The present study sets out to challenge a common assumption that Green politics is virtually non-existent in Spain. This assumed state of affairs has been attributed to a number of factors including a materialist society which prioritises economic growth, Spain’s political culture and, finally, the country’s electoral system. The result, according to the few scholars who include Spain in their studies, is a country with a weak political ecology social movement (PESM) and a Green party that enjoys only ‘trivial support’ (Mair 2001:103). As will be demonstrated, such assumptions are based on an insufficient knowledge of political ecology in Spain. The lack of knowledge has resulted in Spain’s green movements and parties being routinely misinterpreted and, indeed, overlooked. The first and most glaring misconception is many scholars’ persistence in referring to the ‘Spanish Green party’ as if a single party existed. In fact, the ‘Spanish Greens’ comprise not one national party but a variable and variegated number of different political parties, a few of which have certainly achieved a measure of electoral success (depending, of course, on how success is defined). Furthermore, it will be shown that reasons often given for the failure of the Green parties – such as the country’s alleged lack of interest in environmental matters – overlook other more pertinent factors such as, for example, tensions between the Spanish Greens and the environmental movement organisations (EMO), the nationalist factor and continuing tensions between the ‘green-greens’ and the ‘red-greens’. Despite numerous problems at party level, the present study will show that Spain’s PESM is as vigorous as – though different from - that of other countries which are reputed to be environmental leaders. To pursue this argument, the thesis will provide an overview of Spain’s Green parties, setting these within the cultural and historical context of the broader PESM to which they belong. Drawing on territorial politics literature, the thesis will, in particular, demonstrate that the territorial dimension – that is, Spain’s division into 17 autonomous regions – has been one of the neglected but determining factors contributing to the problems besetting the Spanish Greens. It will also be argued that, in its own way, the efforts of Spanish ecologists have undoubtedly contributed towards the ‘piecemeal’ greening of Spain. The arguments are further developed through two in-depth case studies focusing on political ecology, and more particularly Green parties, in two of Spain’s regions, Catalonia and Andalucia.

No description available.

by Tam Fung-ping. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-264). / Chapter I. --- Title page --- p.I / Chapter II. --- Abstract --- p.II / Chapter III. --- Acknowlegements --- p.III / Chapter IV. --- Table of contents --- p.IV / Chapter V. --- List of tables --- p.V / Chapter VI. --- List of figures --- p.VI / Chapter VII. --- Abbreviations --- p.VII / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Literature Reviews / Chapter 1.1 --- Modes of energy generation in facultative bacteria --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Difference in energy generation mechanism between respiratory and fermentative pathways --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Difference in carbon metabolism during anaerobiosis --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2 --- Repression and derepression of genes during anaerobiosis --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Global regulatory network for respiratory control --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Fnr-regulated gene expression --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- NarL-regulated gene expression --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Crp-regulated gene expression --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- ArcA-regulated gene expression --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Overlapping control of gene expression --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.6 --- Regulatory mechanism of respiratory control --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4 --- Other regulatory systems in respiratory control --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5 --- The puzzle of regulatory network in anaerobiosis --- p.22 / Chapter 1.6 --- ArcA-ArcB system in Escherichia coli --- p.24 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Arc A and ArcB for aerobic respiratory control --- p.24 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- arcA/dye/msp/fex/sfrA/cpxC gene are on identical genetic locus --- p.26 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Arc function and Sfr function of Arc A protein are separately regulated --- p.28 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- ArcB-ArcA as sensor regulator in two component system for respiratory control --- p.29 / Chapter 1.7 --- Objectives and strategies of present study --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Materials / Chapter 2.1 --- Bacterial strains --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2 --- Culture mediums --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3 --- "Buffers, chemicals and antibiotics" --- p.46 / Chapter 2.4 --- DNA primers --- p.53 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Primer extension analysis for locating the transcriptional start point of anaerobic inducible arcA in pFS --- p.34 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methods --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Preparation of total RNA --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Formaldeyde agarose gel electrophoresis of RNA --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Spectrometric estimation of RNA --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- End-labelling of arcAusp primer with 32P --- p.62 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Precipitation of arcAusp primer with samples RNA --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Primer extension reaction --- p.63 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Preparation of RNA --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Determination of transcription start site by primer extension --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussions --- p.76 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Selective activations of aerobic and anaerobic transcripts in response to oxygen level --- p.76 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- The arcA promoter is a sigma-70 dependent promoter --- p.77 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Experimental design --- p.77 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- In vitro chemical mutagensis for finding some important regulatory elements of arcA in pFS --- p.34 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction / Chapter 4.2 --- Methods --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Large scale preparation of pFS34 plasmid --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- PCR-mediated chemical mutagenesis of pFS34 --- p.86 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Restriction enzyme digestion of PCR-amplified arcA insert after phenol extraction --- p.90 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Large scale preparation of vector pFZYl and restriction enzyme digestion --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Ligation of EcoRI-SalI digested pFS34 fragment and vector pFZYl --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Preparation of electrotcompetent cell Salmonella typhymurium JR502 and electro-transformation --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Screening of transformed clones by LB-amp50-xgal plates --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Screening of recombinants colonies by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) --- p.94 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Screening of single-point mutated clones by PCR-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Screening of mutated pFS34 clones with altered promoter activities byβ-gal assay --- p.98 / Chapter 4.2.11 --- Sequencing of mutated clones --- p.101 / Chapter 4.2.11.1 --- Recombinant M13 single-stranded sequencing of the mutated clones --- p.101 / Chapter 4.2.11.2 --- pUC18 double-stranded DNA sequencing of mutated clones --- p.105 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3. --- l PCR-mediated chemical mutagenesis of pFS34 --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Screening of transformed clones by LB-amp50-xgal plate --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Screening of recombinants colonies by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Screening of single-point mutated clones by PCR-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique --- p.114 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Screening of mutated pFS34 clones with altered promoter activities byβ-gal assay --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Sequencing of mutated clones --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussions --- p.135 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- The possible mechanisms in anaerobic transcription --- p.135 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- The possible mechanisms in aerobic transcription --- p.143 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Experimental design --- p.146 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Investigation of the effect of integration host factor (IHF) and autoregulation on the expression of pFS34 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.152 / Chapter 5.2 --- Methods --- p.154 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Construction of Escherichia coli mutant --- p.155 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- PCR check of mutant for the presence of pFS34 and pFZYl plasmid --- p.157 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- β-galactosidase assay of aerobic and anaerobic activities change of pFS34 --- p.157 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Effect of integration factor (IHF) on pFS34 --- p.158 / Chapter 5.3.1.1 --- PCR analysis of E. coli. himA and himD mutant for the presence of pFS34 and pFZYl plasmid --- p.158 / Chapter 5.3.1.2 --- β-galatosidase assay of aerobic and anaerobic activities of pFS34 in E. coli. himA and himD mutant --- p.158 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Autoregultion on expression of pFS34 --- p.162 / Chapter 5.3.2.1 --- PCR analysis of E. coli. arcA mutant for the presence of pFS34 plasmid --- p.162 / Chapter 5.3.2.2 --- β-galctosidase assay of aerobic and anaerobic activities of pFS34 (arcA-lacZ) in E. coli. arcA mutant --- p.162 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussions --- p.167 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Effect of IHF on aerobic and anaerobic expression of arcA --- p.167 / Chapter 5.4.1.1 --- Possible regulatory mechanism of IHF on aerobic transcription --- p.167 / Chapter 5.4.1.2 --- Possible regulatory mechanism of IHF on anaerobic transcription --- p.170 / Chapter 5.4.1.3 --- Affinity binding of IHF depends on topological state of arcA --- p.172 / Chapter 5.4.1.4 --- Possible role of IHF in global regulation of anaerobiosis --- p.173 / Chapter 5.4.1.5 --- Experimental design --- p.174 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Autoregulatory expression of arcA in pFS34 --- p.176 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- PCR walking of arcA from Salmonella typhimurium LT2 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.177 / Chapter 6.2 --- Methods --- p.186 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Preparation of chromosomal DNA from Salmonella typhimurium LT2 --- p.186 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Amplification of genomic arcA by linear PCR with arcAcds primer --- p.187 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Low stringency PCR amplification of single-stranded arcA gene fragment and genomic DNA with anchor- random primer (delC-32R & delC-34R) --- p.188 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- High stringency PCR amplification with arcAcds primer and delC-23 primer --- p.189 / Chapter 6.2.5 --- High stringency PCR amplification with arcAusp2 and delC-23 primer --- p.190 / Chapter 6.2.6 --- "High stringency PCR amplification with delC-23 primer only, arcAusp2 primer only and mixture of delC-23 and arcAusp2 primer" --- p.191 / Chapter 6.2.7 --- High stringency PCR amplification with arcAusp2 only and Sau3A restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products --- p.192 / Chapter 6.2.8 --- Cloning of PCR walking products into pUC18 and heat shock transforming into E.coli. JM83 --- p.193 / Chapter 6.2.9 --- Confirmation of inserts in the clones and estimation of inserts size by PCR --- p.194 / Chapter 6.2.10 --- Dideoxy sequencing of PCR walking arcA fragments in pUC18 --- p.194 / Chapter 6.2.11 --- Subcloning of arcA fragment into pFZYl and PCR analysis for insertion of one insert with proper orientation --- p.195 / Chapter 6.2.12 --- arcA-galactosiadase assay of PCR walking arcA fragment-lacZ fusion --- p.196 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results --- p.198 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Preparation of chromosomal DNA from Salmonella typhimurium LT2 --- p.198 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Amplification of genomic arcA by linear PCR with arcAcds primer --- p.198 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Low stringency PCR amplification of single-stranded arcA gene fragment and genomic DNA with anchor- random primer (delC-32R and delC-34R) --- p.200 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- High stringency PCR amplification with arcAcds primer and delC-23 primer --- p.200 / Chapter 6.3.5 --- High stringency PCR amplification with arcAusp2 、 primer and delC-23 prime --- p.203 / Chapter 6.3.6 --- "High stringency PCR amplification with delC-23 primer only, arcAusp2 primer only and mixture of delC-23 and arcAusp2 primer to check for flanking ends of bands" --- p.205 / Chapter 6.3.7 --- High stringency PCR amplification with arcAusp2 primer and Sau3A restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products --- p.207 / Chapter 6.3.8 --- Cloning of PCR walking products into pUC18 and heat-shock transforming into E. coli. JM83 --- p.210 / Chapter 6.3.9 --- Confirmation of inserts in the clones and estimation of inserts size by PCR --- p.210 / Chapter 6.3.10 --- Dideoxy sequencing of arc A PCR walking fragment: :pUC18 --- p.210 / Chapter 6.3.11 --- Subcloning of arcA fragment into pFZYl and PCR check for right insertion of single insert with proper orientation --- p.226 / Chapter 6.3.12 --- β-galactosidase assay --- p.232 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussions --- p.227 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- PCR based gene walking strategy --- p.227 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Confirmation of cloned arcA gene in pFS34 was a geniune arcA gene of S. typhimurium --- p.240 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- Promoter activity of further upstream arcA clones - AU87::pFZYl --- p.241 / Chapter Chapter 7. --- Overall Discussion --- p.244 / Chapter 7.1 --- Summary --- p.244 / Chapter 7.2 --- Proposed Model of regulation of arcA in Salmonella typhimurium --- p.249 / Chapter 7.3 --- Further Studies --- p.251 / References --- p.254

by Cheung, Man Wai William. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-123). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.ii / DEDICATION --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.viii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.x / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- Purpose of Study --- p.3 / Chapter 2. --- Literature Review --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1. --- Central Pathways of Aerobic and Anaerobic Carbon Catabolism --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2. --- Global Regulation of Gene Expression by Oxygen --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Two approaches for the studies --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- FNR regulation --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- ArcAB regulation --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.3.1. --- arcA --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.3.2. --- arcB --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.3.3. --- A member of the Two- Components regulatory systems --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3. --- Molecular Analysis of Promoters --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- S1 mapping --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.2. --- Primer extension --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.3. --- DNaseI footprinting --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.4. --- Mutational analysis of promoters --- p.32 / Chapter 3. --- Materials and Methods --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1. --- Bacterial strains and Plasmids --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2. --- Media --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3. --- Solutions --- p.38 / Chapter 3.4. --- Small Scale Preparation of Plasmid DNA --- p.40 / Chapter 3.5. --- Large Scale Preparation of Plasmid DNA --- p.41 / Chapter 3.5.1. --- Growth of bacterial culture --- p.41 / Chapter 3.5.2. --- Lysis by alkali --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5.3. --- Purification of closed circular DNA by cesium chloride gradient equilibrium centrifugation --- p.44 / Chapter 3.5.4. --- Digestion of DNA with restriction endonucleases --- p.45 / Chapter 3.6. --- Analysis of DNA Samples with Agarose Gel Electrophoresis --- p.45 / Chapter 3.7. --- Cloning of DNA Fragments from Nest-deleted M13mpl8 Clones to pFZYl --- p.47 / Chapter 3.8. --- Introduction of Plasmids into Cells --- p.48 / Chapter 3.8.1. --- Heat shock transformation --- p.48 / Chapter 3.8.1.1. --- Preparation of competent cells (I) --- p.48 / Chapter 3.8.1.2. --- Preparation of competent cells (II) --- p.49 / Chapter 3.8.2. --- High efficiency transformation by electroporation --- p.50 / Chapter 3.8.2.1. --- Preparation of electro- competent cells --- p.50 / Chapter 3.8.2.2. --- Electro-transformation --- p.51 / Chapter 3.9. --- DNA Sequencing by Chain Termination Method --- p.51 / Chapter 3.9.1. --- Preparation of single-stranded M13 templates for sequencing reaction --- p.51 / Chapter 3.9.2. --- Sequencing reactions using single- stranded templates --- p.53 / Chapter 3.9.3. --- Preparation of polyacrylamide gel for sequencing --- p.54 / Chapter 3.9.4. --- Electrophoresis of the DNA samples --- p.55 / Chapter 3.10. --- Construction of Nested Clones by Exonuclease III Unidirectional Deletions --- p.55 / Chapter 3.10.1. --- Unidirectional nested deletion of M13mpl8 clones --- p.55 / Chapter 3.10.2. --- Screening of nested clones by Direct gel electrophoresis --- p.56 / Chapter 3.10.3. --- Screening of nested clones of M13mpl8 and pFZYl by Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.57 / Chapter 3.11. --- β-galactosidase Assay --- p.59 / Chapter 3.12. --- Primer Extension --- p.60 / Chapter 3.12.1. --- Preparation of total RNA from Gram- negative bacteria --- p.60 / Chapter 3.12.2. --- Labelling the 5' end of the oligonucleotides --- p.61 / Chapter 3.12.3. --- Hybridization and primer extension --- p.62 / Chapter 4. --- Result --- p.63 / Chapter 4.1. --- Subcloning of arcA promoter into M13mpl8/19 --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2. --- Sequencing of p34一18i and p3419i using M13 Sequencing primers (-47) and ArcA-cds Primers --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3. --- Unidirectional Nested Deletion of p3418i using Exonuclease III --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- Large scale preparation of p3A18i DNA for Exonuclease III unidirectional nested deletion --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.2. --- Construction of 3' and 5' overhangs --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.3. --- Exonuclease III digestion --- p.67 / Chapter 4.3.4. --- Repairing of the 3' and 5' overhangs to generate blunt ends --- p.67 / Chapter 4.3.5. --- Blunt-end ligation of the nested deletion M13mpl8 subclones p3418i --- p.67 / Chapter 4.3.6. --- Transformation --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.7. --- Screening of nest-deleted p3418i clones by Direct Gel --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3.8. --- Screening of nested deletion p3418i clones by PCR Screening --- p.73 / Chapter 4.3.9. --- Sequencing of the nested deletion p3418i clones --- p.76 / Chapter 4.4. --- Cloning of Nested Deletion DNA Fragments from M13mpl8 into pFZYl --- p.80 / Chapter 4.4.1. --- Screening of pFZYl clones using PCR Screening --- p.80 / Chapter 4.5. --- Expression of Nest-Deleted arcA Promoter Clones in E. coli MC1061-5 --- p.87 / Chapter 4.6. --- Expression of Nest-Deleted arcA Promoter Clones in S. typhimurium JR501 --- p.89 / Chapter 4.7. --- Primer Extension --- p.89 / Chapter 5. --- Discussion --- p.93 / Chapter 5.1. --- Sequencing of arcA Promoter --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2. --- Unidirectional Nested Deletion of p3A18i using Exonuclease III --- p.94 / Chapter 5.3. --- Screening of Nest-deletion p3418i Subclones --- p.95 / Chapter 5.4 --- Cloning of Nest-deleted DNA Fragments from M13mpl8 Subclones into pFZYl --- p.99 / Chapter 5.5. --- Screening of Nest-deleted pFZYl Subclones of p3418i --- p.101 / Chapter 5.6. --- The Effect of 5' Unidirectional Nested Deletion on the Expression of the Cloned arcA promoter in E. coli M1061-5 and S typhimurium JR501 --- p.102 / Chapter 5.7. --- Primer Extension --- p.102 / Chapter 5.8. --- Sequence Analysis of the Cloned arcA Promoter --- p.104 / Chapter 6. --- Conclusion and Further Studies --- p.111 / Chapter 7. --- Reference Cited --- p.113

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Massive young stars dynamically modify their surroundings, altering their stellar nurseries and the gas that exists between stars. With my research, I assess the modification of the Galactic magnetic field within HII regions and stellar bubbles associated with OB stars. Because HII regions are plasmas, magnetic fields should be important to the dynamics of the region. Understanding how the magnetic field is modified in these structures is critical for inputs to simulations and for assessing stellar feedback. To obtain information on the properties of the magnetic field, I measure the Faraday rotation of linearly polarized radio waves that pass through the plasma of the HII region. In this thesis, I present results of Faraday rotation studies of two Galactic \HII regions. The first is the Rosette Nebula (l = 206 deg, b = -1.2 deg), and the second is IC 1805 (l = 135 deg, b = 0.9 deg), which is associated with the W4 Superbubble. I measure positive rotation measure (RM) values in excess of +40 to +1200 rad m^-2 due to the shell of the Rosette nebula and a background RM of +147 rad m^-2 due to the general interstellar medium in this area of the Galactic plane. In the area of IC 1805, I measure negative RM values between +600 and --800 rad m^-2 due to the HII region. The sign of the RM across each HII region is consistent with the expected polarity of the large-scale Galactic magnetic field that follows the Perseus spiral arm in the clockwise direction, as suggested by Van Eck et al. (2011, ApJ, 728, 14). I find that the Rosette Nebula and IC 1805 constitute a "Faraday rotation anomaly", or a region of increased RM relative to the general Galactic background value. Although the RM observed on lines of sight through the region vary substantially, the |RM| due to the nebula is commonly 100 -- 1000 rad m^-2. In spite of this, the observed RMs are not as large as simple, analytic models of magnetic field amplification in HII regions (such as by magnetic flux conservation in a swept-up shell) might indicate. This suggests that the Galactic field is not increased by a substantial factor within the ionized gas in an HII region. Finally, these results show intriguing indications that some of the largest values of |RM| occur for lines of sight that pass outside the fully ionized shell of the IC 1805 HII region, but pass through the Photodissociation Region (PDR) associated with IC 1805.

The purpose of the thesis is to examine future international relations in the Arctic as a theoretical exercise based on realism and liberalism. As the ice cap shrinks, and the region's environment changes, developing costs will decrease allowing for resource-extraction while new transit routes emerge. The opportunities to develop resources and ship via the Arctic are economic and strategically valuable, altering the geopolitics of the region. This thesis seeks to explore how resource development and new transit routes will affect regional politics through the lens of two theories. The two theoretical approaches will examine states and actors' interests and possible actions. Concluding, that realism will best describe the Arctic as states strive to be the regional hegemon by controlling transit routes and resources or defending the regional status quo, creating tension and a security competition between the U.S., China, and Russia. States will jockey for position within institutions before the ice cap disappears and transit routes emerge. These states seek to grow regional governance in their favor, providing support for a liberal framework, and possibly creating a structure strong enough to reduce tension before states strive to be the Arctic hegemon.

Bibliography: leaves 155-169. Studies the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on dry matter production under differing watering regimes. Investigates the accuracy of different crop and soil organic matter models for predicting crop yield, nitrogen uptake and changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen. Compares the models with data from long-term field experiments on wheat in Australia and sorghum in Ethiopia. Finds that a higher crop yield and better nitrogen and water utilisation can be achieved if addition of nitrogen fertilizer is balanced with soil water.

A sample of 9 small-diameter radio sources has been selected from the Molonglo Galactic Plane Survey (MGPS) and observed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) in the radio recombination line (RRL) at 5 GHz, in a search for young Galactic SNRs. Since the RRL emission is an unambiguous indicator of a thermal source, this method has been used to eliminate HII regions from the selected sample. In addition, the IRAS and MSX infrared data and spectral index measurements have been combined with the RRL studies to distinguish thermal and non-thermal sources in the selected sample. One source (G282.8-1.2) is identified here as a possible new young Galactic supernova remnant, based on its relatively weak infrared emission, steep radio spectrum and possible x-ray emission. However, the ATCA data are inconclusive and further studies are needed to confirm this result. Radio recombination line emission (H107 alpha) has been detected in 3 of the selected sources, eliminating them from the sample of SNR candidates. In addition, the parameters of the RRL emission from the identified HII regions have been used to estimate their properties. The RRL data are inconclusive for the remaining low brightness, extended sources in the sample. However, some of these sources are likely to be thermal HII regions according to the infrared and spectral index data. The selected method for distinguishing thermal and non-thermal Galactic radio sources seems promising. The selected ATCA configuration was appropriate for imaging relatively bright, compact sources, but a slightly modified observing technique is needed to successfully image low surface brightness, extended sources.

"June 2002" / Bibliography: leaves 172-198. / viii, 198 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Proposes that the overall outcome of plant interactions along a temporal gradient of resource availability changes from positive during interpulses to negative during pulses. Examines negative interactions between 4 co-dominant chenopod scrubs in arid Acacia papyrocarpa woodlands. Negative interactions were more intense when conditions were least productive. Positive interactions between seedlings also changed over time, depending on the facilitation mechanism. Plant interactions seem to be most intense at the beginning of interpulses when plants are competing for diminishing water, or survivorship is enhanced in the favorable microsites provided by other plants. Later in the interpulse, interactions become less intense as conditions become more stressful and therefore survivorship and growth are affected more by abiotic conditions than plant interactions. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Biology, 2002