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Early modern petition was both a secular and spiritual mode. It was a distinct epistolary form, and a type of prayer. Both secular and spiritual petition share the same function: a request. This dual meaning did not escape early modern writers, who frequently exploited it for rhetorical effect. The thesis explores how early modern writers elaborated on petitionary metaphor, and to what ends; it considers the transfer between the formal characteristics of petition and literary forms which drew upon these conventions. The thesis compromises four chapters. Chapter One provides an example of real petitionary rhetoric in action in two petitions written in 1567 by John Appleyard of Bracon Ash (1529 - c.1574) to the Privy Council. The following chapters explore how early modern writers both employed, and put pressure on, the petitionary strategies Appleyard exemplifies. Chapter Two examines how Edmund Spenser exploits the connection between political, martial, religious, and romantic petition in the Amoretti. Paying greater heed to the political connotations of petition, especially in relation to the Smerwick massacre of 1580, enables a greater understanding of the Amoretti's colonial context. Chapter Three compares how Donne uses religious metaphor to negotiate hierarchy and petition for access in his verse-letters with his petitions to God in the Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions. In the Devotions, in his withdrawal from the world in his illness, he seems to expose and dismantle the patronage process; yet simultaneously the text itself is embroiled in patronage negotiations. Chapter Four studies the 'mock petition' for the first time. Tracing the circulation of the Jacobean verse-libel 'The Commons Petition to St Eliza' reveals an emerging tradition of mock-petitions running from the Spanish Match crisis to the Long Parliament. They highlight the prevalence and increasingly dramatic political significance of petitions during this period, and concomitantly how petitions directly inspired poetry.

This thesis presents SAIF, (Spectral Analysis with Iterative Filter), a SA-based method for the quantification of PET data investigated with irreversible-uptake tracers. SAIF has been designed in order to maintain the main advantages of SA but providing a superior robustness to measurement noise. The final aim was to create a reliable and flexible PET quantification tool, offering a valid alternative to standard methodologies for functional quantitative imaging with PET and irreversible tracers.

Background: There is increasing recognition of the need for service development for patients in the advanced stages of neurological conditions. This study explores the palliative care needs of people with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and related disorders, and assesses the impact of a new specialist palliative care service (SPCS) Methods:. A mixed methods approach was adopted: • a qualitative needs assessment using in-depth interviews with patients and their family carers and focus groups of professionals involved in the care of this population. • a quantitative pilot-explorative randomized and controlled trial (RCT) to assess the impact of a new SPCS designed to meet the palliative care needs of the study population - using a waiting list methodology comparing the immediate provision of SPCS with standard care . Results: • Qualitative study: 22 patients, 21 family carers and 11 professionals participated to the needs assessment. The content analysis showed a high prevalence of problems. Professionals confirmed the high burden of problems, were positive about the creation of a new SPCS and their knowledge of specific palliative care topics seemed lacking. • Quantitative study: 50 patients, with 45 carers, participated in the explorative RCT. The comparison between the groups (FT-ST) after 16 weeks revealed significant improvement for the SPCS group for quality of life and in four physical symptoms - pain, breathlessness, sleep disturbance and intestinal symptoms Conclusions: This research confirms the high prevalence of physical symptoms, psychosocial issues and spiritual themes for people severely affected by advanced neurodegenerative disorders and that these can be helped by specialist palliative care. The input of a SPCS caused a significant improvement of the individual quality of life of the patients and improved symptom control for pain, breathlessness, quality of sleep and intestinal symptoms compared to standard best care alone.

This thesis proposes a political economy analysis of the impact of institutional change on representation, policy making and accountability. Specifically, it focuses on the transition from parliamentarism to presidentialism and it exploits information from a unique database on a natural experiment that took place in Italy in the 1990s. We first provide an introduction and critical overview of the related political economy literature. Chapter 1 analyses the effect of the constitutional transition on the structure of governments and fiscal policy out-comes. It develops a theoretical framework for the analysis of citizens' ability to hold representatives accountable in a world of multiple policy issues. The model predicts that institutional change improves accountability and that it modifies the relationship between the executive and legislative preferred policies. These changes are reflected in changes in policy decisions on fiscal expenditure. Findings show that differentiation widens between mayors and the leading parties in the legislature. Furthermore, political changes (as captured by differentiation) affect the expenditure choices in the three largest categories of public expenditure. Chapter 2 analyses the interplay between constitutions and the occurrence of political business cycles. The results show that, once the effect of elections is allowed to vary across constitutional regimes, we observe tax cuts and other policy changes before elections only after the institutional transition took place. Finally, Chapter 3 analyses how the introduction of presidentialism substantially enhanced the quality of elected representatives that are part of the executive. The empirical results show that educational levels of elected representatives rose, and that there was a change in the occupational mix due to the large number of elected politicians with high opportunity-cost professions that joined the local governments. This can be explained by higher self selection of good quality politicians in the political competition for executive seats after the reform.

Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is a significant neuropsychiatric disorder which leads to disabilities worldwide. Considerable evidence has shown links between peripheral inflammation and MDD pathophysiology, but how these peripheral inflammation changes are incorporated into the brain remains poorly understood. Peripheral and central immune interactions are discussed in the literature, which suggests a mechanism for developing neuroinflammation linked to the disruption of the brain solute clearance and fluid homeostasis in the brain. In this model, the dysregulation of the dynamic or the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may contribute to the dysfunction of the brain's waste clearance pathways. A few studies on neurological conditions have indirectly examined the CSF-mediated clearance alteration by assessing the CSF dynamic in the lateral ventricles using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Other studies have used the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to evaluate the alteration in the solute clearance. However, no previous studies have investigated CSF-mediated clearance and its relevance for neuroinflammation in MDD. This PhD thesis aims to examine indirect measurements of the brain CSF-mediated clearance using neuroimaging data to quantify their link to neuroinflammation in depression. Study1: This study aimed at testing the immune-mediated model of depression that proposes a direct effect of peripheral cytokines and immune cells on the brain to elicit a neuroinflammatory response via a leaky blood-brain barrier and ultimately depressive behaviour. The blood-to-brain and blood-to-CSF perfusion rates for two TSPO radiotracers collected in two separate studies and were estimated, in two datasets normal and depressed cohorts and 7 healthy controls where peripheral inflammation was induced via subcutaneous injection of interferon (IFN)-α. In both studies we observed a consistent negative association between peripheral inflammation, measured with C-reactive protein (CRP), and radio tracer perfusion into and from the brain parenchyma and CSF. These results suggest a different model of peripheral-to-central immunity interaction whereas peripheral inflammation may cause a reduction in BBB permeability. Study 2: this study aimed to investigate choroid plexus (CP) volume alterations in depression and their associations with inflammation depressed participants and age- and sex-matched healthy controls using [11C]PK11195 PET/structural MRI imaging for measuring neuro- inflammation and CP volume respectively. A significantly greater CP volume in depressed subjects compared to HCs was found which positively correlated with [11C]PK11195 PET binding in the anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and insular cortex, but not with the peripheral inflammatory markers. The CP volume correlated with the [11C]PK11195 PET binding in CP. This result supports the hypothesis that changes in brain barriers may cause reduction in solute exchanges between blood and CSF, disturbing the brain homeostasis and ultimately contributing to inflammation in depression. Study 3: This paper aimed to explore the use of a free water (FW) measurement taken from the Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) MRI process as an alternative to TSPO PET to quantify neuroinflammation in patients with depression. No significant associations were observed between the FW fraction and peripheral and central inflammation markers, nor between the FW fraction and the depression clinical scores. Although we found evidence of changes in the FW in depression, there is no clear link between the FW and the immune response or depression. These overall results indicate that CSF-mediated clearance alterations can be assessed using neuroimaging and explore a modified model of the peripheral-to-central immune axis. The changes in the CSF clearance are associated with peripheral and central inflammation, but not necessarily with MDD.

There is a well-established link between increased peripheral inflammation and the pathogenesis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, how inflammation contributes to the development of MDD is still partly unclear. Several pathways of communication between the peripheral and the central immune system have been described so far, suggesting this as the mechanism leading to the development of brain inflammation and of symptoms of depression. However, further evidence is required to understand the biological mechanisms underpinning the immune pathways to the brain. Moreover, since evidence has emerged on the role of the immune system in MDD, there has been a growing interest in testing the anti-depressant properties of anti-inflammatories, particularly in patients not responding to standard antidepressants. However, the precision of such interventions could be further tuned by identifying patient populations with increased peripheral inflammation. To this regard, my thesis illustrates data from 2 studies; the first study aimed to investigate the mechanism of the communication between peripheral and central inflammation (FLAME); the second one investigate the role played by peripheral inflammation in the response to anti- inflammatory treatment in MDD (MINDEP). In the FLAME study, after injecting 7 healthy males with the immune challenge Interferon-alpha (IFN-α), I used the TSPO binding, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracer [11C]PR28 to examine microglial cells activation, the core process of brain inflammation, 24 hours after the challenge. I then investigated the association between microglial activation, levels of peripheral inflammatory biomarkers and temporary mood changes. Finally, I explored brain inflammation with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which provides indirect measures of central inflammatory processes but is less invasive and less expensive than PET. In the MINDEP randomized clinical trial, I tested augmentation therapy with the antibiotic minocycline in patients with Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) selected for elevated peripheral inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≥1 mg/L). Results from the FLAME project showed that IFN-α increased serum levels of peripheral biomarkers and induced temporary mood changes and sickness symptoms. On the other side, brain TSPO-PET signal was highly dependent of inflammation-induced changes in ligand binding to plasma proteins and this limited data interpretation. However, I found changes in MRI Relaxometry measures at 24 hours after IFN-α, in terms of increased T1 and Proton Density (PD). Such measures correlated with changes in peripheral inflammatory markers. Results from the MINDEP study showed no difference between minocycline and placebo in reducing the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale after 4 weeks. Secondary analyses showed some evidence of efficacy of add-on treatment with minocycline in TRD patients, but only in those with CRP ³3 mg/L (low-grade inflammation). The only peripheral inflammatory marker which decreased alongside the improvement in depressive symptoms was interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). My PhD results show that IFN-α is a good model of immune related depression, but, due to PET imaging methodological limitations, I could not show whether it is able to induce brain inflammation. MRI results suggest brain changes possibly reflecting increased central inflammation, but studies in larger samples are needed to confirm these data. My PhD also provided preliminary evidence of a subpopulation of TRD patients (those with CRP≥3 mg/L) who could benefit from minocycline, which has unique neuroprotective abilities and could target not only peripheral, but also central inflammation.

This thesis examines the effect on the wage share, employment and the dividend-wage ratio from bargaining power of labour under two ideal-types of capitalism. These ideal types represent the fordist regime or wage society and the post-fordist regime of finance-dominated capitalism or finance society. The effect from bargaining power is analysed by studying different bargaining strategies, linked with rates of profits, productivity and firms' leverage position, with varying degrees of bargaining power when wage formation is negotiated collectively and individually. The effect is simulated in an Agent Based-Stock Flow Consistent (AB-SFC) macroeconomic model which is based on benchmark models by Caiani et al. (2016) and Dosi et al. (2010; 2018). The developed model extends these models with more detailed elaboration of the wage formation process under two regimes in which banks may and may not ration new credit to firms. These models show how the AB-SFC method can be applied to combine economic theory and economic institutional analysis, and how this approach provides a laboratory in which the institutional configuration can be amended. The thesis suggests one possible combination of Comparative Political Economy (CPE) and macroeconomics, exemplified by the combination of post-Keynesian economics and CPE. The thesis argues that the AB-SFC approach, founded on a balance sheet and flow-of-funds approach, is more flexible than other macroeconomic modelling approaches. The effect on the wage share, employment and the dividend-wage ratio from bargaining power is affected by the institutional configuration and the results indicate that institutions may have profound effects on economic relations. However, the model simulations show that institutions are not the driving forces in the economy, but facilitators or mediators. Hence, demand factors are more important for macroeconomic outcomes per se. The results contribute to the understanding of the law of motion in capitalist economies with respect to the role of institutions. The use of ideal types illuminates mechanisms and qualitative effects in the simulations, enabling a robust analysis of wage formation under and wage society and finance society.

This elicitation study explored school leader beliefs and practices relative to sustainability and green school practices. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical framework, the study specifically explored what school leaders reported in relation to their salient behavioral beliefs (attitudes), normative beliefs (subjective norms), and control beliefs (perceived behavioral control) relative to green school practices. A leader’s attitude towards sustainability can play a role in their intentions to implement green practices (Ajzen, 1991). Respective to the sustainable green school practices, school leaders reported financial savings, creating the next generation of sustainability, and resource conservation as the advantages of green school practices and costs and time as the disadvantages of implementing sustainable practices within schools. Leaders may make decision based on who may approve or disapprove of the ideas considered. Regarding sustainable practices within schools, school leaders indicated school board members, superintendents, teachers, students, parents, and community members would support the implementation of green school practices, and virtually no one would disapprove of these practices. A final distinctive factor in the behavioral intentions of leaders regarding sustainable practices within schools is related to their perceived ability to implement such practices (Ajzen, 1991). School leaders report lack of resources, costs, and time as reasons that would make it difficult or impossible to implement green school practices and funding, district level cooperation, and knowledge and information would enable school leaders to implement sustainable practices. This study recognized the responses reported by the participants are not generalizable, but will lay the foundation for future research.

This thesis is focused on open-economy Stock-Flow Consistent (SFC) models, following the methodology pioneered by the American economist James Tobin (1918-2002) and the British economist Wynne Godley (1926-2010). In order to justify the choice of this approach, the first chapter presents a summary of the debate on the 'state of macro' as it developed after the financial crisis of 2007-2008. It also provides some arguments on why Stock-Flow Consistent models have emerged in recent years as a credible and relatively popular alternative to 'mainstream' Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 of the thesis cover the following topics: 1) A comparison between a benchmark 'mainstream' open economy model and a 'standard' SFC open economy model; 2) The mathematical demonstration of a new condition that should hold to have an improvement of the trade balance following a depreciation of the currency. It is argued that the classical Marshall-Lerner condition cannot be considered a 'useful approximation' in the context of SFC open economy models; 3) The explanation of the 'paradox of sticky prices' in SFC open economy models, for which the lower is sensitivity of prices to change in exchange rates, the higher is the speed of adjustment to negative shocks of external position; 4) A review of the most recent developments of the SFC literature, with particular attention to open economy SFC models; 5) The presentation of two original SFC two-country models. The first is used to test the implications of productivity equations inspired by the so-called Verdoorn-Kaldor law (Verdoorn 1949, 1980, Kaldor 1966). The second introduces a new 'closure' for the flexible exchange rate regime based on a pure 'balance of payment approach' and a double redundant equation. The new 'closure' is combined with a more advanced representation of the financial system and emulative behaviours inspired by the 'relative income' hypothesis of Duesenberry (1949). Then the model is employed to study the relationship between financialization and distributional issues within a SFC open-economy framework.

This thesis investigates the economic effects of government spending in the UK, examining if the size of spend and what the government buys play a role in the reported effects. This is done by examining the disaggregated effects of aggregated and disaggregated government spending at sectoral, industry and firm level. The first original contribution extends the simple income and expenditure model to highlight the importance of appropriately accounting for imports in sectoral government spending. The second contribution investigates the output and price effects of industry-specific government spending using a newly constructed measure of industry-specific government demand. The final contribution provides micro-level evidence by mapping firm-level central government expenditure to firms' financial accounts to report firm-level employment and wage effects of government demand. The general conclusion reached by the thesis is that not only is what the government buys important, but the size of government demand is also a key factor in the multiplier effect of government spending for the UK. All three contribution chapters emphasise the importance of what the government buys, while the importance of government demand size is explored in chapters three and four.