The Bells Creek catchment covers an area of 100 km2 in the northern part of the Pumicestone Passage region of southeast Queensland. This catchment is an example of a low-lying sub-tropical coastal plain including both freshwater and estuarine settings. The main creeks drain into Pumicestone Passage, a large shallow estuary, which is a declared marine habitat and a Ramsar listed wading bird location. The Bells Creek catchment has undergone land-use change from bushland to grazing to pine plantations and is now coming under pressure for urban development. Quaternary age unconsolidated sediments are the dominant surface material in this area and formed during the last marine transgression. Of significance for such a setting is that estuarine sediments can retain metals mobilised as a result of natural processes (e.g. weathering) and anthropogenic activities (e.g. land-use disturbance). As trace metals can also occur naturally in rocks and their weathered products, it is of value to clearly distinguish natural and anthropogenic controls over metal source, distribution and mobility. To achieve this aim two approaches were taken: 1) to determine the factors controlling the geochemistry of weathered profiles, unconsolidated sediments, soils and natural waters, and 2) to identify the most effective analytical and numerical methods for evaluating metal concentration in different solid materials. This investigation is structured around four linked papers. The influence of mineralogy, geological setting, location of water table and depth of burial on the geochemistry of weathered profile are assessed in Paper 1. The second paper is an investigation of different analytical approaches for studying weathered sedimentary rocks, as well as the testing of several numerical methods for evaluating geochemical data from weathered profiles. In paper 3, a large heterogeneous geochemical data set including trace metals, total organic carbon and sulfur content, in addition to mineralogy and land use practices are integrated to enable evaluation of geochemical and anthropogenic processes controlling metal distribution. The fourth paper considers the distribution of iron and its transport as well as variations in size and morphology of different forms of framboidal pyrite within a smaller sub-catchment in the southern part of the study area. The labile and heterogeneous nature of the bedrock of the region, the Landsborough Sandstone, along with the sub-tropical climate of the area have resulted in weathering profiles up to 26 m deep. Due to the absence of industrial activity in the Bells Creek catchment, such weathering of the bedrock constitutes the major process governing metal distribution throughout the area. Analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the primary minerals occurring in the weathered profiles are quartz, plagioclase and K-feldspars while kaolinite is the most dominant secondary mineral present. Overall, parent rock silicates have been extensively replaced by clay minerals and Fe oxides. The relative influence of mineralogy, geological setting and groundwater over chemical weathering and geochemical cycling of metals can be summarised as follows: Mineralogy>geological setting>watertable position>depth of profile burial As the relationship between the total metal composition and the extractable and mobile component has environmental significance, a comparison was made between these forms of metals in weathered material. This comparison shows that metals such as V, Cr and Fe are part of the aluminosilicate matrix and remain largely in primary mineral structures. The retention of these metals may lead to their future release to the environment during on-going weathering. Other elements such as Cu, Zn, Pb, however, are found to be primarily adsorbed to sediment particles and therefore, easily releasable to the environment. As limited information on weathering of sedimentary rocks is reported in the literature, a variety of chemical analysis and numerical assessment methods were used to understand the geochemical processes involved in trace metal mobility in the weathered profiles. Two analytical methods of digestion, hydrofluoric acid and x-ray fluorescence were tested and found to be highly comparable except for refractory elements such as V and Cr. Among the numerical methods applied to the dataset were "chemical and mineralogical indices", "weight loss factor" and "immobile element approach". The "immobile element approach" was found to be the most appropriate method to characterise the weathering profiles typical of the catchment. This method considers a weathering system to be open and transforms the absolute values of trace metals enabling a quantitative evaluation of metal mobility. The following sequence of mobility was determined after applying this method to the data generated in this study: Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>V The above sequence of mobility is supported by the comparison between extractable and total metal concentrations where Cr and V were identified as being part of aluminosilicate matrix and less mobile. On the other hand, Zn, Pb and Cu were found to exist in adsorbed form and to be readily released to the environment. Trace elements released through weathering and erosion of the bedrock can accumulate in estuarine and coastal sediments. Therefore, both the lateral and vertical distribution of trace metals within sediments and soils of Bells Creek catchment were investigated. Natural and anthropogenic factors controlling metal distribution were compared and it was concluded that the natural sediment character such as its mineral content is more significant than anthropogenic influences in controlling lateral and vertical metal distribution. Further, due to varying degrees of weathering and the heterogeneous nature of soils and sediments, the data were normalised. After testing several methods, it was concluded that calculation of an enrichment factor was the most appropriate. The enrichment factor revealed that elevated trace metal concentrations at some sites are due to bedrock weathering. Due to the environmental persistence of iron, excess of this common metal has always been of environmental concern in many coastal settings. In the small Halls Creek sub-catchment, for example, iron anomalies were detected in bottom sediments (Fe up to 14%). This finding has significance in the area, as iron has been identified as one of the major contributors in the growth of the toxic cyanobacteria "Lyngbya majuscula" which can negatively impact on aquatic fauna. Iron concentrations were also shown to be high in natural stream waters of this coastal zone (up to 16 mg/L); in the bottom sediments of the creek, iron occurs as hematite (freshwater section) or pyrite (estuarine section). A variety of pyrite morphologies were identified in both bottom sediments and particulate matter samples including spherical closely packed framboids, and the rare form of euhedra which indicates slow crystallisation. The different components of this investigation have: 1) established the order and extent to which natural factors control weathering, 2) tested a number of analytical and numerical methods in evaluating weathering profiles, 3) assessed natural and anthropogenic factors and established the mobility sequence for trace metals in weathered profiles and, 4) determined the iron mineral speciation and established morphological variations of pyrite. As the area of Bells Creek catchment will be under development pressure in the future, findings of this study represent a baseline of comparison for environmental assessment and are of importance for environmental management.

Estuaries can be considered as vital natural resources and are unique ecosystems at the interface between terrestrial and marine environments. The increase of population density centred on these coastal features and associated anthropogenic activities such as trade, industry, agriculture and recreation can adversely affect these sensitive environments. The Pumicestone Passage, located in northern Moreton Bay, Australia, is one such estuarine environment where there are concerns about degradation of water quality resulting from rapid land use change. These changes are both immediate to the Passage and within its wider catchment. Of notable concern are the outbreaks of Lyngbya (a toxic blue-green algae) in the Passage itself and near its interface with Deception Bay to the south. Other factors of concern are increased suspended and dissolved loads, and maintenance of ecosystem integrity. In this study, numerical modelling, graphical methods and water surface elevation and current velocity parameter calculations are used to describe hydrological processes in the Pumicestone Passage. A hydrodynamic model is developed using the modelling software SMS and RMA2 as a foundation for future hydrodynamic and water quality modelling. In addition, observed data are used to interpret general hydrodynamic behaviour in the passage, and determine various parameters for use in model development and calibration. Tidal prediction is also discussed and used for model calibration. To support the modelling and for preliminary interpretation of hydrodynamic processes within the Passage, measurements were made in the field of (a) water surface elevation variation at 17 sites; (b) tidal current velocities in four of the tributary creeks and at the northern boundary; (c) volumetric flow rates at two cross-sections within the Passage; and (d) cross-sectional bathymetry at sites where tidal current velocities were measured in the creeks. In general, examination of the observational data reveals a number of important processes in the Pumicestone Passage. Almost all sites within Pumicestone Passage and its tributaries are flood dominant indicating that tidal storage and bottom friction effects are significant. Mesotidal ranges occur at sites close to the southern boundary of the passage, however, bottom friction greatly reduces the tidal response at the remaining sites which results in microtidal ranges. The influence of both the southern and northern tides can be seen in the deformation of tidal waveforms in the central passage. Extensive intertidal areas at and inside the northern inlet to the Passage markedly reduce tidal ranges in the northern estuary and its tributary creeks. Issues involved in hydrodynamic model development and performance are discussed. Overall, model results for the southern estuary have satisfactory correlation with observed data whereas model results for the northern estuary are less satisfactory. In addition, water surface elevation variation model results are generally more accurate than tidal current velocity model results. Reasons for the differences between model and observed values are considered and possible solutions given. Factors discussed relate to boundary condition locations, resolution of bathymetric and geographical data, mesh development methods and parameter assignment.

In this thesis we develop and use a continuum random walk framework to solve problems that are usually studied using a discrete random walk on a discrete lattice. Problems studied include; the time it takes for a random walker to be absorbed at a trap on a fractal lattice, the calculation of the spectral dimension for several different classes of networks, the calculation of the density of states for a multi-layered Bethe lattice and the relationship between diffusion exponents and a resistivity exponent that occur in relevant power laws. The majority of the results are obtained by deriving an expression for a Laplace transformed Green’s function or first passage time, and then using Tauberian theorems to find the relevant asymptotic behaviour. The continuum framework is established by studying the diffusion equation on a 1-d bar with non-homogeneous boundary conditions. The result is extended to model diffusion on networks through linear algebra. We derive the transformation linking the Green’s functions and first passage time results in the continuum and discrete settings. The continuum method is used in conjunction with renormalization techniques to calculate the time taken for a random walker to be absorbed at a trap on a fractal lattice and also to find the spectral dimension of new classes of networks. Although these networks can be embedded in the d- dimensional Euclidean plane, they do not have a spectral dimension equal to twice the ratio of the fractal dimension and the random walk dimension when the random walk on the network is transient. The networks therefore violate the Alexander-Orbach law. The fractal Einstein relationship (a relationship relating a diffusion exponent to a resistivity exponent) also does not hold on these networks. Through a suitable scaling argument, we derive a generalised fractal Einstein relationship which holds for our lattices and explains anomalous results concerning transport on diffusion limited aggregates and Eden trees.

The common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), a member of the family Pseudocheiridae, is an arboreal folivorous marsupial that feeds predominantly on Eucalyptus foliage. Contrary to the expectation that small body size would inhibit utilisation of a diet containing such high levels of lignified fibre because of relatively low gut volume to body mass ratios and relatively high mass-specific metabolic rates and nutrient requirements (Hume 1999), the ringtail possum is able to survive solely on a diet of Eucalyptus foliage. The rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a terrestrial herbivore and is a member of the family Leporidae that feeds predominantly on grasses. The rabbit was proposed as a digesta flow model for the ringtail possum since both are caecotrophic (periodically re-ingest caecal contents) and both are proposed to exhibit a colonic separation mechanism (CSM) where fluids and small, easily digested particles are preferentially returned to the caecum. The rabbit is of value for the modelling process since it is more accessible for experimental manipulation than the ringtail possum. This study investigated a proposal to use digesta passage through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the rabbit as a model of digesta passage for the ringtail possum on the basis that both are caecotrophic caecum fermenters. A number of potential problems were identified with this proposal and investigation of these problems formed the basis for the research described in this thesis. Two main areas were identified as being potentially problematic: 1) fundamental flaws with the particulate markers used in digesta rate of passage studies; and 2) differences in animal behaviour and natural diet between the two subject species which suggested different digestive strategies and hence different patterns of digesta flow through the GIT. The proposed digesta passage markers were lanthanide metals (Dy, Tm, Eu and Yb) attached to either fibrous particles (1200 - 600�m) or formalin-fixed rumen bacteria (20 � 0.2�m). These markers were shown to not be of the assumed size classes and the extent of lanthanide metal binding differed between the four metals used. An effect due to method of dosing was also observed. The findings of marker inconsistencies caused major limitation to model development and further research is necessary to clarify these markers. The proposal to use digesta flow in the rabbit GIT as a model for digesta flow in the ringtail possum was shown to be idealistic due to the differences in anatomy and behaviour observed between the two herbivores. Laboratory observations, time series analysis and compartmental modelling confirmed the differences between the animals. This study showed: 1) the GIT of the rabbit was more complex both anatomically and functionally than that of the ringtail possum; 2) behaviour affecting digesta passage of the rabbit and ringtail were different and; 3) compartmental models confirmed the anatomical and behavioural findings. Digesta passage in the rabbit could not be modelled mathematically using data on digesta passage due to complexities of the system. In contrast, a basic model was constructed for digesta passage in the ringtail possum. On the basis of these findings, the research hypothesis "that digesta passage in rabbits is similar to that in ringtail possums" was rejected.

Thèse (Ph. D)--Université Laval, 2004. / Bibliogr.: f. [303]-325. Publié aussi en version électronique.

<p>The aim of this essay is to see if there are any relationship between the four Megalithic graves, and the newly excavated dwelling site in Resmo socken on Öland. The Megalithic graves on Öland consist of one dolmen and three passage graves. Is the excavated site a settlement? Since there are no signs of housing constructions, I will also explore other possible purposes of the site. What surprised the excavators was the concentration of pits that contained ceramics, flints and burned bones. To find out about Resmo´s relation to megaliths, settlements and the landscape, I will look at the Neolithic settlement sites of the Funnel Beaker Culture and where in the landscape we find these in relation to the Megalithic graves. I will also give an overview of the Megalithic graves in Skåne, and Falbygden in Västergötland.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

Les stations de sports d’hiver sont des lieux touristiques à part entière dont les dynamiques d’aménagement ont été étudiées depuis plusieurs décennies. Si les stratégies de développement du système touristique dans des lieux jugés aptes à pouvoir soutenir cette activité sont un des enjeux principaux de certaines économies locales, cette thèse ne souhaite pas questionner le tourisme au prisme de l’économie ou de l’aménagement, mais de celui de la distinction. La distinction, concept à l’interface de la géographie sociale et d’autres sciences humaines comme la sociologie, permet de questionner l’ensemble du système touristique, tant dans son caractère urbain, économique que social. L’intérêt de cet angle d’approche est également de replacer l’individu, son identité et ses pratiques, au sein de ces lieux qui tendent à intégrer différents groupes socio-économiques en leur sein. Pour ce faire, nous proposons de questionner la place des clientèles issues des catégories socio-économiques supérieures, des habitants permanents et des travailleurs saisonniers, ces deux derniers groupes disposent de profils hétérogènes au sein des stations de sports d’hiver haut de gamme. Nous approcherons ainsi la distinction à travers deux angles : celui des lieux touristiques au sein même du marché des stations de sports d’hiver et celui des catégories sociales dans ces lieux qui tendrait à faire abstraction de toutes considérations relevant de la hiérarchie sociale. Recherche géographique avant tout, cette thèse abordera la distinction au regard de deux notions fortes : la ségrégation et l’entre-soi, en questionnant l’accessibilité propre à chacun au sein de l’espace urbain des stations de sports d’hiver, entendu comme le pouvoir spatial. Nous proposons de mener cette étude dans dix stations de sports d’hiver haut de gamme, localisées en Autriche, en France et en Suisse dans le massif alpin. Cette diversité de configurations nationales permettra également de questionner les stratégies de distinction au regard des législations en vigueur dans chaque pays. Sur la base des cadres conceptuels présentés dans la partie 1 (chapitre 1 : état de l’art de la ségrégation et de l’entre-soi pour construire une géographie sociale du tourisme; chapitre 2 : échantillonnage des stations étudiées et approche méthodologique ; chapitre 3 : questions de recherche), nous aborderons les stratégies de distinction à travers plusieurs approches : l’héritage touristique et les formes urbaines singulières qu’il a produites (chapitre 4), la mise en scène de l’espace urbain à des fins touristiques (chapitre 5) et les régimes de visibilité des catégories socio-économiques dans le paysage urbain de la richesse (chapitre 6). Cette deuxième partie permettra de mettre au jour l’existence d’interfaces de la distinction présentes au sein des stations de sports d’hiver haut de gamme : les seuils, dont les modalités de production, tant sociales, symboliques que matérielles et les contraintes spatiales qu’ils induisent seront respectivement traitées dans les chapitre 7 et chapitre 8 (partie 3). Au final, cette thèse propose une géographie sociale du tourisme, plus qu’une géographie des pratiques touristiques. / Winter sports resorts are tourist places where the dynamics of arrangement were studied for several decades. If the strategies of development of the tourist system in places considered capable of being able to support this activity are one of main stakes in certain local economies, this thesis wishes to question not the tourism in the prism of the economy or the arrangement, but in the prism of the distinction. The distinction, the concept in the interface of the social geography and the other human sciences as the sociology, allows to question the whole tourist system, both in its urban, economic and social character. The interest of this angle of approach also is to replace the individual, in its complete identity within these places which have to tend to integrate the various socio-economic groups which are located there. In order to achieve this goal, we suggest questioning the place of the clienteles from superior socioeconomic categories, from permanent inhabitants and from seasonal workers, both in the heterogeneous profiles within top of the range winter sports resorts. We shall approach the distinction through two angles: the one within the tourist places market and the one within social categories in these places, who would try to disregard any considerations under the social hierarchy. Geographical research before any, this thesis will approach the distinction with regard to two strong notions: the segregation and the “entre-soi”, by questioning the accessible place by each one within the urban space of winter sports resorts, considered as the spatial power. We suggest leading this study in ten winter sports resorts top of the range, localized in Austria, in France and in Switzerland. This state diversity will also allow to question the strategies of distinction with regard to legislations in force in every country. From the abstract frames presented in the part 1 (chapter 1: state of the art of the segregation and the “entre-soi”; chapter 2: sampling of the studied stations and the methodological approach; chapter 3: research questions), we shall approach the strategies of distinction through several angles of approaches: the tourist inheritance and the singular urban forms which he produced (chapter 4), urban space staging in tourist purpose (chapter 5) and the regimes of visibilities of the socioeconomic categories in the urban landscape of the wealth (chapter 6). This second part will allow to bring to light the existence of distinction of interfaces present within the winter sports resorts top of the range: thresholds, among which the modalities of production, so social, symbolic as material and the spatial constraints which they lead will be respectively handled in chapter 7 and chapter 8 (part 3). Finally, this thesis proposes a social geography of the tourism, more than a geography of the tourist practices.

Orientador: Elso Drigo Filho / Resumo: Tem-se como objetivo estudar a relação da equação de Fokker-Planck mapeada em uma equação tipo Schrödinger e assim usar supersimetria para resolução de alguns potenciais polinomiais encontrando sua distribuição de probabilidade P(x,t) e o tempo de passagem entre barreiras de potenciais e a partir destes dados compreender melhor o sistema físico proposto. / Abstract: The objective of this work is to study the relationship Fokker-Planck equation a Schrödinger-type equation . Thus, it is used supersymmetry for is to solve some polynomial potential in order to find the probability distribution, P (x, t), and the passage time between barriers of potential. These data prit us a better understand of the proposed physical system. / Mestre

La thèse s’intéresse au phénomène d'appropriation - par une très faible minorité de jeunes gens de 13 à 25 ans - de «micro lieux» situés sur le territoire de leur cercle familial. Elle s'appuie sur une recherche effectuée en Moselle, mais le phénomène n'est pas spécifique à ce département. L'approche méthodologique fait référence au paradigme du «situationnisme méthodologique». Ces «micro lieux» sont très divers, à la ville comme à la campagne : une barrière de cour d'école, un lavoir, un «abribus», un ancien fort désaffecté, un coin de galerie marchande, un pied d'immeuble, un hall d’entrée, etc. Le processus d'appropriation par les jeunes se traduit par un marquage territorial qui témoigne d'une vie sociale embryonnaire, faite de rencontres quotidiennes pendant quelques mois ou plusieurs années, selon les individus et les groupes. Le phénomène étudié se trouve amplifié et souvent plus complexe à réguler sur les quartiers urbains d'habitat social. Quelles que soient par ailleurs les perturbations qu'ils occasionnent pour le voisinage, ces «micro lieux», à la fois «aire intermédiaire d'expérience» et «lieu de repos» entre «cosmos et chaos», constituent pour ceux qui se les approprient un passage entre le «dedans» et le «dehors», résultat d'une dynamique complexe comportant de multiples oscillations entre «sociabilité interne» et «sociabilité externe», «territorialisation et déterritorialisation» / This thesis focuses on the fact that a minority of young boys aged 13 to 25, make use of «micro territories» close to their family's lodgings. It is based on an empirical research in the department of Moselle. The methodology used is the «symbolic interactionnism». The research data shows that, thanks to this process, youngsters gain a sort of control or property which will then be materialized by territorial signs (or markages) : empty beer bottles, cigarette butts, tags. These «micro territories» host informal but nevertheless social relations for different groups which develop daily during a few months or sometimes several years. The phenomenon is stronger in social housing areas where they become locus for experiencing interactive relations, for resting, between «cosmos and chaos». The author argues that these territories are a passage between the inside, private arena and the outside, public sphere, thus enabling a dynamic where internal and external social interactions emerge, where territorialization and deterritorialization operate depending on

A capacidade de executar uma obra à primeira vista no violão é considerada por muitos uma tarefa de difícil execução. Um dos principais motivos para isto é o fato de uma mesma nota poder ser tocada em diferentes lugares da escala do violão, gerando diversas possibilidades de digitação para uma mesma passagem. A presente pesquisa investigou os procedimentos utilizados por 11 estudantes de graduação em violão durante a execução de uma tarefa de leitura à primeira vista. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram filmados e entrevistados e os dados relativos ao histórico de cada sujeito foram acessados pela aplicação de questionário. Foram considerados como variáveis influentes na execução dessa tarefa fatores como as diferentes possibilidades de digitação para uma mesma passagem, o conhecimento das possibilidades expressivas do instrumento, e a habilidade motora. A digitação e a tonalidade apresentaram-se como as principais dificuldades. As questões expressivas foram deixadas em segundo plano, considerando a quantidade de decisões a serem tomadas no tempo de um minuto dado a leitura silenciosa. Assim, nem sempre a execução mais correta em termos de acertos de notas e tempo foi a de resultado mais expressivo. Evidenciou-se na pesquisa que nem sempre o tempo de estudo reflete no melhor resultado quando se trata da tarefa de leitura à primeira vista. Os sujeitos de melhores desempenhos na tarefa de leitura à primeira vista responderam em questionário que praticam música de câmara e/ou canto coral, mostrando que essas práticas podem influenciar positivamente o desenvolvimento da habilidade de leitura à primeira vista. Com relação ao teste de habilidade motora, os sujeitos com os melhores desempenhos na execução do teste de leitura à primeira vista (considerando fluência de tempo, evitando correções de notas e ritmos) ultrapassaram os sujeitos de menor desempenho em marcas metronômicas. / Sight-reading a piece on the guitar is often considered a difficult task. One reason for this may be the fact that the same note on the guitar may be played in different ways, thus generating various fingering possibilities for the same passage. The present study investigated the procedures adopted by 11 undergraduate guitar students in a sight-reading exercise. The subjects were filmed and interviewed and their background was taken from a written questionnaire. Distinct fingering possibilities for the same passage, knowledge of expressive possibilites of the guitar and mechanical dexterity were considered as influential variables in this study. Fingering and tonality proved to be the main difficulties. Expressive aspects were not considered the most important, considering the number of decisions to be made in the one minute allotted for silent reading before the sight-reading began. Thus, the best performances in terms of correct notes and tempo were not necessarily the most expressive. The best outcomes came from students who engage in choral or chamber music activities, therefore, these may have a positive influence on sight-reading. The mechanical ability exercise applied showed that the subjects that did better on the sight-reading passsage (considering tempo, correct notes and rhythm) surpassed those that had lower metronomical markings.