictional treatments of the theme of origin(s} in language: Vichian and Joussean theories, Dante, the myths of Babel, Pentecost, and "translation" as another figure of "metaphor."
The third part will examine some derivations to which "grammar" lends itself narratively and linguistically, opening with the relevance of Poe’s "The Purloined Letter." It will then concentrate on its narrative and structural function as a cohesive link between chapters and finally deal with the theme of female identity and sexual grammar.
The fourth part will analyse more specifically some thematic associations between grammar and languages: Italian, Dante, music, and italics; "grammatical," sexual perversions of Irish and its relation to English and Anglo-Irish; Joyce’s use of Uralic languages.
A brief conclusion will bring together some "thematic families" of languages / characters seen on the way before coming to a full stop on the Wake’s thematicisation of punctuation.

Keywords: Joyce
literary structure
Wake
sub-stance
Finnegans
language
grammar
The protection of children's human rights in the context of the privatisation of education

The privatisation of education has mushroomed in recent years. As a phenomenon, it covers a vast range of different situations, and in some contexts is widely thought to have deleterious consequences for children’s rights, including segregation, marginalisation, and inequality. This Thesis deals with human rights law’s response to this state of affairs in England, India, and South Africa.
Any approach to children’s rights in private education should be based on the premise that children are worthy of respect as people, which requires respect for their vulnerability and the nurturing of their capabilities. This claim is as strong in private schools as it is in public schools, but in general, the legal relationship between child and private schools is not conceptualised as a ‘vertical’ one which attracts the application of human rights law. Instead, these relationships are seen as ‘horizontal’, and therefore regulated by the ordinary law.
This ordinary law must be rigorously scrutinised for its compliance with children’s rights. The approach in this Thesis moves past the distinction between the direct and indirect effect of human rights law, and between horizontal and vertical obligations, by recognising that, in truth, even purely vertical human rights texts make demands of horizontal relationships.
The Thesis undertakes a close review of case law and commentary to identify the factors which are relevant to determining what those demands are in the three jurisdictions, and identifies certain analytical challenges which courts’ attempts to answer this question reveal. It proposes a new approach to determining the human rights duties of private actors which can overcome those challenges, by applying a three-factor test based on power, vulnerability, and social role. These modalities indicate human rights obligations on private schools, to which, even where there is no explicit textual mandate for horizontal duties, the state must give effect.

Keywords: education law
human rights
comparative law
public law
education
privatisation
children's rights
Advisor: Fredman, S
Emplois and casting at the Académie Royale de Musique: female opera singers and their roles from 1669 to 1715

We intuitively accept the importance of the place and value of singers to being crucial to the formation of any repertoire. However, our understanding of their concrete influence (its manifestation and how to measure it) over opera production and related creative processes, especially for the early modern period, is still blurry. This thesis recentres the singer in the study of French Opéra (the institution, born in 1669, and its associated genres) under the reign of Louis XIV through the prism of the "emploi" (typecasting, stock of roles). Doing so, the dissertation reassesses the historical status and significance of this concept, which explanation is deficient in the existing scholarship. This study of the “emploi” in the context of the early stage in the ARM’s history demonstrates that the concept cannot be observed as a monolithic entity. Rather, it needs to be understood as a notion under development. The reason for this is due to a specific tension between explicit and implicit norms, written and unwritten conventions, fixed constitutions and evolving compositional and performance practices. Using a “performer-based perspective”, the “emploi” emerges as both the product and the catalyst of a complex dialectic between administration, performers, and sets of roles in different lyrical and dramatic genres. This method helps deconstructing preconceived ideas about well-established taxonomies regarding sets of roles during the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries at the Paris Opéra, and exposes the ways in which administrative law contains a powerful creative seed that had a vital impact on the development of the French operatic institution.

Keywords: France
emploi
typecasting
Francine
Académie Royale de Musique
administrative law
performers
Perrin
early modern period
performance
Opera
creativity
roles
Lully
singers
Advisor: Aspden, S
Crosslinguistic structural priming of passives in sentence comprehension: evidence from Chinese proficient EFL learners

Crosslinguistic structural priming occurs when prior experience with a linguistic structure in one language facilitates the production and/or comprehension of similar structures in another language. This psycholinguistic phenomenon has been intensely investigated in bilinguals, but most research centres on the processes involved in language production. As such, crosslinguistic structural priming in language comprehension remains largely understudied, and there are considerable theoretical uncertainties over the mechanisms of bilingual structural representation and sentence processing during priming. Moreover, it is unclear how crosslinguistic priming interacts with language directions (L1 to L2 and L2 to L1). To address these gaps, this research project aims to examine and compare crosslinguistic structural priming effects across both language directions in Chinese EFL learners’ sentence comprehension, focusing on the passive constructions that pose learning challenges for Chinese-English bilinguals.
Utilising a non-cumulative self-paced reading experimental paradigm, this study investigated whether reading passive relative clauses (RCs) in one language (L1/L2) would accelerate the subsequent processing of garden-path target sentences in the other language (L2/L1). The garden-path targets were temporarily ambiguous between past-tense active structures (initial interpretation) and reduced passive RCs (correct interpretation). Participants were adult Mandarin Chinese speakers with upper-intermediate to advanced English proficiency, who were randomly assigned into four experimental groups: L1-L2 prime group, L1-L2 no-prime group, L2-L1 prime group, and L2-L1 no-prime group. Participants’ reading time for target sentences were compared between prime and no-prime groups, and across language directions.
The results indicated crosslinguistic structural priming from L1 to L2, and there were effects of whole language activation (activation of the entire target language during priming). L2 to L1 priming was not observed. The L1-L2 priming provided evidence for the residual activation account of structural priming, and/or an implicit learning account. The absence of L2-L1 priming might be attributed to the weak priming magnitude and the potential priming from L2 actives to L1 passive RCs. The different priming magnitude between the two directions corroborated the inverse frequency effect as suggested by the implicit learning account. Overall, the findings supported a shared-syntax mechanism of structural representation in proficient bilinguals, as well as a two-stage account of syntactic processing in sentence comprehension.

Advisor: Faitaki, F
Academic publishing in global Englishes: standards, challenges, and opportunities

Given the increasingly important status of English as a medium for academic publication around the world, applied linguists and researchers in related fields have raised concerns that some English-speaking scholars (e.g., non-native speakers or those living and working outside of the academic center) might be at a disadvantage or face discrimination when pursuing academic publication. In this concurrent mixed methods study, 32 currently publishing academics responded to a 50-item questionnaire which sought to gather information regarding the perceived challenges and effort required to publish academic work in English and about whether and to what extent discrimination in academic publishing exists against those who are non-native English speakers or who live and work outside of the academic center. The quantitative findings from a descriptive statistical analysis of eight independent variable constructs and five dependent variable constructs are reported and discussed, and qualitative data is used to further analyze and interpret the results alongside the literature.
The findings suggest that there are significant differences in the perceptions regarding preparation for success in publishing between native-English speaking academics and non-native English speakers; additionally, scholars with lower English proficiency-levels perceive that they are less prepared to succeed in publishing than those with higher proficiency levels. Respondents also raised concerns about bias against non-native English speakers and maintained that journal editors should be more lenient towards non-native speakers. Additionally, findings suggest that English proficiency had a moderately predictive effect on perceptions regarding systematic disadvantage in academic publishing, and those working outside of North America or Europe reported having higher perceptions of difficulties with the review process than scholars working in North America or Europe. Finally, respondents working at teaching-intensive or technical institutions reported higher perceptions of having difficulties with the review process than those working at research-intensive institutions. After thoroughly discussing the implications of these findings, suggestions for ways that journal gatekeepers, TESOL professionals, and “literacy brokers” might help to create a more just and equitable publishing environment are offered. After noting important limitations in the study, recommendations for further empirical research on the topic of injustice and discrimination in academic English-language publishing are provided.
Can persuasion be a teachable component of EFL pragmatics?

Research in the area of interlanguage pragmatics has mainly focused on speech acts (thanking, apologising, complimenting, refusing, etc.). We learn languages to communicate in different situations, and it is very common that we have take a certain stand or express our opinion, however, persuasion has not been previously considered in interlanguage pragmatics as a speech act. Drawing on the theoretical approach called Discourse-Historical Approach, the researcher suggests looking at persuasion as a complex speech act by extracting the most frequent language patterns, or strategies, and by teaching those to students. The study draws on political discourse as basis for this proposal, because defending a point of view and persuading other to agree with it is the main goal in this language domain
The present study aims to investigate if persuasion can be teachable the same way as other speech acts, and if teaching these strategies has any influence on the degree of persuasiveness of a written speech. The participants (N=40) wrote a speech on an emotionally charged topic to persuade their audience to take their side. A pre- and post-test design was used with an intervention for the experimental group, during which the researcher employed consciousness-raising activities to emphasise how we can enhance our argument with the help of certain linguistics features embedded in political discourse strategies. Two coders blindly scored the speeches on the scale from 1 to 8 and gave comments on what linguistic features they found most persuasive. Although the coders were not consistent in their scoring, the results demonstrated that the experimental group made larger gains than the control group, and those gains were marginally significant based on the data from both coders. Limitations, future research directions, and pedagogical implications are discussed in the final chapter.

Keywords: interlanguage pragmatics
persuasion
MSc ALSLA 2023
EFL
speech act
adults
Advisor: Wonnacott, E
Toward the Great Divergence: economic growth in the Yangzi Delta, 1393-1953

This dissertation examines the economic growth process of the Yangzi Delta, one of China’s most developed sub-regions, from 1393 to 1953. For the first time in the literature, an annual frequency GDP series based on an output-based approach is constructed. The dissertation is split into two sections: measuring economic growth and analysing economic growth. As part of measuring economic growth, I discuss local population and land, agriculture, and industry and services in Chapters Two, Three, and Four, respectively. Chapter Five in the section on analysing economic growth briefly reviews the process of local economic growth over several centuries using constructed GDP data. The Great Divergence Debate is then discussed in Chapter Six, which places the Yangzi Delta’s economic growth in an international comparative framework.
From the perspective of Chinese economic growth history, the nine Taihu Lake-centered prefectures in this study had a GDP per capita well above the China average for a long time. However, prior to the mid-nineteenth century, the local economy appeared to be stuck in what Mark Elvin refers to as the “high-level equilibrium trap”. It dis- played a Malthusian-style pattern of per capita GDP growth, but numerous technological or managerial innovations allowed per capita GDP to maintain at a high level. In terms of global growth history, the Yangzi Delta maintained the same level of income per capita as the most developed European economies since the late 14th century (a series consisting of the highest GDP per capita in Italy, the Netherlands, and Britain). This neck-and-neck growth race came to an end at the end of the 17th century. Since then, the leading European economies surpassed the Yangzi Delta in terms of GDP per capita, and the gap widened irreversibly. In short, the Great Divergence began at the end of the 17th century.

Keywords: historical national accounting
the Yangzi Delta
economic growth
the Great Divergence
Advisor: Broadberry, S