This thesis addresses the ideological underpinnings in the migration narratives of Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books (2003), Bharati Mukhejree’s Jasmine (1989) and Monica Ali’s Brick Lane (2003) in order to reveal how certain meanings become more legitimate than others. In my discussion I expose the ways a narrative can be shaped and aligned such that it appears to provide agency for the migrant character, particularly in respect to inviting the notion of desire, feminist discourses, human rights, alienation, yet fails to challenge the structure of the dominant culture. To sum my argument up, Reading Lolita in Tehran, Jasmine, and Brick Lane do indeed engage with the dominant discourses of migration, yet they are infested with ideological contradictions and political absences. Though empowering the migrant figure, such as Nafisi, Jyoti and Nazneen, is laudable, the authors’ narratives nevertheless grant the migrant the power of assimilation within the standards of the Western dominant culture without communicating the process of negotiating an identity between native and host cultures. These texts suggest that the failure of assimilation is a character flaw and represent “Third World” and “First World” cultures in a series of false dichotomies.

In this thesis I engage with the subject of identity and how it is formed and undermined in the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald. In many of the novels and short stories a tension exists between two opposing forces. The first is the pursuit of a social identity which values inherited wealth and familial connections, mirroring in the values of the Old European World. In opposition to this is the protagonists’ personal identity that is not dependent on these long established connections to others. In characters such as Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver the latter is sacrificed in order to pursue the former. However, such an act of self-betrayal is shown to have significant, indeed disastrous consequences resulting in alcoholism, narcissism and melancholia. Alongside this study of Fitzgerald’s male characters is a consideration of women in his work and the manner in which they are used as symbols of masculine success. I chart the development of these female characters from his first novel, This Side of Paradise, in which women are primarily used to demonstrate the fears, desire and indeed character of the protagonist to more complex representations in the mature novels The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night. In Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan demonstrates a growing awareness of the female voice, even as, at times, Nick Carraway’s narration attempts to suppress it. In Tender is the Night, I suggest that there are two distinct stories evident in one narrative. In this novel “her” story is as significant as “his” story. I argue that this dialogism is, in part, a product of the author’s biography at the time of the novel’s composition. The depiction of these masculine acts of self-betrayal result in locating the most important aspects of identity in work. Or, as Fitzgerald wrote in 1936, “I have at last become a writer only.”

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Los sistemas poliméricos multifásicos han recibido una considerable atención en las últimas décadas. En particular, los copolímeros bloque presentan un marcado interés no sólo desde el punto de vista académico sino también desde el tecnológico, porque permiten obtener nuevos materiales con propiedades específicas cuya principal característica es la presencia de dos o más fases en estado sólido en la escala de los nanómetros. En la mayoría de los casos, los copolímeros bloque están constituidos por segmentos termodinámicamente incompatibles que se encuentran unidos químicamente en una sola molécula. Algunos ejemplos son: combinación de bloques hidrofóbicos con hidrofílicos, para aplicaciones como espesan-tes, absorbentes o compatibilizantes para la industria cosmé-tica. Por otra parte los copolímeros bloque presentan proce-sos de separación en microfases o formación de estructuras auto-ensambladas que los convierte en excelentes candidatos para aplicaciones en nanotecnología y electrónica. En esta Tesis se sintetizaron y caracterizaron copolímeros bloque en base siloxano, con estructura definida, empleando polimeri-zación aniónica en alto vacío. En particular se sintetizaron copolímeros de estireno-dimetilsiloxano, butadieno-dimetilsi-loxano, metil-metacrilato-dimetilsiloxano y estireno--caprolac-tona con estructuras y composiciones definidas con el objeti-vo de encontrar condiciones de reacción adecuadas para la síntesis de estos materiales. Los copolímeros obtenidos fueron caracterizados química y térmicamente empleando numerosas técnicas analíticas tales como Cromatografía por Exclusión de Tamaños (SEC); Resonancia Magnética Nuclear de hidrógeno (1H-NMR), Espectroscopia Infrarroja con Transformada de Fourier (FTIR), Difracción de Rayos X de bajo ángulo (SAXS), Calorimetría Diferencial de Barrido (DSC), Análisis Termogra-vimétrico (TGA) y Microscopía Óptica de luz Polarizada (POM) entre otras. Todos los copolímeros mostraron tener un control adecuado de las masas molares, presentando bajos índices de polidispersión para un amplio rango de masas molares y compo-siciones, además los resultados permitieron corroborar la formación de nanoestrucuras tanto en masa como en solución. Los resultados informados en esta Tesis constituyen un apor-te de interés respecto a la síntesis y caracterización de copo-límeros de estructura molecular definida basados en siloxano y ε-caprolactona. En tal sentido, los resultados obtenidos per-miten ampliar y profundizar la información existente en cuanto a la morfología en masa y en solución de copolímeros bloque basados en siloxano, y a las características térmicas de copo-límeros con un bloque semicristalino de poli(ε-caprolactona). / In the last decades, multiphase polymer systems have received widespread attention. In particular, block copolymers are of both academic and technological interest because they can generate new materials with enhanced or specific properties. These materials are usually characterized by the presence of two or more polymeric phases in the solid state at the nanometer scale. In all cases, block copolymers are made of thermodynamically incompatible segments chemically bonded. Some examples are: combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks for applications such as thickeners, absor-bents or compatibilizers for cosmetics industry. Moreover, block copolymers exhibit microphase separation processes given self-assembled structures which are excellent candida-tes for nanotechnology and electronic applications. This Doc-toral Thesis reports the results for well-defined synthesis and characterization of block copolymers based on siloxane using high vacuum anionic polymerization techniques. Particularly, several synthesis reactions were performed during the course of the experimental research and styrene-dimethylsiloxane, butadiene-dimethylsiloxane, methylmetacrylate-dimethylsilo-xane, and styrene--caprolactone copolymers were obtained with well-defined molar mass and narrow polydispersity. Obtained block copolymers were chemically and thermally characterized by Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM), among others. All the copolymers showed a well-defined molar mass and narrow polydispersity for a wide range of molar masses and compositions, which allows the study of nanostructures obtained both in mass and in solution. Reported results are an interesting contribution regarding the synthesis and characterization of well-defined copolymers based on siloxane and ε-caprolactone. In these sense, the obtained information extend and to deepen the existing information on both mass and solution morphology of siloxane based block copolymers and thermal characteristics of semicrystalline poly(ε-caprolactona).

Le mémoire de création est divisé en deux parties. La première section, ayant pour titre La vive douleur d'être née. Récit, rappelle, sur un ton poétique, divers souvenirs d'enfance et de jeunesse revisités à la lumière de la maturité. L'auteure cherche à comprendre, et peut-être à réparer par la remémoration, la fracture intime ressentie entre l'enfance et l'âge adulte. Le récit couvre la période qui va d'une naissance imaginée jusqu'à la mise au monde de ses propres enfants. Dans un deuxième temps, Du silence au récit. Réflexion, l'auteur analyse son propre parcours quant au désir d'écriture et retrace les étapes - découverte des mots, apprentissage de la lecture, journal intime, publication d'un premier roman, retour aux études - entre l'apparition de ce désir et une carrière qui s'amorce. Le récit d'enfance est défini empiriquement et situé dans la démarche de l'auteure.

Shear-wave splitting and azimuthal variations of seismic attributes are two major anisotropic effects induced by vertically-aligned fractures. They both have influences on seismic data processing and interpretation, and provide information on fracture properties. Azimuthal variations in P-wave data have been intensively studied to improve imaging and obtain fracture parameters. However, azimuthal variations in PS-converted wave seismic data, particularly the velocity variation in PS-converted wave data, have not been well studied. Shear-wave splitting has been frequently used to estimate fracture directions and densities. However, its influence on the azimuthal variations of PS-converted wave data has also lacked a proper analysis. In this thesis, I analyse the anisotropic behaviour of PS-converted wave seismic data in the presence of azimuthal anisotropy, which includes the azimuthal variation of the PSconverted wave and PS-converted wave splitting. First, I demonstrate the robustness of PS-converted wave splitting for fracture characterisation. PS-converted wave seismic data is also influenced by the splitting effect due to its upgoing shear-wave leg. This important feature enables the application of shear-wave splitting analysis to PS-converted wave seismic data. I use synthetic data to show the necessity for separation of the split PS-converted waves. Then I apply the PS-converted wave splitting analysis to Sanhu 3D3C land seismic data. By separation of the fast and slow PS-converted waves and compensation for the time delays, the imaging quality has been improved. Dominant fracture properties obtained from the splitting analysis show a good correlation with the stress-field data. However, this work is accomplished by assuming only one set of vertical fractures in processing a given time window. In future work a specific layer-stripping algorithm could be constructed and applied. . Second, I study azimuthal variations of velocities in PS-converted wave seismic data. It involves two major parts: analysing azimuthal variations of NMO velocities to improve imaging, and examining the sensitivity of azimuthal variations to different fluid saturations. For a layer with HTI anisotropy induced by a set of vertical fractures, seismologists usually analyse the azimuthal behaviour exhibited on the radial and transverse components, on which PS-converted wave data are recorded. However, PS-converted waves also undergo shear-wave splitting, which complicates the azimuthal variations of PS-converted wave data. I demonstrate that it is essential to separate the fast P-SV1 wave from the slow P-SV2 wave, before applying any azimuthal analysis. I derive an equation describing the azimuthal variation in PSconverted wave NMO velocities, which shows the variation can be approximated into an ellipse. Based on this theory, I build a workflow to analyse the azimuthal variations of velocities in PS-converted wave data and apply this workflow to synthetic data. The imaging quality can be improved by using this workflow. Different fluid saturations in fractures have different influences on the azimuthal variations of both P-wave and PS-converted wave data. I perform a numerical study to understand how dry or water-saturated fractures control the azimuthal variations. Through theoretical and synthetic studies, I find that the azimuthal variation of velocities in PS-converted wave data is sensitive to different fluid saturations. By analysing the azimuthal variation, the fracture properties can also be estimated, but results are not as robust as those from PS-converted wave splitting analysis. I find that azimuthal variations of fast P-SV1 and slow P-SV2 waves show in-phase characteristics in dry fractures, but exhibit out-of-phase characteristics in water-saturated fractures. This important feature could open a new application for using PS-converted wave seismic data to distinguish oil-filled fractures from gas-filled fractures. In cases where multiple HTI layers are involved, I have developed a specific layer-stripping method to analyse both azimuthal variations and splitting effects of PS-converted waves. By applying this method to synthetic data, the fracture properties of each HTI layer can be estimated. The analysis of azimuthal variations in PS-converted wave velocities is applied to Daqing 3D3C land data. By using azimuthal velocity models in the PS-converted wave seismic data processing, the imaging quality is improved, especially in the anticline area where intensive fractures are likely to be developed. Furthermore, all fracture information obtained from analysis of azimuthal variations and splitting effects is compared with the stress-field data. The results from splitting analysis show a better correlation with the stress-field study. Finally, it is important to conclude that the analysis of PS-converted wave splitting is a robust method to estimate fracture directions and densities. However, it is not sensitive to different fluid saturations, which limits its application to fractured reservoir characterisation. Azimuthal variations of PS-converted wave seismic data can be analysed to improve imaging quality. Moreover their sensitivity to fluid saturations may provide a new way to discriminate between oil-filled and gas-filled fractures. However, the analysis of azimuthal variations is not as robust as the analysis of splitting effects, and it may require appropriate calibration with other fracture characterisation methods.

<p>Sistem PSO u su&scaron;tini predstavlja model za finansiranje<br />neprofitabilnih usluga prevoza za koje postoji op&scaron;ti javni interes<br />države, regiona ili lokalne zajednice (grada i op&scaron;tine). Operateru se<br />obezbjeđuje nadoknada za javni prevoz tako da ne smije da prelazi<br />iznos koji odgovara neto finansijskom učinku jednakom zbiru<br />efekata i tro&scaron;kova. Univerzalni i op&scaron;teprihvaćeni model za<br />definisanje PSO na željeznici ne postoji pa su u radu definisani i<br />vrednovani socijalni i kvalitativni kriterijumi za održavanje i<br />unapređenje standarda kvaliteta obavljanja PSO, a razvijeni su<br />modeli za utvrđivanje PSO u integrisanim sistemima javnog prevoza<br />putnika, za utvrđivanje tro&scaron;kova operatera i fuzzy model za<br />utvrđianje bilansa poslovanja operatera za prevoz putnika. Sami<br />modeli su testirani da delu saobraćajne mreže u RS.</p> / <p>The PSO system essentially represents a model for financing of<br />nonprofit transport services of a general public interest of state,<br />region or local community (town of municipality). An operator is<br />provided with compensation for public transport service in the way<br />that it not exceeds amount equal to net financial performance as a<br />sum of effects and costs. Since universal and generally accepted<br />model for defining of PSO in regard with railway system does not<br />exists, in practice are defined and are being evaluated social and<br />qualitative criteria for maintaining and improving of quality<br />standards of PSO. There are also developed models for<br />determination of PSO at integrated systems of public passenger<br />transport, for operator costs determination and fuzzy model for<br />determination of operator&rsquo;s business balance in passenger<br />transport. Models are tested at a part of railway network in RS.</p>

Neste trabalho, foi estudado o comportamento reológico nos regimes de viscoelasticidade linear (VEL) e não linear (VENL) da mistura polimérica de polimetacrilato de metila/poliestireno (PMMA/PS), compatibilizada ou não com os copolímeros: estatístico P(S-co-MMA) (VEL e VENL) e bloco P(S-b-MMA) (VEL). No estudo do comportamento de VEL, ensaios de cisalhamento oscilatório de pequenas amplitudes (COPA) foram realizados utilizando-se um reômetro de tensão controlada. O comportamento de VEL das misturas poliméricas foi comparado com os modelos teóricos de Bousmina[1] e generalizado de Palierne[2]. Os tempos de relaxação das misturas poliméricas foram obtidos analisando o comportamento reológico no regime de VEL utilizando o software desenvolvido por Honerkamp e Weese[3]. Os tempos obtidos foram comparados com o modelo de Jacobs et al.[4]. O estudo do comportamento de VENL foi conduzido através de ensaios de relaxação de tensão utilizando-se um reômetro de deformação controlada. Os resultados do comportamento reológico no regime de VEL indicaram a presença de quatro tempos de relaxação, para as blendas compatibilizadas com P(S-co- MMA) (composições menores de 10% de fase dispersa e concentrações maiores de 4% de copolímero): dois picos relacionados às fases puras; F, relacionado com a relaxação das gotas da fase dispersa e o relacionado com a relaxação do compatibilizante na interface entre as fases matriz e dispersa. Os valores experimentais de F e foram utilizados para os cálculos de tensão interfacial () e do módulo complexo de interface () das blendas poliméricas compatibilizadas. Os resultados indicaram uma diminuição de com o aumento da concentração de copolímero. Os resultados do comportamento reológico no regime de VEL, para as blendas compatibilizadas com P(S-b-MMA), também apresentaram a presença de quatro tempos de relaxação. Observou-se que o aumento da adição de P(S-b-MMA) proporcionou uma redução no .. Os resultados de VENL de relaxação de tensão mostraram a presença de três fenômenos de relaxação, relacionados com: 1) as fases puras, 2) a relaxação das gotas da fase dispersa e um terceiro mais rápido. A adição de P(S-co-MMA) resultou numa diminuição do processo de relaxação das gotas da fase dispersa. / In this work, the dynamic behavior of polymethylmetacrylate/polystyrene (PMMA/PS) blends to which P(S-co-MMA) was added was studied. Several blend composition and copolymer concentrations were studied. The rheological behavior of blends was compared to Bousminas[1] and Paliernes generalized[2] models. The relaxation spectra of the blends were also inferred, and the results were analyzed in light of the analysis of Jacobs et al.[4]. The relaxation spectra of the blends with smaller dispersed phase (below 10 wt%) and larger copolymer concentrations (above 0.4 wt%) showed the presence of four relaxation times, two corresponding to the blend phases, F, corresponding to the relaxation of the shape of the dispersed phase of the blend, and , that can be attributed to the relaxation of Marangoni stresses tangential to the interface between the dispersed phase and matrix. The experimental values of F and were used to infer the interfacial tension () and the interfacial complex shear modulus () for the different blends, decreased with increasing copolymer concentration. decreased with increasing blend dispersed phase concentration and decreasing copolymer concentration. The predictions of Paliernes generalized model were found to corroborate the experimental data once the values of and found analyzing the relaxation spectra were used in the calculations. Bousminas model was found to corroborate the data only for larger dispersed phase concentration. The stress relaxation behavior of PMMA/PS blends with or without random copolymer addition, submitted to step shear strain experiments in the linear and nonlinear regime was studied. The effect of blend composition, viscosity ratio and random copolymer was evaluated. All blends presented three relaxation stages, a first relaxation which was attributed to the relaxation of the pure phases, a second one which was characterized by the presence of plateau and a third fast one.