VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
An exploratory investigation into socioemotional outcomes of children with disabilities in Vietnam

This exploratory investigation into the socioemotional outcomes of children with disabilities in Vietnam is the first of its kind to be conducted, thus the analysis within this study establishes empirical evidence which, at time of writing, has not yet been formally recorded and published. This study adopts a paradigmatic approach beyond that of a positivist-constructivist dichotomy, and is explicitly cognisant of the value of statistical modelling and academic standards of rigorous research, whilst critically engaging with the axiology of such standards and recognising that the findings stemming from small sample studies can be fundamental in the progression of a given field, particularly where there is limited research surrounding a given phenomenon.
This study explores socioemotional outcomes of disabled children through analysis of the Vietnamese younger cohort dataset within the Young Lives study (n=40), and aims to better understand the lived experiences of disabled youth in Vietnam through asking the question ‘which factors influence socioemotional outcomes of disabled children in Vietnam?’. This study finds that: there are differences between the socioemotional outcomes of disabled children and non-disabled children at age 15 (lower for children with disabilities); child-level factors can account for 79.4%-88.6% of variance in socioemotional outcomes of disabled children at 15; family-level factors can account for 8.6%-71.9% of variance in socioemotional outcomes of disabled children at 15, and community-level factors can account for 36.4%-84% of variance in socioemotional outcomes of disabled children at 15. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, it is recommended that further research is conducted to replicate the findings within this analysis, and that future research advances from the limitations posed within this empirical study, allowing for better-informed policy decision-making in Vietnam.

Keywords: secondary data analysis
CDE2022
Vietnam
socioemtional outcomes
disability
CDE
Advisor: Malmberg, L
The contractualisation of care: the emergence of family agreements in an ageing world 

In life one thing is certain: we will all age. Due to increased life expectancy, the number of people affected by age-related illnesses, particularly dementia, who require ongoing, extended care will increase. Therefore, the question of who will care for older people is significant. Currently, limited places in aged care facilities, coupled with government policies encouraging people to age in the community, means that there is pressure on adult children, particularly daughters, to provide unpaid care for their older parent(s). Today, however, many adult children cannot afford to reduce their working hours to care for their older parents. Older parents are therefore compensating their adult children for the care they provide (or will provide) by transferring assets to them during the parents’ lifetime. To facilitate these transactions, family care agreements (Family Agreements) are increasingly being entered into. This thesis considers some of the legal issues associated with Family Agreements to better understand whether (if at all) Family Agreements are giving effect to the intentions of the parties whilst adequately protecting them from harmful outcomes. The thesis outlines ways in which the law has responded to population ageing and identifies areas that require further attention. This thesis mainly considers the position in Queensland, Australia, but also draws on case law and research from countries with comparable legal, health and aged care systems, particularly the United Kingdom, New Zealand and British Columbia, Canada. It concludes that the law in Queensland inadequately protects older people who wish to enter into Family Agreements. Further, it demonstrates that caregiving adult children are vulnerable to post-mortem equitable claims challenging the validity of the transaction(s) under Family Agreements, particularly because the law does not sufficiently recognise or value care work.

Keywords: family agreements
care contracts
validity of transfer
inter vivos transfer
equitable claims
intergenerational wealth transfer
populating ageing
Mathematical modelling for tendon tissue engineering in a humanoid robotic bioreactor

Tendon tissue engineering aims to grow functional tissue in vitro. Tissue is grown in bioreactors which regulate the biochemical and mechanical environment of the growing cells. This thesis develops mathematical models motivated by the Humanoid Robotic Bioreactor under development at the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences. Cells grow on a scaffold consisting of many aligned, flexible strings, surrounded by cell media. The focus of this work is modelling fluid-induced shear stresses and metabolite transport within this fluid-fibre composite.
We begin in chapter 1 by providing background on tissue engineering and introducing the humanoid robotic bioreactor. In chapter 2, we develop methods required in later chapters, identifying the correct way to treat integral constraints in multiple scales problems with a slowly varying domain. We consider a simple example from electrostatics, using a particular limit of the problem treated with standard multiple scales to identify the correct method to treat integral constraints directly. We apply this method in chapter 3, where we use homogenisation theory to obtain an effective model for the fluid-string interaction in the bioreactor scaffold. We solve the model in simple cases to explore how the cell shear stress depends on the imposed forcing. In chapter 4, we homogenise the metabolite transport problem, outlining the different effective models that arise for various regimes. We consider simple solutions to each case and identify the most relevant regime to the humanoid robotic bioreactor. We draw conclusions and outline directions for future work in chapter 5.

Keywords: integral constraints
mathematical modelling
homogenisation via multiscale asymptotics
Advisor: Waters, S
Chapman, S
Oliver, J
Mouthuy, P
Standardizing the state: the IPSASB's role in transnational private regulation

The IPSASB, a private sector body, has quietly attained dominance in the field of public sector financial reporting: nearly 50% of countries, and all major IGOs, draw on its standards in some form. The astounding success of these private standards in public sector accounting is inherently puzzling, but is made even more so by the meaningful distributional consequences within societies adopting IPSAS: the standards create winners and losers among parliaments, politicians, and within the bureaucracy, and have the potential to mechanistically drive financial policymaking and financialization, thus benefiting accountants and big accounting firms while potentially disadvantaging labor and taking discretion away from elected representatives.
This puzzling regulatory relationship is understudied in the literature. Through an in-depth case study of this organization, this thesis explains why and how private actors successfully “standardize” states. Drawing on over 3400 pages of Board minutes, 37 elite interviews, and ethnographic observation of three in-person Board meetings, it argues that private rulers generate demand for their standards by pushing these standards through international and domestic “supply chains,” targeting both IGOs and national and subnational bodies, while depicting them as universally applicable and apolitical – even if they have clear distributional implications. In doing so, the thesis makes several contributions to the literature. First, it uncovers an understudied phenomenon in transnational private regulation (TPR), in which the state itself is a target of rulemaking by a private actor. Second, it provides for the first time an empirical exploration of a case of private regulation of the public sector. Introducing the IPSASB as its case, the thesis expands existing literature on financial reporting, filling and important empirical gap. Finally, it develops a novel theory for this new regulatory arrangement which puts the suppliers of standards in the center of analysis.

Keywords: global governance
private authority
transnational private regulation
orchestration
private regulation of the public sector
private standard setting
financial reporting standards
Fast probing of many Earth models with full waveforms

Seismology is our primary method for inferring the structure and dynamics of Earth’s interior. A region of particular importance is the lowermost mantle near the core-mantle boundary. Detailed information about lowermost mantle seismic structures can be inferred by comparing synthetic seismic waveforms to those observed at Earth’s surface.
In this thesis, a forward modelling method is presented which is based on first order single scattering approximations. These include the well-known Born approximation (which involves linearly perturbing the amplitude of the waveform), as well as the Rytov approximation (which involves linearly perturbing the phase of the waveform) and a whole family of intermediate approximations termed Marks approximations. The computation of these first order waveforms is facilitated by time and space dependent waveform sensitivity kernels. Kernels are computed for each source-receiver pair, but they are independent of the perturbed model. Once the kernel is calculated, synthetic seismograms for many models are generated very quickly (≈ 7 s per model).
The applicabilities of the Born, Rytov and Marks approximations are tested by comparing to reference solutions computed with a fully numerical method. For small perturbations to the background model, an excellent agreement is found between the first order and reference solutions, providing validation of the method. The first order method breaks down with increasingly large and strong perturbations. The Rytov ap- proximation consistently performs better than Born (the worst) or Marks(intermediate). The method is valid for P, S and converted phases.
The first order method is used to generate synthetic P/Pdiff waveforms under the Rytov approximation for 500 models representative of the large low velocity province under Africa. The database of synthetic data is probed in a statistical manner; sets of models which fit certain supposed observations are presented.

Keywords: born approximation
seismology
global seismology
Rytov approximation
waveform modelling
first order approximations
Advisor: Nissen-Meyer, T
In pursuit of (soft) power: Chinese artificial intelligence governance in an age of great power competition

The 2017 New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan outlined the People’s Republic of China’s aims to become the world leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by 2030 and create a global example of an AI-powered & governed society. Much analysis of PRC AI strategy since has focused on how these goals build domestic and international influence to enhance China’s hard power capabilities. This work asks instead: How does China’s approach to soft power manifest in its efforts to become an AI superpower? Through studying Chinese national-level AI policies and subsequent overseas state messaging via directed content analysis, I found that U.S. understandings of PRC AI strategy are flawed due to their overpowering focus on its hard power implications. The Chinese model of AI governance may have more draw through soft power than previously recognized.
I further argue that a full understanding of the PRC’s AI strategy requires more study of how soft power considerations influence that policy. Strong parallels exist between China’s conception of soft power and its broader AI strategy, both of which emphasize the construction of a strong domestic foundation upon which global influence can be built. China’s emphasis not just on the governance of AI (the act of regulating AI or dictating its use), but also the governance through AI (the eployment of AI in society to aid in the act of governing) allows for the construction of a potentially comprehensive and example-setting model. This study can inform future studies of Chinese soft power and global AI governance norms. It also calls for U.S. policy actors to place more emphasis on revitalizing the domestic U.S. democratic model through AI, rather than framing key AI policies as direct competitive responses to the “China threat.”

Keywords: artificial intelligence
foreign policy
United States foreign policy
international relations
soft power
United States
technology
The People's Republic of China
policy
great power competition
China
geopolitics
Advisor: Mittelstadt, B
Towards the total synthesis of stambomycin D

Stambomycin D, a 51-membered glycosylated macrolide, was discovered by a genome mining approach, and the predicted planar structure confirmed by NMR spectroscopic analysis. However, the sequence analysis-predicted stereocenters (except C28 and C50) remain to be validated. This thesis discusses efforts to achieve a chemical synthesis of stambomycin D to fully determine its stereochemistry, including the 'unpredictable' C28 and C50 stereocenters. To begin with, the stambomycin D aglycone was disconnected at C50 to reveal acyclic C1–C51 fragments, which could be divided into five smaller fragments (C1–C11, C13–C22, C23–C31 (1,3-anti or syn diol at C27 and C28) and C33–C48 fragments). The early chapters discuss the synthesis of these fragments as well as deprotection studies, and the later chapters focus on the union of these fragments. Regarding the order of combination, the C13–C22 fragment is coupled to the C23–C31 (1,3-anti diol at C27 and C28, this thesis only discusses the anti diol diastereomer) first to construct the C13–C31 framework. A deprotection study was successfully executed on this fragment. The subsequent union of the C13–C32 fragment and C33–C48 fragment gives the C13–C48 fragment, for which deprotection exploration was also carried out. Through these deprotection studies, we not only supported the sequence analysis-predicted assignment of most of the stereocenters of stambomycin D, but also paved the way for the deprotection of the acyclic C1–C51 fragment and ultimately synthesis of the entire macrolide.

Keywords: asymmetric alkyne addition
deprotection
protecting groups
asymmetric synthesis
polyketides
aldol reactions
Advisor: Anderson, E
Understanding and exploring behavioural change: eadiness to change and response to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; recording of clients’ child dependants by mental health service staff and improving fluid restriction and quality of life in people receiving haemodialysis


There is considerable interest in identifying factors that predict outcome from psychological treatment. This review examines the relationship between readiness / stage of change at entry to CBT treatment and treatment attendance or outcome in people with mental health problems other than addiction. A systematic literature search identified 20 eligible studies of which 19 were included in the narrative synthesis. Seventeen explored the relationship between readiness and symptom outcome, with a majority (n=12) identifying at least one statistically significant relationship between variables, either directly or in interaction with another measure. A number of these also tested other associations which were non-significant. In contrast, five studies explored the association between readiness and treatment attendance, and findings were inconclusive. The review identified little evidence that the association between readiness and outcome varied according to clinical problem being treated or measure of readiness used. The five studies adopting an RCT design identified no evidence of differences in the relationship between readiness and outcome when comparing CBT to other psychotherapeutic interventions. Study quality was variable, and a range of methodological limitations and potential avenues for future work are discussed.

Keywords: haemodialysis
cognitive behavioural therapy
case series
readiness to change
acceptance and commitment Therapy
ACT Matrix
Modelling and simulation of compacting sedimentary basins

Hydrocarbons are found in rocks within sedimentary basins below the Earth’s surface. Whilst they remain a primary energy source, many hydrocarbon fields are nearing depletion, and new, more advanced exploration and recovery techniques are required to find new reserves and to sustain production. One such technique aims at predicting the evolution of pressure, porosity, and temperature profiles within basins from past to present, to determine whether there is potential for hydrocarbon generation in a certain location and also to reduce drilling risk.
In this thesis, we identify and mathematically model the primary geological processes within a sedimentary basin. We develop a fundamental model which describes both the mechanical and chemical compaction of sediments, and their influence on the porosity, pressure, and temperature profiles. We write our model in a general form which then sets up the framework on which we can add geological features, such as sills and fault lines. Such a generalised model, which can include these features in multiple dimensions, is rarely seen in literature.
We use the finite element method to develop a solver which can tackle our full model in multiple dimensions, and we test the validity of the solver through the method of manufactured solutions and error analysis. We discuss additional numerical techniques that can be used to model the deforming basin with respect to compaction and sedimentation. Our model is solved for the simplest case first, before we present simulations for varying geological situations. We examine the effects of a constant versus a porosity-dependent permeability model, varying rock viscosity values, different compaction models, and mechanical or chemical compaction (the latter of which is frequently neglected in literature and in industry). Then, we present simulations for basins in the presence of complex geological features, such as laterally varying stresses, faults, and sills. Finally, we summarise our key findings.

Keywords: sedimentation
mathematical modelling
basin
Advisor: Gillow, K
Van Gorder, R
Whiteley, J
Concrete sheaf models of higher-order recursion

This thesis studies denotational models, in the form of sheaf categories, of functional programming languages with higher-order functions and recursion. We give a general method for building such models and show how the method includes examples such as existing models of probabilistic and differentiable computation. Using our method, we build a new fully abstract sheaf model of higher-order recursion inspired by the fully abstract logical relations models of O’Hearn and Riecke. In this way, we show that our method for building sheaf models can be used both to unify existing models that have so far been studied separately and to discover new models.
The models we build are in the style of Moggi, namely, a cartesian closed category with a monad for modelling non termination. More specifically, our general method builds sheaf categories by specifying a concrete site with a class of admissible monomorphisms, a concept which we define. We combine this approach with techniques from synthetic and axiomatic domain theory to obtain a lifting monad on the sheaf category and to model recursion. We then prove the models obtained in this way are computationally adequate.

Advisor: Staton, S
(Re)moving waste: caste, spaces, and materials in Delhi

Delhi is faced with a burgeoning growth of discarded materials—commonly referred to as waste. This rapid increase is characterised by chaos and disorder in the management of waste. This thesis examines the disorder and its effects through the lens of materials, spaces, time, people, and infrastructures involved in the flow of waste through the city. I focus on three waste-related sites in Delhi—Balmiki colonies, the Bhalswa landfill, and recycling units in north-west Delhi—and show how discarded materials acquire different meanings in different contexts and subsequently shape the caste-, class-, and gender- based social relations and the social and economic value associated with waste work and waste workers. I demonstrate this by focusing on the technocratic infrastructure of waste management and by examining the human and caste-based infrastructure of waste management. I show how the growing privatisation of the waste management infrastructure and the use of technology alongside the Clean India Campaign are projected as symbols of modernity and cleanliness and are used to invisibilise the human and environmental dimensions of the waste crisis for political and economic profit. Simultaneously, I focus on waste workers—municipal sanitation workers, public private partnership-led garbage collectors, informal waste pickers, and recyclers—to demonstrate the varying nature of stigma, discrimination, and evaluation of waste work and waste workers. I illustrate how urban marginality has pushed not only Scheduled Caste communities’ workers but also many non-Scheduled Caste communities, such as Muslim and Hindu OBCs, into waste work, transforming their social relations and caste hierarchies at a micro level. Furthermore, I examine how the value of waste work varies from being reproductive (city’s livability) to productive (generating exchange value in waste materials), across different spatio-temporal axes and value chains, and how that shapes the way waste workers perceive themselves and their work.

Keywords: materials
spaces
waste
value
infrastructures and technology
caste
Bankruptcy in early modern England: bankruptcy and insolvency in the early modern Court of Chancery, 1543-1628

This thesis presents a detailed analysis of the Chancery practice in relation to both bankruptcy and insolvency between 1543 and 1628. The aim of the thesis is to improve our understanding of the foundations and early development of bankruptcy and insolvency law in England. The methodology of the thesis is primarily doctrinal, but it uses historical methods to trace and understand unexplored cases and other legal archival materials in Chancery records, and together with additional historical and literary sources puts the law into a social and economic historical framework.
The thesis shows that the Court of Chancery had two functions in relation to bankruptcy and insolvency. The survey of the records shows that the Court of Chancery exercised a review function in relation to the decisions of the commissions of bankrupts which were authorised to deal with bankruptcy matters in the first instance, including declaring debtors bankrupt. This meant that the Court of Chancery effectively worked as an appellate court for the decisions of commissions of bankrupts.
In addition to the review function, the Court of Chancery also had an equitable function in relation to insolvency matters. In its equitable function the Court of Chancery dealt with issues concerning insolvent debtors that were not regulated by statutory bankruptcy or the common law. This thesis breaks with conventional scholarship and shows that the Chancery practice in this area appears to have been very humane, with special care for the most vulnerable in society, and that ‘modern’ bankruptcy principles and ideas, such as the concept of insolvency by misfortune, voluntary bankruptcy, debt settlements (compositions), majority control and the discharge of debts, which have generally been attributed to the bankruptcy statutes of 1705 and 1711, were already applied in the Court of Chancery in this earlier period.

Keywords: King James I
property law
bills of conformity
vulnerable debtors
Chancery record
early modern period
debt settlements
insolvency
Francis Bacon LC
debts
equity
land law
fraud
discharge of debts
bankruptcy
Court of Chancery
sureties
financial rehabilitation
sixteenth-century
Privy Council
archival materials
widows
debtor's prison
seventeenth-century
orphans
Advisor: Jones, N