VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The instrumental music of Peter Philips

There are fifty-one instrumental pieces by Philips, many of which occur in versions for ensemble, keyboard and lute. The sources have a wide geographical and chronological span. This research is based upon an extensive first-hand examination of the sources of Philips's instrumental music, and a detailed comparative study of the textual variants of each piece.
The thesis divides into three parts. In the first, a biographical chapter relates Philips's instrumental music to the changing nature of his employment. Then the main sources of his instrumental music, the manuscripts copied by Francis Tregian, are discussed at length. The remaining keyboard sources are considered, followed by consort and lute sources.
In Part 2 the technique of intabulation is shown to be central to Philips's keyboard style. A distinction is made between arrangements made by Philips of his own works, those made by him of other composers' works, and settings of his music made by others. A case study of the 'Dolorosa Pavan' is used to illustrate how widely Philips's music was disseminated, and allows us to establish a stemma of sources which helps us to elucidate - and improve - our understanding of their inter-relationships. A second case study attempts to establish the origins of the pavan dated by Tregian to 1580: the original 'model' on which the keyboard piece is based has not survived. The thesis ends with an attempt to place Philips's instrumental repertory in the context of his contemporaries, using Philips's music as a 'touchstone' to refer to relationships (mostly stylistic) with other composers.
Part 3 comprises transcriptions of Philips's instrumental pieces. The texts of each source for a piece are given in parallel with the minimum of editorial adjustment: Part 3 is intended to be a reference tool, not an edition.
Energy-level alignment at organic and hybrid organic-inorganic photovoltaic interfaces

Organic and hybrid organic-inorganic photovoltaic (PV) devices have the potential to provide low-cost, large scale renewable energy. Despite the tremendous progress that has been made in this field, device efficiencies remain low. This low efficiency can be partly attributed to the low open-circuit voltages (Voc) generated by organic and hybrid organic-inorganic PV devices. The Voc is critically determined by the energy-level alignment at the interface between the materials forming the device. In this thesis we use first-principles methods to explore the energy-level alignment at the interfaces between the conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and three electron acceptors, zinc oxide (ZnO), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and graphene. We find that Voc reported in the literature for ZnO/P3HT devices is significantly lower than the theoretical maximum and that the interfacial electrostatic dipole plays an important role in the physics underlying the charge transfer at the heterojunction. We note significant charge transfer from the polymer to the semiconductor at GaAs/P3HT interfaces, and use this result to help interpret experimental data. Our findings support the conclusion that charge transferred from P3HT to GaAs nanowires can passivate the surface defect states of the latter and, as a result, account for the observed decrease in photoluminescence lifetimes. Finally, we explore the energy-level alignment at the graphene/P3HT interface and find that Voc reported for experimental devices is in line with the theoretical maximum. The effect of functionalised graphene is also examined, leading to the suggestion that functionalisation might have important consequences for device optimisation.

Keywords: energy-level alignment
density functional theory
solar cells
photovoltaics
Advisor: Giustino, F
The role of calcium sensitisation in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstruction

This thesis investigates the role of extracellular and intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), in rat and rabbit small pulmonary arteries and also in the isolated ventilated perfused rat lung in situ.
1. Rat and rabbit pulmonary artery rings responded biphasically to a 30min hypoxic challenge (PO2, 16-21Torr). An initial transient rise in tension (phase 1) was followed by a slow progressive rise (phase 2). Removal of the endothelium had no effect on phase 1 but abolished the rising component of phase 2, leaving a steady 'plateau constriction'. This supports the idea that an endothelial vasoconstrictor mediates the rising component of phase 2 but not phase 1 of HPV. This ramp component, but not phase 1 or the endothelium-independent plateau constriction was abolished by the removal of extracellular Ca2+ suggesting extracellular Ca2+ is required for the release and/or actions of an endotheliumderived vasoconstrictor.
2. Pre-incubation with ryanodine and caffeine to deplete intracellular sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ stores, abolished the entire hypoxic response regardless of the presence of extracellular Ca2+ or of the endothelium. Pre-incubation with cyclopiazonic acid, which blocks the Ca2+ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) abolished phase 1, but not phase 2, regardless of the presence of the endothelium. This suggests a role for SR Ca2+ release. Omitting pretone (1ìM PGF2á) reduced, but did not otherwise modify these responses.
3. Measurements of cyclic ADP ribose (cADPR) levels using, acid extraction from rabbit pulmonary artery rings, showed that cADPR levels rise during hypoxia (16- 21Torr), but are significantly lower during severe hypoxia (5-8Torr) or normoxia (154-160Torr). In isolated arteries, the plateau constriction, but not phase 1 or the rising component of phase 2, was shown to be cADPR-sensitive.
4. When perfusate from the isolated hypoxic rat lung was applied to de-endothelialised artery rings, tension rose with a time course similar to that of phase 2 of HPV. The pharmacology of the vasoconstrictors) in the perfusate differs from that of ET-1. Constriction by the perfusate was inhibited by a Rhoassociated kinase antagonist, suggesting a role for myofilament Ca2+ sensitisation via a Rho-associated kinase.
5. Perfusate taken from the lung after the hypoxic challenge does not constrict the artery to the same degree as perfusate from the hypoxic lung suggesting that the vasoconstrictor is metabolised or removed during normoxia.

Advisor: Nye, P
Numerical methods for American option pricing

An analytic solution does not exist for evaluating the American put option. Usually, the value is obtained by applying numerical methods. For instance, the PSOR algorithm is a widely used one in financial industry. In the past few years, many other methods to solve American option problems have been introduced, two examples are Linear Programming and Penalty method. The aims of this dissertation are: first, to provide an introduction to four algorithms - Explicit, PSOR, Penalty and Linear Programming on pricing American put options; and second, to make comparisons through numerical tests.
Alkaline earth- and rare earth-transition metal complexes

This Thesis describes the synthesis and characterisation of new alkaline earth- and rare earth-transition metal complexes. Experimental and computational studies were performed to investigate the structure and bonding in these complexes. Their reactivity was also studied.
Chapter 1 introduces metal-metal bonded complexes and current alkaline earth- and rare earth-transition metal bonded complexes.
Chapter 2 describes experimental and computational studies of new alkaline earth- and lanthanide-Fe complexes possessing the [CpFe(CO)2]- anion.
Chapter 3 presents experimental studies of the reduction of Fe3(CO)12 with Ca.
Chapter 4 describes experimental and computational studies of new alkaline earth- and lanthanide-Co complexes containing the [Co(CO)3(PR3)]- anion.
Chapter 5 presents full experimental procedures and characterising data for the new complexes reported.
Appendix describes the attempted synthesis of [Ca{CpRu(CO)2}2(THF)x]y and study by DFT of [CaRp2(THF)3]2
CD Appendix contains .cif files for all new crystallographically characterised complexes described.

Keywords: alkaline earth
lanthanide
rare earth
transition metal
metal-metal bonding
Advisor: Mountford, P
Identification of methylation sites in Rhodobacter chemoreceptors

Chemotaxis in Rhodobacter sphaeroides occurs through the alteration of the level of rotational switching of its flagellum. The presence of attractants and repellents are sensed by methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). The reversible methylation of certain glutamate residues in the methylation helices of MCPs is important in the adaptation aspect of chemotaxis. Previously established consensus methylation sites in other organisms were used for searches in the sequences of R. sphaeroides chemoreceptors for putative methylation sites. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to convert glutamine/glutamate residues to alanine in these putative sites on the cytoplasmic receptor TlpT and the transmembrane receptor McpH. Motility analyses of mutants showed that TlpT(Q475A) and TlpT(Q528A) cells have reduced motility. This indicates that these sites in TlpT could be important for methylation by CheR3 and demethylation by the CheBs.

Keywords: chemotaxis
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins
Advisor: Armitage, J
Oligonucleotide-based therapies for neuromuscular disease

Genetic neuromuscular diseases remain essentially untreatable. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one such example and another is C9ORF72-related frontotemporal dementia/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (c9FTD/ALS). Both these conditions may, however, be amenable to treatment with antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) compounds. Therapeutic ASO development for DMD is already in the clinical trial phase, while the applicability of ASO therapies in c9FTD/ALS remains to be clarified. No reliable method has yet been devised in order to target these compounds to the central nervous system following systemic administration. This thesis has investigated the ability to deliver therapeutic ASOs to the brain following systemic administration in the mdx mouse model of DMD. It has also investigated the molecular genetics of c9FTD/ALS to see whether ASO treatment may be a beneficial approach.
The integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was assessed in mdx mice. The mdx mouse BBB was found to be structurally intact by light and electron microscopy. Brain gene expression of BBB components was similar between mdx and wild-type mice. The barrier function of the mdx BBB was found to be largely equivalent to that of wild-type mice using systemically administered fluorescent tracers. Peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PPMOs) were tested by intravenous injection in mdx mice. Pip6a-PMO was found to be the most active compound for inducing exon skipping in the brain. Fluorescent labelling of Pip6a-PMO showed body-wide distribution after systemic delivery, including increased accumulation in brain compared to unconjugated PMO, particularly in choroid plexus. c9FTD/ALS patient fibroblasts were analysed for C9ORF72 promoter methylation, expansion size and gene expression. No clear relationship was found between C9ORF72 expansion size and levels of promoter methylation or gene expression. An unexpected positive correlation was found between the degree of promoter methylation and gene expression. LNA-gapmer knockdown of a putative C9ORF72 natural antisense transcript resulted in upregulation of gene expression.
These experiments suggest that the BBB is not severely defective in DMD. Furthermore, peptide conjugation of ASOs can be used to induce detectable exon skipping in brain tissue following systemic injection, suggesting that certain PPMOs may cross the BBB. Finally, ASOs may also provide a useful therapeutic approach in c9FTD/ALS, although further work will be needed in future to confirm this and to better characterise the disease.

Keywords: C9orf72
AON
ALS
c9FTD/ALS
antisense oligonucleotides
fronto-temporal dementia
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
blood-brain barrier
FTD
motor neuron disease
DMD
mdx
ASO
BBB
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Advisor: Wood, M
Talbot, K
A cryogenic scintillation UCN detector for a neutron EDM experiment

The observed imbalance of matter and anti-matter in the universe is one of physics' most fundamental unresolved questions. The leading theories to explain this imbalance require CP violation, and the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) is a sensitive parameter in its determination. Many new theories of physics beyond the standard model can be constrained or ruled-out by setting limits on the nEDM. Many next generation nEDM experiments require Ultra Cold Neutrons (UCN), produced in superfluid helium. One such experiment is cryoEDM. This thesis explores various types of UCN detection technologies applicable to cryoEDM or any high-density high-efficiency cryogenic nEDM experiment.
Cryogenic Phonon Scintillation detectors (CPSD) are modified for this application by operating at 500 mK, and by using a titanium transition edge sensor for phonon signal readout. A CPSD is stabilised in the transition using a novel infra-red light feedback system which reduced the response time to O(100 μs). The detector is characterised and calibrated using an 241Am α source. It was found to operate reliably at this elevated temperature and measure an alpha spectrum with 11% resolution at 5.5 MeV.
Scintillators are identified as a promising technology for UCN detection at low temperature. Suitable materials that are bright with fast decay times and low γ sensitivity are studied in the temperature range 300 - 6 K. Their light yield to alpha excitation, their decay time characteristics and spectroscopic properties under VUV excitation are investigated. This study includes the first comprehensive investigation of the luminescence properties of plastic scintillators and of 6LiF/ZnS(Ag) down to 6 K. It is found that there is no degradation of the luminescence or kinetic properties of these materials across the whole temperature range, revealing them as suitable cryogenic detector materials.
Using a plastic scintillator, a prototype UCN detector for operation in liquid helium is designed, manufactured and tested. It is read out using WLS optical fibres to a room temperature photomultiplier. The detector is successfully tested with cold neutrons at the ISIS neutron science facility and found to effectively measure neutrons, with a signal that is clear from background. Recommendations are made for its integration into a cryogenic neutron EDM experiment. This low-cost detector offers a promising method for the passive detection of UCN in a challenging cryogenic environment, with minimal electric interference and low background sensitivity. This technology offers the potential for improved UCN detection efficiency and thus improved sensitivity of the measurement of the neutron EDM.

Keywords: CPSD
nEDM
plastic scintillator
EDM
neutron detector
ultra cold neutrons
neutron electric dipole moment
UCN
SQUID
low temperature physics
crygogenic phonon scintillation detector
cryoEDM
scintillator
cryogenic detector
Advisor: Henry, S
The Celestine monks of France, c. 1350-1450: monastic reform in an age of Schism, councils and war

This thesis focuses on the Celestine monks of France, a largely neglected and distinctive reformed Benedictine congregation, at their apex of growth (c.1350-1450). Based largely within the kingdom of France, but also including key houses in the contiguous territories of Lorraine and the Comtat, they expanded significantly in this period, from four monasteries to seventeen within a hundred years. They also gained independence from the mother congregation in Italy with the coming of the Great Western Schism (1378-1417).
The study aims view the French Celestines against the backdrop of a vibrant culture of 'reform' within both the monastic estate (the Observants) and the Church as a whole, as well as the political instability and war in France. It will reveal a congregation alive with the passions of their times and relevant within them.
Following an introductory section, chapter 1 will discuss the previously unstudied Vita of the leading French Celestine Jean Bassand (d.1445) in depth and introduce the key themes of the subsequent chapters. Chapter 2 will examine their Constitutions, in the process providing perspective on their hyper-scrupulous understanding of sin and the relation of their statutes to the Christian idea of 'reform'. Chapter 3 will look to anecdotal evidence concerning the quality of their observance in practice, as well the spiritual and moral writings of Pierre Pocquet (d.1408), another important Celestine leader. Chapter 4 will begin to establish how and why the order grew, examining records of benefaction (contemporary martyrologies and charters) as well as taking view of the financial (and in the end, moral) difficulties brought by war through the documents concerning the reductions of founded masses at the Paris and Sens houses. Chapter 5 will look at monumental and anecdotal/literary evidence, as well as the works of Jean Gerson, a friend of the order, to further define the cultural impact of the monks.

Keywords: Celestine
Monasticism
Council of Constance
Jean Gerson
Monastic History
Hundred Years War
Later Medieval
France
Conciliar Reform
Benedictine
Later Middle Ages
Celestines
French History
Advisor: Thompson, B
Independence and accountability of the Indian higher judiciary

There is currently no satisfactory account of how judges of the Supreme Court of India and High Courts in the states are appointed, transferred, impeached or employed postretirement. For a higher judiciary commanding immense public attention, enjoying wide constitutional powers of judicial review, this is a conspicuous gulf in academic literature. This thesis intends to bridge this gulf by providing such an account. Part I extracts the Constituent Assembly Debates pertaining to these four facets of judicial functioning, describes key developments over time and analyses the extant processes in operation today. On this basis it makes three arguments: first, appointments to the higher judiciary and transfer of judges between High Courts follow processes that are indefensible as a matter of constitutional law; second, impeachment operates in an excessively slow and inefficacious manner; third, the pervasiveness of post-retirement employment of judges in government-appointed positions demonstrates inadequate attention to institutional design.
Most crucially, each of these four aspects gives rise to significant concerns pertaining to judicial independence, accountability or both. This is not a peculiarly Indian problem— in several countries, the values of judicial independence and accountability have been deemed to be in tension, often irreconcilably. Part II tackles this widely articulated tension by providing a conceptual framework to understand these concepts. Its main argument is that both judicial independence and accountability are necessary for 'an effective judiciary'. Whether indeed the processes governing the four selected facets of judicial functioning in India lead to an effective judiciary is assessed in Part III. Where they are found lacking, appropriate reform is suggested. Such reform is intended to ensure that the selected processes operate in a manner that is justifiable in terms of judicial independence and accountability in principle and is efficacious in practice.

Keywords: judicial accountability
appointment of judges
separation of powers
judicial appointments
constitutional law
India
judicial independence
checks and balances
Supreme Court of India
Advisor: Craig, P
Restoration, Reformation and the progress of the kingdom of Christ

This thesis attempts to outline Calvin's practice of evangelisation in the period 1555-64 and to identify the theological basis for this activity as it is expressed in his works. It is argued that during the last ten years of his life Calvin was preoccupied with the propagation of the Gospel in France and western Europe and that echoes of this preoccupation may be discerned in his publications dating from this period. There are three parts to the thesis.
Part I is chiefly historical and has two aims. The first is to convey, by a detailed study of the primary sources (including unpublished ecclesiastical correspondence), the full extent of the evangelistic enterprise which arose in Geneva after 1555 and of Calvin's role in it. The second is to show that a series of Lectures on the Old Testament Prophets which Calvin gave in 'the school' at Geneva was addressed to people caught up in this missionary endeavour and is to be read in this light. Part I concludes by identifying two themes which permeate these and other related theological expositions: 'the progress of the Kingdom of Christ 1 and 'the restoration (or reformation) of the Church'.
The missionary content of these themes is established in Parts II and III of the thesis, which are consequently more theological. The sustained parallel between Part II of the thesis (which is devoted to the ecclesiological aspects of these themes) and Part III (which is devoted to their soteriological aspects) bears witness to the close connection between ecclesiology and soteriology which is characteristic of Calvin's thought about evangelisation. The identification and elucidation of this parallel is perhaps the single most important contribution made by this thesis.
Novel palladium-catalysed routes to aromatic heterocycles

Chapter 1: Introduction A brief summary of the use of palladium as a catalyst, the characteristic reactivity of palladium complexes and the commonly used palladium-catalysed cross coupling reactions is given, with a special focus on the palladium-catalysed α-arylation of enolates and its application to the synthesis of aromatic heterocycles. The synthesis of aromatic heterocycles via both traditional methods and more recent metal-catalysed approaches is discussed in the context of isoquinolines.
Chapter 2: Results and Discussion The palladium-catalysed oxidation of dihydrofurans bearing an ortho-bromophenyl group at the 2-position to the corresponding 2-phenyl furans is disclosed along with some preliminary mechanistic investigations. A novel synthetic route to isoquinolines is detailed involving the palladium-catalysed α-arylation of ketone enolates with an appropriate ortho-substituted aryl halide to furnish a protected 1,5-dicarbonyl intermediate. The versatility of these intermediates is demonstrated with their conversion into isoquinolines, isoquinoline N-oxides and naphthols. The scope of the synthetic procedure is fully exemplified across more than 30 different scaffolds covering the full spectrum of electron-rich to electron-deficient moieties. The intermediates were shown to be amenable to functionalisation with electrophiles, leading to isoquinolines bearing additional substitution at the C4 position. Sequential one-pot procedures were developed allowing three and four component couplings to directly deliver highly-substituted isoquinolines from commercially available starting materials. This methodology was utilised in the total synthesis of the natural product berberine in 26% overall yield and a longest linear sequence of six steps.
Chapter 3: Experimental Full experimental procedures and characterisation data for all compounds are reported.

Keywords: heterocycle
alpha arylation
palladium
heteroaromatic
isoquinoline
berberine
Advisor: Donohoe, T