System-on-a-chip (SoC) designs have gained immense popularity as they provide designers with the ability of integrating all components (called IPs) of an application-specific computer system onto a single chip. However, one of the main bottlenecks of the SoC design cycle is the validation of complex designs. As system size grows, validation time increases beyond manageable limits. It is desirable that design inconsistences are found and fixed early in the design process, as validation overheads are significantly higher after IPs are integrated. This thesis presents a range of techniques for the automatic verification and design of SoCs that aim to reduce post-integration validation costs. Firstly, local module checking algorithm, a practical implementation of module checking, is presented. This technique allows for the comprehensive verification of IPs such that they guarantee the satisfaction of critical specifications regardless of the SoC they are used in. Local module checking is shown to be able to validate IPs in much lesser time on average than global module checking, and can help in handling many important validation tasks much before the integration stage. Next, a number of protocol conversion techniques that assist in the composition of IPs with incompatible protocols is presented. The inconsistencies between IP protocols, called mismatches, are bridged by the automatic generation of some extra glue-logic, called a converter. Converters generated by the proposed techniques can handle control, datawidth and clock mismatches between multiple IPs in a unified manner. These approaches ensure that the integration of IPs is correct-by-construction, such that the final system is guaranteed to satisfy key specifications without the need for further validation. Finally, a technique for automatic IP reuse using forced simulation is presented, which involves automatically generating an adaptor that guides an IP such that it satisfies desired specifications. The proposed technique can generate adaptors in many cases where existing IP techniques fail. As it is guaranteed that reused IPs satisfy desired specifications, post-integration validation costs are significantly reduced. For each proposed technique, a comprehensive set of results is presented that highlights the significance of the solution. It is noted that the proposed approaches can help automate SoC design and achieve significant savings in post-integration validation costs.

Whole document restricted, see Access Instructions file below for details of how to access the print copy. / Attempts have been made to transform lanosterol, by both chemical and microbial means, into compounds of potential pharmacological importance. In part I some compounds with heterocyclic rings (pyrazoles, isoxazoles, and furazans) fused to ring-A have been synthesized by chemical methods. These have been tested for cytotoxic properties against lymphoid leukemia L-1210. The equilibria and n.m.r. spectra of some formyl ketones have also been studied. In part II attempts have been made to oxidize some lanosterol derivatives with microbial cultures in pursuit of synthetically useful intermediates. 3β-Hydroxy-11-keto-4, 4, 14α-trimethyl-5α-chol-8-enic acid methyl ester (35e) has been synthesized from lanosterol and transformed by Trichotecium roseum to a dihydroxy-5α-cholenic acid derivative. Extensive chemical transformations have been carried out on lanosterol to prepare substrates for microbial transformation. In particular a new efficient method for the mild degradation of the lanosterol side chain to a 17β-acetyl group has been developed.

Species recognition is an integral component of mate selection and must occur in all sexually reproducing organisms to avoid costly hybridisation. Species recognition abilities may be comprised of both innate components and experience during ontogeny through the learning of visual, acoustic, and other sensory species-specific cues. But how greatly is the ability to recognise one‟s own species (conspecifics) over others (heterospecifics) dependent on the phylogeographic relationship of the array of potential species as social partners and to what extent is the discriminatory behaviour modulated by subject ontogeny versus species identity? Using a model system, which is widely studied in all disciplines of avian research, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis), I aimed to investigate the visual and acoustic cues involved in conspecific recognition by both female and male individuals of this species. I used an array of previously untested phylogeographically relevant estrildid heterospecifics as my stimuli and tested subjects of diverse experimental ontogenetic treatments. By scoring a wide-selection of measured behavioural responses my research indicates that female and male zebra finches prefer live conspecifics over live phylogeographically relevant heterospecific stimuli and this preference is more consistent by females than males. Female zebra finches rely on both visual and acoustic features of potential social partners for accurate species discrimination; in this regard video playbacks or the diverse colour morphs of domesticated zebra finches may be useful tools for further experimentation. Additionally, females display significant individuality in their behavioural responses which may be relevant for pair bonding decisions made by both sexes. I further documented that normally-reared zebra finches will prefer song playbacks of their own species but that both rearing in an indoor restricted acoustic environment of conspecifics or cross-fostering to another species will reduce discrimination preferences, although the results may depend on the behavioural metrics analysed. This dissertation is presented as a general overview with details of my specific contributions towards the work included in this thesis, followed by discrete review and data chapters, and a final general discussion.

Ramanscattering and four-wave mixing are two fundamental nonlinear phenomena present in optical fibres with important implications for applications in fields ranging from modern telecommunications networks to biophotonics. This thesis investigates three situations when these two phenomena interact: Firstly we investigate the interplay of multiple four-wave mixing processes using coherent and incoherent pump waves in the presence of Raman scattering. We experimentally demonstrate that despite the requirements of phase-matching conditions it is possible to observe multiple phasematched and non-phasematched four-wave mixing processes. Furthermore we show that an incoherent light wave provided by amplified spontaneous emission noise can act as an effective pump wave for degenerate four-wave mixing. The main part of the thesis is occupied by the investigation of a mode-locked Raman fibre laser. The use of dissipative four-wave mixing for the passive mode-locking technique in combination with Raman scattering as the gain mechanism offers the possibility of achieving ultra-high repetition rates at very high average output powers. We experimentally demonstrate the mode-locked operation of the laser at 500 GHz and achieve an average output power of almost 1 W. Additionally we examine the key limitation of the laser which is supermode noise caused by mode-locking the laser at very high harmonics of the cavity resonance frequency. In order to gain qualitative insight into the influence of supermode noise on the laser dynamics we create a laser model which takes account of supermode noise. Furthermore we design a scheme to reduce supermode noise using additional subcavities, and evaluate the scheme using a lower repetition rate laser. We show that by including the subcavities into the setup the amount of supermode noise can be reduced by at least a factor 100. Lastly we introduce a novel method to measure the noise fluctuations of continuous wave lasers at timescales prohibiting the use of traditional noise measurement techniques. The noise is measured using a technique which transfers the fast noise from the continuous wave laser to a low repetition rate mode-locked laser which can be measured with traditional methods. We demonstrate that a continuous wave Raman fibre laser exhibits ultrafast, high contrast intensity fluctuations at timescales of tens of Gigahertz. This work has led to three publications and six conference presentations.

This thesis investigated the formation of compositional gradients across 0.5 – 1 cm of porous silicon layers which had thicknesses of 2 – 10 μm. These compositional gradients were then characterised, and their potential use as vapour sensors was probed. Surface composition gradients have been reported on flat surfaces, but this is the first time that they have been reported on a three-dimensional material with controlled pore geometry. Chemical gradients have been generated across the surface of porous silicon by performing electrochemical attachment of organohalides with an asymmetric electrode arrangement, and by chemical hydrosilylation of alkenes in the presence of a diffusion gradient of diazonium salts across the porous silicon surface. Samples with electrochemical gradients of methyl, pentyl acetate, and decyl and using chemical hydrosilylation with gradients of undecanoic acid and decyl groups. The latter four gradient-modified porous silicon types have been ‘endcapped’ with methyl groups to give improved stability and greater hydrophobicity. The pentyl acetate and undecanoic groups have been converted into pentanol and undecanoate groups respectively to increase the hydrophilicity of these porous silicon surfaces. The gradients have been characterised using two-dimensional FTIR microspectrophotometry and water contact angle measurements. The interaction of these gradient porous silicon samples with ethanol, heptane, toluene and 2-hexanol vapours have been monitored either by UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy at selected points across the surface or more globally using a digital camera. The undecanoate gradient porous silicon sample showed a large difference in optical response between the undecanoate end and the methyl end of the gradient when exposed to water vapour, showing that imposition of a chemical gradient can alter the sensing character of porous silicon in a controllable manner.

Anthocyanin concentration is an important determinant of the colour of many fruits. In apple (Malus x domestica), centuries of breeding have produced numerous varieties in which levels of anthocyanin pigment vary widely and change differently in response to environmental and developmental stimuli. The apple fruit cortex is usually colourless, although germplasm does exist where the cortex is highly pigmented due to the accumulation of anthocyanins, carotenoids or chlorophylls. From studies in a diverse array of plants species, it is apparent that anthocyanin biosynthesis is controlled at the level of transcription. In this thesis the transcript levels of the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in a red-fleshed apple are compared with a white-fleshed cultivar. A MYB transcription factor (TF), MdMYB10, was isolated and is shown to be similar in sequence to known anthocyanin regulators in other species. Further, this TF is shown to induce anthocyanin accumulation in both heterologous and homologous systems, generating pigmented patches in transient assays in tobacco leaves and highly pigmented apple plants following stable transformation with constitutively expressed MdMYB10. Efficient induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis in transient assays by MdMYB10 was dependent on the co-expression of two bHLH proteins from apple, MdbHLH3 and MdbHLH33. A strong correlation between expression of MdMYB10 and apple anthocyanin levels during fruit development suggests that this TF is responsible for controlling anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple fruit; in the red-fleshed cultivar and in the skin of other varieties, there is an induction of MdMYB10 expression concurrent with colour formation during development. Mutations in the genes encoding for either the biosynthetic or transcriptional regulation of the anthocyanin pathway have been linked to colour phenotypes. Generally this is a loss of function resulting in a reduction or a change in the distribution of anthocyanin. The upstream regulatory region of MdMYB10 was investigated and found to contain a rearrangement. This modification is responsible for increasing the level of anthocyanin throughout the plant to produce a striking phenotype that includes red foliage and red fruit flesh. It consists of a series of multiple repeats, forming a minisatellite-like structure that comprises five direct tandem repeats of a 23 base pair sequence. This MdMYB10 rearrangement is present in all the red foliage apple varieties and species tested, but in none of the white fleshed varieties. Transient assays demonstrated that the 23 bp sequence motif is a target of the MdMYB10 protein itself, and the number of repeat units correlates with an increase in transactivation by MdMYB10 protein. The repeat motif is capable of binding MdMYB10 protein in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Taken together, these results indicate that a rearrangement in the promoter of MdMYB10 has generated an autoregulatory locus and this autoregulation is sufficient to account for the increase in MdMYB10 transcript levels and subsequent ectopic accumulation of anthocyanins throughout the plant. Characterisation of MdMYB10 and the rearrangement in the promoter region has implications for the development of new varieties through classical breeding or a biotechnological approach. Understanding whether this mutation is simply an allele of other recently published apple MYB TFs, or if this is the only R2R3 MYB TF involved in apple anthocyanin response, is a challenge for future research.

The cell cycle is one of the fundamental processes in nature, and is primarily concerned with the faithful replication of cellular contents, followed by even division to produce two identical daughter cells. It is made up of five discrete biochemical steps, comprising the interphase (G1, S and G2) and the mitotic phase (mitosis and cytokinesis), with two major regulatory checkpoints at G1 and G2. The focus of this research is the G2 checkpoint, which ensures the successful achievement of DNA replication, prior to the initiation of mitosis. Arrest or progression is principally mediated by the CDK1/cyclin B1 complex; phosphorylation of CDK1 by wee1 kinase prevents progression to mitosis, and subsequent dephosphorylation by the CDC25 phosphatases, initially the B isoform, leads to mitotic onset. The aim of this research was the biophysical and/or biochemical characterisation of the molecular complexes that form at the G2 checkpoint to regulate entry into mitosis. CDK1 and cyclin B1 were separately expressed and purified from baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells. The wee1/14-3-3β complex was also expressed and purified, incorporating either full length wee1 or a truncated version from which the N-terminal domain of wee1 was deleted. Both exhibited wee1 kinase activity, at equivalent levels, p<0.001, with a 2.4 fold increase in kinase activity when wee1 is bound by 14-3-3β, p>0.001. Tryptic digestion of the complex indicated that its architecture was likely to be flexible and open, particularly within the N-terminal domain of wee1. CD analyses indicated that the wee1/14-3-3β complex was folded, with 30-40% α-helical content and 10-20% β-sheet content. Dissociation experiments were unsuccessful, however, indicating a high strength of interaction between wee1 and 14-3-3β. The empirical stoichiometry of the complex was determined as 1:1; subsequent native molecular weight determination suggested that the minimal functional unit is likely to be a 2:2 wee1/14-3-3β arrangement. It was proposed that the structural architecture of this complex may be similar to the serotonin N-acetyltransferase/14-3-3ζ complex. Experiments to determine the structure experimentally, using either TEM or x-ray crystallography, were unsuccessful, as the complex appeared to exhibit a high degree of flexibility in solution. CDC25B was also expressed and purified, and was found to co-purify with a putative Sf9 14-3-3 protein. Consequently, it was re-cloned to co-express with 14-3-3β, and subsequent analysis of the resulting CDC25B/14-3-3β complex indicated that the empirical stoichiometry was 1:1, with the functional organization likely to be a 2:2 arrangement. It was proposed that the structural arrangement of this complex is most likely to be similar to that of the wee1/14-3-3β complex.

One of the most important process operations in the pulp and paper industry is the transport of pulp in pipe lines. Because pipe friction losses are much higher than with water under comparable conditions, accurate design correlations for each pulp are important to the industry. The purpose of this investigation was to design and build a flow rig suitable for investigating a wide range of pulp conditions, to obtain pipe friction loss data for New Zealand pulps, and to produce design correlations and procedures for the industry. This thesis is therefore concerned primarily with describing the experimental equipment and procedures, presenting pipe friction loss data for a variety of New Zealand pulps, including a design correlation for them, and developing design methods for computing friction losses. It includes, in addition, data on drag reduction observed at high velocities of flow, and a discussion of flow mechanisms in each regime of flow. The equipment was designed to produce friction loss data from three pipe diameters simultaneously for each consistency of pulp. Flow rate was controlled without throttling the flow. Pipe friction loss data are presented for five Kraft pulps and one neutral sulphite semi-chemical pulp. Data were obtained from 1,2,3 and 4 in. diameter PVC pipes for a wide range of consistencies and flow rates up to 0.8 ft3/sec. Standard Lampen mill evaluations on hand sheets made from the pulps are presented, as well as data on the characteristics of the fibres. The Kraft pulps exhibited the characteristic maxima and minima but the semi-chemical pulp did not exhibit these turning points. For Kraft pulps head losses before the respective maxima were increased by refining the pulp and using rough pipe; and decreased by adding short-fibre Tawa and by drying and reslushing the pulp. In comparison with maxima for the unbeaten Kraft Pulp, the maxima of the head loss curves for all Kraft pulps were shifted to lower velocities by the above-mentioned operations. This would reduce the friction loss in many practical cases. In particular, rough pipe lowers the magnitude of friction loss in this regime, and can therefore yield a considerable economic advantage. A single design correlation for Kraft pulps is presented for the regime of flow before the maxima in the head loss curves. The limits of the correlation are given. Friction losses of New Zealand pulps were found to be lower than those previously reported in the literature. Two methods of design are presented for the regimes at velocities above the maxima in the head loss curves. A procedure is suggested for pulp and paper mills to obtain their own limits for the design correlation and to verify the correlation proposed in this investigation for their own pulps. A design correlation for the Tawa NSSC pulp is also presented. Mechanisms of flow are discussed for Kraft pulps and a semi-chemical pulp. Visual observations in an artificially roughened pipe for the regime of flow before the maxima of the head loss curves have confirmed fibre-wall contact in this regime. Data obtained at the first sign of permanent plug disruption have been correlated with data at the onset of drag reduction. Fully developed turbulence was found to occur at the maximum level of drag reduction. Some velocity profiles are reported for the transition regime using a modified annular-purge probe. In addition the disruptive shear stress of fibre networks has been correlated by three different methods. Data for the onset of drag reduction are presented and compared with data previously obtained from large diameter pipes from other investigations. This correlation is used as a method for designing piping systems at high flow rates.

Early twentieth-century New Zealand fathers have commonly been regarded as distant figures in their children's lives, minimally involved in child care, and expressing their parenting in breadwinning terms. Although the numbers of men who married and had families steadily increased between 1900 and 1940, it is generally accepted that little changed in terms of men's parenting participation in the home. This thesis tests the veracity of these assumptions by comparing the private experiences of fathers with official and public records of fatherhood. It also examines the degree to which the culture of fatherhood and fathering practices 'modernised' during this period. Fathering between 1900 and 1940 was significantly impacted by the fact that mothers were regarded as the primary care givers in- New Zealand homes during that period. By 1900 social expectations of fathers were relatively well defined, although some important new directions in social thinking about fathers were also developing (Chapter one). However, the socially-constructed parameters defining fatherhood did not mean all fathers fathered alike. A wide variety of parenting attitudes and practices characterised fathering in private (Chapter Two). Yet fathering was always subject to public and official scrutiny, and Chapter Three examines politicians' efforts to encourage and improve fathering responsibility prior to the First World War. Ironically, these efforts succeeded-in diminishing some of the domestic patriarchal authority fathers exercised over their children (Chapter Four). This patriarchal/paternal authority was challenged at the same time the state and the Plunket Society helped entrench an increasingly mother-prioritised culture of child care in New Zealand society (Chapter Five). In the interwar years, fathers faced significant threats to their idea of themselves as breadwinners, some of them falling foul of the state and its determination to tackle the 'errant parent' as a result (Chapter Six). But fathers and fatherhood did not stand still, and by the 1930s some essential differences separated them from their 1900s predecessors. The culture of fatherhood was impacted more than fathering practice by 'modernising' attitudes to child care and the new relational paradigms influencing parent-child interaction at this time. But attitudes influence conduct, and although a mother-prioritised parenting culture remained intact into the 1940s, fathers were learning to understand their parenting place in the home and their interaction with children in significantly new ways (Chapters Seven and Eight). / Whole document restricted, but available by request, use the feedback form to request access.

Picrotoxin is the bitter tasting convulsive poison, obtained from the cocculus berries, the fruit of the East Indian creepers, Menispermum cocculus and Anamirta paniculata. It has been used extensively in medicine as anti-barbiturate. Although picrotoxin was first isolated in 1812 by Boullay and has been the subject of exhaustive research since then, the problem of its structure is still incompletely solved.