This work traces the Maltese Islands' forest history. In prehistoric time the flora changed accordingly to climatic oscillations. The first people of Malta were Neolithic. Their forest clearance and the drying up of the climate led to population collapse. After a period of time, the forest may have recovered allowing colonisation by a Bronze Age people. The Classical Era where Malta's vegetation was changed and arable agriculture prevailed following this. Olive industry finds dating from the Roman period reveal that olive cultivation was widespread. The Arab period saw the depopulation of the Islands allowing forest recovery to take place. The medieval period saw large areas turned to pasture. Grazing reduced the forest to much garrigue-steppe. Later land enclosure for arable agriculture prepared the way for Malta's traditional landscape with cotton cultivation becoming predominant. During the Knights of St. John period (1530-1798), Buskett and other gardens were established. Documentation reveals the survival of holm oak remnants at Buskett and Wied Hazrum. Drawings of the time depict trees near buildings. There also exists a mid-17^th century description of Gozo's vegetation and a tree name list from the 18^thcentury. In the mid-18^th century a project for the widespread cultivation of white mulberries was made. In 1798 the French occupation began, although soon the Maltese rebelled. The revolt lasted two years, during which many gardens were devastated. Reconstruction took up most of the 19^th century. Agricultural expansion left little space for trees in the landscape, creating a treelessness paradigm in the people's culture, although 20^th century tree planting is changing this thus Malta is becoming greener.

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In the first part of study, our objective was to determine the effect of CoQ10 supplementation of culture media on preimplantation mouse and human embryo development. CoQ10 supplementation of culture media did not improve mouse or human embryo development in vitro. Since the results appeared to be negative, we decided to move on to research the effect of age on female infertility. In the second part, we investigated the effect of female age and ovarian stimulation protocols on IUI outcome in 411 infertile women. We found that the ongoing/live birth rate per cycle in women ≤ 37 years was significantly higher than in older patients. In the third section, we determined if very young age (≤25 yrs) has an impact on pregnancy outcome in women undergoing IVF-ET. Our results demonstrating lower pregnancy rates in very young patients and egg donors compared to the patients in their early thirties were surprising.

Precision of determining age in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) was examined by repeated readings of undecalcified cross sections and decalcified stained longitudinal sections of mandibular canines. There appeared to be geographical differences in repeatability although this could not be tested statistically. There was no difference in repeatability between cross and stained sections. / The effect of precision on population parameters was examined. Smoothing procedures necessary to construct life tables and to do Leslie matrix calculations obscured any differences in ages between readings. Variance between readings was found to give inconsistent notions of sexual maturity. Imprecision caused little overall difference in growth curves. / Without known age animals, accuracy cannot be evaluated directly. High correlation between ages from canines from different sides of the same animal, between dentine and cementum of teeth from the same animal, and between readers examining the same sets of teeth gave an indirect suggestion of accuracy.

ABSTRACT The relationship between subjective age identity and ideal age, as measured by the Subjective Age Identity Scale (Hubley, 2004), and personality domains and facets, as measured by the NEO-PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), was investigated in a sample of 210 adults ages 19 to 78. Subjective age and ideal age scores were regressed, using multiple standard regressions, on the NEO-PI-R domains and facets, respectively. Results indicated that 22% of the variance in subjective age identity scores was explained by personality domains whereas 27% was explained by personality facets. Specifically, two personality domains (Openness to Experience and Neuroticism) and one personality facet (Aesthetics) made significant unique contributions to the explained variance in subjective age scores. Very little variance in ideal age scores was explained by personality domains and facets (less than 10%). One domain (Openness to Experience) and two facets (Vulnerability to Stress and Values) made significant unique contributions to the explained variance in the ideal age scores. These findings are examined in the context of the previous research on the relationship between personality and subjective age and the importance of conducting both domain and facet level analyses when using the NEO-PI-R is discussed. Implications of the present findings for counselling and clinical work with persons facing age role transitions or other age related concerns (e.g., negative attitudes towards aging) are highlighted.

Thesis (MPsy(Forensic))--University of South Australia, 2001

Thesis (M. P. H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (M. P. H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-80).

Thesis (M. P. H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available in print.