Determining the Composition

This chapter explores the interpretation of a musical work in the context of changes to songwriters’ creative behaviors, driven by changes in composing technologies. It argues that in the 21st century, a musical work (MW) is fully embodied in a phonorecording, and that single, artificially isolated elements (such as melodic fragments) should be considered de minimis for the purposes of copyright infringement litigation. This view is evidenced by the self-reported creative activities of more than 200 songwriting teams, taken from the popular podcast Song Exploder. Three detailed case studies are provided from this collection, all based on songwriting teams using digital technologies; Dua Lipa, Mobb Deep, and Billie Eilish. The chapter argues that interpreting the MW more broadly (to include audio as well as melody/lyrics), combined with a more generous interpretation of the de minimis threshold, could empower creators, and avoid spurious music copyright infringement litigation in the future. The authors draw on their respective experiences as: i) a consultant forensic musicologist, with ethnographic research into collaborative songwriters’ creativity; and ii) as a music and technology professor and practiting lawyer, with songwriting, performance, and recording background

Grounded School Choice in Uganda: Community Building from the Bottom to the Top

The non-profit organization, From the Bottom to the Top, has been working with the people of west-central Uganda to rebuild the education system, develop increased access to sustainable schools, and promote community involvement in school decisions. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of students, parents, teachers, and community members related to their choice of specific schools in a rural area of Uganda, which have been working in cooperation with From the Bottom to the Top. Interviews focused on students and families’ motivations to choose the school their children attend and observations of sustainable development efforts in their communities. Results suggest that a bottom-up approach to rebuilding well-managed, self-reliant, sustainable schools plays a strong role in school choice decisions. Thematic analysis of the interviews resulted in themes related to gender equality, healthcare, and infrastructure. Empowering schools to be self-sustaining and supporting initiatives related to feminine hygiene products, sustainable potable water systems, and other community needs allows local education systems to thrive

Deep Reinforcement Learning in Trading Algorithms

An algorithm that can learn an optimal policy to execute trade profitable is any market participant’s dream. In the project, we propose an algorithm that does just that: a Deep Reinforcement Learning trading algorithm. We design our algorithm by tuning the reward function to our specified constraints, taking into account unrealized Profits and Losses (PnL), Sharpe ratio, profits, and transaction costs. Additionally, we use a short 5-month moving average replay memory in order to ensure our algorithm is basing its decision on the most pertinent information. We combine the aforementioned concepts to make a theoretical Deep Reinforcement Learning trading algorithm

Strengthening of metastable beta titanium alloys

Using current technology, it is now possible to probe material at atomic length scales, increasing our fundamental understanding of material behavior and properties. Metastable $\beta$ titanium alloys are a subset of titanium alloys with huge potential for the aerospace sector. However, they exhibit atomic transformations which, even after 60 years of research, are still disputed. For example, these alloys are strengthened using the $\omega$ phase, but the mechanism by which this phase forms and its stability are still in question. The aim of this PhD project was to investigate the strengthening of metastable Ti-15wt.$\%$Mo by understanding the stability and transformation pathways which make the metastable $\beta$ titanium alloy class unique. Athermal $\omega$ shares the same composition as the $\beta$ matrix and is formed by rapid cooling from the $\beta$ phase field. The classical theory of athermal $\omega$ formation is based upon a diffusion-less mechanism in which consecutive pairs of $\{111\}$$_{\beta}$ planes collapse together. However, latest high-resolution electron microscope observations have suggested chemical alterations occur as well, which give reason to challenge this classical formation mechanism. Two novel methods were explored to determine the nature of the $\omega$ phase: 1) electron imaging of thin material at different collection angles and 2) total X-ray scattering analysis of large volumes of material. Complementary techniques are invaluable since thin foil artefacts were identified. In particular, a new B2 structured phase in the Ti-15wt.$\%$Mo alloy was observed only in thin electron transparent material. Experimental data from the two new methods were compared to simulations. It was found that a frozen phonon description of the $\omega$ structure provided a best fit in both scenarios. The results are therefore consistent with the classical theory of $\omega$ formation but the collapse of the $\{111\}$$_{\beta}$ planes towards the $\omega$ phase is not considered complete.EPSRC Rolls-Royc

Extraction of data on Entrepreneurs from the 1871 Census to supplement I-CeM

This paper describes how the database for entrepreneurs in the 1871 census was created and deposited for ESRC project ES/M010953. This project uses I-CeM as its main source. However, I-CeM does not cover England and Wales in 1871. This paper describes how data from an alternative supplier, S&N [theGenealogist.co.uk] was extracted and aligned with I-CeM to provide a full database for 1871

Vibration of viscoelastic sessile droplets

The surface of viscoelastic polymer solution droplets supported on substrates (sessile droplets) were excited through the application of an impulse supplied by mechanical oscillation of the surface upon which the sessile droplet was resting. The oscillations of these sessile droplets were filmed using a high-speed camera, and the footage was analysed to determine the waveform of the surface waves on the sessile droplets. This waveform was then Fourier transformed to give the vibrational spectra of the surface waves. These spectra were then used to compute the frequency dependent storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of the polymer solution. This was done by treating the droplet as a liquid bath with a width defined by the wave vector of the surface waves, and a depth defined by the average height of the droplet. A theoretical model for viscoelastic waves in a liquid bath of finite depth was then used to calculate a theoretical power spectrum which corresponded to the experimental data, which in turn would produce values for the storage and loss moduli. Finally, the contact angle dependence of the vibrational response of the sessile droplets was analysed in order to determine how the geometry of the sessile droplets effects the results of the experiment