VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Studies on the triglyceride - fatty acid cycle

The triglyceride-free fatty acid (TG-FFA) cycle was studied in white adipose tissue. The major aims of the study were 1) to see if the rate of TG-FFA cycling (i.e. FFA reesterification) and the sensitivity properties (see Newsholme and Crabtree, 1976, Biochem. Soc. Symp. 41, 61-109) were affected by various treatments, and 2) to measure the rate of cycling in vivo and assess its contribution to the metabolic rate of an animal.
There are two ways of estimating the rate of TG-FFA cycling; the first is based on the release of glycerol and FFA from the tissue, and the second on the synthesis of the glycerol and FFA moieties of triglyceride. Experimental agreement between the two methods is very good. It is shown that the rate of TG glycerol synthesis can be estimated by measuring the incorporation of tritium from tritiated water into the TG-glycerol moiety; this method is used to study the TG-FFA cycle in vivo.
Experimental results indicated that the rate of TG-FFA cycling in white adipose tissue in vitro and in vivo is affected by various short- and long-term treatments. However, the reesterification of FFA in adipose tissue can only account for perhaps ~1% of the basal metabolic rate of a mouse, and perhaps 4% of the increase in osygen consumption observed in fenoterol-treated mice.
The equations of Newsholme and Crabtree (1976) describing the sensitivity properties of substrate cycles are extended and used to show that the TG-FFA cycle increases the sensitivity of control of FFA release from adipose tissue. The degree of sensitivity attainable is variable depending on the treatment used.
The use of tritiated water for estimating TG-FFA cycling is tentatively extended to brown adipose tissue. It is suggested that the rate of cycling could be used as an indicator of sympathetic activity in brown and white adipose tissue.

Advisor: Newsholme, E
Arch, J
A study of highly-deformed α-cluster structures in light nuclei

The inelastic scattering reaction 160+12C has been studied in the centre-of-mass energy region from 37.7 MeV to 51.4 MeV, in a search for evidence for a seven-alpha chain state in 28Si. The decay products were detected in coincidence at angular separations around 90° in the centre of mass using two position-sensitive strip detectors. Kinematic reconstruction of the quasi-three body final states yielded the differential cross-sections for the decay channels leading to excited states in 12C, 160 and 20Ne.
The excitation functions measured for the 12 C(0+2)-12C(0+2)-U+03B1 and 12C(02)-8Be-8Be final states agree broadly between the three experiments that were performed, but contain no structure. Reaction channels have also been identified leading to the 8Be-20Ne* and 12C*-160* final states. The cross-sections for the 8Be-20Ne* decay channels, with the 20 Ne in its lowest excited states, have been compared with previous measurements and provide good agreement. However, none of the excitation functions for these channels contain any structure.
The absence of structure in any of the final states, that were identified in this study, indicates that a 28Si chain state is probably not being observed. The same model, that predicts that the seven-alpha chain state should lie in this excitation region in 28Si, has also been used to assign a six alpha chain structure to a resonance at Ex=46.6 MeV in 24 Mg. These two results are compared, and possible reasons for the absence of evidence for a 28Si chain structure are discussed.
A single-photon source for quantum networking

Cavity quantum electrodynamics (cavity QED) with single atoms and single photons provides a promising route toward scalable quantum information processing (QIP) and computing. A strongly coupled atom-cavity system should act as a universal quantum interface, allowing the generation and storage of quantum information. This thesis describes the realisation of an atom-cavity system used for the production and manipulation of single photons. These photons are shown to exhibit strong sub-Poissonian statistics and indistinguishability, both prerequisites for their use in realistic quantum systems. Further, the ability to control the temporal shape and internal phase of the photons, as they are generated in the cavity, is demonstrated. This high degree of control presents a novel mechanism enabling the creation of arbitrary photonic quantum bits.

Keywords: single photons
quantum optics
LOQC
cold atoms
Awesome
STIRAP
quantum computing
cavity QED
Advisor: Kuhn, A
The possibilities for comparing a syllabus topic in school history across cultures

In this doctoral thesis I develop a methodological system to facilitate the comparison of syllabus topics in history education across international contexts. The thesis brings together many years of work and while rooted in the philosophy of Hegel draws on the ideas and concepts of a wide plurality of thinkers. Essentially, the thesis is a 'synthesis', developing from my pre-doctoral experiences as an educator in the UK and overseas (thesis) and my critique of comparative textbook research (antithesis).
In the doctorate, syllabus topics are understood to be composed of constellations of influencing variables or parts; the relationship between topic and variable conceived as reciprocally constituting and dialectical. Essentially, I argue that to compare curriculum knowledge the researcher need not necessarily compare 'things in themselves' - e.g. textbooks, examinations, official censorship guidelines etc., - but rather relationships and effects. Syllabus topics are thus understood as the expression of relationships with influencing variables. Only when variables and relationships have been identified and appropriately valued does it become possible to compare syllabus topics in a meaningful way.
In this thesis I develop a concept of the researching subject that is neither totally centred nor totally de-centred. Modernism's centred subject assumes a research horizon that is both limitless and objective, while the de-centred postmodern subject denies the concept of horizons by championing only relative particularities and subjective experience. Identifying the hermeneutic element in the work of Hegel, Gadamer and Foucault I chart a location 'beyond' the oppositions. The subject is thus understood as an agent empowered to act, and perform critique, but within limits that are sensitive to cultural difference. The comparative researcher is thus conceived operating within a specified 'sphere of liberty'; the liberty to compare depending on the training, intercultural skills and first-hand experiences of the researcher.
In this research the Second World War is utilised as an 'exemplar topic'. With the end of the Cold War the importance and significance of the war has receded in political terms. Nevertheless it remains as a popular subject in history classes around the world. Morally, the war continues to raise fundamental questions. But to understand the impact of the war as a syllabus topic in educational terms we must identify its form and content as an object. The syllabus topic as a whole is composed of a constellation of parts, influencing factors, push and pull variables. What is the 'power/knowledge' relationship between whole and parts in particular contexts? How does a particular syllabus topic express these relationships? It is argued that relationships between topic and parts must be identified if we are to begin to understand their effects in classroom settings.

Advisor: Phillips, D
Studies of genetic influences on nicotine dependence utilising functional neuroimaging

A major contributor to relapse following smoking cessation is nicotine craving triggered by environmental cues, such as the sight of a lighted cigarette. Therefore, three integrated functional neuroimaging studies were conducted to examine the biological mechanisms underling cue-elicited craving for cigarettes.
(1) First, I examined the effect of smoking-related pictorial cues on neural activation hi brain regions of interest (ROI) associated with reward signalling using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Voxel-wise analysis demonstrated that smokers, but not nonsmokers, demonstrated significant activation associated with smoking-related pictorial cues in the anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and ventral striatum. Upon ROI analysis of the ventral striatum including the nucleus accumbens (VS/NAc), smokers exhibited significantly greater VS/NAc activation than non-smokers.
(2) Next, I examined whether pre-specifled serotonergic polymorphisms would affect binding potential (BP) to a serotonin (5-HT) receptor implicated in the behavioural sensitisation process to nicotine (5-HTiA receptor). Healthy volunteers who had undergone positron emission tomography (PET) with a 5-HTiA-specific ligand [ U C]WAY-100635 were genotyped for the 5-HT1 A -1018 G>C and 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms. Participants carrying the 5-HTTLPR S allele (SS or SL genotypes) demonstrated significantly lower global presynaptic and postsynaptic BP compared to subjects with LL genotypes.
(3) Finally, I triangulated the two initial studies to examine whether pre-specified trait (5- HTTLPR genotype) and/or state (smoking vs. abstinence) variables would influence cueelicited activation of the VS/NAc. There was greater activation to smoking-related cues in the VS/NAc of smokers during the smoking condition than the abstinent condition and a significant correlation between tobacco craving and VS/NAc activation in the smoking condition. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was not associated with VS/NAc activation. Power calculations are presented as the basis for future examination of genetic hypotheses. These data have implications for the ultimate goal of enhancing the efficacy of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy.

Advisor: Sim, E
al.], E
The effect of topography on ocean flow

The rôle which topography plays in constraining ocean flow is investigated in several ways, mostly aimed at application to the Southern Ocean where topography is known to be important. The physics of topographic Rossby waves is discussed in some depth and a description of ocean flow in terms of a sum of topographic normal modes is developed. It is shown that the apparent incompleteness of topographic modes can often be circumvented by including a function which absorbs the nett input of potential vorticity. Some subtle problems with this description are dealt with, and a calculation of topographic modes for the Southern Ocean is presented, which shows that the modes are very localised, making the use of them to describe basin-wide flows difficult.
The effect of interactions between stratification and topography is investigated in terms of a quasi-two-dimensional model which deals only with the depth-integrated flow, and the assumptions which go into the model are examined in detail both analytically and by calculating terms of interest from a data set produced by the Fine Resolution Antarctic Model. It is shown that advection of density in the Southern Ocean can be described to a first approximation as being due to a barotropic current with no vertical velocity, the horizontal component of the baroclinic flow producing very little effect. The balance of terms reveals interesting features in the modelled flow in the Southern Ocean, showing the value of this type of analysis.
Finally, insight developed in the course of the investigation allows a simple model to be constructed representing the feedback between density advection and forcing due to density gradients. This model is used to provide an explanation for the fact that the FRAM model spins up linearly, where most simple models would predict a component of quadratic behaviour in the spin-up.

Advisor: Killworth, P
Synthesis of taurospongin A and other biologically active natural products

This thesis firstly describes a synthesis of the natural product taurospongin A, a potent DNA polymerase beta inhibitor. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation on olefin E-1.60 followed by selective deoxygenation at C(2) via Barton‒McCombie reaction delivers the desired C(1)–C(10) carboxylic acid core. Subsequent esterification of the C(1)–C(10) fragment with C(1′)–C(25′) fatty acid furnishes the natural product in 13.5% yield.
The structure of an unnamed natural product 2.14 isolated in 1974 is proven to be misassigned by previous studies within the Robertson group. As described in this thesis, two proposed structures A and B are obtained via total synthesis in order to reveal the identity of the natural product. A synthesis of key intermediate spirocycles 2.148 and 2.158 with desired trans- diol moiety is described by a dihydroxylation reaction on an electron deficient gamma-keto unsaturated acid with subsequent spirocyclisation reaction.
Finally, methodology for generating high-value synthetic intermediates by an asymmetric, one-pot enzymatic di/polycarbonyl reduction is described. The concept of such methodology is first proven by the synthesis of (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutanoate 3.20. This thesis then describes substrate scope studies and corresponding stereochemical proof to provide more information about this methodology.

Keywords: Total Synthesis
natural products
structural elucidation
Advisor: Robertson, J
Quantitative laser diagnostics for combustion

Quantitative Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (QPLIF) is developed as a diagnostic technique and then applied to a prototype Jaguar optical internal combustion engine. QPLIF derives quantitative, two-dimensional, spatially-resolved measurements of fuel concentration. This work reports the first demonstration of a fully-fractionated surrogate fuel which exhibits all the characteristics of a typical gasoline. This 'pseudo' fuel, developed in association with Shell UK, is blended to accept a fluorescent tracer which may track one of the light, middle or heavy fractions of the fuel, each of different volatility. The traditional weaknesses of PLIF for quantitative measurements are addressed by use of a fired in-situ calibration method, which maps the quantum efficiency of the tracer and concurrently corrects for window fouling and exhaust gas residuals (EGR). Fuel distributions are presented with an estimated super-pixel accuracy of 10% at different operating conditions, and then compared to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions of an in-house Jaguar model.
Fuel/Air Ratios by Laser Induced thermal Gratings (FARLIG) is developed theoretically, and results of validation experiments conducted in a laboratory setting are reported. FARLIG conceptually enables the measurement of fuel concentration, oxygen concentration and temperature within a spatially-localised probe volume. Uniquely, the technique exploits the dominant influence of molecular oxygen on non-radiative quenching processes in an aromatic tracer molecule. The changing character of a model quenching mechanism potentially allows the oxygen concentration in the measurement volume to be derived. Absolute signal strength is used to determine fuel concentration, while the oscillation period of the signal provides a precise measurement of temperature (~0.3% uncertainty), with accuracy limited by knowledge of the gas composition.

Keywords: air/fuel ratio
laser
diagnostic
quantitative
stratification
LIGS
fuel distribution
cyclic variability
thermal grating
modelling
LITGS
PLIF
IC engine
fluorescence
optical
Advisor: Ewart, P
Olefin metathesis for site-selective protein modification

Site-selective protein modification has become an important tool to study protein functions in chemical biology. In the preliminary work, allyl sulfides were found to be reactive substrates in aqueous cross-metathesis (CM) enabling the first examples of protein modification via this approach. In order to access the enhanced CM reactivity of allyl sulfide on proteins, facile chemical methods to install S-allyl cysteine on protein surface were developed. In particular, a cysteine-specific allylating reagent – allyl selenocyanate was used on protein substrate for the first time.
The substrate scope of allyl sulfide-tagged proteins and factors that affect the outcome of CM was also investigated. A range of metathesis substrates containing different olefin tether of various lengths were screened; allyl ethers were found to be most suitable as CM partners. By reducing the steric hindrance around the allyl sulfide on protein surface through a chemical spacer, the rate and conversion of metathesis reaction on proteins was greatly enhanced. Moreover, allyl selenides were found to be more reactive than allyl sulfides in CM and enabled reactions with substrates that were previously impossible for the corresponding sulfur-analogue. Through this work, substrate selection guidelines for successful metathesis reaction on proteins were established.
Rapid Se-relayed CM was further investigated through biomimetic chemical access to Se-allyl selenocysteine (Seac) via dehydroalanine. On-protein reaction kinetics revealed rate constants of Seac-mediated CM to be comparable or superior to off-protein rates of many current bioconjugations. This CM strategy was applied to histone proteins to install a mimic of acetylated lysine (K9Ac, an epigenetic marker). The resulting synthetic H3 was successfully recognized by antibody that binds natural H3-K9Ac. A Cope-type selenoxide elimination subsequently allowed the removal of such modification to regenerate dehydroalanine. Finally, preliminary research efforts towards metabolic incorporation of allyl sulfide-containing amino acid into proteins, and CM on cell surfaces were discussed.

Keywords: protein modification
olefin metathesis
bioconjugation chemistry
alkene metathesis
Advisor: Davis, BG
The language of Menander Comicus and its relation to the Koiné

The thesis is a study of the language of Menander Comicus (c.341-292/1 B.C.). The core of the thesis is a partial description of his language. Using a sociolinguistically informed model of koineisation, Menander's language is related to developments in the linguistic history of Greek. The first chapter therefore reviews the literature on Menander's language and details the theory of koineisation that will inform the subsequent chapters; accommodation theory is here of particular importance.
The second chapter reviews nominal word-formation, used elsewhere in the literature as a criterion of the Koiné. It is pointed out that word-formation is not a good criterion, as the assessment of productivity patterns in a dead variety is difficult. However, by a detailed philological study of the data in Menander, some conclusions are reached about the productive and non-productive suffixes in Menander. The derivational patterns he attests for the most part look classical, but some changes are detected.
The third chapter looks at the phonology and morphology of Menander. It is suggested that the vocalism of Menander betrays some characteristic Koiné developments, while the consonantism is mostly conservative. Noun and pronoun morphology are mostly conservative, while verbal morphology shows some signs of paradigm levelling. This is in line with the developments expected of a koineising variety, which are characterised by levelling.
The final chapter is much more descriptive and focuses on syntax, particularly subordinate clauses. Some difficult examples of relative clauses are discussed which may anticipate later developments. Adverbial and complement clauses show that the optative, while morphologically stable, is no longer used in certain syntactic contexts (the oblique optative has more or less disappeared).
An overall assessment attempts to distinguish the synchronic and the diachronic conclusions: the thesis deliberately discussed both together. It points out some concrete results establishing some spurious Menandrean texts while discussing the status of Menander's dialect. The main conclusion is that the terms of the debate about Menander's language have been misconceived: 'Attic vs. 'Koiné' is a false dichotomy in fourth-century Attica.

Advisor: de Melo, W
Willi, A
Architecture and the public in interwar Britain

This thesis explores how the practice and profession of architecture was increasingly understood and discussed in terms of the public in the first half of the twentieth century through six case studies. In the age of universal suffrage, architects began to recognise that, in order for the profession to flourish, the built environment would have to respond to the demands of public opinion and publicity, and that design would need to appeal to the 'man in the street' if the profession was to establish its position in the new culture of democracy.
'Architecture and the Public in Interwar Britain' thus challenges the view that the mainstream of interwar British architecture was parochial and backward looking, and seeks to reintegrate the stories of many well-known but academically neglected projects and controversies into twentieth century architectural history, which remains dominated by attempts to nuance the privileged narrative of the growth and 'triumph' of Modernism and the International Style. Instead, I argue that architecture is better conceived as a broad discourse involving a number of agents of diverse positions and attitudes struggling with common critical and professional challenges.
The first section of the thesis considers architecture in the Imperial Metropolis. After offering a re-reading of 66 Portland Place, the headquarters of the RIBA, through the lens of professional anxieties in the interwar years, it considers two controversial rebuilding projects: Regent Street and Waterloo Bridge. The thesis then considers architecture and publicity in the suburbs, offering close readings of factories along the new arterial roads out of London, in particular the Guinness Brewery and Gillette Factory amongst others. The final section of the thesis unpicks the idea of the civic centre in interwar Britain through the contrasting examples of Southampton Civic Centre and lastly Norwich City Hall.

Keywords: planning
civic
practice
public
modern
design
culture
architecture
professionalism
interwar
history
england
british
Advisor: Whyte, W
Wright, A