VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Shadow armies: political representation and strategic reality in America’s proxy wars

In the years following September 11, 2001, the United States has placed a renewed emphasis on indirect intervention in conflicts through “proxy” forces. Despite other ideological differences, this trend has largely accelerated through the Presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. In this approach to warfare, the United States utilizes foreign governments and fighting forces to effect American goals, while reducing its reliance on American troops. These relationships are, by their nature, indirect, and, this thesis shows, arise in situations in which the United States wishes to obfuscate the true nature of its engagement, often because of political and reputational concerns. Accordingly, statements justifying these relationships, both inside the American government and to the American public, often evince a meaningful gap between the representations in the statements and the reality of a relationship. These statements often include representations of friendship and trust, arguments that the relationship will spare American lives or expenditure, or outright lies about the activity of a proxy force.
This thesis uses a series of case studies, involving a depth of primary historical research not yet seen in the literature about post-9/11 proxy wars, to analyse America’s costliest proxy interventions around the world and to explore the gap between rhetoric and reality in each. It then explores the linkages between that gap and the relative cost, in American blood and treasure, of the relationship. It concludes that the degree of deception in a proxy war and its cost appear to be mutually reinforcing, a concept not yet explored in the literature. Finally, though this thesis is largely analytical as opposed to normative, it highlights instances in the case studies which suggest that more transparent, forthright representations can have a mitigating effect on those costs and an enhancing effect on the United States’ influence in a relationship.

Advisor: King, D
Biosocial determinants of health outcomes: new approaches and evidence

Health disparities among older adults are multifactorial. Risk factors are embedded from a matrix of biological, social, psychological, and contextual exposures, accumulated across the life trajectory. Sociologists have to date almost exclusively focused on the social aspects of health and overlooked biological and genetic potential, leading to estimation bias of social factors. Moreover, the majority of research examining the link between health and socioeconomic status (SES) seldom presents a causal inference. A knowledge gap also exists between the West and China. While there is a well-established relationship between SES and health among older people in Western societies, the SES-health gradient has not yet been established in different social and historical context.
The three independent essays in this thesis adopts a biosocial approach integrating life course perspective and fundamental causes theory, in order to bridge the disjointed knowledge on contextual, social and biological influences on health, measured by objective indicators of biomarkers and cognitive ability. I use data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from the US to tackle the following three research questions:1) How do macro level contextual factors and individual socioeconomic status influence health in China? 2) Is the well-established relationship between socioeconomic status and health causal? 3) How do genetic factors moderate demographic and socio-economic effects on the decline of cognitive functions? The key findings are: first, the individual level SES-health link is consistent across China and the U.S among the older population. Provincial variations in economic development, income inequality, and health infrastructure are associated with a range of health outcomes for Chinese midlife and older adults. Second, genetic risk score helps to identify a causal educational effect on health. Third, the genetic effect of education changes with age and across cognitive domains among the HRS sample.

Keywords: socio-genomics
ageing
health
life course
Advisor: Mills, MC
Novel leading edge film cooling experiments and geometries

The continuing rapid growth of civil aviation and the associated greenhouse gas emissions necessitate further reduction of gas turbine engine specific fuel consumption. Since the use of high pressure compressor bleed air to cool combustor and turbine components is parasitic to engine efficiency, one of the key drivers of this progress is the ongoing improvement of the efficiency with which the coolant air is used. Because it is exposed to the undiluted and highly turbulent combustor outlet gases, the leading edge of the nozzle guide vane requires a sizeable proportion of the overall turbine coolant. Moreover, the low mainstream flow momentum in the leading edge stagnation region means that film coolant jets are highly prone to lift off of the surface, so are often poorly utilised. This study investigates the performance of this film coolant both experimentally and computationally, and proposes a novel film cooling geometry in which jets initially travel against the mainstream flow before crossing the geometric stagnation line. This is shown to achieve vastly more effective film coolant usage near the stagnation line than can conventional designs, without compromising performance farther downstream on the vane surface. Additionally, the importance of combustor dilution port flows in determining the performance of conventional leading edge film cooling designs is quantified, as is the importance of infrared calibrations which take into account temperature inhomogeneities which can occur in advanced aerothermal experimental apparatuses. A novel infrared thermography technique has been developed for determining both of the ubiquitous film cooling performance parameters in a single experiment, where usually two are required. Also proposed is a leading edge coolant supply passage geometric modification which reduces the risk of destructive ingestion of hot combustion gases into film cooling holes. This innovation is also conducive to the improvement of gas turbine engine efficiency, primarily through its potential to facilitate reduced parasitic combustor pressure losses.

Keywords: Infrared thermography
Turbines
Nozzle guide vanes
Heat transfer
Advisor: Ireland, P
'Stuck like glue': assessing variability in hafting adhesives in the southern African Later Stone Age

The characterisation of hafting adhesives, the glue of composite tools, by chemical analysis and microscopy provides a means by which we may evaluate these plastic components of technologies; reliable systems that have allowed members of our species to exist in dynamic environments and exploit a variety of resources. In southern Africa, the well-preserved assemblages of the Later Stone Age present a unique opportunity to evaluate the raw material sources of these adhesives. This thesis highlights the findings of the first multi-site study of hafting adhesives from the Holocene assemblages. The results a multi-method microscopic and chemical analysis suggest there is evidence to support variations in adhesive sources between ecological biomes and through time, with a dominance in compound adhesives found at the case study sites. The analyses of material from Sehonghong (Lesotho, Grassland) suggests a transition to the use of non-local adhesive materials among the last hunter-gatherer populations of the site. Evidence from Melkhoutboom in the Thicket Biome highlights the longstanding use of conifer pitch throughout the Holocene, while isolated hafted implements recovered from coastal caves further west along the southernmost coastline indicate a continued use of the same manufactured product into the Forest biome. From the Late Holocene assemblages at Boomplaas and Renbaan in the Fynbos, we see a diversification of resources; latex exudates from the Euphorbia and Ammocharis genus were identified at Boomplaas, while a hitherto unknown composite adhesive recipe composed predominantly of animal products and inorganic minerals was found at the Oliphant’s River valley site of Renbaan. The current and novel adhesive recipes identified within these datasets highlights the inherent value of the adhesive components themselves and provides insight into the nature of these plastic technologies, the narrative of adhesive manufacture in southern Africa, and current archaeological discussion in this region.

Keywords: archaeological chemistry
Later Stone Age
southern Africa
adhesive
hafting
Advisor: Mitchell, P
Pollard, M
Mitigating marine megafauna captures in fisheries

The most widely applied decision-making process for balancing the trade-offs between conservation and development activities is the biodiversity mitigation process, implemented using environmental impact assessment supported by a conceptual ‘mitigation hierarchy’ framework. Yet to date, the exploration of the biodiversity mitigation process to the primary resource sectors has not been widely investigated as a subject of study in conservation. In this thesis, I explore mitigating impacts from fisheries on marine megafauna, linking system-wide approaches with individual-level incentives in a unified framework.
The majority of this thesis focusses on a case study of sea turtle captures and mortalities in a coastal fishing community in Peru. A linked, but separate case study explores the application of the framework to all human impact on biodiversity more broadly. I begin at the broadest scale, by exploring challenges and solutions for a global mitigation hierarchy for nature conservation that could enable tracking of progress towards an agreed overarching objective, based on net conservation outcomes. The global framework research precedes an exploration of the biodiversity mitigation process in the case study coastal fishing system.
Throughout the fishery case study, I draw on established decision-making processes to better understand the conservation issue at hand and to develop an understanding of what is necessary to empirically calculate net outcomes in data-poor fishing systems using the proposed framework. The decision-making processes I employ include qualitative ecological risk assessment theory to assess the efficacy of current management systems, and a qualitative management strategy evaluation process to support consideration of trade-offs. I seek to further improve data gathering processes in data-poor fishing systems by applying the IDEA (“Investigate”, “Discuss”, “Estimate” and “Aggregate”) structured elicitation protocol to control for personal bias and heuristics when drawing on stakeholder knowledge. Finally, I characterise the social network of fishing-related information-sharing between fishers to inform understanding of social influences on decision making using network null models.
As humanity seeks to deliver nature conservation alongside development, broader perspectives on human impacts, and how best to mitigate them are needed. This research contributes to an important and timely dialogue that seeks to shift emphasis away from piecemeal actions that prevent biodiversity loss, and instead adopt a strategic and proactive approach to restoring nature that links broad scale concepts to locally tailored solutions.

Keywords: Bycatch
Natural resource management
Turtles
Fisheries
Advisor: Milner-Gulland, EJ
Squires, D
Adiposity and coronary heart disease in the UK Biobank: a prospective cohort study of 500 000 adults

Background Excess adiposity is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated, and the relevance of different adiposity phenotypes remains unclear.
Methods The UK Biobank is a prospective study of 500 000 adults enrolled between 2006 and 2010 across the UK. Correlates of adiposity at baseline were explored for established and emerging cardiovascular risk factors. Cox regression analyses were used to obtain adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the associations of usual levels of body-mass index (BMI), body fat %, trunk fat % , waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHTR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), or with genetically elevated BMI-adjusted WHR (WHRadjBMI) and BMI with incident CHD.
Results Among 455 148 participants without prior cardiovascular disease, 13 114 first-ever CHD events occurred over a mean follow-up period of 8 years. Measurement error and within-person variability was less extreme for BMI (regression dilution ratio: 0.92) than other measures, particularly WHR (0.66). Adiposity measures were closely correlated with each other at baseline, as well as with a number of socio-demographic, lifestyle and biological characteristics. In analyses adjusted for age, sex, socio-economic status, smoking and alcohol consumption, increasing usual levels of adiposity (i.e. corrected for regression dilution) were positively and log-linearly associated with CHD risk across all measures. Associations were notably stronger for central adiposity, particularly WHR (HR per usual SD 1.34, 95% CI 1.31-1.38) compared with BMI (1.24, 1.22-1.26). The relevance of usual WHR to CHD was particularly strong among women (1.41, 1.35-1.48), and remained strongly associated with CHD after adjustment for BMI. The observed prospective associations were partially mediated by blood pressure, lipids and insulin resistance, which explained at least half of the observed excess risk. Additional adjustment for glomerular filtration rate, liver enzymes and inflammatory markers completely attenuated associations with all measures except WHTR and WHR, which remained independently associated with CHD risk. Genetically elevated adiposity measures were associated with CHD risk (HR per SD higher WHRadjBMI: 1.31, 1.11 – 1.55; BMI: 1.22, 1.06 - 1.41), and with cardiometabolic traits.
Conclusion Adiposity measures demonstrated strong, positive and approximately log-linear associations with CHD risk, with no evidence of threshold effects within the ranges studied in this UK population. Central body fat distribution was associated with higher CHD risk compared with BMI and likely involves distinct and independent mechanisms.

Advisor: Lewington, S
Emberson, J
Lacy, B
Bennett, D
Development of small molecule CREBBP bromodomain ligands using medicinal chemistry-based approaches

This work explores medicinal chemistry-based approaches to develop CREBBP bromodomain ligands, using protein-ligand X-ray crystallography to enable structure-guided drug design. Here, we report the improvement of affinity and selectivity for a previously reported CREBBP bromodomain inhibitor through; (i) bioisosteric modifications to remove unfavourable enthalpic contributions to binding; and (ii) macrocyclic drug design to favour the CREBBP bromodomain binding mode. These improved ligands were also incorporated into (iii) PROTACs to develop full-length CREBBP degraders as a proof-of-concept for this target. In collaboration with Prof. Dario Neri’s group (ETH Zurich), we use (iv) DNA-encoded chemical library technology to identify novel CREBBP bromodomain fragments and scaffolds. This work has provided valuable insight in the development of selective inhibitors for the CREBBP bromodomain and sets the foundations for applying new technologies to identify novel inhibitors and degraders for this target protein.

Advisor: Conway, SJ
The role of autobiographical reasoning in the shared experience pathway to identity fusion

Identity fusion – a visceral sense of oneness with the group linked to extreme pro-group action in adults – is thought to result from at least two distinct pathways, namely shared experience and shared biology. The main objective of this thesis was to focus on the shared experience pathway – in which self-defining memories about intensely emotional events are perceived as shared with other group members – in populations largely unexplored in previous fusion literature, namely children, adolescents, and women. Autobiographical reasoning about shared personal experiences – the cornerstone of narrative identity – in conjunction with other post-event processes, were examined across three studies. Study 1 explored the role of autobiographical memory processes in the emergence of identity fusion over the course of development. Findings showed that while identity fusion could be reliably measured from early adolescence, autobiographical reasoning was positively linked to identity fusion beginning in mid-adolescence. Studies 2 and 3 investigated the relationship between a woman’s first experience of childbirth and her identity fusion with other mothers. While Study 2 examined both antenatal and postpartum first-time mothers, Study 3 examined only postpartum first-time mothers. Findings demonstrated that identity fusion was stronger for women who had experienced childbirth for the first time in their lives than for women who were still pregnant with their firstborn. The pathway to identity fusion among first-time mothers manifested in different ways, such that the nature of first-time mothers’ childbirth experiences created powerful social bonds with other mothers who had also endured similar experiences. Thought processes and autobiographical reasoning mediated the pathway to identity fusion in complex ways. Identity fusion showed the potential to affect women’s psychological health outcomes after childbirth. Altogether, autobiographical memories of shared life-altering experiences are the means by which autobiographical reasoning and other post-event processes give rise to identity fusion.

Advisor: Whitehouse, H
Reese, E
Structural controls on volcanism and degassing in the Main Ethiopian Rift

The interactions between magmatism and crustal structure in continental rifts are manifold, and affect both rift dynamics and the populations that live within them. This thesis explores these interactions, focussing on structural controls on volcanism and degassing in the Main Ethiopian Rift, an archetypal continental rift. The rift hosts up to 10 large silicic volcanoes that have been active in the Quaternary, along with extensive basaltic volcanic fields and widespread geothermal activity. Using a range of geological, geochemical and remote sensing techniques, I examine past volcanism and present degassing with conclusions relevant for the local, regional and global scale.
I use new diffuse CO2 surveys to show the variability of fault-controlled degassing in the rift, and combine the results with a new compilation of geothermal sites to extrapolate for a rift-scale estimate of emissions. Whilst rift-related diffuse CO2 flux is clearly important for the global carbon budget, the new estimate for degassing in East Africa is lower than previously suggested.
High-resolution digital elevation models produced for 3 silicic volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift and 1 volcano in Afar show vent and crater alignments along both rift-parallel and cross-rift structures. I have mapped previously unidentified deposits, and compared the relative frequency, type, and magnitude of eruptions at each volcano. Morphological constraints suggest emplacement viscosities for peralkaline lavas of ~108–1010 Pa s, similar to or lower than calc-alkaline rhyolites.
I compare the morphology of basaltic volcanic fields using digital elevation models, and calculate average volumes. Isolated cones adjacent to faults in East Ziway suggests dike capture, and morphometric analysis (e.g., height to width ratios and rim curvature) suggests an older age than cones in the Butajira field on the rift flank. Superimposed cones and maars at Butajira were likely emplaced by fissure eruptions and phreatomagmatic activity fed by deflected dikes.

Advisor: Mather, T
Pyle, D
Holistic education: its philosophical underpinnings and practical application

The holistic education (HE) movement is loosely organised across the globe through organisational networks and particular schooling philosophies such as Montessori and Waldorf/Steiner. Movement actors define themselves in juxtaposition to what they see as public educational establishments with very different values. Given HE’s predisposition to emphasise many of the personal and social aspects of student growth that critics of mainstream schooling find lacking within the conventional education system, there has been a growing interest in ways to make these approaches more widely available within the state system.
This study begins by examining the philosophical underpinnings of the holistic worldview and its implications for education through an analysis of the work of the three main HE thinker/practitioners, Maria Montessori, Rudolf Steiner and Jiddu Krishnamurti. It goes on to examine how HE ideas parallel and can be understood through the lens of the absolute idealist framework in a way that allows for a more critical examination of holistic theory and practice. With regard to the aims of education, one of HE’s defining characteristics is the emphasis it places on the development of persons through the vehicle of community and relationships. The holistic philosophy affects the work of schools in five main areas: growth as a person, development of community, notions of authority and discipline, the development of knowledge and understanding (curriculum), and modes of teaching and assessment. All of these areas are examined in turn.
The study concludes with an examination of the challenges involved in implementing holistic principles and practices in a state school through a case study of an English secondary school which has been adopting a holistic model. The school’s experiences, including the results of a state inspection by Ofsted during its second year, provide some insight into the process for other schools wishing to adopt a holistic model; these include, the importance of working with a coherent theoretical framework including specific principles for practice, and of engaging in particular approaches to professional development. The school’s experience also demonstrates the need for changes to be made to the Ofsted inspection process if the government is serious about supporting schools adopting innovative approaches to education.

Keywords: Learner-centered education
Epistemology
personhood
Holistic education
Human-centered
Hegel
Rudolf Steiner
Maria Montessori
John MacMurray
Philosophy of Education
Absolute Idealists
Ofsted inspection
F. H. Bradley
Richard Pring
Aims of Education
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Ontology
Advisor: Pring, R