VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Generic insistence: Joseph Conrad and the document in selected British and American modernist fiction
Keywords: modernism
empire
archive
Joseph Conrad
Ford Madox Ford
Nella Larsen
Willa Cather
documents
Virginia Woolf

This thesis explores the citation of documents in the modernist novel. From contracts to newspaper articles, telegrams to reports, documents are invoked as interleaved texts in ways that, to date, have not been critically interrogated. I consider a range of novels, including works by Ford Madox Ford, Virginia Woolf, Nella Larsen, and Willa Cather, which are selected, in part, as a litmus of Anglo-American modernism, though they can more productively also be understood as coalescing around the example set by Joseph Conrad. Replete with allusions to documents, Conrad’s oeuvre is developed across the thesis as a meta-commentary on the document in modernist literature. In placing the document at the centre of analysis, and in using Conrad as a diagnostic of the document in modernity, the manifold ways in which authors use interpolated texts to perform denotative and connotative “work” in their narratives emerge, with the effect of revising our understanding of documents. These authors reveal the power of mass produced documents to lay claim to novelistic language; the historical role of documents in reifying inequality; on the level of narrative, the thematic potential of the document as a reiterable text; and finally, the capacity of the document, in its most depersonalized form, to realize social collectivity and community. This project therefore asks us to rethink and relocate the document as central to the modernist novel.
Algorithms for polynomial and rational approximation
Keywords: Chebyshev polynomials
Chebfun
best approximation
interpolation

Robust algorithms for the approximation of functions are studied and developed in this thesis. Novel results and algorithms on piecewise polynomial interpolation, rational interpolation and best polynomial and rational approximations are presented.
Algorithms for the extension of Chebfun, a software system for the numerical computation with functions, are described. These algorithms allow the construction and manipulation of piecewise smooth functions numerically with machine precision. Breakpoints delimiting subintervals are introduced explicitly, implicitly or automatically, the latter method combining recursive subdivision and edge detection techniques.
For interpolation by rational functions with free poles, a novel method is presented. When the interpolation nodes are roots of unity or Chebyshev points the algorithm is particularly simple and relies on discrete Fourier transform matrices, which results in a fast implementation using the Fast Fourier Transform. The method is generalised for arbitrary grids, which requires the construction of polynomials orthogonal on the set of interpolation nodes. The new algorithm has connections with other methods, particularly the work of Jacobi and Kronecker, Berrut and Mittelmann, and Egecioglu and Koc.
Computed rational interpolants are compared with the behaviour expected from the theory of convergence of these approximants, and the difficulties due to truncated arithmetic are explained. The appearance of common factors in the numerator and denominator due to finite precision arithmetic is characterised by the behaviour of the singular values of the linear system associated with the rational interpolation problem.
Finally, new Remez algorithms for the computation of best polynomial and rational approximations are presented. These algorithms rely on interpolation, for the computation of trial functions, and on Chebfun, for the location of trial references. For polynomials, the algorithm is particularly robust and efficient, and we report experiments with degrees in the thousands. For rational functions, we clarify the numerical issues that affect its application.
Learning between university and the world of work
Keywords: transition
internship
university

Internships are an increasingly popular activity for university students wishing to learn about the world of work, and the term can encompass many types of opportunities for learning about industries, occupations, or simply the experience of a professional workplace.
The present study examines students following full-time degree courses across a range of subjects, in internships that are not integrated into course requirements. Internships of this kind are often located within the ‘employability agenda’ for higher education, developing students’ transferable skills to enable them to make smooth transitions to knowledge work outside the university. University careers advisors therefore encourage these internships as a form of experiential learning, and the notion of student employability is implicitly accepted by policymakers and universities.
Yet, little is known about how or what students learn in internships. This study, which took place over three summers, examines how six students from one university made sense of their ten-week summer internships in an investment bank. The students were interviewed prior to their internships, three times during the banking internship, and again on return to the university.
Using conceptual tools from sociocultural theory, the study starts from an understanding of movement between university and workplace as a matter of transition, rather than transfer and application, of knowledge and skills from university to the workplace. Adopting the idea of the ‘figured world’ (Holland et al., 1998) permits examination of how the students engaged with the cultural world of the workplace setting, interpreting and engaging with the practices there, and experiencing identity struggles that were of significance to them. The findings reveal the lack of support for the students’ engagement both before and during their placements, and have implications for the careers advising given to students undertaking internships.
The study therefore concludes with a presentation of the principles that underpin student experience of internships. Universities can assist this by providing more resources for guidance to students undertaking internships, by assisting them with developing an awareness of the motives that are inherent in the workplace, as well as their own motives and those of employers providing internships.
Volcanic processes during eruption and unrest: combining satellite and ground-based monitoring at Galeras and Santorini volcanoes
Keywords: InSAR
Santorini
volcanology
Colombia

This dissertation explores the combination of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) results with field data to provide additional constraints on the processes controlling deformation signals observed at Galeras volcano (Colombia) and Santorini volcano (Greece).
InSAR measurements during 2007-2008 at Galeras reveal a subsidence signal on its northeast flank. I model InSAR and gravity data to determine the best-fit parameters for the subsidence source and suggest this signal was caused by deflation of the magma chamber associated with the January 2008 eruption.
In January 2011, Santorini volcano entered a period of unrest characterised by earthquake swarms and caldera-wide uplift. I analyse satellite data over a period incorporating both the preceding phase of quiescence (1993-2010) and the phase of unrest (2011-2012). A subsidence signal is confirmed on the intra-caldera island of Nea Kameni during 1993-2010. I investigate several possible scenarios for its source, with my preferred explanation being a combination of cooling and contraction of historic lava flows, and loading from these flows inducing relaxation of the substrate. I also use a joint InSAR/GPS inversion technique to model the caldera-wide uplift observed during 2011-2012. I determine the optimal parameters for the deformation source and the temporal variation in volume change within the shallow magma chamber. The renewed activity offered an opportunity to observe how soil-gas emissions would respond to an influx of magma to a shallow reservoir. I employ a new approach (222Rn-δ13C systematics) to identify and quantify the source of diffuse degassing at Santorini during the period of unrest.
Finally, I present a new high-resolution merged LiDAR-Bathymetry grid, enabling detailed mapping of both onshore and offshore historic lava flows emplaced in the centre of Santorini caldera. Updated lava volumes provide new extrusion rate estimates and a means of estimating both the size and duration of future dome-building eruptions at Santorini.
Forward genetic and cellular studies of immune regulation: the roles of Carma1, Interleukin-10 and Gimap5
Keywords: inflammatory bowel disease
mutagenesis
cytokines
Carma1
T cells
immune regulation
Gimap5
Interleukin 10

The differentiation and functional specialisation of CD4+ T cells into distinct subsets allows inflammatory responses to be targeted to diverse types of insults. One subset of CD4+ T cells, Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, acts to restrain excessive effector T cell responses and can develop in either the thymus or peripheral tissues. Here, a mouse with a germline point mutation in Carma1, an essential component of the signalling cascade linking the T cell receptor to NF-κB activation, is described. These mice were used to demonstrate a cell-intrinsic requirement for Carma1 in the development of thymic Treg cells that could be bypassed in peripheral CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, Carma1-deficient Treg cells accumulated both at the site of persistent viral infection and in the intestine of healthy mice, which harbours a high load of resident bacteria, suggesting that chronic inflammation can drive peripheral Treg cell induction or accumulation. Subsequent work showed that Treg cells in colon of healthy wild-type mice are unique in that they constitutively produce the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10), whereas in the small intestine both Foxp3+ Treg cells and Foxp3- CD4+ T cells that resemble Tr1 cells produce IL-10. Production of IL-10 from both T cell subsets required the presence of intestinal bacteria, because IL-10 expression was abrogated by broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment. Additionally, IL-10 expression was enhanced in the colon and caecum upon colonization with Helicobacter hepaticus, a pathogen that can break tolerance of intestinal bacteria in Il10-/- mice. Finally, the characterisation of a mouse homozygous for a germline point mutation in Gimap5 demonstrated that this gene was required for the survival of T, B and NK lymphocytes. Additionally, these mice exhibited spontaneous hepatic extramedullary haematopoiesis, with an abundance of Lin-Sca-1+Thy-1high innate lymphoid cells in the liver, and became colitic when infected by H. hepaticus. Adoptively transferred lymphocytes prevented disease in these mice, suggesting that regulatory lymphocytes need Gimap5 to survive and function. Collectively, these studies identify novel genetic and microbial factors involved in maintaining intestinal homeostasis.
Free and linear representations of outer automorphism groups of free groups
Keywords: representations
outer automorphisms of free groups

For various values of n and m we investigate homomorphisms from Out(F_n) to Out(F_m) and from Out(F_n) to GL_m(K), i.e. the free and linear representations of Out(F_n) respectively.
By means of a series of arguments revolving around the representation theory of finite symmetric subgroups of Out(F_n) we prove that each homomorphism from Out(F_n) to GL_m(K) factors through the natural map p_n from Out(F_n) to GL(H_1(F_n,Z)) = GL_n(Z) whenever n=3, m < 7 and char(K) is not an element of {2,3}, and whenever n>5, m< n(n+1)/2 and char(K) is not an element of {2,3,...,n+1}. We also construct a new infinite family of linear representations of Out(F_n) (where n > 2), which do not factor through p_n. When n is odd these have the smallest dimension among all known representations of Out(F_n) with this property.
Using the above results we establish that the image of every homomorphism from Out(F_n) to Out(F_m) is finite whenever n=3 and n < m < 6, and of cardinality at most 2 whenever n > 5 and n < m < n(n-1)/2. We further show that the image is finite when n(n-1)/2 -1 < m < n(n+1)/2.
We also consider the structure of normal finite index subgroups of Out(F_n). If N is such then we prove that if the derived subgroup of the intersection of N with the Torelli subgroup T_n < Out(F_n) contains some term of the lower central series of T_n then the abelianisation of N is finite.
Fundamental flux enhancement modelling of membrane microfiltration
Keywords: CFD
multiphase flow
membrane filtration

Membrane filtration is used in a variety of industries, including water treatment and the food industry. Membrane systems include microfiltration and reverse osmosis processes. Membranes used in reverse osmosis are nonporous or pores at 0.2-2 A. This work will focus on mechanical microfiltration. These filtration systems suffer from an accumulation of the rejected material near the membrane surface. This causes additional resistance to the flow through the membrane (flux), resulting in a decline in the performance of the system.
Sparging gas bubbles into the mixture has been shown to improve performance. The flow field promotes the transport of material away from the membrane surface and into the bulk. The goal is to predict the sparging that will achieve the maximum flux. Existing flux prediction models often assume steady shear at the membrane surface but in bubbling regimes the shear stresses are unsteady.
In this thesis a model is developed to calculate the flux based not solely on shear but on the behaviour and resistance of suspended particles in a gas-liquid flow field. The bubble shape and flow field is calculated using computation fluid dynamics (CFD). The flow around a bubble in gap between two parallel flat sheet membranes is investigated. The calculated bubble shape correlates well with the results seen in experiments. The bubble rise velocity with respect to gap width is shown to transition between that expected in the literature for extended flow for large gap widths and that for a two dimensional case for smaller gap widths. The transitional region however, does not behave as may be expected. The rise velocity does not monotonically decrease as the gap width is reduced.
The particle concentration is found by the solution of the convection-diffusion equation, where the convection velocity terms are given by the results of the CFD calculation. The permeate flux is then calculated using a resistance model giving the enhancement due to the bubble. The model is also applied to single phase crossflow. As the shear stresses are steady in this single-phase flow regime, established membrane shear linked mass-transfer coefficient methods can be employed. Good agreement is found between the model and theory.
The flux results obtained when the model is applied to the flow around the bubble show a peak in performance with respect to the gap between the membranes for a given bubble volume. The optimal flux enhancement is found to correlate well with the bubble size compared to the flow area. The results show a bubble width of around 60% of the flow width provides the best flux performance.
Structural and thermogravimetric studies of group I and II borohydrides
Keywords: X-ray and neutron diffraction
crystal structure
thermogravimetric
Borohydrides
Hydrogen storage

This thesis investigates the structure and thermal behaviour of LiBH4, NaBH4, KBH4, LiK(BH4)2, Ca(BH4)2 and Sr(BH4)2. LiK(BH4)2 is the first mixed alkali metal borohydride and was synthesised and characterised during this work. The crystal structures of these borohydrides were studied using variable temperature neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The synthesis of isotopically enriched samples of 7Li11BD4, Li11BD4, Na11BD4 and K11BD4 allowed high quality neutron diffraction data to be collected. Particular attention was paid to the exact geometry of the borohydride ions which were generally found to be perfect tetrahedra but with orientational disorder. New structures of Ca(BH4)2 were identified and the first crystal structure of Sr(BH4)2 was determined from synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. Solid state 11B NMR and Raman spectroscopy provided further information about the structure of these borohydrides. The thermal behaviour of the borohydrides was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis with mass spectrometry of the decomposition gas products. Hydrogen is the main decomposition gas product from all of these compounds but small amounts of B2H6 and BH3 were also detected during decomposition. Thermogravimetic analyses of Na11BD4 and K11BD4 were completed whilst collecting in-situ neutron diffraction data allowing information about structural changes and mass losses to be combined in order to better understand the decomposition process.
Series interconnects and charge extraction interfaces for hybrid solar cells
Keywords: solar cell
organic semiconductor
pore filling
doctor blade coating
charge extraction
nanoparticle
dye-sensitized
tandem solar cell
bulk heterojunction

This thesis investigates novel hole extraction interfaces and series interconnects for applications in organic photovoltaics, specifically in single junction solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and tandem DSSC/polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells. Improvements in hole extraction and device performance by using materials compatible with scalable deposition methods are presented, including tungsten- and molybdenum-disulphide (WS2 and MoS2), and p-type doped spiro-OMeTAD (2,2',7,7'-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)9,9'-spirobifluorene) nanoparticle dispersions. WS2 and MoS2 hole extraction layers increase averaged short circuit currents by 20% and 16% respectively, and power conversion efficiencies by 19% and 14% respectively when compared with control devices. Similarly, doped spiro-OMeTAD nano-particle layers improved short circuit current densities by 32% and efficiencies by 9%. Tandem device interconnects using these novel hole extraction formats have been fabricated, but although devices did exhibit rectification, overall performance was poor. Possible reasons for their limited success have been analysed.
Dye-sensitized solar mini-modules are also reported. In order to assure the scalability of DSSC technology, these larger area devices were constructed using doctor blade coating to deposit the hole transporter material. As well as achieving a respectable maximum power conversion efficiency of 2.6%, it has also been shown that the extent to which hole transporter infiltrates the mesoporous photoanode of these devices may be tuned by altering substrate temperature during deposition. It was found that an optimal coating temperature of 70 degrees C produced the best efficiency, with a corresponding pore-filling fraction of 41%.
"Dig for Bloody Victory"
Keywords: psychiatric casualties
British Army
casualties
infantry
trench warfare
world war two
soldiers
morale

Most people’s perceptions of the Second World War leave little room for static, attritional fighting; instead, free-flowing manoeuvre warfare, such as Blitzkrieg, is seen as the norm. In reality, however, much of the terrain fought over in 1939-45 was unsuitable for such a war and, as a result, bloody attritional battles and trench fighting were common. Thus ordinary infantrymen spent the majority of their time at the front burrowing underground for protection. Although these trenches were never as fixed or elaborate as those on the Western Front a generation earlier, the men who served in Italy, Normandy, Holland and Germany, nonetheless shared an experience remarkably similar to that of their predecessors in Flanders, Picardy, Champagne and Artois. This is an area which has been largely neglected by scholars. While the first war produced a mountain of books on the experience of trench warfare, the same cannot be said of the second war. This thesis will attempt to fill that gap by providing a comprehensive analysis of static warfare in the Second World War from the point of view of British infantry morale. It draws widely on contemporary letters and diaries, psychiatric and medical reports and official documentation – not to mention personal narratives and accounts published after the war – and will attempt to interpret these sources in light of modern research and organise them into a logical framework. Ultimately it is hoped that this will provide fresh insight into a relatively under-researched area of twentieth century history.
Limits of Islamism: ideological articulations of Jamaat-e-Islami in contemporary India and Bangladesh
Keywords: contemporary South Asian politics
Neoliberalism
Ideology studies
Islamism
political issues in the Muslim world

My doctoral thesis analyses the political ideology of Islamism by taking the case study of a major Islamist organization, namely the Jamaat-e-Islami in contemporary India and Bangladesh. In doing so, I try to understand the similarities and differences of the ideological articulations of Islamism in a Muslim minority context of India and in a Muslim majority context of Bangladesh. The thesis is written from a political theory perspective in general and within the realm of ideology studies in particular. The study analyses how and why the Jamaat is responding to the economic and cultural issues of neoliberal India and Bangladesh. One cannot possibly ignore the neoliberal context within which Islamists are generating markedly new kinds of political articulations with an unprecedented set of political demands, never seen before in the history of Islamist movements. The ideological articulations of Jamaat have been studied by analyzing various primary sources—organisational literature, the party constitution, policy resolutions, press releases, election manifestos and political pamphlets of Jamaat-e-Islami. In addition, this dissertation has also relied on field interviews with the Jamaat leadership in India and Bangladesh. Magazines and internet sources have been also helpful for this study. My thesis analyses Islamist responses to neoliberalism by discussing the contrasting conditions of contemporary India and Bangladesh. In doing so, I conclude that in India, Jamaat is opposed to neoliberalism whereas in Bangladesh, it has a ambiguous character vis-à-vis neoliberalism. However, Islamists in both these countries are opposed to cultural issues like atheism, ‘blasphemous’ views, live-in relationships and homosexuality, which they construe as the products of ‘western cultural globalization’. In this respect, I try to analyse why the Islamists are opposed to ‘western cultural globalization’. Finally, I also explain how Islamism, as a politico-ideological project of populist mobilization is facing a crisis in contemporary India and Bangladesh.