VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Towards a Catholic epistemology

In this thesis, I develop a Catholic analysis of faith and reason, drawing on insights from a movement in contemporary analytic philosophy: Reformed Epistemology. In my first chapter, I explain that despite criticism from Catholic philosophers, Reformed Epistemology provides a broadly salutary model of faith. Inspired by Reformed Epistemology, I develop a further model (“Counter-Reformed Epistemology”) which is philosophically defensible, and which accords well with a set of theological desiderata for such a model drawn from the Church’s dogmatic teaching about faith. These desiderata include divine faith consisting of propositional assent to divine revelation which is (at least, in paradigm instances) perfectly certain, rationally tenacious and freely chosen. I argue that CRE accounts for these properties of faith better than competing analyses of faith advanced by Catholic philosophers. In the second chapter, I expand my sketch of CRE, to show how it can account for the possibility of “implicit” Catholic faith in those who non-culpably fail to believe in the gospel. In doing so, I also compare CRE to the insights of Rahner and von Balthasar, who are important representatives of modern approaches to “fundamental theology”. In the remainder of my thesis, I aim to show that CRE has considerable precedent in Catholic theological tradition. In successive chapters, I argue that Augustine, Aquinas and Newman all advanced religious epistemologies which to different degrees bear considerable similarities to CRE, engaging with various modern interpretations of their work. The support of authors in the tradition should lend plausibility to my model from a Catholic perspective, meaning that Catholics with “basic” belief in divine revelation can be fairly confident that their belief is epistemically fitting. In all, I argue that Reformed Epistemology provides the resources to develop a model of faith that accords well with a traditional Catholic understanding of faith and reason.

Keywords: Implicit Faith
Faith and Reason
Augustine
Newman
Reformed Epistemology
Aquinas
Anonymous Christianity
Plantinga
Advisor: Leftow, B
Wood, W
The dynamics of hepatic lipid metabolism in humans: understanding their role in fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become increasingly prevalent. It is associated with changes in hepatic and whole-body fatty acid (FA) metabolism, with the first stage of the disease, steatosis, characterised by excess triacylglycerol (TAG) storage with a specific (macrovesicular) lipid droplet (LD) pattern; the final step in TAG synthesis is catalysed by diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT). Although the pathogenesis of NAFLD is known to include both genetic and lifestyle factors, the sequence of events that precedes lipid accumulation in the liver remains unclear.
Human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2 and Huh7 cells) were optimised for use as models of hepatic FA metabolism. Use of human serum in the cell media resulted in reduced de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and improved levels of FA oxidation and secretion in both cell lines; Huh7 cells were used for subsequent experiments. To create a macrovesicular LD pattern, low (glucose only) and high (glucose and fructose) levels of sugar were added to the media in combination with low and high concentrations of FAs. The addition of high fat high sugar (HFHS) media to Huh7 cells caused accumulation of large LDs in a more macrovesicular pattern, which was similar to steatotic primary hepatocytes.
Low and high sugar and fat treatments were used on CRISPR-modified Huh7 cells with DGAT2 knocked out; changes in these cells included a reduction in TAG secretion, DNL and glucose uptake from the media. In the HFHS treatment, DGAT2 knockout was associated with signs of oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting an interaction between substrate availability and DGAT2 function. Recruitment of controls and people carrying a DGAT2 mutation who took part in a sugar overfeeding intervention demonstrated that a change in DGAT2 function may impact systemic glucose disposal, evident by increased carbohydrate oxidation and a resistance to metabolic changes caused by sugar overfeeding.
Overall, I developed physiologically-relevant models of hepatocellular metabolism and steatosis. Investigations using these models in parallel with human participants identified altered DGAT2 function as having a potential role in NAFLD.

Keywords: Metabolism
DGAT2
NAFLD
Steatosis
Fatty acid
Nutrition
Advisor: Hodson, L
Green, C
Karpe, F
Shit house to penthouse: an autoethnographic investigation into the interface between artists and East London

This thesis consists of three films, each around 35 minutes long, and a written submission in three parts.
The films are fictional but are shot in a DIY documentary style. Based on extensive research, they collectively examine urban change and the role of the creative class in East London (two are set in Tower Hamlets and one in Dagenham). As video essays in the mockumentary form the ‘documentary maker’ is also a scripted character - a partially fictionalised version of myself. This flawed narrator becomes a vehicle to critique a particular class, gender and race perspective. In each film the supposed thematic stalls as power relations between this fictional filmmaker and his subjects are reversed or hijacked calling into question the artist’s own pretentions, presumptions and ideology. Through this methodology the films are able to examine a host of characters in East London whilst simultaneously critiquing the documentary format itself and the ethics of ethnography.
The written submission is similarly pseudo-autobiographical though less fictional or satirical. Fluctuating between dialogue, anecdote and more formal academic writing, the three essays weave together research on gentrification, class antagonisms, the psychology of space and architecture, the role of the creative class in London and the enigmatic notion of authenticity both personally and with regard to urban space. Like the films, two of the essays are set in Tower Hamlets and one in Dagenham.
The submission is autoethnographic in two senses: firstly it foregrounds the identity of the author whilst presenting the research; secondly it is partially a study of a class and culture of which I myself am a member. Inverting the position of the aloof cultural critic, the writing and films wrestle with the complexities of commitment, personal and political integrity, and what it means to make artwork in the city.

Advisor: Sworn, C
Bull, M
Development of covalent inhibitors of KDM5B

Lysine Demethylases (KDMs) represent an interesting drug target as they have been implicated in many diseases including several cancers. Reported inhibitors of KDM5 are commonly metal-chelators which bind in the cosubstrate 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) binding site. The inhibitors are potent biochemically but suffer from poor selectivity over the closely-related KDM4 and poor cellular potency. An explanation for the large drop off in cellular activity has been attributed to competition from 2-oxoglutarate. In this thesis, I report the development of a covalent inhibitor that is potent and selective for KDM5. The inhibitors were designed with an 8-pyridopyrimidinone-based scaffold and cysteine-selective electrophiles for covalent binding to C480 in KDM5B, a non-conserved residue across the other KDM subfamilies.
The compounds were rationally designed through covalent docking to ensure non-covalent interactions were maintained (Chapter 2). Numerous compounds were synthesised via a common synthetic pathway. Screening of the covalent inhibitors for time-dependent inhibition was performed using an AlphaScreen assay to determine their kinact/Ki values (Chapter 3). AlphaScreen was also used to determine whether covalent binding resulted in less competition from 2-OG and improved selectivity over the other KDM subfamilies. Covalent binding of the inhibitors to KDM5B using MS-labelling experiments was described in Chapter 4. Proof of target engagement of the covalent inhibitors with KDM5B in the cellular environment using pull-down experiments was attempted in Chapter 5.
Chapter 6 describes the development of a bench-stable transfer reagent for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl sulfonimidamides. This work was undertaken while on industrial placement at Janssen Pharmaceuticals who were interested in this interesting bioisosteric replacement in their own drug discovery projects. Current methods require the formation of an unstable sulfonimidoyl fluoride so it was envisaged that this transfer reagent could be formed on large scale for the synthesis of diverse libraries of CF3-sulfonimidamides.
The final chapter describes another approach towards a therapeutic for cancer. Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR) is an enzyme essential for the synthesis of phosphorylated deoxyribonucleotides so a deoxyadenosine-based PROTAC was developed for the targeted degradation of the RRM1 subunit of RNR.

Advisor: Brennan, P
Kawamura, A
Topochemical fluorination of some Ruddlesden-Popper phases

This thesis describes the synthesis and the characterization of some n = 2 Ruddlesden-Popper oxide phases (A3B2O7; A = La, Y, Sr or Ca; B = Cr, Ni or Mn) and their topochemically fluorinated phases.
La2SrCr2O7 adopts an A2/a (a-a-c-/a-a-c-) distorted structure with antiferromagnetic order below TN ~ 260 K. DFT calculations performed on La2SrCr2O7 suggest that this highly distorted A2/a (a-a-c-/a-a-c-) structure is stabilized by energy gains from the charge equalization and the improvement of chromium bonding environments associated with the unusual Sr/La distribution exhibited by this phase (the 12-coordinate A-sites are occupied by 82(2)% La3+ and 18(2)% Sr2+).
Topochemical fluorination of La2SrCr2O7 (Cr3+) yields La2SrCr2O7F2 (Cr4+) adopting the A2/a (a-a-c-/a-a-c-) distortion with antiferromagnetic order below TN ~ 140 K. The fluorination leads a great compression of the perovskite layer within the Ruddlesden-Popper structure, enhancing the (a-a-c-/a-a-c-) distortion. As a result La2SrCr2O7F2 lies further from the crossover for insulating to metallic behaviour than many other Cr4+ oxide phases.
The A-site doping in La2SrCr2O7 for the preparation of La2-xSr1+xCr2O7 (x = 0.2, 0.3) and La2Sr0.5Ca0.5Cr2O7 leads to no obvious change in structural framework and the antiferromagnetic behaviour. La2-xSr1+xCr2O7F2 (x = 0.2, 0.3) behaves similarly to La2SrCr2O7F2.
Topochemical fluorination of La3Ni2O7 yields La3Ni2O5.5F3.5 with no obvious magnetic order. The fluorination leads to an enhancement of the structural distortion exhibited by the oxide starting material, driving a change from an Amam, a-a-c0/a-a-c0 lattice distortion to a Pnam a-a-c+/a-a-(c+) lattice distortion in the fluorinated phase. The introduction of a cooperative octahedral tilt around the crystallographic z-axis leads to a local breaking of the inversion symmetry of the host lattice on fluorination, although the global inversion symmetry of the lattice is retained due to an alternation in the z-tilt direction in adjacent perovskite sheets.
The substitution of Sr2+ with Ca2+ cations in YSr2Mn2O7 led to an increasing distortion of the metal-oxide framework, resulting in the formation of an orthorhombic symmetry in space group Pnnm adopted by YSr0.5Ca1.5Mn2O7. This novel Pnnm (a-b-c0/b-a-c0, a ≠ b) distortion can be seen as an intermediate in structural change from P42/mnm (a-b0c0/b0a-c0) to Amam (a-a-c0/a-a-c0).
The topochemical fluorination of YSr2Mn2O7 yields YSr2Mn2O5.5F3.5 with P42/mnm (a-b0c0/b0a-c0) distortion. The fluorination YSr2Mn2O7 does not lead to a structural change as observed in that of La3Ni2O7. This preference of retaining relatively high symmetry is driven by the A-cation ordering over the 9- and 12-coordinate A-sites in YSr2Mn2O5.5F3.5.

Advisor: Hayward, M
An international perspective on teacher’s self-efficacy: Investigating personal, cultural, structural and environmental factors

This study investigates the variation of predictors of teachers’ self-efficacy (TSE) in 32 OECD countries and a sub-set of three country clusters containing Anglo-Saxon, Nordic and East and South-East Asian countries (ESEA), offering a cultural perspective on TSE. TSE is defined as a tripartite measure comprising TSE in student engagement, instruction and classroom management. It has been found to be a useful tool to explain differences as to why some teachers are convinced of their ability to bring about change in their students’ learning, while others do not believe in their abilities. The study makes use of the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2013, published by the OECD, that has information of about 104.000 teachers in about 6.500 schools. It is one of very few multi-level studies in the field and brings together variables describing the teachers, the classroom, the principal and the school.
Firstly, it was found that the three domains of TSE are related to the predictors in different ways and most variation in terms of the relationship was found for the classroom setting. Proportionally, most variation could be explained within schools, whereas individual differences between teachers accounted for most variation in TSE within teachers. Secondly, the predictors were associated differently in each domain of TSE across the three country clusters, as i.e. most classroom predictors were significant in the ESEA countries, but rather few in the Nordic countries, whereas student background features were relevant for ex-plaining variation in the Anglo-Saxon countries.
This study was able to contribute to providing levers for education policy and practice to improve the workplace of teachers. It shed light on to how teachers in different cultural settings experience TSE in different ways, although they work in similar institutions. The large sample size allowed robust and generalizable results as well as the application of advanced statistical methods like multilevel- and structure equation modelling. Hence, the study contributes to knowledge on a methodological, practical and theoretical level.

Keywords: quantitative methods
TALIS
teachers' self-efficacy
international comparative research
Advisor: Malmberg, L
Sammons, P
Driven colloidal particles in optical potential energy landscapes

The dynamic behaviour of colloidal particles driven across one-dimensional optical potential energy landscapes is studied. Colloids are driven with a piezo-stage, manipulated with optical tweezers and magnetic ﬁelds and imaged using optical microscopy. First, the meta-stable horizontal and vertical states of a colloidal rod in a single optical trap close to a ﬂat wall are explored. A colloidal rod is then driven through a periodic optical potential energy landscape. The equilibrium position of a rod driven below the critical velocity is found to vary substantially from that of a sphere due to the friction coeﬃcient of a rod being highly dependent on its proximity to an optical trap. At higher velocities, a colloidal rod is shown to act similarly to a colloidal sphere, exhibiting dynamic mode locking. Colloidal spheres are then driven across a time-dependent one-dimensional optical potential energy landscape with diﬀerent modes of dynamic mode locking being observed. The mode locked step width is shown to vary with the oscillation frequency and the coupling strength between the particle and the optical landscape. The particle transport across the time-dependent landscape is also studied by measuring the eﬀective diﬀusion coeﬃcient which is highly sensitive to the driving velocity and mode locking. Next, chains of interacting colloidal particles are driven through a time-independent optical potential energy landscape. A mismatch between the length scales of the chain and the landscape gives rise to a freely sliding chain in an Aubry-type transition. In this regime a chain exhibits zero static friction despite being subject to a potential energy landscape. Chain motion is inspected for a driven ﬂexible chain that is seen to exhibit breathing modes. Introducing oscillations in the driving force leads to dynamic depinning, which is aﬀected by both the frequency and amplitude of the oscillations. Finally, the stochastic thermodynamics for particles driven across an optical landscape is considered. The work done by a particle in both a time-independent and a time dependent optical landscape is measured. The optical work in a time-independent landscape is shown to be zero. However, the time-dependent counterpart exhibits a ﬁnite amount of work due to the optical landscape. The magnitude of the observed total work is considered in light of the mechanism of particle motion along with analysis of the contributing optical work and driving work.

Keywords: Colloids
Optical tweezing
Advisor: Dullens, R
Parabolic systems of forward-backward type exhibiting (p,q)-type growth

This thesis is concerned with systems of nonlinear equations exhibiting both forwardbackward type behaviour, and non-standard growth conditions. A motivating problem in one spatial dimension with application to the Met Office is discussed before proceeding to consider higher dimensional problems.
In the higher dimensional setting, in the absence of a monotonicity condition we work within the framework of Young measure solutions. We prove existence of large-data globalin- time Young measure solutions to initial-boundary-value problems for multidimensional nonlinear systems of forward-backward type of the form @tu − div(a(Du)) + Bu = F, where B ∈ Rm×m, Bv·v ≤ 0 for all v ∈ Rm, F is an m-component vector-function defined on a bounded open Lipschitz domain Ω ⊂ Rn, and a is a locally Lipschitz mapping of the form a(A) = K(A)A, where K : Rm×n → R. The long-time behaviour of these Young measure solutions is then studied, and under suitable assumptions on the source term we show convergence to Young measure solutions of the corresponding time-independent equations. We also discuss how the results proven can be adapted to cover mappings a which have different structure.
We develop a numerical algorithm for the approximate solution of problems in this class, and we prove the convergence of the algorithm to a Young measure solution of the system under consideration.

Advisor: Süli, E
The role of accounting in realigning corporate purpose: Essays on carbon accounting and reporting practices

The general theme explored in this thesis is the role of accounting in realigning corporate purpose. To this end, this study presents three papers, each from a different perspective, examining the role of carbon accounting and reporting practices in redefining the role of corporations in addressing climate change.
The first paper (Chapter 3: Corporate perspective) examines the role of the external carbon reporting requirements in influencing managerial decision-making. Based on a field study informed by semi-structured interviews with 30 sustainability managers in large UK-based companies, this paper demonstrates that the introduction of the carbon reporting requirements enabled the sustainability managers to initiate and implement some degrees of changes to the business practices. However, the paper also shows that they simultaneously inhibited the managers from addressing the unquantifiable and unprofitable aspects of climate change. As such, the paper highlights the positive role of carbon accounting and reporting practices, but also the risk that they may serve to create a ‘false’ sense of comfort.
The second paper (Chapter 4: Voluntary regulatory body’s perspective) examines the role of the ‘harmonisation work’ of voluntary regulatory bodies in making climate change reporting ‘comparable’ with financial reporting. Based on a case study of the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) informed by semi-structured interviews with its 13 key personnel and 2-month participant observation, this paper demonstrates that the harmonisation work enabled the CDSB to initiate some degrees of changes to the corporate reporting practice. However, the paper also shows that there is a risk that it may inadvertently lead the CDSB into an ‘institutional trap’ through which changing the corporate reporting practice becomes seen as the ultimate objective, instead of changing the underlying business practice.
The third paper (Chapter 5: Regulatory perspective) examines the role of the UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in shaping the formulation of a policy proposal which sought to mandate climate change reporting practice. Based on archival analysis of the public consultation documents, this paper demonstrates that the FRC played a subtle ‘thought leadership’ role in shaping the way that the actors involved in the regulatory debate perceived the issue. This, in turn, created a ‘regulatory-policy loop’ which supported the policy makers’ formulation of the proposal. As such, the paper highlights the role of the corporate reporting regulator in supporting the formulation of the carbon accounting and reporting regulation by creating a sense of shared interest between the business and the NGOs communities.

Keywords: Sustainability reporting
Carbon accounting
Advisor: Barker, R
Examining functional plasticity in the human brain

The ability to quickly learn and adapt behaviour is critical to animal survival. Recent evidence has shown that short-term training can induce widespread changes in the neural activity across the brain. In this thesis, I conducted a series of studies that examined the behavioural and neural consequences of short-term training in humans.
In Chapter 3, I showed that resting-state functional connectivity could detect task- specific changes. However, I also observed changes that were not task-specific, and even occurred when participants had no training. This experiment demonstrates that resting-state functional connectivity is an appropriate tool for studying plasticity and also highlights the importance of experimental controls in plasticity research.
In Chapter 4 and 5, I investigated the impact of reward and punishment on performance during skill learning. In Chapter 4, I focused on how task-demands interact with skill the learning, and in Chapter 5, I focused on whether the learner’s intention to learn modifies the impact of reward and punishment.
In Chapter 6, I used resting-state fMRI to elucidate the impact of reward and punishment on the neural activity evoked by training on two different tasks. I determined that reward and punishment evoked different neural patterns after training, but that the precise regions affected by feedback processing depended on the task being trained.
In Chapter 7, I conducted a preliminary investigation into the neurochemical basis of resting-state functional connectivity using a novel MRSI technique. I found a preliminary link between the distribution of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and network-level functional connectivity. I also found that the interaction between GABA concentration and network-level functional connectivity may be associated with sensorimotor performance.
Collectively, these studies demonstrate the short-term training induces wide- spread changes throughout the brain. These changes are influenced by the task being trained as well as contextual influences. In addition, these findings raise new questions into the physiological basis of network level plasticity that can be addressed in the future.

Keywords: Motor learning
Reward
Memory
Advisor: Stagg, C