VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Theories of national identity in early medieval Ireland

Despite the political disunity of early Irish society, theories and expressions of national identity abounded in the work of the learned classes of clerics, genealogists, poets and lawyers. This thesis examines texts from two crucial periods in the evolution of these theories.
Focusing initially on the seventh and eighth centuries, the first part of the thesis argues that Irish national identity was created as part of a campaign to assert the joint authority of the Uí Néill kings of Tara and their ecclesiastical allies in Armagh. Drawing inspiration from biblical and patristic sources, and possibly also from contemporary developments elsewhere in Europe, these ecclesiastico-political allies asserted the national unity of the Irish in linguistic, genetic and territorial terms in pursuit of their own particular objectives.
The influence of biblical and patristic beliefs on many of these early expressions of Irish identity highlights the outward-looking nature of the Irish scholarly tradition. During the eleventh and twelfth centuries, this international dimension intensified as the histories and identities of foreign peoples became subjects of study in Ireland, and new source materials filtered into the country from overseas. With reference to two texts composed during this period, the Irish Sex Aetates Mundi and a poem on national characteristics beginning Cumtach na nIudaide n-ard – the second part of this thesis discusses the influence of newly acquired sources on contemporary Irish scholarship. It also examines how the information contained in these sources was adapted and rationalised to conform to the basic assumptions of Irish society.

Keywords: Gaelic identity
national identity
ethnogenesis
medieval Ireland
Advisor: Charles-Edwards, T
Bureaucratic motivations

This thesis examines the motivations of bureaucrats in two government agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency in the US, and the Environment Agency for England and Wales. The model employed in this work is a Trifocal Model which utilises Rational Choice, Institutional and Cultural approaches in answering the thesis question. The aim of this work is two-fold: one aim is to explain motivations in two agencies; the second aim is to suggest why the existing literature in the field of bureaucracy often fails to capture the diversity of bureaucratic motivations. The claim is that the adherence to one particular paradigmatic approach prevents scholars from attaining a comprehensive understanding of motivations.
This work focuses on two elements of the Trifocal Approach, namely institutional and cultural explanations. Rational Choice explanations are given a limited explanatory role in this work, in large part because of the restricted usefulness of an approach which takes the preferences of agents as given. This thesis uses a scientific approach to the analysis of qualitative data, allowing other researchers to make use of, and indeed to question, the findings presented below.
The argument in this thesis suggests why scholars must pay more attention to what those people within bureaucracies tell us about themselves and their motivations. To take the preferences of agents as givens is to ignore much of what is most important about the study of politics that is, where preferences come from, and how they shape the political behaviour we observe in bureaucracies. This thesis will show that public sector reforms are often flawed, often failing to consider the interplay of cultural and institutional effects, and how these effects have a bearing on the motivations of staff in organisations undergoing reform. Furthermore, cultural and institutional factors must be considered whenever one considers the question what is it that motivates bureaucrats.
Assessing phytoplankton biogeography and photophysiology in the Atlantic Basin 

Phytoplankton play a key role in the geochemical cycles of the Earth, are responsible for 50% of global carbon fixation, and through this, provide almost all of the energy for the entire marine trophic system. Understanding the dynamics of phytoplankton, and the species composition in relation to environmental factors is therefore of great importance. In this thesis a range of techniques to identify phytoplankton groups that use accessory pigment data obtained from high performance liquid chromatography are compared. While fixed indicator pigment:chl-a ratio approaches provide a quick and simple way of estimating phytoplankton distributions either on the basis of size-class or taxonomic group, the more sophisticated iterative approach of CHEMTAX divides the biomass into more categories and allows more flexibility to adapt to changes in indicator pigment:chl-a ratios caused by environmental variability. Combined with flow cytometric cell counts, depth-dependent trends in the intracellular concentration and composition of phytoplankton pigments can be identified. These data show an exponential decrease in the ratio of carbon-to-chlorophyll with depth, in response to decreasing light intensity. The relative as well as absolute concentrations of phytoplankton pigments are also seen to change with depth, particularly under stratified conditions, with the ratio of zeaxanthin to chlorophyll-a decreasing with increasing depth, and the ratio of chlorophyll-b to chlorophyll-a increasing. Cluster analysis is used to identify the main phytoplankton populations in the North West Atlantic, with communities of large, fucoxanthin-containing phytoplankton dominating in spring when mixing is strong, before being replaced by smaller cells upon the onset of stratification. The links between trends in phytoplankton photophysiology and abiotic conditions are also explored, with temperature being found to be the most important forcing factor. Size-class specific relationships between phytoplankton photosynthetic rates and temperature are identified, with the potential for use in remotely-sensed models of primary production.

Keywords: phytoplankton
ecology
photophysiology
North Atlantic
succession
Advisor: Bouman, H
Sathyendranath, S
Tilstone, G
Investigating the role of a dynamic actin cytoskeleton and its regulators for HIV-1 entry in macrophages.

Macrophages are one of the three main human cell types infected by HIV-1. They are highly plastic cells requiring a dynamic actin cytoskeleton for their role in development, homeostasis, tissue repair and immunity. For HIV-1, disrupting actin in macrophages is detrimental in that it leads to a complete block of viral uptake and reduces reverse transcription but, significantly, not fusion. Rho GTPases (Rac1, RhoA and Cdc42) regulate many aspects of actin dynamics including those required for endocytosis. Using a pharmacological approach, it was shown that Rac1 along with Rho GTPase effectors Pak1 and N-WASP are important for productive HIV-1 entry in macrophages. However, pharmacological inhibitors aren’t available for many host factors and may have off-target effects. To overcome this, expression of dominant negative (DN) Rho GTPases was attempted in human stem cell-derived macrophages (esMDMs). While DN Rac1 expressing esMDMs were successfully generated, this was not possible for the other two. DN Rac1 expressing esMDMs, as expected, had less filamentous actin and reduced dextran uptake compared to control esMDMs. In contrast to the pharmacological studies, HIV-1 infection studies in Rac1 DN esMDMs revealed a significant increase in HIV-1 fusion, reverse transcription and nuclear import, which could be due to reduced filamentous actin leading to a slower rate of endocytosis thereby allowing more time for viral fusion within endocytic vesicles. Surprisingly, reduced HIV-1 gene expression was observed in Rac1 DN esMDMs. This was corroborated by transfection studies implicating Rho GTPases in LTR driven gene expression. To overcome the ineffectiveness of RhoA and Cdc42 DN constitutive gene expression in esMDMs, an inducible lentiviral gene expression system based on the use of a constitutive promoter and a FLEx switch mediating irreversible DNA inversions was generated. The novel FLEx vector was the first system shown to induce transgene expression in esMDMs albeit at a very low efficiency.

Keywords: GTPases
actin cytoskeleton
gene-expression systems
ientiviral vectors
virology
Advisor: James, W
Moore, M
The mechanics of growth and residual stress in biological cylinders

Biological tissue differs from other materials in many ways. Perhaps the most crucial difference is its ability to grow. Growth processes may give rise to stresses that exist in a body in the absence of applied loads and these are known as residual stresses. Residual stress is present in many biological systems and can have important consequences on the mechanical response of a body. Mathematical models of biological structures must therefore be able to capture accurately the effects of differential growth and residual stress, since greater understanding of the roles of these phenomena may have applications in many fields.
In addition to residual stresses, biological structures often have a complex morphology. The theory of 3-D elasticity is analytically tractable in modelling mechanical properties in simple geometries such as a cylinder. On the other hand, rod theory is well-suited for geometrically-complex deformations, but is unable to account for residual stress.
In this thesis, we aim to develop a map between the two frameworks. Firstly, we use 3-D elasticity to determine effective mechanical properties of a growing cylinder and map them into an effective rod. Secondly, we consider a growing filament embedded in an elastic foundation. Here, we estimate the degree of transverse reinforcement the foundation confers on the filament in terms of its material properties. Finally, to gain a greater understanding of the role of residual stress in biological structures, we consider a case study: the chameleon's tongue. In particular we consider the role of residual stress and anisotropy in aiding the rapid projection of the tongue during prey capture. We construct a mechanical model of the tongue and use it to investigate a proposed mechanism of projection by means of an energy balance argument.

Keywords: morphoelasticity
residual stress
mechanobiology
Advisor: Goriely, A
Moulton, D
Waters, S
Sheaf cohomology in twistor diagrams

One of the earlier achievements of twistor theory was the description of free zero rest mass fields on complexified Minkowski space in terms of holomorphic functions on twistor space. Interactions between these fields are given by certain spacetime integrals (represented by Feynmann diagrams), and some of these integrals have been translated into contour integrals in products of twistor spaces (represented by twistor diagrams). The principal advantage of the twistor diagram formalism is that it is necessarily finite.
The main purpose of this thesis is to explore the uses of two mathematical techniques in twistor diagrams. The first is the "blowing up" process familiar to algebraic geometers. It arises naturally in the translation from the massless scalar ϕ4(vertex to the corresponding twistor diagram (called the "box" diagram). A detailed study of this translation reveals that there are three contours over which the box diagram can be integrated, one for each of the channels in the ϕ4 interaction. The second technique is sheaf cohomology theory, vhich vas introduced to make rigorous the twistor description of zero rest mass fields by replacing twistor functions by elements of sheaf cohomology groups. We show how to interpret fragments of twistor diagrams - which normally represent twistor functions - as these sheaf cohomology elements.
Chapter 1 introduces, briefly, the basic ideas of twistor geometry, the twistor description of fields, and twistor diagrams. In chapter 2 we demonstrate the existence of contours for part of the Möller scattering diagram using singular homology theory, while chapter 3 gives the details of the translation to the box diagram (already referred to) and compares it with the scalar product diagram. The last two chapters (4 and 5) deal with the sheaf cohomology of tree diagrams and the scalar product diagram respectively.

Advisor: Penrose, R
The future of Jesus Christ

While eschatology provides the abiding horizon of Jürgen Moltmann's theology, the centre of his thinking, which conditions the contours of that horizon, is christology. In Part One, this thesis provides an analysis of the methodological considerations which shape Moltmann's christology. It demonstrates how Moltmann's elected hermeneutic strategy of interpreting Jesus within the horizon of promise enables his christology to determine the eschatological structure of his theology. Part Two then examines the actual product of this method. It analyses the succession of christologically determined models of the relationship between eschatology and history that can be found in moving from Theology of Hope to The Coming of God. Both the conceptual development of one idea from another, as well as the chronological development of ideas over time, are thus examined. In this thesis, however, analysis also serves the purpose of theological construction. Where Moltmann's proposals are seen to run into difficulty suggestions are made for how the tensions observed may be resolved in accordance with Moltmann's own root theological assumptions. The fundamental problem of Moltmann's eschatology is perceived to be the lack of an explicit account of how eschatological transcendence is related to historical becoming. In Part One this leads to the provision of a model of the inter-relationship of Jesus' universal (eschatological) significance and his particular relevance for the multifarious situations of the present creation. In Part Two this same problem leads to the construction of a christological model in which Jesus becomes in time who he is in adventus (the transcendent future). Achieving this comprehensively necessitates the provision of an account of the distinction and unity of the divinity and humanity of the one person of Christ. Only so does it prove possible to distinguish appropriately between what the one future of the new creation will mean for God and creation respectively. The thesis concludes by demonstrating the breadth of applicability of the christological insights developed by utilising them to address the question of the relationship between the economic and immanent Trinity.
"Why bother? It's gonna hurt me": the role of interpersonal cognitive biases in the development of anxiety and depression

Child and adolescent mood and anxiety symptoms are common and debilitating, with long-term effects on well-being. Research presented in this thesis examines interpersonal cognitive factors in the emergence of anxious and depressive symptoms in late childhood through to early adulthood. The thesis considers this issue using three main approaches. For the first, data are presented showing that biases in the appraisals of social situations are the aspects of interpersonal cognition most closely associated with emotional symptoms. For the second, longitudinal twin data are used to examine genetic and environmental origins of these interpersonal cognitive biases and their temporal prediction of symptoms across a 2-year period. Data show that interpersonal cognitive factors are strongly influenced by non-shared environmental factors, and moreover, predict symptoms across time. The final section of the thesis comprises four studies using Cognitive Bias Modification of Interpretations (CBM-I) training methodology to show that both positive and negative interpretive biases for interpersonal information can be induced in adolescents. Positive biases are shown to persist for at least 24 hours after training, and induced positive and negative biases are shown to differentially predict anxious responses to an experimental stressor. Evidence is also provided to suggest that effects following training positive interpretive biases may transfer to other cognitive measures, namely appraisals of ambiguous emotional faces. Finally, data tentatively show that CBM-I training may be useful in reducing negative interpretations of interpersonal information made by 11-year-old children undergoing the transition to secondary school. In summary, studies in this thesis support the contribution of cognitive biases to mood and anxiety symptoms in childhood and adolescence. They further extend this knowledge by suggesting that these reflect individual-specific (non-shared) environmental risks to predict symptoms across time. These biases may also be amenable to change through training interventions, with some - albeit weak - effects on other cognitive outcomes.

Keywords: CBM
CBM-I
depression
cognitive bias
anxiety
adolescence
adolescents
interpretive bias
Advisor: Lau, J
The idea of freedom and the political theologies of Wolfhart Pannenberg and Gustavo Gutiérrez

The question guiding the argument of my thesis is whether it is possible to articulate a political theology in terms of the idea of freedom. This possibility is explored through an analysis and evaluation of the political dimension of the theologies of Wolfhart Pannenberg and Gustavo Gutiérrez. For both these theologians, the idea of freedom emerges from reflection on the process of historical experience, which itself delimits the horizon of political activity. The relevance of theology for politics consists in its competence in interpreting the individual desire for liberty within the context of our created finitude, whose deepest meaning is revealed only in God’s work of salvation. In discerning the concrete possibilities of freedom, theology has therefore to consider the role of the church as the community for learning freedom, a role already identified as part of its mission in Paul’s epistle to the Galatians. In a further step, it has to consider more directly the nature of political authority and its conditioning of the actualization of human freedom through concrete practices in the life of societies and states. In this respect it is the task of theology to establish the creaturely and eschatological contexts of political life in such a way as to ground a morality of political justice. This triple structure, because it finds material justification with both theologians, creates the possibility of a fair and balanced comparison between two visions which share theoretical concerns to a surprising extent, enriching the scope of the dialogue, yet differ radically in practical orientation and commitments. This marked divergence will allow some reflection on the role of intra-theological debate in the self-definition of theological tradition against the political with regard to the competence of interpreting human freedom.

Advisor: Zachhuber, J
Cultural identity in Roman Celtiberia

This thesis presents a study of changing constructions and perceptions of cultural identity over the period 300 BC to AD 100 in the region of northern central Spain known in antiquity as Celtiberia. Its primary focus is iconography, with images of male and female figures of particular interest. The iconography is used to map the continuities and discontinuities in a sense of Celtiberian identity, and considers the effect that interaction with non-Celtiberians, including Celts and Iberians but especially with Romans, had on this identity. A theoretical framework in which to study 'cultural identity' is proposed in the Prolegomena. After the Prolegomena, the thesis is divided into six chapters.
Chapter One, Celtiberia in its Historical and Cultural Context, examines the development of Celtiberian culture and Celtiberian settlements over time, and the changes that occurred after the arrival of Romans. Chapter Two, Metallurgy and Metal Objects, looks at three categories of metal objects (fibulae, hospitium tesserae, and armaments) and asks whether the horseman motif, an important iconographic element in this thesis, is emblematic of a 'warrior aristocracy'. Chapter Three, Human and Animal Figures on Painted Pottery, studies the range of human figures found on Celtiberian ceramic vessels, considering the types of scenes and figures that were most popular. Chapter Four, Coins from Pre-Roman and Early Imperial Celtiberia, traces the development of numismatic images in the region. This chapter emphasises the so-called transitional coins, which represent the first time that Celtiberian cities were publicly identified with Roman authority on official media. Chapter Five, Men's Funerary Monuments, returns to critical analysis of the horseman motif, focusing on stelai with relief images of male figures on horseback. Chapter Six, Women's Funerary Monuments, examines the most popular visual language for Celtiberian women, the 'funerary banquet,' and places stelai bearing this theme in their wider social context.
A concluding section discusses Celtiberian iconography as a whole. It also considers the role that language - Celtiberian and/or Latin - played alongside the images, and whether the phenomena of bilingualism and Latinisation of names bear 'cultural identity' significance.

Advisor: Smith, B
Modelling and reconstruction of events in SNO+ related to future searches for lepton and baryon number violation

SNO+ is a liquid scintillator experiment whose physics goals include measurements of solar neutrinos, reactor anti-neutrinos, geo neutrinos and double beta decay. During an initial water phase, it will also search for invisible modes of nucleon decay.
This thesis investigates methods of improving the detector's sensitivity to the baryon and lepton violating processes of neutrinoless double beta decay and invisible nucleon decay. It does this through an improved scintillator model, allowing the sensitivity of the detector with different loading techniques to be evaluated, through a new background rejection technique, capable of increasing the active volume of the detector, and with the development of improved position fitters, achieving resolutions of approximately 10 cm in scintillator and 25 cm in water.
The sensitivity of SNO+ to invisible modes of nucleon decay is explored, predicting, after one month of data, a limit of τ > 1.38 x 1030 years on the decay of neutrons and of τ > 1.57 x 1030 years on the decay of protons.

Keywords: nucleon decay
neutrino
SNO+
neutrinoless double beta decay
proton decay
Advisor: Biller, S