In this thesis, we propose a modified MT-CDMA system, which can improve channel estimation accuracy by using transmit diversity of pilot signals. We not only expound the principles and structures of the system we proposed, but analyze its performance in slow Rayleigh fading channel environment. According to different ways to assign data symbols of transmitted signals, we have two different bit error rate results. At the same transmit power, the simulation results show that when we combine comb-type pilot signals of two parallel channels to estimate channel gains, we can recover the drawbacks of comb-type pilot arrangement, which can not perform well in frequency selective fading channel. Finally, the numerical results will be also shown.

Abstract This study investigated the reproductive behaviors of Formosan macaques (Macaca cyclopis) from July 2000 to July 2002 with 608 field hours in Mt. Lonvegity. I followed troops C and Cd that resulted from a fission of troop C in Dec. 2000. During these two mating seasons, 19 sexually mature males and 19 females were involved in 188 mounting/thrusting series. These included 139 single and 49 multi-mounting thrusting series. The peak frequency of copulation was in Dec. in both years with means of 1.34/hr and 0.94/hr. However, the maximum number of males and females involved were in Nov and Nov~Dec.. with 18 (9M9F, 2001) and 22 (12M10F, 2001) individuals. The residency and ranks of males influence their copulation strategies. Alpha males performed over half of the multi-mount copulations (55.1%), followed by non-troop males and other troop males (each, 22.45¢M). On the other hand, the highest proportion of single mount copulations were from OTM (38.13%)¡CBiting and copulation calls occurred more frequently in multi-mount than in single mount copulation. The duration of thrust was longest in the last mount of multi-mount copulation series (10.9 sec ¡Ó5.4, n=45), next in single mount (8.16 sec ¡Ó4.2). Male dominant rank influenced the occurrence of consortships between heterosexual pairs. Nearly all of consortships observed were performed by troop males (94/105 = 89.4%), NTM just 10.48¢M(11/105 = 10.48%)¡CHigh-ranking males guarded estrous females and interfered low-ranking males' copulation. The later used sneaky mating during the absence of dominant males or in the peripheral part of a social troop with poor visibility.¡C Troop C was dominant to troop Cd in habitat utilization and intertroop interaction. Troop C often chased troop Cd away (78.3%) or troop C withdrew voluntarily (21.7%). After the troop fission, the peak of monthly frequency of copulation in Cd was higher than that in troop C (two mating seasons: 3.33/hr versus 1.44/hr, 2.80/hr versus 0.74/hr). The birth rates of these two troops both increased from 2001 to 2002 (C: 37.5% to 81.3%; Cd: 50.0% to 100%)¡C

The web is evolving: what was once primarily used for sharing static content has now evolved into a platform for rich client-side applications. These applications do not run exclusively on the client; while the client is responsible for presentation and some processing, there is a significant amount of processing and persistence that happens server-side. This has advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage is that the user’s data is accessible from anywhere. It doesn’t matter which device you sign into a web application from, everything you’ve been working on is instantly accessible. The largest disadvantage is that large numbers of servers are required to support a growing user base; unlike traditional client applications, an organization making a web application needs to provision compute and storage resources for each expected user. This infrastructure is designed in tiers that are responsible for different aspects of the application, and these tiers may not even be run by the same organization. As these systems grow in complexity, it becomes progressively more challenging to identify and solve performance problems. While there are many measures of software system performance, web application users only care about response latency. This “fingertip-to-eyeball performance” is the only metric that users directly perceive: when a button is clicked in a web application, how long does it take for the desired action to complete? MT-WAVE is a system for solving fingertip-to-eyeball performance problems in web applications. The system is designed for doing multi-tier tracing: each piece of the application is instrumented, execution traces are collected, and the system merges these traces into a single coherent snapshot of system latency at every tier. To ensure that user-perceived latency is accurately captured, the tracing begins in the web browser. The application developer then uses the MT-WAVE Visualization System to explore the execution traces to first identify which system is causing the largest amount of latency, and then zooms in on the specific function calls in that tier to find optimization candidates. After fixing an identified problem, the system is used to verify that the changes had the intended effect. This optimization methodology and toolset is explained through a series of case studies that identify and solve performance problems in open-source and commercial applications. These case studies demonstrate both the utility of the MT-WAVE system and the unintuitive nature of system optimization.

Neuartige Kontraste in der Magnetresonanz-Bildgebung wie Diffusionswichtung (DW) oder Magnetisierungstransfer (MT) finden zunehmend Verwendung in der klinischen Diagnostik. Während bei der DW der Kontrast durch unterschiedliche Diffusionseigenschaften von Wassermolekülen in Gewebe verursacht wird, wird der MT-Kontrast durch unterschiedliche Anteile an gebundenen und freien Protonen im Gewebe beeinflusst. Der MT basiert auf einer selektiven Sättigung der an Makromolekülen gebundenen Protonen und dem anschließenden Transfer dieser Sättigung der Magnetisierung auf freie Protonen. Dieser Austausch führt zu einem Abfall der Signalsättigung von freien Protonen. Diese Methode besitzt das Potential, Rückschlüsse auf spezifische mikrostrukturelle Veränderung im Gewebe zu ziehen. In der vorliegenden Pilotstudie wurde ein neuer Parameter zur Beschreibung des MT-Kontrastes - die MT-Sättigung - auf ihr Potential untersucht,  Gewebeveränderungen in einem Teil der Basalganglien bei der sporadischen Creutzfeldt-Jakob-Erkrankung (sCJK) zu detektieren. Typische mikrostrukturelle Gewebeveränderungen bei der sCJK beinhalten die Ablagerungen pathologischer Prion-Proteine, spongiformen Umbau des Neuropils sowie astrozytäre Gliose und Nervenzellverlust. Anonymisierte klinisch-diagnostische MRT-Bilddaten (3D-FLASH, DWI) von 5 Patienten mit definitiver oder wahrscheinlicher sCJD wurden retrospektiv untersucht und mit denen altersangepasster gesunder Kontrollen verglichen. Mittels einer ROI-Analyse auf den MT-Karten wurden neben dem Caput des Ncl. caudatus, dem Putamen und dem Pulvinar auch MT-Werte in der Amygdala bestimmt. Im Gegensatz zum Pulvinar und zur Amygdala konnten mit dieser Methode im Ncl. caudatus und im Putamen Veränderungen aufgezeigt werden. Hier wurden im Vergleich zu einer gesunden Kontrollkohorte in beiden Strukturen signifikant niedrigere MT-Werte bei sCJK-Patienten gefunden. Eine Regressionsanalyse gegen die DW-MRT, dem etablierten diagnostischen Kriterium, ergab eine signifikante positive Korrelation von MT und mittlerer Diffusivität (MD), die auf einen Zusammenhang von erhöhten Diffusionsbarrieren und erhöhtem Wassergehalt schließen lässt. Diese Korrelation könnte auf mikrozystische Veränderungen im Neuropil zurückzuführen sein. Eine inverse Korrelation im Pulvinar sowohl in der erkrankten als auch in der gesunden Kohorte deutet dagegen auf inhärent strukturelle Barrieren hin, die die Diffusion dominierend einschränken. Die MT-Sättigung hat somit das Potential, als diagnostisches Kriterium bei der sCJK eingesetzt zu werden. Der Informationsgewinn kann hierdurch gesteigert werden, indem verschiedene quantitative MR-Techniken miteinander kombiniert werden.

Triassic igneous rocks in southeast Queensland show a number of subduction related geochemical characteristics. Extensive calc-alkalic granitoids chains characterise the region and define the ancient arc setting. Despite good evidence that an arc was present, Triassic volcanic rocks are relatively sparse in southeast Queensland. The Mt Marcella Volcanics, of the northern Esk Trough are a previously poorly understood piece of the Middle Triassic convergent margin of southeast Queensland. A three stage model is proposed for the eruptive development of the Middle Triassic (245- 230Ma) volcanic succession that involves; 1) The Middle Triassic basalt, comprising coalesced lava flows covering as much as 500km2 with an estimated eruptive volume in the order of 50km3. 2) The Penwhaupell Volcanic Centre, a concentration of inter-bedded lavas and pyroclastic rocks dominated by dacite that forms a volcanic pile exceeding 2km stratigraphic thickness and representing an eruptive volume of approximately 48km3. 3) The Ettiewyn Caldera, representing the catastrophic culmination of the Mt Marcella Volcanics event, with a sequence of caldera out-flow and in-fill andesite ignimbrites and post-caldera lavas with a total eruptive volume in the order of 130km3. The “Penwhaupell Volcanic Centre” and the “Ettiewyn Caldera” are two new sub-divisions and the proposed names, for the lower and upper sequences of the previously undifferentiated Mt Marcella Volcanics. The Mt Marcella Volcanics magma compositions show cogenetic characteristics that define three evolutionary pathways; 1) a mildly alkali series, from basaltic-andesite to trachy-dacite related through fractionation dominated by plagioclase and clinopyroxene 2) an amphibole series, basaltic-andesite to hornblende dacite through fractionation dominated by plagioclase and hornblende under hydrous conditions, and 3) a pyroxene series, from basaltic-andesite to pyroxene andesite through fractionation dominated by plagioclase and pyroxene. Quantitative petrogenetic models generally support the proposed fractional crystallisation pathway, however weaknesses are acknowledged, with good results for the major elements and REE off-set by generally poor results for the LILE. Despite the inconclusive trace element results for the modelled fractionation, strong geochemical similarities and cogenetic relationships have been established. A typical arc-like geochemical signature including a pronounced Nb depletion characterises the Mt Marcella Volcanics. However, the geochemical character within the Middle Triassic volcanic succession reveals an unusual transition from an OIB character of the Middle Triassic basalts, to the Andean arc character of later Mt Marcella Volcanics. The implications of this could have profound impact on our understanding of how southeast Queensland’s Triassic tectonic setting operated by providing support for hotspot activity rather than subduction-driven activity.

276 leaves : plates, maps / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geology, 1961

Typescript (photocopy) / xiii, 207 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Botany, 1982

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is a centropomid teleost with a wide distribution across the Indo Pacific. In Australia, barramundi are native to the tropical zone from Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia, across the northern part of the continent, to the Mary River in Queensland. Barramundi are protandrous hermaphrodites, and are euryhaline, with a catadromous life history. Barramundi are a valuable Australian resource, with important commercial and recreational fisheries and aquaculture production to the value of $11 million dollars per year. Recent declines in the availability of the fish in some rivers has led to an interest in the possibility of restocking rivers with barramundi from other areas. Determining the genetic structure of barramundi populations in Australia is important for understanding biogeographic history, and appropriate management practices for both aquaculture and recreational and commercial fishing. Previous studies have concentrated on the east coast of Australia, and have largely ignored the western populations. In this study, I obtained DNA data from barramundi populations across the Australian range of the species, as well as populations from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The aims of this study were to use the genetic data to determine: 1. if populations in Western Australia show genetic differences between geographic regions 2. if these populations show an ancestral split from populations in the east of Australia and 3. the ancestral origins of Australian barramundi. Previous studies of DNA data from barramundi have discovered an east/west split occurring at the Torres Strait that was assumed to be caused by the closing of the strait during lowered sea levels. However, these studies suffered from a bias in sampling area, concentrating either on the eastern half of the range of barramundi, or on the western tip of the range. Data from these studies were combined and reanalyzed. Two major clades were discovered, with considerable biogeographic structuring, but their geographic locations did not coincide with the reported vicariance event at the Torres Strait. Instead, historical divisions among freshwater drainage systems appeared to have driven the evolutionary history of barramundi in Australia. In order to investigate these historical divisions further, a 290 bp section of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced in 284 barramundi from seven populations across the Australian geographic range of the species and from one population in Papua New Guinea and one population in Indonesia. Analyses of molecular variance within and among populations showed significant geographic structuring, based on biogeographical provinces and drainage divisions. Nested clade analyses indicated that these geographical associations were the result of restricted gene flow, range expansion, and past fragmentation events. I hypothesise that the Ord River area in the west of the continent was the ancestral source population for the rest of the species’ range across Australia, with Indonesia being the most likely origin of this source. Populations of barramundi from the Pilbara region are genetically distinct and geographically isolated, with strong evidence of an ancestral divide along geographical barriers to dispersal. There is a strong association between Papua New Guinea and Australia, although further investigations using the cytochrome b region of mitochondrial DNA indicated a more ancestral divide between the two than is currently evident, which could reflect an ancient geographical divide between the two, or could be evidence of a secondary migration route to Australia. For a more detailed study of evolutionary processes acting on populations of barramundi in Western Australia, allelic diversity was examined at five microsatellite loci. All loci were polymorphic and genotypic frequencies conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations, with no significant linkage between loci evident in any population. Measures of within population diversity were significantly related to latitude, suggesting southerly migration from a northern source population. The Ord River was the most genetically diverse population, and the most likely ancestral migration source to the area, with diversity decreasing down the west coast. Although there were significant differences among populations, the nuclear microsatellite data do not indicate the same degree of genetic structuring as is evident in the mitochondrial data. This may be a consequence of rapid evolutionary change at microsatellite loci, with past separations or population differences masked by recombination and back mutation of the microsatellite alleles. However, the nature of nuclear and mitochondrial inheritance may also indicate life history differences between the sexes, where significant genetic contribution to gene flow by males and limited female gene flow may lead to preservation of maternally inherited population substructure. The principal findings from this study are: • There is no genetic evidence for an east/west division of barramundi populations in Australia, as suggested by previous research. • Despite barramundi’s catadromous life history, and ability to disperse through marine waters, the present genetic structure indicates a division principally among river drainages. From a population genetic viewpoint, the species can be regarded as freshwater, rather than marine. • The most likely origin of barramundi in Australia is the Ord River region, with Indonesia as the route of migration. • Differences in the population structure demonstrated by nuclear and mitochondrial data indicate possible life history differences between the sexes. • Barramundi populations in different biogeographical provinces may have been substantially isolated over a long period of time, and may therefore represent independently evolving populations. This has important implications for fishery management and translocation issues for restocking rivers.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1929. / Bibliography: p. [153]-167.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-03-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:46:43Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 prado_cpa_dr_rcla.pdf: 1255651 bytes, checksum: 0c46d1b5c371cb78f7d39e45a1a56f3e (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O Pantanal mato-grossense, com aproximadamente 140.000 kmø, constitui a maior planície inundável do mundo. É uma região de clima marcadamente sazonal, com cheias durante o verão, as quais não estão relacionadas à precipitação local. Este estudo descreve as estratégias reprodutivas presentes em uma comunidade de anfíbios anuros do Pantanal, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, região Central do Brasil. Os dados foram coletados no município de Corumbá (57 00'W, 19 34'S), entre os anos de 1995 e 2001. Foram investigados: o período reprodutivo e o padrão reprodutivo exibido pelas espécies da comunidade, ocupação ambiental, modos reprodutivos, número de ovos por desova, tamanho dos ovos, relações de tamanho-fecundidade, investimento reprodutivo (IR) em machos e fêmeas, dimorfismo sexual em tamanho, além de comportamentos envolvendo corte, acasalamento, territorialidade e cuidado parental. Vinte e quatro espécies de anuros foram registradas, distribuídas entre as famílias Bufonidae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae e Microhylidae. A atividade reprodutiva concentrou-se no período chuvoso, apresentando um padrão sazonal, com 50% das espécies exibindo atividade reprodutiva explosiva. Dimorfismo sexual em tamanho foi observado para a maioria das espécies, as fêmeas sendo maiores que os machos. O tamanho da fêmea correlacionou-se positivamente com o tamanho da desova e dos ovos. O investimento reprodutivo (IR) em fêmeas, medido como a porcentagem da massa do ovário em relação à massa do corpo, variou de 5,5 a 18%. Comportamentos de desova múltipla, com mais de um macho participando da oviposição, foram observados para Leptodactylus chaquensis e L. podicipinus. O tamanho relativo de testículos de espécies poliândricas foi maior comparado ao de outras espécies, e a competição de esperma é discutida. Um novo modo reprodutivo para o gênero Leptodactylus é apresentado... / The Pantanal, with an area of approximately 140,000 kmø, constitutes the world's largest floodplain. The climate is markedly seasonal, with floodings occurring in the summer, which are not related to local rainfall. The present study describes the reproductive strategies of an amphibian anuran community in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, central Brazil. Data were collected in the municipality of Corumbá (57 00'W, 19 34'S), between the years 1995 and 2001. Were investigated: the reproductive period and reproductive activity patterns exhibited by the species, habitat use, reproductive modes, number of eggs per clutch and size of eggs, size-fecundity relationships, reproductive investment (RI) in males and females, and sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Additionally, behaviors involved in courtship, mating, territoriality, and parental behavior were also registered. Twenty four species were registered, distributed in the families Bufonidae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, and Microhylidae. The reproductive activity concentrated in the rainy period, exhibiting a seasonal pattern. 50% of the species presented the explosive breeding pattern. Sexual size dimorphism was observed for the majority of the species, with females being larger than males. Size of females was positively correlated to clutch and egg size. The RI in females, measured as the percentage of ovary mass relative to body mass, varied from 5.5 to 18%. Multimale spawning behavior was observed for two species, Leptodactylus chaquensis and L. podicipinus. Relative testes size of poliandric species was larger compared to other species, and sperm competition is discussed. A new reproductive mode for the genus Leptodactylus is described, which was observed for L. podicipinus. Reproductive activity patterns and reproductive modes registered for the studied community are common in open and seasonal habitats like the Pantanal...(Complete absctrat click electronic access below)