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Exploring the membrane properties of Synthetic Polymer Vesicles prepared via Ring Opening Metathesis polymerisation induced self-assembly
Get PDFMembrane bound structures are integral to highly complex biological systems due to their compartmentalisation of material. A multitude of highly controlled and efficient membrane transport mechanisms enable biological systems to regulate the passage of a wide range of substrates. Inspired by this, biomimetic structures have been developed to replicate these processes for various applications. Most notably, polymersomes (vesicular structures formed from amphiphilic block copolymers) have been developed and utilised in applications such as drug delivery vehicles and catalytic nanoreactors.
This thesis develops a wider understanding of the properties of block copolymer nano-objects formed by ring-opening metathesis polymerisation induced self-assembly (ROMPISA), in particular their fusion behaviour and ability to encapsulate material. Chapter 1 summarises different polymerisation techniques, polymer self-assembly methods, and particle characterisation techniques. This chapter also provides an overview of the applicability of polymersomes as biomimetic structures. Chapter 2 describes the triggered fusion of carboxylic acid-functionalised polymersomes by a pH switch and how the mechanism of fusion impacts the morphology of the fused structures. Dual, pH-triggered fusion of zwitterionic polymersomes are also explored. Chapter 3 reports the charge-mediated fusion of oppositely charged polymersomes and highlights the effect of size discrepancy on final nano-object morphology. In addition, this chapter determines the mode of fusion for a model ROMPISA system by fluorescence analysis. Chapter 4 examines the encapsulation of water-soluble cargo within ROMPISA nano-objects and how the mechanism of formation largely influences this ability
The Role of Kurdish Women Activists in Regional Human Security in the Middle East
Get PDFKurdish women have been lauded for their participation in fighting extremism, particularly in relation to the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. However, their motivations and contributions in fighting against these groups is often obscured in Western-based media or patriarchy’s expectations of women and their respective role in society. For Kurdish women in the areas of Iraq and Syria, their understanding of gender, peace, and security is situated within Kurdish collective memory. This memory informs their perception of the past, allowing them to seek empowerment through the reproduction of the Kurdish historical narrative of gender equity and tolerance in ancient Mesopotamia, forming the bedrock of their views in present-day for why women seek stability and peace. Through the empowerment of their collective memory, Kurdish women engage in self-organization, transnational networking, and increasing women’s visibility. Through qualitative methodological research and semi-structured interviews with activists, politicians, and fighters from the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), these narratives are reviewed in the context of peace, conflict, and gender. The thesis is informed by theories of intersectionality and postcolonialism, including gender as a social construction. Findings indicate that women have complex reasonings for participating in armed conflict; thereby rejecting the traditional and essentialist-based explanations of protecting their rights to motherhood or avenging fallen family members. This paper explores the different levels of this myth and how these are applied to present-day, and the inherent contradictions that arise from these intersections
The oppression of children and young people in education settings: A Foucauldian discourse analysis of Educational Psychologists’ constructions
Get PDFEducational psychologists are required to ‘understand and challenge’ oppressive practice and a growing body of research suggests that they perceive ‘social justice’ to be important to their role. However, previous findings indicate perceived barriers to inclusion, including the ‘misuse of power’ in education settings, and the pathologisation of children and young people. The current study presents a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis exploring how educational psychologists construe oppressive discourses used about children and young people in education settings, and their constructions of how they could work against these oppressive discourses. Transcripts from semi-structured interviews with seven qualified Educational Psychologists were analysed, surfacing discourses used about children and young people in schools, the possible construction/s, and implications for action. Through the analysis, discourses of ‘othering’, ‘compliance’, ‘seen not heard’, ‘within-child’ ‘conformity’ and ‘innocence’ were derived, linked to dominant discourses of ‘deviancy’ and perceived to locate difference internally. Constructions about how educational psychologists can work against oppressive discourses of children and young people, highlights ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ approaches, emphasising the role of the ‘critical friend’ and participatory action research
Iran’s nuclear policy and national identity narratives
Get PDFThis dissertation examines the nexus between Iran's national identity and its nuclear policy through a social constructivist lens. This study posits that Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities is not merely a strategic or security-driven endeavour but is deeply rooted in the country's national identity. It argues that Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities, emblematic of national pride and sovereignty is intricately linked to narratives of modernity, justice, sovereignty, independence, and resistance to external pressures. It examines how narratives such as “modernity,” “justice and national rights,” “sovereignty,” “independence,” and “anti-oppression,” along with external factors such as sanctions and negotiations with the P5+1, have influenced Iran's nuclear policy across the presidencies of Khatami, Ahmadinejad, and
Rouhani.
The nuclear programme is seen as a symbol of technological advancement and modernity, reflecting Iran's desire to close the technological gap with the West and assert itself as a modern nation. This narrative is crucial for portraying Iran as a technologically advanced and independent power that deserves international recognition. The pursuit of nuclear technology is framed within the context of justice and national rights, emphasising Iran's right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. This narrative is used to justify the nuclear programme as a legitimate pursuit of national rights and justice, countering the perceived narratives of Western oppression and double standards. Sovereignty is a central narrative, with the nuclear programme representing Iran's assertion of its sovereign rights against external interference. The development of an indigenous nuclear fuel cycle is portrayed as a symbol of sovereignty and independence, which are linked to Iran's historical consciousness and desire to maintain autonomy in its domestic and foreign policies. The nuclear programme is seen as a means to achieve and maintain independence from foreign powers, reinforcing the country's self-reliance and autonomy. The nuclear programme is framed as a form of resistance against oppression and external domination, aligning with the broader narrative of anti-imperialism and defiance against perceived injustices.
International sanctions have played a critical role in shaping Iran's nuclear policy. Sanctions are perceived as unjust and oppressive measures aimed at undermining Iran's sovereignty and rights. This perception reinforced the narratives of resistance and justice, further entrenching the resolve to pursue nuclear capabilities as a form of defiance and self-reliance. The negotiations with the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) have been a significant external factor influencing Iran's nuclear policy. These negotiations are seen as a platform to assert Iran's rights and legitimacy, and negotiate from a position of strength, reflecting the themes of sovereignty and justice. The outcomes of these negotiations have varied across different presidencies, reflecting the changing dynamics of Iran's internal and external political landscapes.
During President Khatami's tenure, the nuclear policy was characterised by a more conciliatory approach, emphasising dialogue and engagement with the international community. This period saw efforts to balance the narratives of modernity and justice with the need for international cooperation and legitimacy. Under President Ahmadinejad, the nuclear policy took a more confrontational stance, with a strong emphasis on resistance and defiance against external pressures. Ahmadinejad's rhetoric and policies highlighted the themes of sovereignty, independence, and anti-oppression, reinforcing the narrative of Iran's right to pursue nuclear technology despite international opposition. President Rouhani's approach to the nuclear issue was marked by a return to diplomacy and negotiation, seeking to alleviate the economic pressures of sanctions while maintaining Iran's nuclear rights. Rouhani's policies reflected a pragmatic balance between the narratives of modernity, justice, and sovereignty, aiming to achieve a diplomatic resolution that would recognise Iran's nuclear rights while addressing international concerns.
This dissertation argues that Iran's nuclear policy aspirations cannot be fully understood through traditional realist approaches. Instead, a social constructivist perspective revealed the profound influence of national identity narratives on Iran's nuclear policy. By examining the interplay of these narratives with external factors, such as sanctions and international negotiations, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the motivations and implications of Iran's nuclear policy across different presidential administrations. This research employs a qualitative methodology and historical analysis, focusing on case studies of the aforementioned presidencies. This advances our understanding of Iran’s policy motivations and offers fundamental insights for policymakers and academics, suggesting that effective diplomacy with Iran should account for these deeply rooted national identity narratives
Heritage Tourism Development in Post-conflict Somaliland: The Politics of Stakeholders in Heritage Tourism and Nation Building in a Country Without International Recognition.
Get PDFThree decades after Somaliland’s reassertion of independence from Somalia in 1991, heritage has become a contested political space for nation-building in the post-conflict environment. This study takes its point of departure with a main research question, exploring whether Somaliland’s government has a strategy for developing heritage tourism as part of its post-conflict economic reconstruction. This question is addressed through two sub-questions. The first sub-question (RQ2) assesses the factors to consider when dealing with heritage tourism development in Somaliland. The second sub-question (RQ3) explores the role of heritage in nation-building following the liberation conflict with Somalia and how heritage was applied during Somaliland’s post-conflict economic reconstruction. Through qualitative research methods, this thesis explores whether there are heritage tourism development strategies in Somaliland and what factors to consider when dealing with the country’s heritage. The data collected for this study was obtained from 171 respondents who participated through surveys, focus groups, and interviews. This study shows how Somaliland’s unique position of not being internationally recognised has significant implications and risks, not least of which is the potential for reigniting regional conflicts. Overall, this thesis demonstrates how heritage in post-conflict environments can take on several meanings to different groups, which is both contentious and dangerous for the heritage itself
The role of Vasilii Vasil'evich Andreev in changing attitudes towards Russian folk musical instruments in Russian culture and society from 1886 to 1918
Get PDFThis thesis discusses the role of Vasilii Vasil’evich Andreev in changing attitudes towards Russian folk musical instruments over four decades from 1886. He aimed through his activities to elevate Russian folk instruments and music to a higher level of understanding and appreciation among his detractors. He also strove to encourage collective participation in playing Russian folk instruments by establishing means of disseminating them and Russian folk music widely throughout Russian society, from the peasant to educated and cultured levels of Russian society.
Chapter One outlines, with some examples, the general picture in Russian art and culture in relation to the Russian narod from the rise of the raznochintsy through to the period of K.P. Pobedonostsev’s tenure as Education Minister. This is followed by an outline of the situation regarding Russian music prior to Andreev’s emergence in the mid-1880s. This includes both Russian folk instruments and music, and Russian folk elements in Russian symphonic music.
Chapter Two discusses a range of Andreev’s main aims in key areas of his activities, the balalaika, balalaika collective, the domra, gusli and other Russian folk instruments, as well as his aims for the dissemination (rasprostranenie) of Russian folk instruments and music.
Chapter Three focuses on Andreev’s activities as an organiser. It discusses how he utilised and developed his talents in this area from his early work on improving the Russian balalaika through to his successful organisation of the first Russian folk instruments orchestra.
Chapter Four focuses attention on Andreev’s work as a publicist in the practical sense of propagating Russian folk instruments and music via public performance in Russia.
Chapter Five discusses Andreev in his role as an educator of the people, otherwise referred to as his prosvetitel’skaia deiatel’nost’. It focuses on his use of the written word, in articles, interviews, essays and sketches, to elucidate examples of how this media helped to give expression of his aims and successes for the public’s understanding of his work.
Chapter Six discusses the importance of the contributions to Andreev’s work by his collaborators. It directs attention towards key players among his soratniki, explaining the ranges and nature of their collaborative roles. It also illustrates their various social, occupational, academic and professional backgrounds to demonstrate the inclusive nature of Andreev’s activities.
Chapter Seven turns attention towards Andreev’s connections, associations and dealings with individuals outside of his immediate orbit. This spans Andreev’s work in the army, with workers’ collectives, and his early and later Imperial Court connections. This shows that Andreev’s work necessarily involved dealing with individuals from established social backgrounds and status in positions of institutional and administrative influence to help to maintain his work and to realise his aims.
Chapter Eight includes discussion of certain questions arising from Andreev’s work –whether he belonged ideologically to any one intellectual movement within Russian culture, or whether he was a composite of varying ideological thought regarding the Russianness of Russian folk instrumental music and his work; had Andreev’s orchestra inherited aspects of the narodnost’ exemplified by R. Taruskin in relation to Russian classical composers? It also suggests potential areas of future research, e.g., more focused investigation and assessment of Andreev’s relationship with the Russian Imperial Court, his ideas for a Dom narodnoi muzyki and the impact of his concert tours of England, including his orchestra’s invitation to Windsor Castle.
This thesis is a valid contribution to the understanding of Russian folk music culture, introducing to Western scholars Vasilii Vasil’evich Andreev as a major figure in the history and development of Russian folk culture. It identifies him as the personality, hitherto largely unknown in the UK, who with indomitable energy and patriotism was responsible for firmly establishing Russian folk instrumental music as a serious genre, the man whose legacy is still visible and active in Russia to the present day
Thermoregulatory adaptations following an intermittent post exercise sauna bathing intervention are partially sustained after 2 weeks decay in trained middle distance runners.
Get PDFThis study investigated the decay of heat acclimation (HA) adaptations across a two-week period of continued training with no HA stimulus, following three-weeks post-exercise sauna bathing. The subsidiary aim was to investigate whether we could repeat findings our laboratory has previously published (Kirby et al, 2020; 2012), and confirm that post-exercise sauna bathing across three-weeks can effectively heat acclimate endurance athletes. Nineteen trained endurance athletes (mean ± SD, age 20 ± 1 years, V̇O2max (60.0 ± 6.0 mL⋅kg−1⋅min−1) performed a running heat tolerance test (30 min, 9 km⋅h−1/2% gradient, 40 °C/40%RH; HTT) pre, post 3-weeks of normal exercise training plus 30-min post-exercise sauna bathing (85–94 °C) 3 ± 1 times per week, and post 5-weeks after normal exercise only. Following post-exercise sauna bathing resting core body temperature (0.23 ± 0.06°C, p 0.05), however. Peak core body temperature (0.17 ± 0.06°C, p = 0.035) was partially retained 2-weeks post HA, along with a partial retainment of end skin temperature and HR (although not significant (p > 0.05)). Resting and peak core body temperature and peak skin temperature had a lower decay rate than resting and peak HR (20%, 30%, 24% and 44% and 50% decay rate, respectively). Three-weeks post-exercise sauna bathing is an effective and pragmatic method of HA that sustains some HA adaptations for two-weeks
Early immune priming and activation against Streptococcus pneumoniae from maternal vaccination.
Get PDFMaternal vaccination (MV) to provide protection to the unborn infant is an attractive way to prevent infections in the early weeks and months of life. Despite this, the efficacy or mechanisms underpinning this approach are not well studied. The leading cause of child mortality by infection worldwide is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), particularly in low-to-middle-income countries (LMIC). This prevalence of infection could be due to vaccines such as Prevnar13 (PCV13) not being administered until the infant is 8 weeks old. Access to vaccination is limited in LMIC and some children might not receive vaccinations. Therefore, in children, there is a window of susceptibility to this infection that could be addressed through maternal vaccination. In this study, we have used novel mouse models of maternal vaccination with PCV13 and challenged offspring using pneumococcus to identify the features of acquired immunity. Maternally vaccinated offspring acquired surprisingly long-lasting antibody responses as well as reduced bacterial burdens in the bronchoalveolar lavage, blood and lung suggesting protection against invasive pneumococcal disease is present. Moreover, maternally vaccinated offspring have distinct immune signatures associated with increased maternal cell populations. Maternally vaccinated offspring display distinct enhanced levels of immune control in the BAL. In addition, increased maternal B and plasma cell populations were present in the lung and bone marrow. Finally, bone marrow cells from maternally vaccinated offspring secrete PCV13-specific antibodies. Therefore, PCV13 maternal vaccination suggests long-lasting immunity to infection in offspring
Deformation characteristics of changing strain paths on high formability steels
Get PDFUnderstanding the mechanisms that govern deformation of metallic sheets is crucial for their forming applications, such as the manufacturing of structural vehicle components. This thesis focuses on the effect of strain path and Strain Path Changes (SPCs) that can influence the mechanical properties and microstructure of two high formability steels. A DX54 low carbon steel, and a TWIP steel are studied. Both alloys are used in the automotive industry, with the first having broad use due to its high ductility and low cost, while the second has a higher cost but exhibits exceptional work hardening and high ductility.
The effect of abrupt SPCs was examined on the DX54 low carbon steel via in-situ Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction (SXRD) and ex-situ via Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). A two-step deformation process was used, including cold rolling followed by uniaxial tension. Both pre-strain direction and tensile directions as well as the pre-strain magnitude were varied. The role of texture changes and their association with microstructure development was examined. The deformation process resulted in a significant ductility loss for highly pre-strained specimens. The ductility decrease was more pronounced when SPCs were abrupt (i.e. a 90\degree \ change in the loading direction). Results also showed a large texture dependence of the mechanical properties and the microstructure evolution. This was an important result as prior studies had only considered the effect from a small number of grains and had underestimated the significance of texture.
An investigation of the TWIP steel behaviour under a variety of strain paths required the development of a biaxial testing device. A miniaturised testing setup was developed in Chapter 4, which allowed specimens to be subjected to near uniaxial, plane strain or equibiaxial strain paths. Such studies are seldom reported. Strain measurements were performed via Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The effect of non-proportional deformation was also examined for two, two-step processes: uniaxial pre-straining followed by equibiaxial tension and cold rolling followed by equibiaxial tension. Interrupted tests were conducted to facilitate microstructure examination via EBSD. Results highlighted the influence of strain path on microstructure evolution, with cold rolling leading to the highest Geometrically Necessary Dislocation (GND) density development and twin generation. Twin formation also showed notable grain orientation dependence, with the [011]||normal direction being the least favourable for twin formation.
Strain path sensitivity of the TWIP steel was additionally examined via in-situ neutron diffraction and ex-situ EBSD to provide microstructural information in the mesoscale. Five strain paths were examined, proportional and non-proportional incorporating uniaxial, and equibiaxial deformation states. Results from proportional strain paths showed that equibiaxial deformation led to higher dislocation densities and decreased twinning activity, due to the enhancement of the [011||normal direction fibre, which is unfavourable for twinning. Furthermore, results indicated that whilst twin generation during equibiaxial deformation is limited compared to uniaxial deformation, twin growth is promoted for the former strain path
Memory, temporality, and ideas of progress in the short fiction of Leopoldo Alas "Clarín"
Get PDFThis thesis studies the way that memory and temporality in selected short stories by Leopoldo Alas “Clarín” (1852-1901) illustrate ideas of progress in the latter half of the nineteenth century. During a period when ideas of progress were varied and, at times, ill-defined, these stories reveal the complexities at the root of formulating and articulating progress and regeneration. The thesis analyses a corpus of twenty short stories taken from six published collections and constitutes the first major study of several of these stories. By examining the function of memory and temporality in particular, this thesis addresses a dearth in the study of Clarín’s fiction, demonstrating that Clarín’s experimentation with time and memory allows for the relationship between the past and the present, and the remembering or forgetting of the past, to be placed at the centre of Clarín’s vision of progress.
Chapter One explores Clarín’s use of the rural and provincial spaces to highlight his critique of myopic visions of capitalist progress, emphasising these settings as spaces of resistance, but also ones in which failures of modernity are particularly acute. In Chapter Two, the tropes of death and disease are explored in relation to memory and oblivion, revealing a questioning of degenerationist discourses. In Chapter Three, I explore the creation of national historical myths, revealing these histories and mythologies as blockages to the development of progressive collective remembering. The final chapter builds on the previous chapters by examining the idea of historical myth in relation to the notion of origin. I argue that the return to ancient and biblical origin is questioned and satirised by Clarín as narratives of regeneration based upon a restoration of origin ultimately fail to materialise.
The findings of this research demonstrate the complexity surrounding what constitutes a progressive society and what factors are at play in constructing it. This also contributes to wider conceptions of the nineteenth century, as imaginings of alternative modernities at a time when Spain was experiencing systemic political failures and corruption, civil conflict, military defeat, ‘decadence’, and ‘degeneration’, offer readings of memory as challenging established ideas surrounding progress. This thesis offers a way of approaching the study of memory in the context of the nineteenth century, a concept which has hitherto been applied primarily to the twentieth-century context, and thus traces a treatment of history and the past in the literary, political, and social life of the nineteenth century
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