Thesis--Universität Basel, 1911. / Vita.

Thesis--Georg-August-Universität, 1912. / Cover-title. "Lebenslauf."

This thesis is concerned with a conjecture of Zilber: that the complex field expanded with the exponential function should be `quasi-minimal'; that is, all its definable subsets should be countable or have countable complement. Our purpose is to study the geometry of this structure and other expansions by holomorphic functions of the complex field without having first to settle any number-theoretic problems, by treating all countable sets on an equal footing. We present axioms, modelled on those for a Zariski geometry, defining a non-first-order class of ``quasi-Zariski'' structures endowed with a dimension theory and a topology in which all countable sets are of dimension zero. We derive a quantifier elimination theorem, implying that members of the class are quasi-minimal. We look for analytic structures in this class. To an expansion of the complex field by entire holomorphic functions $\mathcal{R}$ we associate a sheaf $\mathcal{O}^{\scriptscriptstyle{\mathcal{R}}}$ of analytic germs which is closed under application of the implicit function theorem. We prove that $\mathcal{O}^{\scriptscriptstyle{\mathcal{R}}}$ is also closed under partial differentiation and that it admits Weierstrass preparation. The sheaf defines a subclass of the analytic sets which we call $\mathcal{R}$-analytic. We develop analytic geometry for this class proving a Nullstellensatz and other classical properties. We isolate a condition on the asymptotes of the varieties of certain functions in $\mathcal{R}$. If this condition is satisfied then the $\mathcal{R}$-analytic sets induce a quasi-Zariski structure under countable union. In the motivating case of the complex exponential we prove a low-dimensional case of the condition, towards the original conjecture.

In this thesis an analytical modelling approach is employed to predict and gain insight into the flows induced by turbulent plumes and jets above slender horizontal slots, in otherwise quiescent uniform environments. To supplement the solutions, the effect on the environment of a plume driven by an off-source supply of buoyancy was also considered. The solutions derived provide an advancement on existing idealised models for the jet and plume induced flows, and moreover, complement a number of key advances that have been made in our understanding of plume flows in recent years. The theory of functions of a complex variable, which has not previously been applied in such an application, has been utilised as a fundamental tool throughout the work. This has enabled the entrainment behaviour and geometry of the plumes to be accounted for when developing the induced flow solutions. A novel conformal mapping has been devised specifically to account for the curved perimeter of the contracting lazy plume. This modelling approach is robust in that future developments to aspects of the modelling, for instance, the formulation of a new entrainment closure, can be straightforwardly accounted for using the method. The induced flow solutions exhibit a range of flow patterns which are dependent on the source Richardson number of the plume flow. A pure plume induces a uniform horizontal flow. Forced and lazy plumes correspond to a relative deficit and excess in source buoyancy flux compared to the pure plume, respectively. Generally, forced plumes induce downwardly inclined flows, in contrast to lazy plumes, which induce upwardly inclined flows. Consistent with these solutions, the notionally lazy plume driven by a vertical uniform off-source supply of buoyancy induces an upwardly inclined flow. In addition to an improved understanding of induced flows, our solutions have provided us with insight into the plume flow. Notably, the solution corresponding to the forced plume has led us to fundamentally question existing models describing the plume and, in particular, closures that have been employed to model entrainment. We find that the existing well accepted closures exhibit some form of non-physical flow behaviour.

This thesis presents a new integrated tool and decision support framework to approach complex problems resulting from the interaction of many multi-criteria issues. The framework is embedded in an integrated tool called OUTDO (Oxford University Tool for Decision Organisation). OUTDO integrates Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), decision rationale management with a modified Issue-Based Information Systems (IBIS) representation, and probabilistic forecasting to effectively capture the essential reasons why decisions are made and to dynamically re-use the rationale. In doing so, it allows exploration of how changes in external parameters affect complicated and uncertain decision making processes in the present and in the future. Once the decision maker constructs his or her own decision process, OUTDO checks if the decision process is consistent and coherent and looks for possible ways to improve it using three new semantic-based decision support approaches. For this reason, two ontologies (the Decision Ontology and the Energy Ontology) were integrated into OUTDO to provide it with these semantic capabilities. The Decision Ontology keeps a record of the decision rationale extracted from OUTDO and the Energy Ontology describes the energy generation domain, focusing on the water requirement in thermoelectric power plants. A case study, with the objective of recommending electricity generation and steam condensation technologies for ten different regions in the UK, is used to verify OUTDO’s features and reach conclusions about the overall work.