Abstract

I declare and certify that: a) except where due acknowledgement has been made, the work is that of the author alone; b) the work has not been submitted previously, in whole or in part, to qualify for any other academic award; c) the content of the thesis is the result of work which has been carried out since the official commencement date of the approved research program; d) any editorial work, paid or unpaid, carried out by a third party is acknowledged; e) ethics procedures and guidelines have been followed.