Over the relatively short period since European settlement in the 1830’s, the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR) in South Australia have suffered a precipitous decline of natural habitat. The effects of habitat fragmentation on the herpetofauna of the southern MLR were investigated in a series of forest remnants and provide the thematic background of this thesis which focuses on five separate but thematically interconnected aspects of habitat fragmentation that are presented in separate, semi-autonomous chapters (3-7). / The study confirmed that the original herpetofauna still persists in the southern MLR. Habitat fragmentation apparently did not affect the species richness of the region. However, there are important differences in the occurrences of individual species across the archipelago of forest remnants. The distribution patterns of the herpetofauna in forest remnants of the southern MLR are not random but highly nested. As a consequence of a significant association of species richness with the area, it appears that the proportion of the original forest-dependent reptiles of the MLR that can be preserved in habitat fragments is a direct function of the remnant size. The processes responsible for the observed deterministic extinction patterns appear to be habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Contrary to many forest-dependent reptiles, most amphibian species are still widespread at the investigated scale and generally appear to be less affected by the effects of forest loss and forest fragmentation in the MLR. / Actual habitat remnancy in the southern MLR is below 13% and with 97.6% of all forest fragments smaller than 100ha, many of the most area-sensitive f orest-dependent reptiles survive in just a handful of remnants that are large enough to support viable populations. Although smaller remnants still support some forest- dependent reptiles, their herpetofauna is generally greatly impoverished. While abundances of most species were too low to estimate expected recapture values in dispersal experiments, crossings of common anthropogenic boundaries by local reptiles appear to be rare events. Where expected recapture values could be estimated, such as for L. guichenoti in a case study, most boundaries did appear to show a filter effect. Differences existed among species and communities in regard to boundary permeability. The results suggest that the extensive road network in the southern MLR, through filter effects (i.e. road mortality) and barrier effects (i.e. edge avoidance), is likely to decrease landscape connectivity. The study further demonstrated the existence of significant edge effects on reptiles. Such edge effects are expected to have a particularly large impact on populations of smaller forest fragments that are mostly or completely ecotonal and, consequently, harbour mostly edge-tolerant forest species and habitat generalists. / The above-mentioned case study of Lampropholis guichenoti demonstrated that this ubiquitous species is naturally abundant not only under relatively pristine conditions, but also in disturbed habitat. The species apparently possesses a variety of biological, ecological and behavioural traits, such as a high degree of ecological plasticity, non-territoriality and klepto-parasitic behaviour that may explain its relatively successful survival in the face of extensive habitat fragmentation in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges. / Findings of this study have clear implications for conservation and restoration planning. Nested subset analysis emerged as a useful analytical tool to identify potential focal species that could serve in the development of a taxon-based surrogate scheme. This multi-species approach could be a simple and cost-effective way to address regional conservation problems when time and resources are limited. A focal-species approach using forest dependent reptiles in a surrogate scheme appears particularly useful for herpetofaunal diversity conservation in forest remnants of the MLR. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2004.

Includes bibliographical references.

by Bernardette Sau-Mui Loo. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.i / PREFACE --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / Chapter 1 --- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY --- p.1-0 / Chapter 1.1 --- Objectives Of The Study --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Results Of The Study --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Conclusions --- p.1-2 / Chapter 2 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.2-0 / Chapter 2.1 --- Development Of The Hong Kong Securities Industry --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2 --- Statement Of Problem And Research Objectives --- p.2-10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Assumptions And Limitations --- p.2-11 / Chapter 2.4 --- Scope Of The Research --- p.2-12 / Chapter 3 --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.3-0 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research Strategy --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.2 --- Data Collection --- p.3-3 / Chapter 4 --- EXISTING SECURITIES CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEM____ --- p.4-0 / Chapter 4.1 --- Securities Market Participants --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.2 --- Physical Delivery Settlement System Overview --- p.4-8 / Chapter 4.3 --- Cost Structure --- p.4-13 / Chapter 4.4 --- Limitations And Drawbacks --- p.4-14 / Chapter 5 --- SECURITIES CLEARING SYSTEM IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD --- p.5-0 / Chapter 5.1 --- Euro-Clear and CEDEL --- p.5-2 / Chapter 5.2 --- Asian Pacific Basin --- p.5-3 / Chapter 6 --- HONG KONG SECURITIES CLEARING COMPANY (HKSCC) --- p.6-0 / Chapter 6.1 --- Company Formation --- p.6-2 / Chapter 6.2 --- Organization Structure --- p.6-3 / Chapter 6.3 --- Top Management Of HKSCC --- p.6-6 / Chapter 7 --- OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED CENTRAL CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEM --- p.7-0 / Chapter 7.1 --- CCASS Participants --- p.7-2 / Chapter 7.2 --- CCASS Accounts --- p.7-3 / Chapter 7.3 --- Central Securities Depository --- p.7-5 / Chapter 7.4 --- Trade Interface --- p.7-6 / Chapter 7.5 --- Clearing --- p.7-7 / Chapter 7.6 --- Settlement --- p.7-10 / Chapter 7.7 --- Electronic Money Settlement --- p.7-14 / Chapter 7.8 --- Fails Management --- p.7-15 / Chapter 7.9 --- Risk Management and Guarantee Fund --- p.7-16 / Chapter 7.10 --- Common Nominee Registration --- p.7-19 / Chapter 8 --- CCASS OPERATIONS --- p.8-0 / Chapter 8.1 --- Technical Environment --- p.8-2 / Chapter 8.2 --- Work Flow --- p.8-5 / Chapter 8.3 --- Tariff Structure --- p.8-13 / Chapter 8.4 --- Impacts To Participants --- p.8-17 / Chapter 9 --- RISK MANAGEMENT AND GUARANTEE SYSTEM (RMGS) UNDER CCASS --- p.9-0 / Chapter 9.1 --- Principles and Measures --- p.9-3 / Chapter 9.2 --- HKSCC's Guarantee --- p.9-5 / Chapter 93 --- Guarantee Fund --- p.9-6 / Chapter 9.4 --- Settlement Cap --- p.9-8 / Chapter 9.5 --- Securities-on-hold and Money Settlement --- p.9-10 / Chapter 9.6 --- Continuous Surveillance of Brokers --- p.9-12 / Chapter 9.7 --- Recommendations for Improvement on RMGS --- p.9-13 / Chapter 10 --- SHARE REGISTRATION SYSTEM (SRS) UNDER CCASS --- p.10-0 / Chapter 10.1 --- Certificated and Uncertificated Shares --- p.10-2 / Chapter 10.2 --- Mechanics of CCASS --- p.10-3 / Chapter 10.3 --- Registration at Participant-Participant Level --- p.10-4 / Chapter 10.4 --- Registration at Participant-Client Level --- p.10-5 / Chapter 10.5 --- Potential Problems of ccass Share Registration --- p.10-6 / Chapter 11 --- CCASS PROJECT DEVELOPMENT --- p.11-0 / Chapter 11.1 --- Project Cycle --- p.11-2 / Chapter 11.2 --- Financing --- p.11-5 / Chapter 12 --- FUTURE DEVELOPMENT --- p.12-0 / Chapter 12.1 --- Uncertification Of Shares --- p.12-2 / Chapter 12.2 --- Interface In National Language --- p.12-2 / Chapter 123 --- Delivery Versus Payment System --- p.12-3 / Chapter 12.4 --- Extension Of CCASS Services --- p.12-3 / Chapter 13 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.13-0 / Chapter 13.1 --- Conclusions --- p.13-1 / Chapter 14 --- APPENDICES --- p.14-0 / Chapter 14.1 --- Glossary Of Terms --- p.14-1 / Chapter 14.2 --- Settlement Systems in Asian Pacific Region --- p.14-11 / Chapter 14.3 --- Bibliography --- p.14-12

To increase the allowable capacity of wind generation and system reliability of distribution system for islanding operation, an actual Taipower feeder has been selected for computer simulation. The voltage enhancement of distribution feeders with fixed speed wind generator has been obtained by using the static synchronous compensator(STATCOM). The model of Doubly-Fed induction generator(DFIG) in Matlab/Simulink has also been applied in the feasibility study of islanding operation for Taipower feeder. The critical clearing time of fault contingency is solved by considering the low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability of wind generators (WG) and the CBEMA curve of sensitive loads. In this way, feeder circuit breaker(CB) can be tripped in time to achieve islanding operation of distribution feeders without causing the tripping of WG due to voltage disturbance for the system fault contingency. To restore the stable operation of distribution feeders after being isolated from the rest of the power system, an adaptive load shedding scheme has been presented to disconnect the proper amount of system loading to achieve the balance of wind power generation and load demand according to the variations of feeder load profile and wind speed. It is found that system voltage sag problem due to severe fault contingency can be mitigated effectively by using the STATCOM for the support of low voltage ride through capability of WG. With the proper design of protection relay settings for feeder CB tripping and load shedding scheme, the WG and critical loads can be prevented from tripping during transient disturbance to ensure the successful islanding operation of distribution system.

The field of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) focuses on understanding the evolution of ontogeny and mechanisms of evolutionary change. Recently, taxonomic comparisons of the sequence of skeletal ossification have become prominent in evo-devo. However, most of these studies fail to consider two major issues: how the technique used to assay ossification and ontogenetic variation and variability may affect comparisons among taxa. This study focuses on the onset of ossification in the skeleton of Monodelphis domestica and quantifies the affects of variation, variability, and technique bias on reconstructions of ontogeny. Previous comparisons among mammalian taxa have used both computed tomography (CT) and clearing-and-staining (CS) to assess the presence or absence of skeletal elements (i.e., skeletal maturity). In this study, CT and CS were used on the same specimen to compare how these methods assess skeletal maturity. The comparisons of the same individual under reveal significant differences in how skeletal maturity is assessed by CT and CS techniques. Further, significant biases were recovered between techniques. CT is more likely to reveal cranial elements that CS does not, whereas CS is more likely to reveal appendicular elements that CT does not. To assess levels of variation and variability, Ontogenetic Sequence Analysis (OSA) was used to characterize the ontogeny of Monodelphis domestica. This revealed significant levels of variation with over 800 different ontogenetic pathways recovered for the onset of ossification of all skeletal elements studied. Additionally, high levels of variability were also reconstructed because the majority of specimens were found to exhibit non-modal ontogenetic sequences. This variability is more highly concentrated in the sequence of cranial ossification, suggesting potential modularity in ontogenetic variation and variability. Finally, OSA revealed that technique bias could importantly affect reconstructions of skeletal ossification sequences because no identical sequences were recovered by the CT and CS datasets. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of considering the primary nature of developmental studies, the specimen. Only by recognizing and quantifying the complexities of evo-devo research, especially natural variation and methodological biases, can more complete understandings of the evolution of ontogeny be had. / text

Thesis (M. Env. St.)--University of Adelaide, Mawson Graduate Centre for Environmental Studies, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-150).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Toledo, 2010. / Typescript. "Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology (Ecology track)." "A thesis entitled"--at head of title. Title from title page of PDF document. Bibliography: p. 38-42 and 51.

Diss. Sc. pol. Bern, 1956. / Literaturverz.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2003Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:46:44Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rabelo_erc_dr_guara.pdf: 6183140 bytes, checksum: d7bd9eecbf970b1f0de95902bb7fa5b8 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Este trabalho trata da combustão sem chama, denominada incandescência, em espécimes de madeira. O estágio de incandescência é muito comum em queimadas florestais, ocorrendo após o período de chamas, quando a biomassa de tamanho maior permanece fumegando por até vários dias. Este material, em estado de incandescência, é foco permanente de emissão de gases tóxicos bem como de re-ignição de biomassa não queimada. Os objetivos principais do trabalho são: verificar experimentalmente os parâmetros que favorecem o início e a continuidade do processo de incandescência e quantificar as concentrações de CO, CO2, O2 e HC durante a queima. Também serão determinadas temperaturas, em diferentes pontos dos corpos de prova, a velocidade da frente de incandescência e, finalmente, a taxa de queima. Os ensaios foram feitos em um forno de 1,80 m de comprimento por 0,60 m de diâmetro, conectado a um controlador de temperatura, com vazões de ar de combustão previamente estabelecidas. Além da vazão de ar, outros parâmetros também variaram, como a temperatura interna do forno, a espécie da madeira, o volume e a umidade da amostra. Para otimizar a execução dos testes foi aplicada a técnica de Projeto de Experimentos. Os ensaios de laboratório foram comparados com os resultados obtidos em uma queimada realizada no interior da floresta Amazônica, no norte do estado de Mato Grosso. / This work investigates non flaming combustion in biomass logs. The process is called smouldering combustion. The occurrence of smouldering is very common in forest fires, where the large sized biomass remains fuming for several days. The material in the state of is a source of toxic gases and of ignition for unburned biomass. The main goals of the work are experimentally check the parameters that favor initiation and permanence of the smouldering process and measure CO, CO2, O2 and HC concentrations during the burning. The velocity of the smouldering front was determined by thermocouples placed in different points of the biomass sample. The average burning rate was also determined. The tests were performed in a furnace of 1.80 m length by 0.60 m diameter. A temperature controller was used to set the desired furnace temperature. The mass flow rate of air was controlled by valves and measured with rotameters. Tests were conducted for different biomass species and sample volumes and moisture contents. To optimize the number of tests the technique Project of Experiments was applied. Results of the laboratory tests agreed well with those obtained in the Amazon forest, in the north of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

O presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar e discutir a regulamentação e as principais características do mercado de balcão brasileiro como um todo, a fim de propor algumas modificações que o tornem mais seguro. Dentro do mercado de balcão, os negócios são realizados e estruturados de acordo com a vontade e as necessidades de ambas as partes, logo os contratos não são padronizados, também não existe um local determinado para as negociações acontecerem, sendo que estas podem ser realizadas por telefone ou via sistema eletrônico. No Brasil tal mercado é dividido em dois segmentos: o organizado, onde os contratos são pelo menos realizados ou registrados em órgãos que estão sob a supervisão da Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM) e o não organizado, em que os contratos são firmados ou registrados em órgãos que não são fiscalizados pela CVM, logo esta parte do mercado de balcão esta menos sujeita à regulações. É dentro deste último segmento que são negociados os contratos de soja verde, de troca de insumo por produto, de CPR de gaveta, dentre outros, que servem como financiamento da produção agropecuária brasileira. Estes contratos incorrem em muitos riscos já que são firmados entre as partes e não possuem qualquer tipo de garantia oferecida por órgãos regulatórios, no que tange à sua liquidação, ou seja, não contam em seu ambiente de negociação com um sistema de clearing house. Logo, este trabalho buscou por meio de documentação de fontes primárias e secundárias e entrevistas não estruturadas, realizadas com profissionais que trabalham diretamente com o mercado de balcão, elaborar uma agenda de sugestões para tornar o ambiente de balcão não organizado mais regulamentado. Concluiu-se que existem medidas que podem ser implantadas no segmento aqui em questão, como a padronização de alguns itens dos contratos negociados, tais como as unidades de negociação e os meses de vencimento e também a conscientização dos agentes de mercado da importância de registrar suas operações, que podem tornar o mercado de balcão não organizado mais transparente e seguro. / This study aims to analyze and discuss regulations and main characteristics of the Brazilian over-the-counter (OTC) market as a whole and propose some changes to make it safer. Within the OTC, business is conducted and structured according to wishes and needs of both parties, therefore contracts are not standardized, and there is no physical place to conduct negotiations, which can be made by phone or through an electronic system. In Brazil, this market is divided into two segments: the organized one, where contracts are at least made or registered in organs under the supervision of the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM) and not organized, in which contracts are not made or registered nor inspected by CVM, thus, this type of OTC trade is less subject to regulation. Within this segment, contracts of soja verde (green soybean), exchange input product, off-the-record CPR, and others that serve for financing Brazilian agricultural production. These contracts are subjected to many risks as they are signed by the parties and do not have any warranty offered by regulators regarding liquidation, in others words, they do not make use of the clearing house. Therefore, this study aims to elaborate suggestions to provide regulation to the over-the-counter market through unstructured interviews conducted with professionals who work directly with the OTC market and documentation of primary and secondary sources. It can be concluded that there are measures to be implemented in the segment at issue here, such as the standardization of some items traded by contracts, such as bargaining units and the months of expiration and also raise awareness of the importance of market agents to register their operations, which can make the not organized OTC market more transparent and secure.