No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The phenology of D. flexuosa was followed through a growing season in both a grassland and a woodland habitat. A flowering tussock form in the open habitat contrasted with a non-flowering mat in shade. A major environmental difference between the habitats was in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Vegetative growth of tillers from the two habitats, grown under the same conditions in a glasshouse, was similar while showing a marked response to PAR. When nitrogen (N) and PAR were decreased, plants grown under summer glasshouse conditions produced less shoot dry weight through reduction in tiller numbers. Decreased PAR increased tiller dry weight, length, total leaf length, leaf weight, leaf number, leaf length ratio (= SLA) and leaf weight percentage. Decreased N increased tiller weight, leaf weight and leaf number. Deschampsia flexuosa required marked vernalisation for flowering. Plants grown at low PAR produced juvenile tillers which were unable to flower irrespective of vernalisation. In open grassland, tussocks flowered intermittently and this was probably determined by the level of PAR penetrating the tussock. Massed flower culms from previous seasons were a major barrier to PAR and when removed (naturally or artificially) the tussocks flowered again. Deschampsia flexuosa has a well-known tolerance of deep shade under woodland on dry acidic and nutrient-poor soil but it is also widespread on similar soils in open grasslands. In grassland, but not woodland, it can successfully flower and set seed. Deschampsia flexuosa should be seen ecologically as a species primarily adapted to open rather than shaded habitats.

Novel approaches to manipulating proteolysis in ensiled perennial ryegrass (PRG) were investigated. The effects of the following on nitrogen (N) distribution in silage were investigated: E- 64, a specific cysteine-peptidase inhibitor (CPI); pepstatin A a specific aspartic-peptidase inhibitor; cystamine dihyrochloride (CYS) and N-ethylmaleimide, general CPIs, and formic acid (FA). Treatment with FA or CPIs reduced total soluble N, as a result of reduced proteolysis, and FA and CYS treatments increased peptide N concentrations (determined using fluroescamine or ninhydrin assays, and by amino acid analysis) compared to the control. Pepstatin A had little or no effect on the N constituents of silage. Characterisation of silage peptides using Sephadex G-25 suggested that they were predominantly di and tripeptides, with a small proportion of longer peptides (>7 amino acid residues). Forty additional compounds were screened for their efficacy as inhibitors of proteolysis in aqueous extracts of PRG. Five selected compounds were applied to PRG at ensilage: TPCK, a non specific CPI; chelators, 1,10-phenanthroline and 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ); bestatin, a metallo-peptidase inhibitor; and N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester (ATEE), a serine-peptidase inhibitor. When compared to the control, TPCK and 1,10- phenanthroline reduced total soluble N and increased peptide N concentrations; 8-HQ increased only peptide N concentrations. These chelators also restricted fermentation. The effects of Trypticase (peptides produced by enzymic hydrolysis of casein), silage extracts and N fractions prepared from silage extracts by cation exchange chromatography, as sources of N, on the growth of rumen bacteria, <I>Megasphaera elsdenii, Prevotella ruminicola</I> and <I>Selenomonas ruminantium, </I>supplied with glucose as an energy substrate <I>in vitro, </I>were investigated. No growth was observed on media containing extracts from silages produced in the presence of chelators but all bacteria grew on purified N fractions. Increasing silage peptide N therefore did not enhance microbial growth but for some treatments, silage N supported faster growth than Trypticase.

This study seeks to examine the specific circumstances surrounding the development of a trade in alfa, or esparto, grass, between Britain and southern Tunisia in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Beginning abruptly in 1871, within the space of ten years alfa grass had became not only the principal item of foreign trade in the south but also one of the whole country's most important exports. What differentiates the alfa trade from existing commercial activities in Tunisia at the time is that it was carried on between European merchants and the inhabitants of districts which were only marginally integrated into the political structures of the central government and the externally orientated market economy of the coastal and urban regions. A mainly pastoral and overwhelmingly subsistence orientated population, the tribes of south and central Tunisia were, on the surface, an unlikely labour force for the collection and sale of a plant which was laborious and time consuming to gather, and whose sale offered what were often extremely meagre returns. In attempting to understand and explain how and why a people, hitherto largely unconnected with and uninterested in direct, market orientated transactions within Tunisia, should enter into economic relations of such magnitude with European industrialists, the study has highlighted a number of interesting issues relating to the penetration of capitalism into what is commonly termed the periphery. Although many of the findings may be specific to Tunisia it is clear that the alfa trade there emerged as a result of a complex interplay of local, regional and international factors which had some surprising origins and some interesting results. Although fulfilling many of the criteria for Myint's "vent-for-surplus" theory of international trade, the alfa trade in Tunisia neither caused any far reaching social change nor did it result in any independent and self-sustaining economic development in the south of the country. Indeed the alfa trade helped mask, and undoubtedly prolonged, the growing economic and social crisis in southern Tunisia as the region underwent a painful integration into the developing national economy. With little to offer the country in terms of natural resources southern Tunisia was sucked dry of its surplus wealth yet deprived of any corresponding investment.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1966. / Typewritten. Vita. Abstract at end. Bibliography: leaves 30-32. Also available via the Internet.

Based on the previous study on the theory of reuse of deserted space and outsourcing operation, this study finds out the past trend of protection of Taiwan¡¦s heritage and the position of protection of historical building in nowadays Taiwan. Take the reuse of Taipei historical building ¡§Grass Mountain Chateau¡¨ as a case study, the paper discusses the operation influence on the protection of historical building. By reviewing Fo Guang University¡¦s management experience in Grass Mountain Chateau operation, the paper examines what inspiration comes from the outsourcing business model for further reference. This study applies documentation retrospect, profound interview and observational approach as the research methods. The reasons that Grass Mountain Chateau managed by Fo Guang University becomes the center of Yang Ming San¡¦s art spots and achieved the goal of financial independence are as follows: 1. The creativity of private sector is involved in operation by public sector¡¦s outsourcing. 2. The spot is positioned clearly as art space. 3. According to the demand of community residents, adjust the business contents. 4. Develop space for consuming and earn the consumers¡¦ recognition. 5. Take advantage of any marketing opportunities to promote. 6. Make effective marketing measures and marketing channel.