Understanding contemporary political division in Western Europe: a multidimensional approach

Recent years have seen an entrenchment of partisan and ideological division across Western European democracies, with pernicious consequences. As cultural conflicts over questions of immigration divide electorates, urgent political challenges like climate change go unresolved in the face of political disagreement, and inter-group hostility undermines efforts to achieve democratic consensus, we appear to be entering a new age of political conflict with worrying implications for democracy. Yet, whilst these processes of polarization have been the subject of a prolific stream of research in recent years, there remains scope for additional contributions. Research on social division and political polarization often approaches the phenomenon from a macro-level perspective that emphasises the impact of socio-economic transformation, or from a micro-level perspective that emphasises the importance of individual-level psychological mechanisms in driving polarization. This thesis instead adopts a multidimensional approach to explain political polarization and division, examining how context – encompassing both immediate factors in the individual’s local environment and broader characteristics – influences and interacts with these individual-level processes. This approach, synthesizing micro- and macro-level explanations, offers new avenues to better understand an increasingly prescient threat to democratic health. Using data from Britain and Norway, this thesis focuses on three different sources of partisan and attitudinal division: first, authoritarianism and conflicts over cultural issues; second, climate change and responses to exogenous shocks an; third, the emotion of anger. Moving beyond the individual dimension, however, each study examines how these micro-level processes are influenced by contextual factors, encompassing the political information environment, partisan-ideological sorting and political discussion networks. Taken together, findings demonstrate the importance of context in shaping processes of polarization. In doing so, they highlight the characteristics of contemporary Western European democracies that are exacerbating these attitudinal divides - including increasingly sorted and geographically polarized electorates - and point to potential avenues for mitigating polarization

Trans and non-binary people’s experiences of accessing and attending cervical screening in the North of England

Transgender people face discrimination and inequality in various areas of life, including within healthcare. A key health disparity is the limited uptake of cervical screening compared to cisgender women. A scoping review highlighted the paucity of research in this area. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to undertake an in-depth, qualitative study to explore transgender men and non-binary peoples (trans+) experiences of cervical screening to develop recommendations to improve experiences of this service. 15 trans+ people shared their experiences of cervical screening in a semi-structured interview (10), or an online, asynchronous focus group (5) conducted between November 2022-March 2023. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling using various social media and LGBTQ+ newsletters. Inclusion criteria were being trans+, aged 25 or over, having or previously having a cervix, and living in the North of England. Participants were aged between 25-45, and the majority (13/15) had a disability, and were mostly (13/15) white British. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, through which four themes were developed that explore various barriers and facilitators to attending cervical screening. For example, in cases where health professionals were not sensitive and respectful, trans+ participants reported more negative experiences, such as heightened physical pain and gender dysphoria, compared with then health professionals were knowledgeable and reassuring. Further, trans+ people shared complexities of deciding whether to attend cervical screening. These decisions were shaped by previous experiences of health services, concerns about heightened gender dysphoria or pain, and the potential emotional impacts of cervical screening. The findings had multiple implications for practice, policy and future research to improve cervical screening for trans+ people. For example, trans+ people value being given choice in cervical screening, and shared what they would like health professionals to know about their identities and health needs

Pathological Aggregation of Cystatin C and α-Synuclein in Neurodegenerative Disease

Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic conditions that progressive dysfunction in cognition, muscle control, and speech, driven by neuronal death and malfunction due to protein misfolding and aggregation. Current treatments are limited, and understanding the aggregation pathways involved is key to developing more effective therapies. This thesis investigates two such aggregation systems with strong associations to disease. The first part focuses on cystatin C aggregation in Bunina bodies, observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Extensive attempts at optimising expression and purification of recombinant cystatin C from E. coli are shown, followed by in vitro aggregation assays. Cystatin C aggregation is induced in conditions similar to cytosol, where Bunina bodies form, by disrupting two structurally critical disulfide bonds. Kinetic analysis suggests a proline-isomerisation step during the aggregation process, as seen in other cystatins. Additionally, preliminary nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data hints at a potentially unreported binding interaction between cystatin C dimers and RNA. In vivo overexpression of fluorescently-tagged cystatin C in mammalian cells produces Bunina body-like inclusions, which appear to be actively transported toward the nucleus via the microtubule network. The second part explores α-synuclein aggregation on POPG lipid membranes, modelling Lewy body formation in Parkinson’s disease. This system has previously informed Parkinson’s drug development, including an ongoing phase II clinical trial, which heavily supports its disease relevance. This study shows that fully helical α-synuclein remodels POPG membranes into long cylindrical micelles, which form an inter-connected network, spaced 10-20 nm apart, consistent with a double-anchoring mechanism for α-synuclein reported in the literature. After prolonged incubation, a rapid structural transition from α-helix to β-sheet occurs, supporting a hypothesis of amyloid structural propagation along the micelle surface, providing a mechanism for accelerated aggregation and lipid sequestration by α-synuclein amyloids in Parkinson’s disease

Decay Spectroscopy of Isomerically Pure Beams of 178Au and its Daughters

In many regions of the nuclear landscape, competition between spherical and deformed configurations leads to the phenomenon of shape coexistence due to the delicate balance between shell and collective effects. The region around the Z = 82 proton-shell closure and the N = 104 neutron midshell contains some of the clearest examples of this phenomenon and has thus been the focus of intense theoretical and experimental study in recent decades. The results presented in this thesis form a contribution to this long-term programme through an in-depth decay spectroscopy study of 178Au (Z =79, N =99) and its daughters. In-source laser spectroscopy by Cubiss et al. [1] at the ISOLDE facility confirmed the existence of a previously predicted, strongly deformed isomer, 178Aum, coexisting with the more weakly deformed ground state, 178Aug. As part of Cubiss’ study, highly selective resonant laser ionisation allowed separate α-decay studies of 178Aug,m to be performed. In the present work, the same technique was used to produce isomerically pure beams of each of these two states for a detailed decay spectroscopy study of the α- and EC/β+-decay branches of 178Aug,m, and their daughters, at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS). Separate fine-structure α-decay schemes for 178g,mAu →174g,mIr and 174g,mIr →170Re were produced, expanding substantially on those from earlier works. The first ever isomerically selective electron-capture (EC)/β+ decay studies of 178Aug,m →178Pt and 174Irg,m →174Os were also performed for this thesis. All together, these decay schemes include 70 new states, 11 new α decays and 119 new γ-ray transitions. The half lives of 178Aug,m were measured which gave values consistent with those determined by Cubiss but have smaller uncertainties. The multipolarities of γ-ray transitions observed following the α decay of 178Aug,m to 174Ir were determined, as were reduced α-decay widths and hindrance factors, HFα. The proportion of EC/β+ decay feeding to each state in 178Pt and 174Os was calculated, allowing log f t values for these decays to be experimentally determined for the first time. These were used in conjunction with HFα to propose spin-parity and configuration assignments for 178Aug,m and 174Irg,m and infer information on the shape of 178Pt. The E0-transition strengths for decays between the states in two strongly mixed rotational bands in 178Pt were determined and used to calculate a lower limit for the difference in the mean-square charge radii of the bandheads. Using mass measurements reported by Cubiss and α-decay Q values deduced in this work, the excitation energy of the states fed by the α decay of 178Aug,m and 174Irg,m were determined. While all α decays from 178Aug were assigned as feeding directly or indirectly to 174Irg (and 178Aum to 174Irm), it was found that 174Irg feeds to a long-lived, low-spin state 47(17) keV more energetic than the high-spin state fed by 174Irm. This indicates a possible inversion of state ordering in 170Os relative to 174Ir and 178Au

Fundamentals of self-acceleration and morphological evolution of premixed hydrogen flames

Global warming, primarily driven by CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, necessitates a shift to sustainable energy sources. Hydrogen, being carbon-free and renewable, is essential for achieving net-zero emissions and addressing the global energy crisis. The combustion of hydrogen, particularly in a lean premixed condition, offers significant benefits: controlling flame speeds, reducing exhaust gas temperatures, and lowering nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. However, these flames are susceptible to thermodiffusive and hydrodynamic instabilities, which may induce self-acceleration and significantly impact the turbulent burning velocity across various combustion systems, thereby elevating fire and explosion risks. Identifying the regimes of cellular instability and self-acceleration could enhance combustion modelling, a critical tool in the design of combustion systems and in assessing fire and explosion hazards. To address these challenges, a full investigation and understanding on self-acceleration characteristics of hydrogen-air flames under various conditions was conducted, with a particular focus on flame speed and flame surface area. This research employed advanced experimental techniques, including Schlieren imaging, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), a 3D swinging laser sheet system, and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) supported by the Advanced Flow Simulator for Turbulence Research (ASTR). Using Schlieren imaging system, the onset of instability was identified by the critical stretch rate, where the flame speed deviates rapidly from its previous response to stretch. Notably, the critical Peclet number (Pecl) increased with higher equivalence ratios and temperatures, indicating a more stable flame. Conversely, Pecl decreased with increased initial pressure due to the associated decrease in the flame speed Markstein number (Mab). Correlations of Pecl and Kacl were developed as a function of Mab with increasing pressure, facilitating the estimation of the severity of large-scale atmospheric hydrogen flames. Comprehensive quantitative data on the self-acceleration of unstable laminar hydrogen-air flames was obtained, revealing self-similarity after instability onset. The previously assumed acceleration exponent α = 1.5 was found to be invalid, with derived α values ranging from 1.125 to 1.39. Higher acceleration exponents were observed in the lean condition, while lower exponents were found in the rich condition. A modified theoretical expression for the constant (A) was proposed and validated against experimentally derived results, highlighting a global pulsating acceleration pattern during the acceleration phase after flame instability. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was utilized to explore the disturbance of unstable laminar hydrogen-air outwardly propagating spherical flames. It was found that self-acceleration of gas velocities ahead of the front, and shared the same acceleration exponents as the flame front. The power spectral density (PSD) displayed by the flow ahead of the flame front exhibited similarity to flame front fluctuations, attributed to wrinkled flame front-driven gas disturbance. Higher local gas velocities were observed just ahead of the tips of the cellular structures, compared to other regions along the flame front, particularly for the extra lean conditions. 3D laser sheet measurements were employed to quantify the flame surface area of hydrogen flames. For planar flames, the parameters ϵ, representing the deviation of the Lewis number from a critical value, and ω2, derived from classical linear stability analysis to represent thermal-diffusive effects, both exhibit a distinct linear correlation with the enhancement in flame surface area observed in planar flames. This suggests that the 3D swinging laser sheet system is an effective method for investigating flame surface area. For spherical flames, the stretch factor I_0 (the ratio of the increase in flame burning velocity to the enhancement in flame surface area) exceeds 1 when the equivalence ratio (ϕ) is 0.3 (lean condition), particularly under high-pressure conditions. The morphological characteristics and acceleration behaviour of cellular flames were investigated using Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) with simplified chemical kinetics. The DNS results indicate that the self-acceleration capacity of thermodiffusively unstable flames (ϕ = 0.4) is significantly higher compared to thermodiffusively stable cases (ϕ = 0.6, 0.8). The stretch factor I_0 for thermodiffusively unstable flames exceeds unity, whereas for thermodiffusively stable flames, it remains approximately equal to one. This suggests that, in thermodiffusively stable flames, the primary contribution to acceleration arises from increased flame surface area. In contrast, thermodiffusively unstable flames exhibit additional mechanisms contributing to self-acceleration. Further analysis of local normal strain rates revealed elevated values at the tips of the finger-like protrusions within the cellular flame structures, indicative of rapid expansion at these points. The significant variations in normal strain rates in thermodiffusively unstable flames are attributed to enhanced flame instabilities or localised effects. Species distribution analysis showed that active radicals, such as OH, O, and H, are highly concentrated at these protrusion tips, referred to as ‘leading points’. In thermodiffusively unstable flames, the high mass diffusivity of hydrogen results in the formation of more ‘leading points’, altering the dynamics of flame expansion. This leads to elevated local normal strain rates and increased concentrations of active species like hydroxide radical (OH) , oxygen radical (O) , hydrogen radical (H) at these locations. Consumption rates of hydrogen and production rates of water are strongly influenced by curvature, with positive curvature regions enhancing localised combustion due to hydrogen's high diffusivity under lean conditions

Experience of transition of medical undergraduate students in the early years of medical education

Focusing on the progressive increases in the admission of medical students from widening participation backgrounds, specifically those who are from first in family to access university, the study captures unique experiences during the early years of medical education at a research-intensive university. The study contributes to the theorisation of transition and considers how these hitherto underrepresented students might be effectively supported. The purpose of exploring the personal transitional experience of first in family medical students was three-fold. Firstly, recognising continuous increases in this demographic, and secondly, challenging previous research deploying deficit models (O’Beirne et al., 2020; Curtis et al., 2021). Deficit models suggesting that students lack social and cultural capitals (Bourdieu, 1973) which impact on their preparedness for success in higher education. Thirdly, the need to develop theoretical explanations of transition which recognise the personal lived experiences of first in family students to access medical education. The existential methodology recognises transition as a phenomenon, with longitudinal semi-structured interviews exploring ongoing changes in learning and identity through a form of reflective dialogue. Findings of the study over two years reveal stories of transition in first in family students, which demonstrate higher levels of social and academic preparedness for higher education than some earlier studies examining inequities in access suggest. Increased agency in students, through reflection and narration of their own story of transition, has potential to create a sense of a transformative self. Recognising students’ individual subjectivities, as a means of them owning the contextual situations in which they learn and ‘become doctors’, could additionally work towards increasing positive self-esteem and wellbeing. A more nuanced conception of transition as a plural construct, which contests previous socio-structural models, might invoke new inclusive educational practices for the benefit of more socially diverse students. Transition is more usefully envisaged as a uniquely, personal life-transforming concept, rather than socio-structural definitions between levels of education or specifically defined stages of change. An internal locus of control is pertinent for students (Bean and Eaton, 2001) being provided through opportunities to reflect, increase agency, and internalise personal adaptations to learning and the transitional process itself

The role of age as a cause of social behaviour in male African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana).

Social interactions can affect every aspect of an animal’s life. Male savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) spend most of their time with other bulls, so their companion choices are likely to have a significant effect on their long-term fitness. Compared to females, male elephants have received limited social behaviour research, despite being more involved in negative human-elephant interactions. Furthermore, studies of bull social structure do not display strong agreement in their results, which may be due to genuine inter-population differences or the use of statistical methods since proven unreliable. In this thesis, I reevaluate the social structure of male elephants and question whether males form groups to obtain social information from more experienced bulls or to gain predator protection. To do this, I first develop an adaptation to social association estimation methods, then use a combination of social network analysis, threatening playback experiments, and causal modelling to investigate the effect of age on male social behaviour. Contrary to my hypotheses, I found no evidence of males grouping for the specific purpose of gaining social learning opportunities, with no effect of male age on social position, or for males protecting one another when the group is in danger. With no previous studies investigating male group threat responses, my experiments provide new evidence against predator protection as a reason for male-male association. However, the formation of weak connections with many social partners may still facilitate rapid information spread, even if social learning is not the primary purpose of group formation, because each individual could pass the information to many others. In the future, we may be able to use this to promote elephant avoidance of human-dominated areas. Since I also show that male social structures are similar across populations, conservation practices based on social learning may be similarly effective in different places

Advancing Visual-Instrumental Agreement in Dental Colorimetry: Development and Validation of Novel Assessment Methodologies

This thesis investigates the measurement of tooth colour in restorative dentistry and its relationship to visual perception, challenging longstanding assumptions in dental colour science. While instrumental approaches have traditionally treated tooth colour as a physical property measurable in spaces such as CIELAB or CAM16-UCS, this research emphasises the psychophysical nature of colour perception and the role of parametric effects—such as translucency, morphology, and surface texture—in determining appearance. Through a series of experimental studies, the thesis introduces the Visual Instrument Agreement Scale (VIAS), a novel method for evaluating the congruency between visual assessments and device-based measurements. The research also provides a detailed mapping of the natural tooth colour gamut, identifying 1,173 perceptually unique colours and introducing a compact system of 92 ‘super shades’ capable of minimising shade matching error. Furthermore, the study critically examines the impact of illuminant metamerism and finds it to be clinically negligible in modern materials. In addressing device-dependent variability, this work proposes updated perceptibility and acceptability thresholds and confirms the superior performance of the ∆E*ab colour difference equation for visual-instrumental consistency. These findings support a shift away from rigid notions of “accuracy and precision” and toward perceptually grounded, context-specific evaluation methods in dental colourimetry. This thesis contributes a new framework for shade-matching performance evaluation and offers practical pathways toward digital, shade-guide-free workflows in restorative dentistry

Business process innovation in the digital economy: Social media implementation in the Thai SME sector

Social media has been used broadly by numerous people internationally. Using social media for business purposes is increasingly attractive for several organisations, particularly in Thailand, to search for and extend business and marketing opportunities. However, the explanation of adopting and implementing social media is neglected. This research aims to understand the innovation-decision process (IDP) in Thailand's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the digital economy. The researcher uses social media as one of the digital innovations to review and extend Rogers’ model (IDP) (2003), providing another dimension of understanding and knowledge. Rogers explained the tool as an innovation in his study and how to use it. In contrast, this thesis describes how to use social media for business purposes, i.e., publishing and boosting posts and learning how to generate engaging content for the target audience. This study aims to provide additional evidence of knowledge and understanding of social media adoption and implementation. This researcher provides extra insights of the innovation-decision process that may help academics and practitioners understand the degree of the decision-making process regarding full or partial adoption when they intend to adopt and apply social media in their organisations. The literature review presents previous ideas and knowledge that firms have used for their businesses. The research applies theoretical and practical knowledge to explain social media adoption and implementation in SMEs and their management in a digital economy environment. Moreover, it is interesting to apply single and cross-case studies from two different industries. The researcher uses semi-structured interviews to gather genuine and various information from the interviewees. This aims to answer two research questions related to social media adoption and implementation; (RQ1) How do creative and logistics companies adopt and implement social media? and (RQ2): What are the problems or difficulties of implementing social media? The research findings show that social media can be helpful for business purposes if it is implemented effectively and used correctly. The key points are creating interesting content to attract social media users and selecting the right targets. Social media is low-risk and affordable, but it is different and more complicated than other innovations that require more time to understand, learn and practice. The implementers should understand how social media works as well as how to reduce the uncertainty of outcomes. This can help companies grow rapidly by increasing the number of followers and engagements from social media users globally. Adopters may change their decisions that have already been made after the implementation stage because it may be difficult to solve social media problems and uncertain results. This is based on relevant factors that affect the degree of adoption