VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Working-class women's experiences of higher education in post-war Britain

This thesis is the first focused study of working-class women who attended higher education institutions in England and Wales in the 1960s and 1970s. A very small proportion of working- class women completed courses of higher education in this period, despite educational reforms such as the Education Act of 1944 and the Robbins Report of 1963. As a result, historical studies of working-class women in the post-war period have not focused on those who pursued higher education, while studies of higher education rarely pay attention to the experiences of working-class women. By analysing thirty-seven oral history interviews, together with published statistics, written reminiscences, and contemporary social surveys, this thesis explores the impact of higher education on the lives of working-class women who matriculated between 1965 and 1975. By taking a life history approach, it analyses the place of higher education in women’s life trajectories, rather than focusing on the experience of higher education alone. The thesis explores, in turn, how women came to apply to higher education; women’s experiences of higher education; and women’s post-graduate careers and social mobility. By exploring experiences at colleges of higher education as well as universities, this thesis offers the first insights into differences between types of institution for working-class women students. At the same time, this thesis considers whether and why these women had a distinctive generational experience. This thesis argues that higher education had a significant impact on these working-class women’s lives, by facilitating social and occupational mobility and influencing women’s senses of class and generation. Crucially, this impact was facilitated by the post-war social and economic context, particularly the introduction of mandatory student grants in 1962. However, this thesis also contends that this was not a golden age of social mobility through education. Thus, this period was one of both unprecedented opportunities and continuing limitations.

Keywords: Gender history
Oral history
History of education
Social mobility
Post-war
Twentieth century
Higher education
Class
Britain
Women's history
Advisor: Todd, S
Anatomical and physiological connectivity of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical motor circuit

The motor thalamus is a crucial component of the mammalian motor circuit which links subcortical sensorimotor inputs with cortical regions to facilitate ongoing control of movement and behaviour. Thalamocortical neurons from basal ganglia-recipient thalamus (BZ) and cerebellar-recipient thalamus (CZ) preferentially target different layers of motor cortex in rodents. Higher order BZ, comprised of ventral anterior (VA) and ventral medial (VM) thalamic nuclei innervate layer 1 (L1) of frontal cortical areas including motor cortex, and first order CZ, formed of ventral lateral thalamus (VL), innervates deeper layers. The prevailing assumption has been that pyramidal apical tuft dendrites are the exclusive postsynaptic target of BZ axons in L1. However, recent evidence has suggested that L1 elongated neurogliaform cells (ENGCs), which mainly reside in L1a and can be identified by expression of neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NDNF), are directly targeted by higher order thalamic nuclei in prefrontal cortex and sensory cortical areas.
Here we test the hypothesis that L1 interneurons also receive BZ innervation in motor cortex. Using an NDNF-Cre mouse, we first confirmed with immunohistochemistry that L1 NDNF-expressing (NDNF+) interneurons in motor cortex were GABAergic, and often co-expressed reelin, consistent with being ENGCs. To find out whether these L1 NDNF+ motor cortical interneurons receive direct thalamocortical input, we developed an injection technique to optimise restriction of viral labelling to L1 and demonstrated with monosynaptic retrograde rabies viral tracing that these NDNF+ neurons receive innervation from several thalamic nuclei, especially VM. The same tracing experiments with retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4)-Cre mice reveal a greater proportion of VL innervation of L5 pyramidal neurons compared with VM. These results suggest that motor thalamus differs not only in its laminar innervation of cortex, but also of its neuronal targets. To explore the physiological influence of ENGCs on the VM thalamocortical pathway in motor cortex, we recorded from both motor cortex and VM in awake mice while optogenetically stimulating VM and inhibiting L1 NDNF+ neurons. We did not see any significant changes in firing rates of cortical neurons, but there was an increase in cortical synchrony in response to suppressing L1 NDNF+ neurons, especially when combined with an increase in VM firing, indicating that a function of ENGCs in motor cortex may be to regulate VM-evoked cortical synchrony.
In addition to these experiments in mice, we also performed neurochemical parcellation of macaque thalamus. This revealed interesting patterns, including complementary patterns of GAD67 and vGluT2 immunostaining in subnuclei of mediodorsal thalamus.

Advisor: Sharott, A
Mitchell, A
The effects of energetic expenditure tactics and life-history variability on European badger (Meles meles) ecology

Wild animals have evolved a diverse range of energy-budgeting tactics to cope in situ with rapid environmental change. My thesis investigates these tactics and their underlying mechanisms in a population of wild European badgers (Meles meles): 1) over the course of an individual’s lifetime and 2) in response to fine-scale changes in energetic context.
Chapter 1 derives a novel minimum number alive abundance estimator, incorporating variable capture efficiency to more accurately quantify changing social context for subsequent analyses. Chapter 2 exposes how changing population metrics and weather drive sex-specific life-history responses, producing diverse co-occurring paces-of-life and potentially contributing to substantial sex ratio skew at higher densities. Chapter 3 uncovers a threshold-bounded relationship between body condition and survival probability, whereby most badgers exhibit flexible somatic phenotypes within what I term an “energetic safe zone”; adverse weather and life-history risk factors can tip individuals over the threshold, but a minority of high-quality individuals exhibit high reproduction probability and lower mortality risk despite reduced body condition.
Chapter 4 uses 3D printing to streamline production and reusability of bespoke multi-sensor collars, enabling simultaneous fine-scale quantification of overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA, measuring mechanical energy expenditure) for multiple individuals. Chapter 5 applies this technology and finds season-specific fine-scale activity responses to prevailing weather conditions, according to individual energetic context; in particular, low body condition constrains energetic tactics. Chapter 6 combines ODBA with quantification of daily energy expenditure (DEE) using doubly-labelled water, demonstrating that individuals expend energy differently under the same conditions; ODBA/DEE, measuring proportional energy expenditure on activity, correlated negatively with next-season body condition.
The range of energetic expenditure tactics sustained in this population support the existence of adaptive heterogeneity. I present an argument predicated on Jensen’s Inequality for the maintenance of this diversity, and reflect on implications for resilience to ongoing anthropogenic change.

Keywords: Individual heterogeneity
Pace of life syndrome
Energy expenditure
Life history
Badger
Meles
Bet hedging
Advisor: Macdonald, D
Newman, C
Markham, A
Malhi, Y
Optimising CRISPR for targeting of primary haematopoietic stem cells

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) offers an unprecedented array of genetic tools for treating and modelling haematological disorders. However, there are concerns about its safety. CRISPR-based editing can induce upregulation of TP53 associated pathways, a finding particularly important for clinical applications. The impact of CRISPR-based editing on haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has not, however, been interrogated in detail.
In the work described in this thesis, I initially optimised the CRISPR approach in mouse haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) by targeting the fluorescent reporter tdTomato, as this enabled lineage tracking of edited HSCs. I then sorted edited HSCs for RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) 24 hours post-editing. This allowed me to assess the immediate transcriptional consequences of genome editing. Using in vivo transplantation, I serially tracked the contribution of edited cells to all blood lineages. I carried out RNA-Seq on edited HSCs 18 weeks post-transplant which allowed me to assess whether the short-term changes in transcriptional profiles were maintained long-term.
To demonstrate the applicability of the genome editing approach I had optimised to a disease model setting, I targeted the NF-1 gene which harbours loss of function mutations in 15% of JMML patients. While mouse models exist for this disorder, most lack a human fetal context. I first optimised targeting of the NF-1 locus in a GM-CSF dependent cell line (TF-1). I then carried out in vitro NF-1 targeting studies using human cord blood (CB) to establish a GM-CSF hypersensitivity phenotype. Finally, I set up in vivo transplants of NF-1 edited human CB to establish whether this could propagate the myeloid biased expansion characteristic of JMML.
In this way, I applied the CRISPR genome editing approach to study both normal and malignant haematopoiesis: first to establish the molecular and functional consequences of genome editing on normal haematopoietic output and second to model the consequence of NF-1 loss of function in a human fetal-like context.

Keywords: Haematopoiesis
CRISPR
Leukaemia
Genome Editing
Advisor: Mead, A
Roberts, I
Engineering a noise-free quantum memory for temporal mode manipulation

An optical quantum memory, a device which can store and retrieve on demand an arbitrary quantum state at the single photon level, has been identified as a significant cornerstone of photonic quantum technologies. The development of such a memory would allow the creation and development of a large number of quantum technologies. These would range from the ability to synchronise processing steps in an optical quantum computer, to the construction of a quantum repeater which would allow faithful transmission of quantum states over arbitrarily long distances.
In this thesis I investigate broadband light storage in a room-temperature Raman memory for purposes of quantum information processing with photons. During the course of this thesis, a novel scheme to suppress four-wave mixing noise is simulated, based on equations derived to describe the physics of the memory interaction. The experimental arrangement to test the suppression method is described and an original method using photon statistics is demonstrated. The results of these experiments prove the ability of the memory to retrieve and maintain the non-classicality of the state, given a single photon input.
Following the affirmation that, using this noise suppression technique, the memory can function at the single-photon level, I go on to consider how the temporal-spectral properties of a pulsed mode of light may be manipulated using the memory. There are two primary reasons for this investigation: 1) Increasing the efficiency of the read-in process by carving the optimum mode of the memory 2) Using the memory as a device operating in a high dimensional quantum information basis. The restrictions of such applications are considered and a method to test the efficacy of transformations in this basis is devised and experimentally tested. I also perform demonstrations of light storage using conventional temporal modes using a novel method of velocity selection within warm vapour.
Finally I detail further experiments that are achievable with the Raman quantum memory given the progress that has been achieved during my DPhil research. The results show that the Raman memory is a viable candidate for a practical route towards low-noise quantum storage and for manipulation of temporal modes of light.

Keywords: Physics
Quantum memories
Quantum
Atom-light interactions
Advisor: Ledingham, P
Walmsley, IA
Exploitation, technology and function of plant resins in Oceania: molecular analysis of ethnographic museum artefacts and the implications for archaeological resin analysis

Oceania has an extremely diverse and unique flora that includes many endemic species of restricted geographic range. This flora comprises coniferous, deciduous, and monocot plants and trees that include many resin-producing species. Plant resins have a long ethnobotanical history in Indigenous Oceania, as is recognised by some rare archaeological finds as well as a rich ethnographic record. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been employed to chemically investigate resins of ethnobotanical importance in Oceania including Australia. A total of 173 samples of resinous material from ethnographic artefacts, currently held in museums, was analysed alongside botanically identified reference materials from in and around the area. The aim was to both contribute to our understanding of the role of resins in Indigenous Oceania, and provide a framework for efficiently and effectively analysing valuable resinous archaeological finds from the region.
Four main types of resin were found to be regularly used in various regions of Oceania, namely conifer-type diterpenoid, non-conifer-type diterpenoid, triterpenoid and phenolic resins. A number of samples have been identified to source family, genus and in some cases species, by comparison with authenticated resin samples collected from botanic gardens and herbariums. The results show that a much wider range of plant resins have been exploited in Oceania than has been generally recognised, particularly in reference to the descriptions of resin use in the ethnographic literature. The chemical characterisation of a range of resins including samples from three species that were previously unpublished has been presented. Also presented are the chromatographic profiles of ethnographically collected putative spinifex (Triodia) and northern ironwood (Erythrophleum chlorostachys) resins. The range of functions served by plant resins in Indigenous Oceania is discussed with an emphasis on both hafting and non-hafting uses.

Keywords: Canarium resin
Oceania
Xanthorrhoea resin
Resin analysis
Spinifex resin
Triterpenoid
Diterpenoid
Ethnobotany
Australia
Agathis resin
Hafting
Archaeology
Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry
Advisor: Pollard, M
Crowther, A
Modelling the Late Devonian Climate: Implications for evolution and extinction

The Devonian period (419.2 - 358.9 Ma) was characterised by a warm greenhouse climate which transitioned towards glaciation throughout the Late Devonian. This period in Earth’s history was punctuated by repeated environmental and biotic crises. A common feature accompanying these events was widespread ocean anoxia, typically recorded in the geological record by periodic organic-rich laminated shales. However, the relationship between climate, evolution and extinction in the Late Devonian remains unclear.
In the first part of this thesis, Late Devonian (375 Ma) boundary conditions are applied to an Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) forced by monthly atmospheric surface forcing to determine ocean circulation and likely regions of ocean anoxia. The model simulation oscillates between two quasi-stable states: (1) an unventilated phase where the ocean circulation is dominated by shallow tropical/sub-tropical cells; (2) a ventilated phase with globally strong deep ocean overturning. In the second part of this thesis, Late Devonian boundary conditions are applied to a Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean-Ice General Circulation Model (CGCM) and an Atmospheric Slab Ocean General Circulation Model (ASGCM). Comparisons of the atmospheric results highlight the importance of a dynamic ocean in transporting heat polewards. The CGCM ocean also exhibits two ocean states, although the ‘unventilated’ equivalent is termed the partly-ventilated state since there is a weak, deep overturning circulation restricted to the Northern Hemisphere.

Keywords: Paleoclimate Modelling
Physical Oceanography
Devonian
Advisor: Johnson, H
Pierrehumbert, R
Machine learning applied to prediction, control and planning from dynamic epidemiological models

We are ever aware of the global impact of infectious disease transmission in shaping the reality of the world around us. For much of human existence transmitted infections have been the principle cause for loss of human life. Through their very nature, the transient threats of pandemics or endemic disease transmission remain a constant challenge to epidemiologists and are also at the forefront of shaping public policy decisions.
In order to bring the benefits of Machine learning (ML) to tasks such as optimal prediction, control and planning from epidemiological models of disease transmission, we need to define how principles, advancements and knowledge can be directed towards real-world progress.
This work outlines steps towards making better decisions based on learn- ing from epidemiological models under uncertainty. It considers how we can automate and scale epidemiological model value using Machine learn- ing. The thesis investigates a range of methods from Multi-Armed Bandit approaches to sequential decision making using Reinforcement learning (RL) based on simulation. We use Gaussian Process Regression for sample efficiency in learning value-functions, improving model predictions via Bayesian optimisation of epidemiological model parameters and develop surrogate model descriptions for sharing, abstraction and combination of models as learning environments. Finally, the necessary computational infrastructure for sharing and running models at scale is considered.

Keywords: intervention planning
disease modelling
machine learning
malaria control
Advisor: Roberts, S
Essays on corporate finance in continuous time

This thesis provides three contributions to theoretical corporate finance in continuous time. The first contribution focus on regulation over patent litigation, the second on management dismissal, and the third on the capital structure of financial institutions.
First, I study the effects of the Hatch-Waxman Integrity Act over the set of admissible financial positions available to an informed agent that requests an inter partes review to challenge a patent but wants to prevent expected losses of litigation. This Act requires that a person that short-sells the shares of a patent-holding company must wait ninety days before requesting an inter partes review. Enacting this Act does not harm informed agents. Instead, it decreases the percentage of the defendant's equity that a plaintiff must short-sell in order to hedge her expected loss of requesting the inter partes review. Also, short-selling hedging positions are smaller if the patent can inexpensively be converted into a commercial product, and if the value of this commercial product has low volatility.
Second, I develop a continuous time model to study the Leicester-Pearson phenomenon, that is, the atypical cases of managerial dismissal triggered by high firm performance. My explanation proposes that differences in the knowledge and exerted effort between a firm's incumbent manager and an outsider candidate can cause this phenomenon. The firm has an option to replace the incumbent which is exercised when the outsider is considered better for the existing cash-flow level after paying replacement costs. I derive the level of cash-flows that triggers dismissal and identify the key condition that sustains dismissal with increasing cash-flow performance. The incumbent always faces this phenomenon if the outsider has comparative advantage in the effort attribute for which it suffices to have lower outsider's risk aversion and effort costs.
Third, I study the relationship between three regulatory measures imposed in Europe after the 2008 crisis and the capital structure decisions of regulated banks. I analyse the increase of the level of coverage of Deposit Insurance Schemes, the introduction of the Private Sector Acquisition resolution tool, and the introduction of the bail-in tool. The introduction of these measures incentivises banks to decrease the ratio of equity over assets and to increase the ratio of deposits over total debt. Lastly, introducing the bail-in tool generates a recapitalisation option, that is, banks unable to rebalance their capital structure may have an incentive to increase ex-ante the weight of bail-inable debt over total debt if they expect that a potential bail-in will result in a value-enhancing recapitalisation.

Keywords: corporate finance
asset pricing
real options
contract theory
Advisor: Noe, T
Morrison, A
Feminine feelings: women and sensation in Paris and St Petersburg, 1900-1913

Situated at the intersection of gender and sensory histories, this thesis asks how it felt to move through the world as a woman in Paris or St Petersburg at the dawn of the twentieth century. Its primary focus is how women lived their lives: how they inhabited their bodies, their daily encounters with the material and built environments of the city in which they lived, and how they understood their world through the senses. Across three extended case studies of visuality, aurality, and hapticity, this thesis argues that gender was pivotal in shaping women’s sensory experiences. Drawing on a kaleidoscope of sources, it spotlights key moments and arenas of sensation in women’s lives between 1900 and 1913, encompassing diverse examples of consumer culture, technological innovation, leisure activities and the arts, and the management of women’s bodies. These sensory encounters constituted ‘feminine feelings’ in that they were experienced predominantly by women, but also in the sense that they produced (and projected) an image of femininity, rendering tangible an understanding of one’s own identity as a woman.
This project has two principal aims: one historical, the other methodological. Firstly, it broadens our understanding of the sensual specificities of women’s lives at a particular historical moment. Secondly, it proposes a dual lens of gender and sensory histories as a novel and productive approach to questions of subjectivity, identity, and embodiment. In working to unpick and elaborate the reciprocal relationship between gender and sensation, this research makes a significant contribution to both fields within the historical discipline. Ultimately, this thesis connects the somatic experience of individual women to the wider social and cultural trends of the early twentieth century, demonstrating how material developments and shifting attitudes impacted women’s habits, bodies, self-perception, and sensory encounters.

Advisor: de Bellaigue, C
Mannherz, J