Inequality is a complex issue and an integral part of the sustainability challenge. This research examines how social entrepreneurs (SE) can be catalysts to increase equality in South Africa. In order to navigate through the complexity of inequality within this context, the authors designed a conceptual model. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD), based on Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) concepts, such as backcasting and systems thinking, was incorporated into the research to ensure a systematic and comprehensive link to sustainability. The FSSD and the conceptual model assisted in exploring how social entrepreneurship could be a strategic approach to increase equality in South Africa, and in turn, help to open the social trap and contribute towards creating a more sustainable society. During the research process, the researchers identified nine high impact areas that could be addressed by SE and other stakeholders. These include: awareness; attitude and mind-set; a shared understanding; government support; education and training; economic environment; financial sustainability; social and physical infrastructure; and collaboration and asset sharing. The aim of these high impact areas is to help foster social entrepreneurial development and guide SE in strategically increasing equality in South Africa.

L’urbanisation des milieux est un phénomène croissant induisant des changements importants des habitats naturels auxquels doit faire face la biodiversité. Ces modifications rapides et profondes de l’environnement vont créer de nouvelles conditions potentiellement contraignantes pour les individus. En effet, le cocktail de paramètres artificiels (par exemple : lumière, bruit, pollution chimique) couplé à une présence humaine ainsi qu’une ressource alimentaire souvent modifiée et/ou peu disponible peuvent contraindre la survie et la reproduction des espèces ayant colonisées les milieux urbains. Par ailleurs, les modifications profondes des habitats urbains sont susceptibles d’amener les individus à mal décrypter les indices communément utilisés dans les milieux non perturbés conduisant ces derniers à des réponses maladaptatives, et les populations associées jusqu’à des situations de trappe écologique. C’est dans ce contexte que s’inscrivent ces travaux de thèse chez la Mésange charbonnière, Parus major. Ces oiseaux ont été suivis en reproduction dans des nichoirs placés sur des sites présentant des niveaux d’artificialisation variables, que nous avons quantifiés, au sein de la ville de Montpellier. La taille de la cavité de reproduction a été également manipulée expérimentalement (manipulation de l’indice). Nous avons pu observer une préférence pour les cavités les plus grandes ainsi qu’un investissement dans la ponte plus important mais un nombre de jeunes envolés plus faible relativement aux cavités de taille plus petite. Cette réponse maladaptative associée à la taille de la cavité nous a amené à nous questionner plus précisément sur le rôle des ressources alimentaires associées au milieu urbain et sur le potentiel adaptatif de nos oiseaux urbains. Les expériences menées, en lien avec les ressources alimentaires, ont mis en évidence qu’effectivement la ressource est un facteur clé contraignant la reproduction des mésanges urbaines. Par ailleurs, grâce à un dispositif forestier historique situé à une vingtaine de kilomètres de notre site d’étude urbain, nous avons testé la présence de deux écotypes urbains et ruraux. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence des différences de morphologies entre habitats, sans détecter pour autant de différence de condition physique. Pourtant, à l’échelle plus fine du gradient d’urbanisation, ces différences apparaissent. De plus, l’étude des personnalités des oiseaux a mis également en évidence un différentiel de personnalités inter-habitat mais aussi intra-habitat, qui soulève encore à l’heure actuelle des questions d’adaptation autour de ces phénotypes particuliers. Ces travaux soulignent la complexité des questions écologiques et évolutives dans les environnements fortement perturbés que sont les milieux urbains et nécessitent de continuer à approfondir nos connaissances afin d’apporter au mieux des solutions pour la gestion de la biodiversité urbaine. / Urbanization is an increasing phenomenon inducing dramatic modifications of natural habitats facing biodiversity. These rapid and drastic environmental changes create new conditions, potentially constraining individuals. Indeed, artificial parameters, such as light, noise and chemical pollution, coupled with human presence and food resources which are often modified and less available, should constrain survival and reproduction of urban species. Moreover, urban habitat changes could lead individuals to misinterpret natural environmental cues, inducing maladaptive responses and populations into an ecological trap. In this context, we developed this research project on great tits, Parus major to improve our understanding of avian adaptation in cities. We monitored great tit reproduction breeding in nest-boxes within an urbanization gradient, which has been quantified, in the city of Montpellier. We experimentally manipulated nesting-cavity size using different types of nest-boxes. We found that the birds preferred the largest artificial cavities for breeding when they could choose between small, medium-sized and large cavities. Individuals from the largest cavities also invested more in egg production, yet had a lower fledging success than those from medium-sized cavities. These results are an experimental demonstration of a trap mechanism in free-living animals. To test our hypothesis that food resources are an environmental key factor limiting reproductive performance in our urban great tit population, we conducted experiments modulating constraints on food resources. The conclusion of these experiments is that food is a limiting factor for reproduction. In addition, in a local adaptation framework, we examined if urban great tits possess particular phenotypic traits that differ from great tits that live in more natural conditions. We found that urban and rural great tits expressed differences in morphology and personality profiles both at the inter-habitat and intra-habitat level. Additional studies will be required to better understand the underlying mechanisms that link phenotypic and reproductive performance in individuals that face rapid environmental change and increased urbanization, also to improve biodiversity conservation programs in these environments.

This thesis deals with monitoring of two raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) by camera traps at Prague minizoo Malá Chuchle in the period from February to May 2016. Activity and behaviour of both raccoon dogs is presented by charts and diagraphs for better understanding. Overview of Canidae family, its description and area, is included in this thesis. KEYWORDS racoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, activity, ethogramm, camera trap

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第17579号 / 工博第3738号 / 新制||工||1570(附属図書館) / 30345 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科電子工学専攻 / (主査)教授 木本 恒暢, 教授 髙岡 義寛, 准教授 船戸 充 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

Title: Dust trap for light scattering study Author: Petr Bartoň Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Jiří Pavlů, Ph.D., Department of Surface and Plasma Science Abstract: Light scattering on small grains is common interaction occurring wi- dely in space environments, including Moon surface, dusty nebulas or even the upper atmosphere of the Earth. For experimental measurements of light scatte- ring intensity profiles, we designed and constructed a unique experiment. Using so called acoustic trapping, we are able to capture a single dust grain (or small water droplet) in midair, to irradiate it with the laser beam, and to observe scattered light directly with the photodiode mounted on a precise goniometer. In the thesis, we present not only construction details, but also the first results, which help us to evaluate abilities of the experiment, and provide useful recommendations for further development of all dust-related experiments. Keywords: light scattering, acoustic trap, dust grain, scattering measurement 1

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As part of the ongoing world-wide effort in improving time and frequency references, a high accuracy optical frequency standard was developed using the electric quadrupole allowed clock transition at 445 THz (674 nm) in a trapped and laser cooled 88Sr+ion. An ion trap system of the endcap design has been recently evaluated with a fractional frequency uncertainty which surpasses the accuracy of the current realization of the SI second. This thesis seeks to further evaluate the limiting systematic shifts of the device by optimizing a second ion trap reference based on a rf Paul trap design, which was then compared with the endcap trap reference frequency. The comparison of the two ion traps' reference frequencies confirmed an overall offset of -0.36 pm 0.08 Hz at the 445 THz reference frequency corresponding to a fractional frequency offset of 8 x 10^-16.

Middle class is important for economic development and growth of a country. Nowadays middle class in asian countries like China, Vietnam or India is significantly growing. Middle class in China has started to develop after economic reforms, which were launched in 1980s. People belonging to middle class in China are concentrated in urban area. Originally it started to develop in the coastal part of the country. There is a trend to move also to the inner part of the country. The biggest potential of the middle class is boosting domestic consumption. On the other hand there are certain problems, which might lead to middle income trap. The main problems are low productivity, high disparity, pressures on environment or aging population. The government is making a lot of measures to solve this problém. Nevertheless these problems are long term and they must focus on them in the future too.