Since Presocratic Greece, suicide in the West has been “known” and controlled, both politically and discursively. Groups as diverse as theologians and literary critics have propagated many different views of self-killing, but, determining its cause and moralizing about it, they have commonly exerted interpretive power over suicide, making it nameable, explicable, and predominantly reprehensible. The four modernist authors that I consider in this dissertation -- Ernest Hemingway, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner -- break completely with the tradition of knowing suicide by insisting on its inscrutability, refusing to judge it, and ultimately rendering it “almost unnamable,” identifiable but indefinable. In For Whom the Bell Tolls, Victory, Mrs. Dalloway, and The Sound and the Fury, respectively, these authors portray illustrative, but by no means definitive, modernist self-killings; they construct a distinctive representational space around suicide, one free of causal, moral, theoretical or thematic meaning and, I argue, imbued with the power to disrupt interpretation. “‘Almost Unnamable’: Suicide in the Modernist Novel” examines the power of self-killing’s representational space in early twentieth-century fiction, arguing for its importance not only to the history of suicide in the West but also to the portrayal of death in the twentieth-century novel. / text

Not available

We shall present a theoretical description of paraxial beams, showing the propagation modes that arise from the solution of the paraxial equation in free space. We then discuss the angular momentum carried by light beams, with its decomposition in spin and orbital angular momentum and its quantization. We present the polarization and transverse modes of a beam as potential degrees of freedom to encode information. We define the Spin-Orbit modes and explain the experimental methods to produce such modes. We then apply the Spin-Orbit modes to perform a BB84 quantum key distribution protocol without a shared reference frame.We propose a Bell-like inequality criterion as a sufficient condition for the spin-orbit non-separability of a classical laser beam. We show that the notion of separable and non-separable spin-orbit modes in classical optics builds a useful analogy with entangled quantum states, allowing for the study of some of their important mathematical properties. We present a detailed quantum optical description of the experiment in which a comprehensive range of quantum states are considered.Following the study of Bell's inequalities we consider bipartite quantum systems characterized by a continuous angular variable θ. We show how to reveal non-locality on this type of system using inequalities similar to CHSH ones, originally derived for bipartite spin 1/2 like systems. Such inequalities involve correlated measurement of continuous angular functions and are equivalent to the continuous superposition of CHSH inequalities acting on two-dimensional subspaces of the infinite dimensional Hilbert space. As an example, we discuss in detail one application of our results, which consists in measuring orientation correlations on the transverse profile of entangled photons.

Soft iterative detection and decoding techniques have been shown to be able to achieve near-capacity performance in multiple-antenna systems. To obtain the optimal soft information by marginalization over the entire observation space is intractable; and the current literature is unable to guide us towards the best way to obtain the suboptimal soft information. In this thesis, several existing soft-input soft-output (SISO) detectors, including minimum mean-square error-successive interference cancellation (MMSE-SIC), list sphere decoding (LSD), and Fincke-Pohst maximum-a-posteriori (FPMAP), are examined. Prior research has demonstrated that LSD and FPMAP outperform soft-equalization methods (i.e., MMSE-SIC); however, it is unclear which of the two scheme is superior in terms of performance-complexity trade-off. A comparison is conducted to resolve the matter. In addition, an improved scheme is proposed to modify LSD and FPMAP, providing error performance improvement and a reduction in computational complexity simultaneously. Although list-type detectors such as LSD and FPMAP provide outstanding error performance, issues such as the optimal initial sphere radius, optimal radius update strategy, and their highly variable computational complexity are still unresolved. A new detection scheme is proposed to address the above issues with fixed detection complexity, making the scheme suitable for practical implementation. / Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-07-08 19:29:17.66

Les instabilités fluides peuvent dégrader le confinement du plasma au sein des tokamaks. Étant données les échelles spatio-temporelles, on choisit les modèles fluides obtenus à partir de la dérivation des modèles cinétiques. On dérive plusieurs modèles hiérarchiques de la MagnétoHydroDynamique (MHD) et en particulier les modèles de la MHD réduite du Current Hole et de l'équilibre de Grad-Shafranov. Une des difficulté de l'ensemble de ces modèles est de respecter l'équation modélisant l'absence de monopôles magnétiques. Pour assurer cette condition en tout point du domaine, le champ magnétique est réécrit avec un potentiel vecteur. L'utilisation de potentiels fait apparaître des équations faisant intervenir des dérivées d'ordre supérieurs. La stratégie numérique développée est l'utilisation de la méthode des éléments finis avec des éléments C1 de Bell. Sur un maillage non structuré, ces éléments ont l'intérêt de présenter une base réduite définir exclusivement avec des variables aux noeuds du maillage. Les modèles de MHD réduite du Current Hole et de Grad-Shafranov ont été résolus avec ces éléments. La résolution du cas test de Grad-Shafranov avec les conditions de bords exactes a permis d'obtenir l'ordre optimale de 5. La résolution du système du Current Hole avec ces éléments, validée par l'obtention du paramètre η1/3, a permis l'observation de développement d'instabilités en dents de scies.

This dissertation investigates the contradictions and similarities regarding the depictions of Afrikaner ancestry in two works by Charles Davidson Bell: The landing of Van Riebeeck, 1652 (1850) and Cattle boers' outspan (s.a.). The works were discussed and compared from a conventional perspective in order to establish the artworks' formal qualities, subject matter and thematic content This reading was extended by employing postcolonial theoretical principles in order to contextualise these two artworks within their Victorian ideological frameworks, social realities and authoring strategies. The extended comparative reading revealed a number of similarities and contradictions regarding the artist's depiction of Afrikaner ancestry in these two works. Postcolonial theory further facilitated a more comprehensive and dense reading of the chosen artworks, as well as of the artist's oeuvre. / Thesis (M.A. (History of Arts))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Key words: William Hogarth Exhibition; Hogarth in Johannesburg (1987-1988) Series; A Rake’s Progress, Marriage-a-la-Mode and Industry and Idleness Artists; Robert Hodgins Deborah Bell William Kentridge William Hogarth Caversham Press, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Printmaking Printmaking in South Africa Resistance art Narratology, narrative, discourse, story, plot, Transference of narratives Sequential art narrative and comics This dissertation considers the prints by South African artists, William Kentridge, Deborah Bell, and Robert Hodgins for the Hogarth in Johannesburg exhibition (1987) in the context of William Hogarth’s historical suites of prints referred to in the title of the exhibition, and contemporary theories about Sequential Art and Narrative. Produced for the artists at The Caversham Press of Malcolm Christian in KwaZulu-Natal, particular emphasis is placed on the images created by Deborah Bell, Robert Hodgins and William Kentridge (such as Industry and Idleness, Marriage-a-la-mode and A Rake’s Progress), and shown in their combined exhibition Hogarth in Johannesburg, in 1987. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This dissertation investigates the contradictions and similarities regarding the depictions of Afrikaner ancestry in two works by Charles Davidson Bell: The landing of Van Riebeeck, 1652 (1850) and Cattle boers' outspan (s.a.). The works were discussed and compared from a conventional perspective in order to establish the artworks' formal qualities, subject matter and thematic content This reading was extended by employing postcolonial theoretical principles in order to contextualise these two artworks within their Victorian ideological frameworks, social realities and authoring strategies. The extended comparative reading revealed a number of similarities and contradictions regarding the artist's depiction of Afrikaner ancestry in these two works. Postcolonial theory further facilitated a more comprehensive and dense reading of the chosen artworks, as well as of the artist's oeuvre. / Thesis (M.A. (History of Arts))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Produtos desidratados em pó são amplamente consumidos por indústrias produtoras de alimentos prontos e pré-prontos, devido à facilidade de transporte, armazenamento, e vida de prateleira prolongada. É desejável que estes produtos sejam capazes de manter suas características o mais próximo possível do produto in natura quando são reidratados e, adicionalmente, que tragam vantagens econômicas para a indústria. O objetivo geral deste trabalho consistiu em produzir um sistema de secagem multi-estágio para frutas e hortaliças para manutenção de suas características e benefícios nutricionais, com custo de processamento reduzido. Para isso, foi necessário desenvolver e testar um protótipo do sistema de secagem hermeticamente fechado para permitir o processamento em baixa pressão e temperatura e fluxo de ar aquecido. A pesquisa se desenvolveu nas etapas de revisão da literatura, da escolha das matérias primas, da definição dos parâmetros de secagem, da obtenção e da caracterização dos pós de tomate e de pimentão. Foi aplicada uma ferramenta de tomada de decisão para escolha do método de secagem mais adequado. Foram avaliados no tomate os conteúdos de ácido ascórbico, compostos fenólicos totais, β-caroteno, licopeno, frutose, glicose, ácido cítrico, 5- hidroximetil-2-furfural (HMF) e as alterações causadas nos tecidos. No pimentão amarelo foram avaliados os conteúdos de glicose, frutose, sacarose, ácido ascórbico, HMF, proteínas, fibra alimentar, cor, índice de escurecimento e identificação do perfil dos carotenoides. De acordo com os resultados na avaliação do pó de tomate, o processo de secagem em dois estágios levou a menores perdas de açúcares, conteúdos mais elevados de carotenoides e compostos fenólicos totais, bem como formação de HMF e endurecimento da superfície. Nos tratamentos avaliados no processamento do pimentão amarelo, o processo de secagem em dois estágios resultou em perdas nos conteúdos de ácido ascórbico e açúcares, além do aumento do índice de escurecimento. Na escolha do processo de secagem, foram considerados diversos aspectos, visto que diferentes parâmetros podem implicar em diferentes custos de aquisição, consumo energético e qualidade do produto final. Neste contexto, o processo de secagem em fluxo de ar aquecido se mostrou vantajoso para a secagem de tomate. / Powdered dehydrated products are widely consumed by food industries of ready and pre-ready to eat products, due to its facility of transportation, storage and extended shelf life. It is desirable that these products can maintain its characteristics as closer as possible from fresh fruit when they are rehydrated and should bring economics advantages for the industry. The general objective of this work consists in producing a multi-stage drying system for fruits and vegetables for maintaining its characteristics and nutritional benefits, with lower processing costs. For this, it was necessary to develop and test a prototype of the drying system, hermetically closed for allowing the processing under low pressure and temperature and hot air flow. The research was developed in the steps of literature revision, raw materials choice, definition of drying parameters, obtaining and characterization of the tomato and sweet pepper powders. A decision-making tool was applied for the choice of the most proper drying method. In tomato were evaluated the contents of ascorbic acid, total phenolic compounds, β-carotene, lycopene, fructose, glucose, citric acid, 5-hydroxy-methyl-2-furfural (HMF) and tissue changes. In yellow sweet bell pepper were evaluated the contents of glucose, fructose, sucrose, HMF, protein, fibers, color, browning indices and the carotenoid profile identification. According to the results of the tomato powder evaluation, the drying process in two stages lead to lower losses of sugars, high contents of carotenoids, total phenolic compounds, HMF formation, surface hardening. In the evaluated treatments of processing of yellow sweet bell pepper, the drying process in two stages resulted in losses of ascorbic acid content, sugars, increase of browning indices. For the choice of drying process, several aspects were considered, since different parameters may imply in different acquisition costs, energy consumption, and the quality effects of the final product, in this context the drying process in hot air flow was pointed as advantageous for tomato drying.

The device-independent (DI) framework is a novel approach to quantum information science which exploits the nonlocality of quantum physics to certify the correct functioning of a quantum information processing task without relying on any assumption on the inner workings of the devices performing the task. This thesis focuses on the device-independent certification and generation of true randomness for cryptographic applications. The existence of such true randomness relies on a fundamental relation between the random character of quantum theory and its nonlocality, which arises in the context of Bell tests. Device-independent randomness generation (DIRG) and quantum key distribution (DIQKD) protocols usually evaluate the produced randomness (as measured by the conditional min-entropy) as a function of the violation of a given Bell inequality. However, the probabilities characterising the measurement outcomes of a Bell test are richer than the degree of violation of a single Bell inequality. In this work we show that a more accurate assessment of the randomness present in nonlocal correlations can be obtained if the value of several Bell expressions is simultaneously taken into account, or if the full set of probabilities characterising the behaviour of the device is considered. As a side result, we show that to every behaviour there corresponds an optimal Bell expression allowing to certify the maximal amount of DI randomness present in the correlations. Based on these results, we introduce a family of protocols for DIRG secure against classical side information that relies on the estimation of an arbitrary number of Bell expressions, or even directly on the experimental frequencies of the measurement outcomes. The family of protocols we propose also allows for the evaluation of randomness from a subset of measurement settings, which can be advantageous when considering correlations for which some measurement settings result in more randomness than others. We provide numerical examples illustrating the advantage of this method for finite data, and show that asymptotically it results in an optimal generation of randomness from experimental data without having to assume beforehand that the devices violate a specific Bell inequality. / L'approche indépendante des appareils ("device-independent" en anglais) est une nouvelle approche en informatique quantique. Cette nouvelle approche exploite la non-localité de la physique quantique afin de certifier le bon fonctionnement d'une tâche sans faire appel à des suppositions sur les appareils menant à bien cette tâche. Cette thèse traite de la certification et la génération d'aléa indépendante des appareils pour des applications cryptographiques. L'existence de cet aléa repose sur une relation fondamentale entre le caractère aléatoire de la théorie quantique et sa non-localité, mise en lumière dans le cadre des tests de Bell. Les protocoles de génération d'aléa et de distribution quantique de clés indépendants des appareils mesurent en général l'aléa produit en fonction de la violation d'une inégalité de Bell donnée. Cependant les probabilités qui caracterisent les résultats de mesures dans un test de Bell sont plus riches que le degré de violation d'une seule inégalité de Bell. Dans ce travail nous montrons qu'une évaluation plus exacte de l'aléa présent dans les corrélations nonlocales peut être faite si l'on tient compte de plusieurs expressions de Bell à la fois ou de l'ensemble des probabilités (ou comportement) caractérisant l'appareil testé. De plus nous montrons qu'à chaque comportement correspond une expression de Bell optimale permettant de certifier la quantité maximale d'aléa présente dans ces corrélations. À partir de ces resultats, nous introduisons une famille de protocoles de génération d'aléa indépendants des appareils, sécurisés contre des adversaires classiques, et reposant sur l'évaluation de l'aléa à partir d'un nombre arbitraire d'expressions de Bell, ou même à partir des fréquences expérimentales des résultats de mesure. Les protocoles proposés permettent aussi d'évaluer l'aléa à partir d'un sous-ensemble de choix de mesure, ce qui peut être avantageux lorsque l'on considère des corrélations pour lesquelles certains choix de mesure produisent plus d'aléa que d'autres. Nous fournissons des exemples numériques illustrant l'avantage de cette méthode pour des données finies et montrons qu'asymptotiquement cette méthode résulte en un taux de génération d'aléa optimal à partir des données expérimentales, sans devoir supposer à priori que l'expérience viole une inégalité de Bell spécifique. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished