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The Conceptualisation of Gender in Anna Banti, Natalia Ginzburg, and Elsa Morante. Feminist Narratives and Anti-feminist Consciences
Get PDFThis work aims to investigate the relationship between some of the most popular and significant women writers in twentieth-century Italy – Anna Banti, Natalia Ginzburg, and Elsa Morante – and feminism, focusing particularly on what can be perceived as a discrepancy between their narratives and their public and political stances. Indeed, I will argue that all authors are considerable feminists (or at least readable through a feminist lens) not despite their ‘anti-feminist’ statements but also in light of those. It will be doing so through a thematic analysis. This research will be structured into four macro-themes, shared by all the authors and aiming to shed light on the above-mentioned discrepancy – female subjectivity, motherhood, female friendship, and gender-based violence. These themes will demonstrate how and why these authors’ narratives are arguably feminist and will be juxtaposed to what I will define as ‘anti-feminism’. By doing so, this work will offer an investigation not only of these case studies but more generally of the conflictual relationships between women writers and feminism in twentieth-century Italy and how it evolved throughout the twenty-first century
Development of Microfluidic Instrumentation for Application in the Diagnosis of Rare Anaemias
Get PDFGlobally, the number of children born every year with a rare anaemia exceeds 500,000. The symptoms of rare anaemias range, depending on the mutation, from mild to severe, and in many cases prove to be fatal. The geographical prevalence of rare anaemias is concentrated in developing countries where resources available for diagnosis and treatment are scarce. The gold standard diagnosis of rare anaemia requires a three-tier investigation which is costly and not readily available in the areas most afflicted. As such, there is a need for a low-cost and user friendly method of diagnosis for these diseases.
This thesis investigates the diagnostic abilities of a bio-chemical assay that exposes red blood cells to a low pH shock using microfluidic techniques. This involved the development of a novel low-cost microfluidic instrument, which has been named MeCheM, to run Lab-on-a-Chip devices. The experimental techniques and protocols developed are critically reviewed using healthy blood samples as the control. The results from the control population establish baselines for comparison against the diseased samples. Subsequently, the developed methods are investigated for diagnostic capabilities using rare anaemia blood samples.
The results from these investigations suggest that there are observable differences for the developed Flow Test in the case of the Thalassaemia and Hereditary Spherocytosis disorders. Similarly, the developed Cell-Surface Adhesion measurements highlighted significant differences among the Sickle Cell samples. Additionally, secondary investigations indicated correlations between the gold standard Red Blood Cell Count and the RBC Count as measured using MeCheM, and Mean Corpuscular Volume and Average Cell Projected Area (pre-acid addition). The development of MeCheM, a novel microfluidic instrument, as a stand-alone device is a key output from this body of work
Expanding the arsenal against leishmaniasis: Clemastine/Tamoxifen chimera as potential antileishmanials
Get PDFLeishmaniasis is a complex group of vector-borne zoonosis caused by parasites of the Leishmania genus. The prediction of annual cases of visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis combined is of more than 1 000 000 cases, with up to 20 000 deaths per year. The treatment of leishmaniasis relies on a few drugs presenting multiple shortcomings, which makes the discovery of new treatments urgent. In recent years, clemastine 27 and tamoxifen 28 have been identified in repurposing strategies and shown to display potent anti-leishmanial activity against both in vitro and in vivo models of the disease. Both molecules were proposed to target the same enzyme, inositol phosphorylceramide synthase (IPCS), which is found in the parasite but not in the host. These molecules also share similar chemical features, such as an aminoalkoxy side chain and a diaryl system. In this project, it was hypothesised that these chemical features are responsible for their antileishmanial activity. Therefore, the goal was to design and synthesise hybrid molecules between clemastine and tamoxifen and improve their antileishmanial activity. Firstly, a library of 40 compounds was synthesised varying the nature of the diaryl carbinol core and the aminoalkoxy side chain. Using a classic resazurin-based assay, all compounds were screened for antiparasitic activity against L. major and L. amazonensis promastigotes, and HepG2 cells for the evaluation of their cytotoxicity against human cells. Seven compounds with an EC50 10 were the selected for testing against other two species of Leishmania promastigotes epidemiologically relevant in South America (L. braziliensis and L. infantum) as well as against two species of intracellular amastigotes (L. amazonensis and L. infantum). All compounds were highly active against L. braziliensis promastigotes, displaying EC50 values below 1 µM, and 6/7 compounds had EC50 approximate to 2 µM against L. infantum. In addition, they displayed promising activity against L. infantum amastigotes (EC50 ≤ 2 µM), but were slightly less active against L. amazonensis. Analogues 110 and 111 had the highest activity across the four species of promastigotes tested, and the most active compound against the intracellular amastigotes was 130. Collectively, these results contributed towards raising insights regarding the structure-activity relationship of this library, which led to the selection of clemastine/tamoxifen hybrids with high antileishmanial potency. Ongoing and future efforts are to explore the mechanism of action of this library. For this, two techniques were chosen to be explored; chemical proteomics, which makes use of chemical probes for the identification of binding proteins, and resistance selection followed by genomic sequencing, which allows for the identification of genes associated with the compound activity
Investigation of the application of Statistical Process Control into Low Volume Manufacturing
Get PDFStatistical process control (SPC) into Low Volume Manufacturing environment face a challenge applying SPC techniques. SPC is commonly used for quality control and improvement in the manufacturing sector. In the early 1920s, Dr Walter Shewhart developed the control chart employed to monitor a process over time, where the first data is collected and then plotted on a graph. Moreover, a control chart is composed of a Central Line (CL), the Upper Control Limit (UCL) and the Lower Control Limit (LCL). Parameters and control limits are calculated to analyze the control chart, requiring twenty to twenty-five subgroups of data, with three to five values per subgroup, or at least sixty measurements. However, collect this amount of data is difficult in certain production processes, where the lot size could even be one and it could take weeks or months to accumulate enough data to estimate the process parameters.
Statistical process control is a challenge in some scenarios such as startup production, different or individual parts in the same production line, or production of customized products. In these cases, there is not enough amount of data to compute the parameters to monitor the process. Therefore, special techniques and statistical methods are required. Some authors developed self-starting control charts and alternative methods for short-run production, e.g. Q charts, Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) and Cumulative sum (CUSUM). This thesis studies the performance of these SPC tools, implementing a Low Volume Statistical Process
Control (LV-SPC) model through an Excel spreadsheet, analyzing the production process data from companies that are performing low volume manufacturing. This work provides an interpretation and explanation about statistical process
control into low volume manufacturing, analyzing the application of different SPC methods developed for short production runs based on data collected from different companies. Data collected was processed to individual measurements from the process deviation rather than the mean values. Converting the data to individual values the SPC methods for low volume manufacturing are viable to use. Also, performance, effectiveness, and how it can be further implemented were discussed
Gravity to Galaxies — N-body Simulations for the DESI Survey
Get PDFSimulations of the evolution of the universe under gravity are essential to our understanding of modern cosmology. These -body simulations can contain trillions of particles and are run on some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. -body simulations are necessary to understand the data from large galaxy surveys that are mapping the universe in higher detail than ever before. This thesis explores the accuracy of -body simulation methods and their applications towards the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Survey. Firstly, the accuracy of the gravity scheme in the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics With Inter-dependent Fine-grained Tasking (\SWIFT) simulation code is tested. These tests inform us on the limitations of running \SWIFT with high values of the opening angle parameter . Additionally, an error in the large-scale clustering in \SWIFT simulations was found and fixed. Next, a comparison between several simulation codes is presented. In this comparison, simulations were run from identical initial conditions and the level of discrepancy caused by choice of simulation code is measured. The systematic errors caused by choice of code are compared to the statistical errors in a DESI Survey volume. We find that the matter power spectra from independent codes agree to within 1\% for Mpc. The halo mass functions agree to within 1\% between mass limits of ~M. Halo clustering measurements are within the DESI year 5 uncertainty at scales greater than Mpc. The results justified the choice of resolution adopted in the AbacusSummit suite of simulations that are used to create mock galaxy catalogues for DESI. To connect simulated dark matter halos to observed galaxies, we use a halo occupation distribution (HOD). We have produced a novel HOD fitting procedure that simultaneously fits HOD curves describing samples with varying absolute magnitude limits. This allows us to produce mock catalogues that reproduce a target luminosity- and colour-dependent galaxy clustering correlation function, and a target galaxy luminosity function. Finally, mock galaxy catalogues are created from the AbacusSummit suite of simulations for the DESI Bright Galaxy Survey (BGS). These mock catalogues will aid with measuring systematic effects in DESI BGS data and testing the unbiased recovery of cosmological parameters
Demonstrating Biomass Sustainability
Get PDFCurrent UK and EU regulations governing biomass sustainability and existing biomass certification schemes, do not fully address all potential negative impacts that may occur from using biomass supply chains in the US south; insufficient evidence is collected to ensure that the impact of forest derived biomass is either positive or neutral.
Data monitoring tools and technologies are available to track sustainability trends at a catchment area level and from individual harvesting sites. More detailed analysis, monitoring and collection of data is required to fully demonstrate the sustainability of biomass supply chains and genuinely contribute to emissions reduction targets.
Biomass Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) has been identified as an important tool for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction; it forms a substantial component of IPCC modelling pathways for achieving climate change targets. It is also endorsed by the committee on climate change (CCC) in the UK as being an integral part of the UK’s future energy generation portfolio. If BECCS is to be a substantial component of future energy generation in the UK, then improved sustainability requirements and more detailed evidence collection should be an integral part of any financial support mechanism to ensure a positive or neutral impact in the forest.
The use of biomass, in the form of wood pellets or any other forest derived feedstocks, has been challenged as unsustainable and leading to negative carbon and environmental impacts. Common challenges to the sustainability of wood pellet use include: deforestation; damage to sensitive sites and biodiversity; long-term loss of forest carbon; displacement of solid wood product markets; and changes in forest management practice leading to lower rates of carbon sequestration and storage.
A literature review has been carried out to identify the most relevant sustainability challenges for biomass use within the scope of this research. A process of gap analysis, against existing regulations and auditing standards, and consultation with biomass and forest industry experts, has been used to identify gaps in the current process of demonstrating biomass sustainability and to identify specific areas that require additional data and evidence. A case study was then used to test various tools and methodologies to address these gaps and identify suitable evidence. This showed that multiple options are available to improve biomass sustainability reporting and evidence gathering processes
'FORT OF THE SPEAR SHAFTS’ OR 'FARM HILL’ - The Traprain Law Community And Environs Interpreted Through Botanic Remnants.
Get PDFThe Iron Age/Roman hillfort site of Traprain Law, East Lothian (NT 58163 74443) presents a distinct absence of plant-based evidence despite an extensive excavation history. The latest of these investigations (1999/2000 excavation), recovered a number of organic residues (in approx. 20 samples) containing plant macrofossils and micro/macro charcoal and a block sample from the ‘Pond/Tank’ (Contexts – 3127, 3128) which enabled palynological analysis. This extended investigation undertook morphological analysis (incl. ring-counts, preservation assessments) and species identification plus secondary analysis via carbon and nitrogen isotopic methodology on the plant macrofossil and micro/macro charcoal and furthered interpretation of a previous unpublished preliminary pollen analysis. This extended investigation was intended to aid in the construction of a subsistence/resource profile for the Traprain Law site and to determine the nature and extent of agricultural practice and wider community-environment interactions. This was enabled through analysis of the plant macrofossil and micro/macro charcoal, which highlighted a subsistence profile weighted to cereal agricultural production and a wood-focused fuel profile, whilst also suggesting that the Traprain Law community may have been distant from direct environmental interaction and largely a consumer site. Further understanding of the nature of the wider Traprain Law environmental context was also an intended target of investigation, this was highlighted largely in the isotopic and palynological analysis. Traprain Law was an Iron Age site surrounded with agricultural clearance, sediments were fertile and, in some instances, potentially saturated and there was minimal arboreal cover evident. A wider comparative discussion was also developed, a comparison of the Traprain Law systems to plant-based profiles from published environs Zone 1 (5km-20km from Traprain Law) sites to contrast wider inter-site community-environment interactions. There are many different site-environment interactions within this collective of connected communities, and a definition for localised subsistence lifescapes emerges which includes both proactive and passive relationships to environments. The purpose of Traprain Law has never been clearly defined, and is still a diverse possibility, however regarding community-environment and environ inter-site interactions, Traprain Law is certainly more ‘Farm Hill’ than ‘Fort Of The Spear Shafts’
Towards an Aesthetic of Visualisation: Multi-Media Analysis, Comparative Audio- Narrative-Visual Analysis, and Representations of Music in Film
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to offer an extension to the field of film musicology and film music analysis through the development of pictorial graphic representations of close film music analytical readings.
Previously, pictorial charts in multimedia analysis have been developed to represent sound and image. These pictorial representational charts have aided musicologists pedagogically and interpretively in the discussions of the place of music against image but have infrequently served as an analytical tool.
This thesis performs a dual function: the study focuses on pictorial representations of music and image as a multimedia analytical tool and extends the function of the pictorial visualisations to add a further dimension of comparative analysis. This extension to the study offers a unique approach and lens, creating a platform where multiple examples of material from films, comprising image and music, can be cross-examined, and compared. I argue that comparative multimedia analyses provide a new dimension for film analysis. This study grapples with disciplines including film music analysis and musicology to thoroughly display the effectiveness of pictorial analytical charts as a means of comparative, multimedia analysis.
To highlight how this pictorial graphic comparative setting works as a multimedia analysis, I have looked to the Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Prokofiev film collaborations; Alexander Nevsky (1938) and Ivan the Terrible I and II (1945 and 1958). The films and the music commissioned offer a rich study, allowing for the comparisons of the music written for specific narrative themes, common to all three films, to be carried out. This assessment brings to the forefront the composer’s and the director’s workings and influences across the three films. The study further highlights how the films are underscored by the influences of contemporary Soviet political life, and how these films, as products, relate aspects of Soviet socio-political ideological objectives
Explainable Machine Learning for Robust Modelling in Healthcare
Get PDFDeep Learning (DL) has seen an unprecedented rise in popularity over the last decade, with applications ranging from machine translation to self-driving cars. This includes extensive work in sensitive domains such as healthcare and finance with, for example, models recently achieving better-than-human performance in tasks such as chest x-ray diagnosis. However, despite these impressive results there are relatively few real-world deployments of DL models in sensitive scenarios, with experts claiming this is due to a lack of model transparency, reproducibility, robustness and privacy; this is in spite of numerous techniques having been proposed to address these issues. Most notably is the development of Explainable Deep Learning techniques, which aim to compute feature importance values for a given input (i.e. which features does a model use to make its decision?) - such methods can greatly improve the transparency of a model, but have little impact on reproducibility, robustness and privacy. In this thesis, I explore how explainability techniques can be used to address these issues, by using feature attributions to improve our understanding of how model parameters change during training, and across different hyperparameter setups. Through the introduction of a novel model architecture and training technique that used model explanations to improve model consistency, I show how explanations can improve privacy, robustness and reproducibility. Extensive experimentation is carried out across a number of sensitive datasets from healthcare and bioinformatics in both traditional and federated learning settings show that these techniques have a significant impact on the quality of these models. I discuss the impact these results could have on real-world applications of deep learning, due to the issues addressed by the proposed techniques, and present some ideas for further research in this area
Volatile Bubble Resorption in Silicate Melts & Magmas via Diffusive Mass Transfer
Get PDFBubble growth in magmas is a first-order control on volcanic eruption style, with changes typically resulting from re-equilibration in non-isothermal-isobaric conditions, or diffusive mass transfer of volatiles across the bubble interface. The latter process is well understood for bubbles coupled to high-viscosity liquids such as rhyolitic magmas associated with Plinian and Dome-forming eruptions, but two significant gaps remain: (1) changes to decoupled bubbles in lower viscosity fluids like basaltic magmas typical of Hawaiian or Strombolian eruptions, and (2) bubble resorption and magma regassing resulting from reverse volatile mass transfer into the magma.
Using two new definitions of Péclet number for coupled and decoupled bubbles (Pes and Peb), and Sherwood number (Sh), these two complexities are explored through the relative timescales of diffusion and advection in analogue and magmatic bubble- melt. Numerical simulations find that in basaltic systems, spherical bubbles are almost always decoupled with resorption limited by diffusion (Peb ≫ 105 or Sh>10), meaning they resorb at the rate of diffusive mass transfer. By contrast, spherical bubbles in rhyolitic melts have restricted buoyancy making them coupled and their resorption limited by the high melt viscosity (Pes ≪ 105). In both melt compositions, resorption of the smallest bubbles (R0 < 1μm) becomes limited by surface tension effects.
Experimental observations of decoupled bubbles show that larger bubbles described by high values of Peb resorb at a faster rate than smaller bubbles in lower Peb systems. This is attributed to larger bubbles rising faster to continually encounter new melt with a renewed concentration gradient.
These findings have great significance to the modelling of eruptive volcanic processes, providing support for theories on the formation of bubble-free material, or dynamic magma regassing. Whilst a numerical model for decoupled bubble resorption in magmas is not yet complete, this thesis quantifies the onset of different bubble regimes for magmas of contrasting compositions
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