cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
title: Culture, economy and the normalization of debt
Creators: name: Ellis, David
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: The growth of personal indebtedness in the UK has become of increasing significance in the years following the 2007/8 global financial crises as both a public issue and within the personal troubles of individuals. What distinguishes contemporary personal debt is its relationship to the political and economic transformations of the last 30 years, characterised as the process of neoliberalization. This process is allied with a particularly virulent form of global financial capitalism that has increasingly come to dominate all aspects of society, from the institutional structures of civil society to the minutiae of everyday life. In order to draw out the main features of this process and its role in the normalization of debt, this thesis addresses two distinct, but interrelated questions: first, how has personal debt been framed through the promotion and dissemination of particular policy and public discourses?; and second, how have attitudes and behaviours towards personal debt been transformed as everyday cultural practices and understandings? First, the research is guided by the post-disciplinary approach of ‘cultural political economy’, using the concept of the ‘economic imaginary’ to identify the evolving material-discursive production of meaning in government policy-making that has framed personal debt. Second, the research examines how intersubjective meanings of personal debt have become resonant within everyday practices of credit and debt through a series of biographical narrative participant interviews. The two strands of research are brought together within a cultural political economy framework. This thesis demonstrates how established neoliberal embedding at policy-level has unswervingly framed a conception of ‘consumer freedom’ that involves increasing access to credit markets, but emergent extra-discursive situations have always constrained such framings. At the same time, increased access to credit has meant a greater acceptance of debt by people who negotiate these transformations by developing modes of calculation that reduce the moral complications of debt accumulation. However, it also involves being vulnerable to greater risks, as they are exposed to the same extra-discursive constraints.
Observation of reversible orbital angular momentum transfer based on photon-phonon coupling
Creators: name: Zhu, Zhihan
name: Gao, Wei
name: Mu, Chunyuan
name: Li, Hongwei
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Optics (physics.optics)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Orbital angular momentum (OAM) has gained great interest due to its most attractive feature of high dimensionality, and several ground-breaking demonstrations in communication based on OAM multiplexing have been carried out. Accordingly, a rapid data-density growth from OAM multiplexing has posed a great challenge to the signal-processing layer. Meanwhile, in another area, optical signal-processing circuit based on photon-phonon conversion has received considerable attention and made rapid progress. Here, with an aim of finding the intersection between OAM multiplexing and photon-phonon conversion, we report on the observation of reversible OAM photon-phonon conversion. A specific OAM state can be flexibly and controllably interconverted between photonic and phononic domains via Brillouin photon-phonon coupling within the decay time of acoustic signal, in which OAM and spin angular momentum are independently conserved. Our result demonstrates the controllable OAM transfer between photons and phonons, shows the potential of using OAM multiplexing to extend the capacity of photon-phonon conversion based signal-processing scheme, and may trigger the development of OAM-multiplexed photon-phonon circuit.
description: 13 pages, 3 figures
Droits & dépôt dans HAL - Sciences, techniques et médecine
Creators: name: Bibliothèque de Sorbonne université [BSU]
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: HAL
science ouverte
open access

description: Formation au dépôt dans HAL : que déposer dans HAL et comment, pour les chercheurs en Sciences, techniques et médecine de Sorbonne université.
Durée de la formation : environ 2 heures
1.Pourquoi déposer dans HAL
2.Selon le circuit de ma publication que puis-je déposer dans HAL ?
3.Créer un compte HAL
4.Faire un dépôt
5.La modération d'un dépôt
6.Pour aller plus loin : le cas des images
7.Le département Open Access de Sorbonne université
Resonance enhancement by suitably chosen frequency detuning
Creators: name: Dutykh, Denys
name: Tobisch, Elena
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Classical Physics (physics.class-ph)
subject: Chaotic Dynamics (nlin.CD)
subject: Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph)
subject: Computational Physics (physics.comp-ph)
subject: Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: 37N10 (primary), 37N05, 76B65 (secondary)

description: In this Letter we report new effects of resonance detuning on various dynamical parameters of a generic 3-wave system. Namely, for suitably chosen values of detuning the variation range of amplitudes can be significantly wider than for exact resonance. Moreover, the range of energy variation is not symmetric with respect to the sign of the detuning. Finally, the period of the energy oscillation exhibits non-monotonic dependency on the magnitude of detuning. These results have important theoretical implications where nonlinear resonance analysis is involved, such as geophysics, plasma physics, fluid dynamics. Numerous practical applications are envisageable e.g. in energy harvesting systems.
description: 13 pages, 6 figures, 5 references. Other author's papers can be viewed at http://www.denys-dutykh.com/
title: Energy absorbing characteristics of hybrid composite pipe systems
Creators: name: Liao, Yaoping
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: The aim of this research is to investigate the structural response of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) tubes and their hybrid systems subjected to quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. The work also includes the investigation of the mechanical properties and energy-absorbing characteristics of other novel composite structures for the potential use in aerospace and a wide range of engineering applications. Firstly, a series of experimental tests have been carried out to obtain the mechanical properties of all constituent materials and structural behaviour of the composite structures, which are used to validate numerical models. The material tests undertaken include (1) quasi-static and dynamic crushing of individual CFRP tubes and the related hybrid systems (2) compression of PU foams. The corresponding failure modes are obtained. In addition, specific energy absorption of the individual tubes and the hybrid systems investigated is evaluated. Then, finite element (FE) models are developed using the commercial code ABAQUS/Explicit to simulate the structural response of CFRP tubes, the related hybrid systems and syntactic foam core based sandwich beams. The agreement between the numerical predictions and experimental results is very good across the range of the structures and configurations investigated. The FE models have produced accurate predictions of the static and dynamic load-displacement responses, the specific energy absorption and failure characteristics recorded for CFRP tube structures. The modelling has been further undertaken on the low velocity impact response of the sandwich beams, with reasonably good correlation to the corresponding experimental results. The dynamic characteristics of the fibre reinforced composite pipe structures through a series experimental tests and numerical predictions investigated in this project can be used in assisting the design of lightweight composite structures for energy-absorbing applications.
title: Predictors of resilience in adolescents with a cleft lip and/or palate
Creators: name: Cuddy, Jenna
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2016

description: Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore predictors of resilience in 12-16 years old with a cleft lip and/or palate. Methods: Adolescents (n=126) were recruited via a regional cleft service and an online support group. The relationships between self-reported resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale) and peer relationships and experiences (Childhood Experience Questionnaire), family competence (Self-report Family Inventory-II), satisfaction with appearance (Satisfaction With Appearance questionnaire) and coping strategy use (KidCope) were explored. Results: In multiple regression analysis, peer relationships and experiences (β =.33, p
title: Insights into the defence of honey bees, Apis mellifera L., against insecticides
Creators: name: Gurkan, Selcan
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2016

description: There are some contradictory theories on how tolerant honey bees are of pesticides. Since the honey bee genome has been published (Honey bee Genome Sequencing Consortium, 2006), more is known about their metabolic systems, especially the detoxification pathways for potential xenobiotics. Bioassay and biochemical data from various studies have shown that both P450s and carboxylesterases are responsible for pesticide metabolism in honey bees. Here, those metabolic enzymes that confer primary defence to different classes of insecticides in honey bee were validated. Metabolic enzymes are characterised regarding their ability to interact with the insecticide. Synergist bioassay results with PBO and EN 16/5-1 suggest that detoxification mechanism(s) play an important role in protecting honey bees from selected insecticide toxicity. No binding was found between honey bee esterases and tested insecticides, whilst inhibition of P450 activity sensitised the honey bees to these chemicals. Metabolism of tau-fluvalinate and thiacloprid in honey bees is reportedly due to P450 activity, but this metabolism may not be the only reason for the relatively benign action of this insecticide on bees. Honey bees are less sensitive to neonicotinoids containing a cyanoimino pharmacophore than to those with a nitroimino group, however the specific enzymes involved in detoxification remain to be characterised. In this work, pre-treatment of honey bees with a sub-lethal dose of an insecticide induced protection to the same compound. Transcriptome profiling, using microarrays, identified a number of genes encoding detoxification enzymes that were overexpressed significantly in insecticide-treated bees compared to untreated controls.
title: Visual Narration in Comics and Graphic Novels
Creators: name: Gong, Yufei
Publisher: name: University of Dundee
Year: 2021

description: The past year I have investigated storyboards and the processes of visual narration. I have also looked at illustration, and the first experiment in photo-etching. I see visual narration as influenced by the camera's framing, and through the use of the imaginary camera, I have drawn storyboards and made many pages of compositions.
General Three-Point Functions in 4D CFT
Creators: name: Elkhidir, Emtinan
name: Karateev, Denis
name: Serone, Marco
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We classify and compute, by means of the six-dimensional embedding formalism in twistor space, all possible three-point functions in four dimensional conformal field theories involving bosonic or fermionic operators in irreducible representations of the Lorentz group. We show how to impose in this formalism constraints due to conservation of bosonic or fermionic currents. The number of independent tensor structures appearing in any three-point function is obtained by a simple counting. Using the Operator Product Expansion (OPE), we can then determine the number of structures appearing in 4-point functions with arbitrary operators. This procedure is independent of the way we take the OPE between pairs of operators, namely it is consistent with crossing symmetry, as it should be. An analytic formula for the number of tensor structures for three-point correlators with two symmetric and an arbitrary bosonic (non-conserved) operators is found, which in turn allows to analytically determine the number of structures in 4-point functions of symmetric traceless tensors.
description: 26 pages; v2: minor improvements, references added, matches JHEP published version; v3: eq.(3.10) corrected; v4: $X^+$ factors fixed in some formulas, minor improvements
How do health, biological, behavioral, and cognitive variables interact over time in children of both sexes? A complex systems approach
Creators: name: de Sousa Pereira, Elenice
name: Thuany, Mabliny
name: Bandeira, Paulo Felipe Ribeiro
name: Gomes, Thayse
name: dos Santos, Fernanda Karina
Publisher: name: University of Limerick
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 42
subject: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: The present study examined gender differences in health, physical activity, physical fitness,real and perceived motor competence, and executive function indicators in three time points, and analyzed the dynamic and non-linear association between health, biological, behavioral, and cognitive variables in children followed over time. A total of 67 children (aged between six and 10 years) were followed during two years and split into two cohorts (six to eight years old: C1; eight to 10 years old: C2). Data regarding health, physical activity, real and perceived motor competence, physical fitness,and executive function indicators were obtained according to their respective protocols. Comparison tests and network analysis were estimated. Significant gender differences were found in both cohorts. The emerged networks indicated different topologies in both cohorts. No clusters were observed between the variables in C1, and there was a greater number of interactions at eight years of age. Sparse networks were observed in children aged eight and 10 years in C2, and greater connectivity was observed at nine years of age between health, physical fitness, motor competence, and physical activity indicators. This study showed that there are non-linear dynamic relationships between health,biological, behavioral, and cognitive variables over time during child development.
title: Coupling the INDRA and VAMOS multi-detectors for symmetry energy studies
Creators: name: Wigg, Peter
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: The study of the symmetry energy under well controlled laboratory conditions serves to provide constraints for theoretical models covering a wide range of physical phenomena, from the neutron skin thickness of 208Pb to the structure and dynamics of neutron stars. Of particular interest at the present time is the density dependence of the symmetry energy. The INDRA-VAMOS (E503) experiment intends to extract constraints on the density dependence of the symmetry energy at low densities using isotopic scaling and isospin diffusion measurements. In this report the physics motivation and experiment will be discussed in detail, as well as the calibration of the detectors and recent changes to the analysis code.
Branching random walk with selection at critical rate
Creators: name: Mallein, Bastien
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Probability (math.PR)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 60G50, 60J80

description: We consider a branching-selection particle system on the real line. In this model the total size of the population at time $n$ is limited by $\exp\left(a n^{1/3}\right)$. At each step $n$, every individual dies while reproducing independently, making children around their current position according to i.i.d. point processes. Only the $\exp\left(a(n+1)^{1/3}\right)$ rightmost children survive to form the $(n+1)^\mathrm{th}$ generation. This process can be seen as a generalisation of the branching random walk with selection of the $N$ rightmost individuals, introduced by Brunet and Derrida. We obtain the asymptotic behaviour of position of the extremal particles alive at time $n$ by coupling this process with a branching random walk with a killing boundary.
description: Updated version
title: The relationship between spasticity, quality of life and other neurological impairments in multiple sclerosis
Creators: name: Milinis, Kristijonas
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: Background: Previous research has shown that spasticity negatively affects physical functioning and health status, however information on its impact on overall quality of life (QOL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is limited. Furthermore, qualitative studies indicate that spasticity may affect a number of MS-associated conditions such as fatigue, depression, anxiety, pain and sleep. However these relationships have not been examined in the quantitative studies. Objectives: 1) To determine the effect of spasticity on overall QOL. 2) To investigate the relationships between spasticity and other neurological impairments associated with MS. Methods: Demographic details were obtained and a questionnaire pack containing the World Health Organization Quality Of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Leeds MS QOL scale (LMSQOL), World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale-88 (MSSS-88), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS 0-10) for spasticity, Neurological Fatigue Index - MS (NFI-MS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), SF-Qualiveen for bladder dysfunction and Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS) was given to patients at three UK neuroscience centres. Results: 260 patients completed the questionnaire pack. 84.8% reported spasticity. 56.1% had moderate (NRS 4-6) or severe (NRS 7-10) spasticity. Patients with spasticity were more likely to be disabled, suffer from depression, have higher levels of fatigue and report more pain, bladder and sleep problems (p0.05). Depression and fatigue were the strongest predictors of poor QOL, which is consistent with current literature. Conclusions: Spasticity is very common in MS and is often severe and disabling. There is a strong association between spasticity and fatigue, depression, pain, sleep and bladder problems. The findings suggest that spasticity might directly and indirectly influence overall QOL.
Bridging the Gap: Blockchain’s Transformative Impact on SAP Systems in the Field
Creators: name: Bodemer, Oliver
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 380106
subject: Experimental economics
classificationCode: 380107
subject: Financial economics
classificationCode: 380110
subject: International economics
classificationCode: 380109
subject: Industry economics and industrial organisation

description: In the contemporary digital landscape, the integration of blockchain technology with SAP systems has emerged as a pivotal advancement for businesses across various sectors. This research delves into the transformative potential of blockchain when synergized with SAP, a leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The inherent strengths of blockchain, such as unparalleled transparency, robust security, and decentralized control, offer a myriad of opportunities to enhance SAP modules, revolutionizing traditional business processes and driving both efficiency and innovation.Central to this study is the exploration of real-world applications, particularly through case studies of three companies, referred to as "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C." These placeholders have been intentionally used to maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of the companies involved, ensuring that proprietary strategies, sensitive data, and competitive advantages are not inadvertently disclosed. Such a measure is crucial in academic and industry research to uphold the integrity of the study while safeguarding the interests of the participating entities."Company A" represents a firm in the electricity sector that has harnessed blockchain’s capabilities to enhance supply chain transparency and traceability. "Company B," from the insurance industry, has streamlined its financial operations, leveraging blockchain to reduce inefficiencies and bolster trust among stakeholders. Lastly, "Company C" from the automotive sector has transformed its asset management and tracking processes, utilizing blockchain to provide real-time, immutable records, significantly reducing discrepancies.However, the journey of integrating blockchain with SAP presents challenges, including technical complexities, organizational resistance, and scalability concerns. Yet, the case studies underscore the tangible benefits that can be reaped, offering valuable lessons for businesses contemplating a similar technological convergence.In an era where digital transformation is paramount, the fusion of blockchain and SAP emerges as a promising avenue for achieving operational excellence. This research provides an in-depth guide, highlighting the intricacies, potential pitfalls, and immense rewards of this integration, with a special emphasis on real-world implementations and their impact.
Irreducibility and integrity of schemes
Creators: name: Rohrer, Fred
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Algebraic Geometry (math.AG)
subject: General Topology (math.GN)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 14A15 (Primary), 54D99 (Secondary)

description: This is a comprehensive study of the relations between the global, local and pointwise variants of irreducibility and integrity of schemes, including examples and counterexamples, and aimed especially at learners of algebraic geometry.
description: appended erratum
Laplacian Mixture Modeling for Network Analysis and Unsupervised Learning on Graphs
Creators: name: Korenblum, Daniel
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Machine Learning (stat.ML)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Laplacian mixture models identify overlapping regions of influence in unlabeled graph and network data in a scalable and computationally efficient way, yielding useful low-dimensional representations. By combining Laplacian eigenspace and finite mixture modeling methods, they provide probabilistic or fuzzy dimensionality reductions or domain decompositions for a variety of input data types, including mixture distributions, feature vectors, and graphs or networks. Provable optimal recovery using the algorithm is analytically shown for a nontrivial class of cluster graphs. Heuristic approximations for scalable high-performance implementations are described and empirically tested. Connections to PageRank and community detection in network analysis demonstrate the wide applicability of this approach. The origins of fuzzy spectral methods, beginning with generalized heat or diffusion equations in physics, are reviewed and summarized. Comparisons to other dimensionality reduction and clustering methods for challenging unsupervised machine learning problems are also discussed.
description: 13 figures, 35 references
title: Adhesion analysis of different PfEMP1 variants to CD36, ICAM-1 and primary endothelial cells
Creators: name: Madkhali, Aymen
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: Malaria is an ancient vector-borne disease that still has a huge impact on global health. Malaria pathogenesis is developed during the asexual intraerythrocytic stage where P. falciparum modifies the host erythrocytes by exporting repertoires of parasite proteins on to the surface of infected erythrocytes. PfEMP1 is one of these proteins that mediate different functions including the adhesion of IEs to the host receptors such as CD36, ICAM-1 and EPCR. The current study has characterised the adhesion of infected erythrocytes with different PfEMP1 variants to CD36, ICAM-1 and primary endothelial cells. The characterisation was carried using static protein and flow endothelial adhesion assays. First, the characterisation involved an analysis of the binding of recently selected ICAM-1 binding P. falciparum patient isolates on different ICAM-1 variants. The results showed that different isolates have variant-specific binding phenotypes suggesting that there might be variable contact residues on ICAM-1 being used by different parasite PfEMP1 variants. This observation was more emphasised by the adhesion of isogenic isolates that has been confirmed to express ICAM-1 binding domain from IT4 parasites. The second part of the study has characterised the adhesion of IEs with upsC PfEMP1 isolates from HB3 and IT4 isolates on CD36, ICAM-1 and endothelial cells. Three upsC IT4 isolates bound to CD36 and one of these isolates bound to ICAM-1 because it expresses DBLβ-ICAM-1 binding domain. In contrast, HB3 upsC isolates did not show preferential binding to CD36, ICAM-1 and the endothelial cells despite showing cross reactivity with adult hyperimmune sera. Finally, the adhesion of IEs with different length PfEMP1s was analysed. It was concluded that long PfEMP1 adapted to bind efficiently the short, but this might be due to the lack of variety of DBLs for adhesion in the short forms. Therefore, it is suggested that it is the domain constitution rather than size that seems to be important.
"From Keras Import Curating" – An Empirical Study on the Application of Curatorial Practice to Machine Learning Models
Creators: name: Bönisch, Dominik
name: Hunger, Francis
Publisher: name: Training the Archive / Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: curator
artificial intelligence
Big Data
Persona
prototype

description: The working paper evaluates eleven interviews with professional curators conducted for the project Training the Archive. From the interviews, a series of personas were derived that provided insight into the needed functionality of the Curator's Machine and led to corresponding changes in the prototypes. The text then highlights, on the one hand, curatorial approaches that can be realized with the Curator's Machine, including systems of non/order and databases, the process of selection and thinking in terms of configurations and categories, as well as a reflection on the used data basis. On the other hand, curatorial approaches that are not feasible or only to a limited extent were discussed, for example, issues of representation and data bias, the influence of the institutional setting, and spatial relations in the exhibition conception. The working paper thus conclusively discusses the project Training the Archive and is a contribution to the practical application of software in the field of curating.
Identities of sum of two PI-algebras in the case of positive characteristic
Creators: name: Kaygorodov, Ivan
name: Lopatin, Artem
name: Popov, Yury
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Rings and Algebras (math.RA)
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: We consider the following question posted by K.I. Beidar and A.V. Mikhalev in 1995 for an associative ring $R=R_1+R_2$: is it true that if the subrings $R_1$ and $R_2$ satisfy polynomial identities, then $R$ also satisfies a polynomial identity? Over a field of positive characteristic we establish new conditions on $R_1$ and $R_2$ that guarantee a positive answer to the question. We find upper and low bounds on the degrees of identities of $R$.
description: The full version of the paper published in 2015
Minimal surfaces in the 3-sphere by stacking Clifford tori
Creators: name: Wiygul, David
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Differential Geometry (math.DG)
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: Extending work of Kapouleas and Yang, for any integers $N \geq 2$, $k, \ell \geq 1$, and $m$ sufficiently large, we apply gluing methods to construct in the round $3$-sphere a closed embedded minimal surface that has genus $k\ell m^2(N-1)+1$ and is invariant under a $D_{km} \times D_{\ell m}$ subgroup of $O(4)$, where $D_n$ is the dihedral group of order $2n$. Each such surface resembles the union of $N$ nested topological tori, all small perturbations of a single Clifford torus $\mathbb{T}$, that have been connected by $k\ell m^2 (N-1)$ small catenoidal tunnels, with $k \ell m^2$ tunnels joining each pair of neighboring tori. In the large-$m$ limit for fixed $N$, $k$, and $\ell$, the corresponding surfaces converge to $\mathbb{T}$ counted with multiplicity $N$.
description: The final version will appear in JDG
title: Structure of the neutron-deficient nuclei 173Au and 173Pt and their α-decay descendants
Creators: name: Thornthwaite, Alexander
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: Fusion-evaporation reactions have been used to populate excited states in 173Au and 173Pt, and expand the level schemes for these nuclei. Transitions feeding the π −1 (s1/2) state in 173Au have been discovered for the first time. No collective behaviour was observed in 173Au either. Although no evidence of isomeric transitions or fine structure was present for the decay chain of 173Au, an isomeric transition in 173Pt was observed for the first time. It was found to be decaying from 173Pt’s ν(i13/2) band head to the ν(h9/2) band head. The excitation energy of both of these bands have been determined for the first time. The ν(h9/2) feeds the ground state via decay of a 104-keV γ ray. The ground state of 173Pt has been established to be ν(f7/2). These new findings were compared to systematic trends for both the Pt and Au isotopes. α-decay analysis of 173Pt suggests a ν(f7/2) ground state for the daughter nucleus 169Os, with the 35-keV (5/2−), 112-keV (9/2−), 136-keV and 171-keV states being populated via fine structure of 173Pt’s α decay. The α-decay chains originating from the isomeric π −1 (h11/2 ) state and the π −1 (s1/2) ground state have been studied, culminating in the observation of the α decay of 161Ta m and 165Re g, respectively. As well as reporting a new activity in the decay of 165Re g and confirming that the known α decay of 161Ta is associated with the high-spin isomer, this work has allowed the excitation energy of the high-spin state of 161Ta to be determined for the first time. In combining these new measurements with the information already available on 157Lu Qα -value for the decay of the ground state of 161Ta it has also been possible to deduce the 161Ta. This has enabled the Qp -values of to be measured to give -129(24)keV and -37(21)keV for the ground and isomeric state, respectively, indicating that these states are only just bound with respect to proton emission. The nuclear masses were deduced from Qα measurements in this work and were found to be consistent with values obtained from more direct methods, such as Schottky mass spectrometry or Penning trap mass spectrometry.
title: WW dibosons at the LHCb experiment
Creators: name: McSkelly, Ben
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a proton-proton collider that has achieved a world high centre of mass energy. The protons are collided at four distinct detectors. One such is the ATLAS, a large general purpose detector aimed at a multitude of physics analyses. At the start of this PhD, work was undertaken searching for supersymmetry at the ATLAS experiment. After calculating the rates of various processes for wider use, work was undertaken searching for pair production of stops, the supersymmetric partners of top particles. A two lepton stop particle analysis is presented with focus on data driven estimates of electroweak backgrounds. The main analysis in this thesis was conducted using the LHCb experiment. LHCb is a precision detector focusing on events in the forward region. Although primarily designed for B physics, high precision LHCb tracking and vertex resolution allows for electroweak measurements probing proton parton distribution functions at low values of Bjorken-x. A method for measurement of the fiducial cross section of WW events with eta > 2 is presented. The electron-muon channel is chosen due to lower background rates. Events with no jet content and a pair of high momentum leptons originating from the same vertex are selected. The measurement suffers from a small statistical sample, but nevertheless measures a fiducial cross section at 8TeV = 4.7 +-1.5 (stat.) +-0.5(syst.) +-0.1(lumi.) fb consistent with the standard model prediction. Finally, the future of diboson measurements at LHCb is assessed. Further LHCb runs due to begin imminently, will provide sufficient data to alleviate statistical limits and produce competitive measurements.
Distinct Functional Connectivity Signatures of Impaired Social Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis
Creators: name: Golde, Sabrina
name: Heine, Josephine
name: Pöttgen, Jana
name: Mantwill, Maron
name: Lau, Stephanie
name: Wingenfeld, Katja
name: Otte, Christian
name: Penner, Iris-Katharina
name: Engel, Andreas K.
name: Heesen, Christoph
name: Stellmann, Jan-Patrick
name: Dziobek, Isabel
name: Finke, Carsten
name: Gold, Stefan M.
Publisher: name: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: multiple sclerosis
subject: social cognition
subject: functional connectivity
subject: emotion recognition
subject: fusiform gyrus
subject: 610 Medizin und Gesundheit

description: Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by impairments in basic cognitive functions such as information processing speed as well as in more complex, higher-order domains such as social cognition. However, as these deficits often co-occur, it has remained challenging to determine whether they have a specific pathological basis or are driven by shared biology. Methods: To identify neural signatures of social cognition deficits in MS, data were analyzed from n = 29 patients with relapsing–remitting MS and n = 29 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and education. We used neuropsychological assessments of information processing speed, attention, learning, working memory, and relevant aspects of social cognition (theory of mind, emotion recognition (ER), empathy) and employed neuroimaging of CNS networks using resting-state functional connectivity. Results: MS patients showed significant deficits in verbal learning and memory, as well as implicit ER. Performance in these domains was uncorrelated. Functional connectivity analysis identified a distinct network characterized by significant associations between poorer ER and lower connectivity of the fusiform gyrus (FFG) with the right lateral occipital cortex, which also showed lower connectivity in patients compared to controls. Moreover, while ER was correlated with MS symptoms such as fatigue and motor/sensory functioning on a behavioral level, FFG connectivity signatures of social cognition deficits showed no overlap with these symptoms. Conclusions: Our analyses identify distinct functional connectivity signatures of social cognition deficits in MS, indicating that these alterations may occur independently from those in other neuropsychological functions.
title: The diagnosis of electronegative magnetron plasmas
Creators: name: Scribbins, Steven
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: The magnetron sputter tool has been employed for many years to manufacture engineering-quality thin films and coatings. While many aspects of magnetron plasmas have been extensively studied, much is still unknown. This project aims to develop a more complete picture of the magnetron sputtering plasma by performing laser-assisted electron photodetachment diagnostics to measure the density of negative ion species in these plasmas. Concentrations of negative oxygen ions were measured in oxygen/argon mixtures, and negative hydrogen ions in hydrogen discharges. Concentrations were plotted spatially across the midplane of the discharge to determine the 2-dimensional distribution of negative ions. The evolution of concentration with time is also measured. Negative ions were found to follow a spatial distribution pattern which appears to be independent of the discharge gas type, and are at maximum concentration in the diffuse region of the discharge above the magnetic field trap and off the central axis. Regions of moderately high plasma electronegativity were observed, with concentrations of negative ions exceeding the local electron density at some locations. Hydrogen discharges were shown to follow a similar pattern, however the overall proportion of negative ions within the hydrogen discharge was seen to be at lest a factor of ten lower than in the oxygen case.
Sleep pattern and muscle mass - STROBE checklist
Creators: name: Bernabe-Ortiz, Antonio
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 420299
subject: Epidemiology not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 420603
subject: Health promotion

description: STROBE Checklist for the manuscript entitled "Sleep duration, sleep disturbances and skeletal muscle mass change over time: A population-based longitudinal analysis in Peru".
title: Early goal directed therapy for adult meningitis in Malawi
Creators: name: Wall, Emma
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: Introduction: Mortality from acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in sub-Saharan adults is 50-60%, twice that in well-resourced settings. To date, interventions designed to impact on outcome have been ineffective in this setting. This thesis addressed the hypothesis that high mortality is due in part to delayed or inappropriate care, and that this may be improved by goal directed resuscitation. Methods: Clinical and laboratory surveillance data from a large central hospital in Malawi were analysed. Clinical predictors of poor outcome were synthesised into the Malawi Adult Meningitis Score (MAMS). To assess feasibility and outcome, patients with suspected ABM were recruited in the emergency department and observed in year one under routine clinical care (Phase 1), and then managed with a meningitis-specific EGDT clinical care bundle in year two (Phase 2). Laboratory data were tested for outcome associations. Results: A significant decline in the total number of CSF isolates over 12 years was noted, entirely in children under 5 years of age coinciding with Hib vaccination. Adult meningitis incidence remained unchanged, despite significant ART provision. Analysis of 715 historical meningitis episodes showed that the mortality rate was 54% at day 40; HIV seroprevalence was 87% and treatment delays were marked. Coma, seizures, tachycardia and anaemia but not HIV were significantly associated with mortality. The MAMS predicted outcome with good agreement, estimated sensitivity was 74%, specificity was 55%. EGDT was found to be feasible, more clinical targets were met using EGDT including reduced time to antibiotics, iv fluids, blood transfusion and airway placement. There was no significant difference in outcome at 40 days between the two cohorts. Neither high pneumococcal load nor the presence of EBV co-infection in the CSF were associated with poor outcome. CSF white cell counts were lower in non-survivors, other markers of inflammation were not associated with outcome. Conclusion: The incidence of bacterial meningitis is not falling in adults in Malawi. Important clinical predictors were identified and synthesised into a prediction tool. EGDT for meningitis is feasible in adult patients in Malawi; a larger trial is required to test the impact on outcome. Further work to improve pre-hospital care and identify novel adjunctive treatments is necessary.
Autonomization of Monoidal Categories
Creators: name: Delpeuch, Antonin
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Category Theory (math.CT)
subject: Computation and Language (cs.CL)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: We show that contrary to common belief in the DisCoCat community, a monoidal category is all that is needed to define a categorical compositional model of natural language. This relies on a construction which freely adds adjoints to a monoidal category. In the case of distributional semantics, this broadens the range of available models, to include non-linear maps and cartesian products for instance. We illustrate the applications of this principle to various distributional models of meaning.
description: In Proceedings ACT 2019, arXiv:2009.06334
title: Initiation and termination of cAMP signalling in PANC-1 cells: interplay between cAMP and Ca2+ signalling cascades.
Creators: name: Parker, Tony
Publisher: name: University of Liverpool Repository
Year: 2015

description: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is noted for its resistance to therapy and poor prognosis. PDAC is characterised by extensive local invasion and metastases at distant organs. Having previously shown that the cAMP cascade had regulatory effects on cell migration/invasion in PDAC cells, which are vital processes in metastasis formation, we decided to characterise the cAMP signalling machinery in PANC-1 cells. In this study we adopted a live-cell imaging approach taking advantage of genetically engineered probes that use Fӧrster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to reveal cAMP concentration and PKA activity at a single cell level. Using the Epac-based cAMP sensor H134 we found that PDE3 and PDE4 are the principal cAMP destroyers, whereas β-adrenoceptors are the main physiological cAMP-cascade activators, in PANC-1 cells. Downstream, using Boyden chamber assays we found that PDE3 has the biggest role in cell migration under ‘basal’ conditions, whereas PDE4 has a bigger role in the presence of isoproterenol. However, isoproterenol on its own did not influence PANC-1 cell migration despite having the ability to increase cAMP concentration inside the cell. This part of the study puts forward PDE3 and PDE4 as potential targets for reducing migration/invasion of PDAC. In the second part of the study, we found that these cells have an efficient Ca2+ signalling system; in which ORAI1 is the main mediator of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in PANC-1 cells. To explore the possibility of a Ca2+-cAMP crosstalk in PANC-1 cells, we used the AKAR4 probe to measure PKA activity during Ca2+ responses. The application of neurotensin (NT), a well-known IP3-producing agonist in this cell type, induced a Ca2+ response which was accompanied by an increase in PKA activity. SOCE is likely to play an important role in this process since the activation of SOCE by thapsigargin-mediated store depletion consistently and robustly increased PKA activity. To further investigate the downstream roles of PKA signalling in PANC-1 cells we utilised immunofluorescence to visualise the distribution of PKA activity. Using antibodies specific for phosphorylated PKA substrates, we found that phosphorylated PKA substrates are preferentially concentrated in the nucleus; and notably at the leading edges of PANC-1 cells displaying a migratory phenotype. At the leading edges phosphorylated PKA substrates colocalised with actin-rich ruffles. Interestingly, utilising the rapamycin-inducible heterodimerisation system to reveal endogenous ER-PM junctions in migrating PANC-1 cells, we found that ER-PM junctions are also situated in close proximity to the leading edge. These results suggest that SOCE activates PKA responses in the region strategically important for PDAC cell migration.
Disaster management program compliance and problems encountered in two provinces in Central Luzon Philippines
Creators: name: Asio, John Mark R.
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: 50203 Environmental Education and Extension
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 50204 Environmental Impact Assessment
subject: 50205 Environmental Management
subject: Environmental Science
subject: 40604 Natural Hazards
subject: 40104 Climate Change Processes
subject: Climate Science

description: Disaster management is one area in the field that comes with a heavy burden of administrative functions and compliances. Thus, it is vital to consider among managers to put the best man in the field. The purpose of this study is to find out the disaster management program compliance of participants in two provinces in Central Luzon, Philippines. At the same time, identify the problems encountered during the implementation of the programs. This study used a descriptive design with the survey as a primary instrument in data gathering. 110 participants took part in the survey which came from the two selected provinces. The researcher created a questionnaire for the study which underwent validity and reliability test. This study analyzed the gathered data using SPSS 20 and employed the following statistical tools: frequency, percentage, rank, means, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson-r. The study found that the respondents ``moderately complied'' with disaster prevention and mitigation programs and disaster preparedness programs. On the other hand, respondents ``complied'' with the disaster response programs and disaster recovery and rehabilitation programs. There were no statistical differences in the responses of respondents with different disaster management programs. However, there is a significant relationship between the number of family members and disaster response programs. Based on the results of the study, the researcher recommended pertinent suggestions for the community, policy-makers, and local government units.
Life-Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Using Rock Dust as a Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate and Cement in Concrete Pavements
Creators: name: Zhao, Yungpeng
name: Goulias, Dimitrios
name: Dobiszewska, Magdalena
name: Modrzyński, Paweł
Publisher: name: MDPI
Year: 2022
Subjects: environmental impact
life-cycle assessment
PCC pavements
rock dust
sustainability

description: The use of recycled materials and industrial by-products in pavement construction and rehabilitation can achieve substantial benefits in saving nature resources and reducing energy consumption as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Alternative geological origin rock dust for the partial replacement of fine aggregate and/or cement in Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements may provide positive environmental and economic benefits. The objective of this study was to quantitatively assess the life-cycle economic and environmental impacts when rock dust is used in PCC pavement roadway construction. Previous studies have primarily focused on the economics and/or environmental impacts during the material production process. Thus, a methodological framework considering all stages (such as material production, transportation, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and end of life), involved in the life-cycle assessment of concrete pavements is proposed when using recycled materials/by-products. The life-cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on a pavement project representative of typical construction practices in Poland to quantify such benefits. The alternative sustainable construction strategies considered partially replacing fine aggregate and/or cement with rock dust of basalt origin in PCC pavements. The LCA results indicate that using rock dust to replace 20% FA and 10% cement provided a reduction of 6.5% in cost, 10% in CO2 emissions and 11% in energy consumption. This study also provides significant insights on the specific contribution of material production, construction processes and the transportation of materials to the overall environmental benefits and cost savings. The suggested approach for LCA analysis in pavement construction can be adopted elsewhere for quantifying the sustainability benefits of using alternative recycled materials in roadways.