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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
251

The Biological And Financial Impact Of Ovine Johne’s Disease In Australia

Bush, Russell David January 2006 (has links)
Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / This study was conducted to provide accurate information about the impact of OJD on sheep mortality and financial status on infected farms in Australia. Industry considered this research to be important because little credible information was available regarding the magnitude of the OJD problem and the responses required to control and manage OJD in southern Australia. This 3-year study, conducted on 12 OJD-infected farms in southern NSW, commenced with a 12-month observational study in 2002. During this year OJD mortality estimates were derived from farm records (livestock inventories) and quarterly farm visits (necropsy inspections). Questionnaires, climatic records and pasture samples enabled a detailed description of each farm to be made and a single collection of blood and faecal samples provided OJD prevalence information for specific age cohorts of sheep in each flock. The financial impact of OJD was established using two approaches, a gross margin analysis and the provision of a financial value on the mortalities inspected during the necropsy inspection periods. For a further 2 years, inventory and management information was collected from each of the twelve farms to provide 2003 and 2004 estimates for OJD mortality and financial loss due to OJD based on gross margin analyses. A more detailed gross margin model was developed that has the capacity to compare three disease status scenarios (uninfected, infected and vaccinated) for a number of different sheep production enterprises. These enterprises include fine, medium and strong wool Merino ewes and wethers as well as 1st and 2nd cross lamb production. From the four 5-day necropsy inspections conducted in 2002, a most likely cause of death was determined for 362 necropsied sheep on the basis of findings related to the environment, clinical signs, gross pathology and histopathology. Of these, OJD was most likely to have contributed to the death of 250 sheep, OJD was unlikely to have contributed to the death of 1 sheep and OJD did not contribute to death of 111 sheep. During 2002, across the 12 farms, there were a total of 52,718 wethers and 47,374 ewes at-risk of becoming infected with OJD. The distribution of mortalities in each sex group translates to an OJD mortality rate of 4.3% among wethers and 4.9% among ewes. Distribution across inspection periods showed a trend among OJD-related necropsies and total necropsies with the majority occurring in winter (31%) and spring (35%) and fewer in autumn (18%) and summer (16%). Across the 12 farms, the annual OJD mortality rate ranged from 1.8% to 17.5% during the 3-year study with mean annual figures of 6.2% in 2002, 7.8% in 2003 and 6.4% in 2004. Of concern is the fact that these mean OJD mortality figures were all above the accepted annual mortality rate from all causes for adult sheep of 4-6% (McGregor et al., 2003) for Australian flocks. Gross margins were calculated for each of the 12 farms assuming each farm was free of OJD and then these were compared with the actual farm gross margin. The mean percentage decrease in gross margin due to a farm being infected with OJD was 6.4% in 2002, 8.5% in 2003 and 7.4% in 2004. This equates to a mean reduction in annual income of $15,000 per farm in 2002, $12,154 in 2003 and $13,991 in 2004. Using the necropsy inspection information the mean estimated cost of OJD losses on the 12 farms over 2002 was $60,500 (range $10,978 to $150,836). The estimated cost of OJD losses accounted on average for 69.4% (range 19.4% to 100%) of the estimated total loss related to sheep deaths over the 12-month period. The OJD prevalence in 2-year old sheep in 2002 based on pooled faecal culture (PFC) ranged from 0.7% to > 23% on the 12 farms and was found to be associated with OJD mortality rate (P = 0.02). In contrast, no significant relationship was found between faecal excretion rate of MAP in two-year old sheep based on PFC and OJD mortality rate, or between age-related OJD seroprevalence and OJD mortality rate. The association between various environment, management and disease factors and quarterly OJD mortality rate was analysed and several factors (including flock size, stocking rate, area of improved pasture and weaning age) were identified as being important for further investigation. Definite conclusions based on statistical analysis could not be made due to the small number of farms and use of whole flock data. However, the results provide strong support for an additional study, involving a large number of farms and focusing on a specific sheep cohort, to identify the major risk factors for OJD. The necropsy study in 2002 established 31% of deaths were due to causes other than OJD and could have been prevented in most cases. More than half (63%) of the non-OJD deaths were attributed to malnutrition, with 57% of these deaths occurring on one farm where pregnancy toxaemia resulted from sheep receiving inadequate nutrition in late pregnancy. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with earlier feeding. The occurrence of grain poisoning on some farms reinforces the need for improved strategies when supplementary feeding. Under more favourable seasonal conditions these nutritional syndromes are unlikely to occur. Sporadic drought conditions throughout the 3-year study period, for each of the four study regions, were likely to have a minimal effect on measuring the impact of OJD on the 12 farms. At the end of 2002, following the realisation the drought would likely persist into 2003, the 12 farms on average selectively reduced flock numbers by 25%. However, this reduction is unlikely to have had an adverse effect on establishing the proportion of OJD mortalities as stock reductions occurred mainly towards the end of 2002 and the sheep most likely to be sampled at each necropsy inspection period were unlikely to be sold, as they displayed low body condition score and showed signs of weakness. A gross margin model was developed to provide an estimate of the on-farm cost of OJD. Non-infected, infected (status quo) and infected (vaccination) disease scenario examples were run for 1000 head Merino ewe and wether enterprises as well as first and second cross prime lamb enterprises. The total cost of OJD (relative to an uninfected status) and an avoidable cost of OJD (using GudairTM vaccination) were reported at four investment horizons to illustrate the cost of an OJD infection on a flock as well as the potential cost saving if a control strategy involving vaccination is implemented. Although vaccination reduces OJD mortalities, there is still an unavoidable cost incurred by the producer when compared to an uninfected flock. Results are presented as cumulative gross margin per dry sheep equivalent expressed in net present value terms (GM (NPV)/DSE) at 5, 10, 15 and 20-year intervals to enable a comparison between enterprises. The model suggests a vaccination breakeven point is achieved in two to three years for breeding enterprises if the level of OJD is high. If the level of OJD is low a vaccination breakeven point is achieved in three years for either a 1st cross or 2nd cross enterprise and seven years for a Merino ewe enterprise. The Merino ewe enterprises take the longest time to reach a vaccination breakeven point as more young sheep are retained annually for breeding in addition to the cost involved with vaccinating lambs, which is borne by all three breeding enterprises. The returns to vaccination are greatest for the 1st and 2nd cross lamb enterprises due to the value and number of lambs sold annually. With Merino wethers a vaccination breakeven point is reached in year one for all disease categories due to vaccinated replacement hoggets being introduced to provide an immediate response in reducing OJD mortalities, however as no breeding occurs the ability to increase income is limited. In the absence of OJD mortalities with the at-risk disease category, a vaccination breakeven point is not reached within the model’s 20-year time frame for any of the enterprises. This study provided the first objective data on the true impact of OJD on 12 farms, and the findings are generally applicable to sheep flocks in southern Australia. Industry groups claiming that OJD does not present a threat on-farm can now be provided with accurate figures on direct losses attributable to OJD within the endemic area of NSW. There was a wide range of impacts, with some very high mortality rates. The data can be used to justify vaccination programs, other control options and the general concept of disease control and prevention. The challenge now for industry is the design and implementation of an education and extension package that can incorporate these findings and the gross margin model along with other recent research findings to address issues of misinformation about OJD and inform producer decisions regarding on-farm disease control.
252

A bibliographic survey of folklore in Australia 1790-1990

Hults, David Stilwill, mikewood@deakin.edu January 1995 (has links)
The study of folklore within Australia to date has been consistently hampered by the lack of any systematic and comprehensive subject bibliography available to researchers interested in the area. The present work provides a conceptual framework for folklore generally, and Australian folklore, specifically. The framework utilises contemporary scholarship and government policy formulations in the subject area. Based upon that framework, a comprehensive bibliographic listing of all folklore material published within Australia between the years 1790 and 1990 is provided comprising 1661 works. An account of the bibliographic problems pertinent to the subject area is provided together with an explanation of the causes of those problems. An historical summary and interpretation of the bibliography is presented in conjunction with an appraisal of the state of folklore research in Australia at the present time.
253

Moves towards privatisation of Australia's Defence industries

Delmore, Colin, n/a January 1990 (has links)
The degree and nature of government involvement in the production of war materials has changed markedly in recent years. This dissertation traces events that have occurred and the background to these. It attempts to put in context, changes that have taken place particularly over the past decade, and which to date have not been placed in a connected sequence or described as part of an overall plan. The dissertation commences with a brief outline of the growth of defence industry in Australia and its subsequent decline in size and performance during the last forty years. From this base, it looks at options which faced governments at the beginning of the 1980's, decisions which were made, and the reasons for those decisions. It then goes on to examine whether the "best" options were followed from a number of viewpoints. These include defence strategic considerations, matters of probity and equity in the disposal of assets, (particularly the public good), as well as the impact on those affected by the decision. The process of change, including the extent to which decisions and their effects were scrutinised by external and auditing agencies, is then considered. The experience in this country has to a large extent paralleled, although lagged, that in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, appropriate references are brought from the UK experience to highlight alternatives to, or weaknesses of, the processes followed and policies implemented locally. Finally, the essay provides some discussion of the benefits and costs which have been observed so far, as well as postulating options which may be taken in Australia as the process of change continues.
254

The detection of buried human skeletal remains in the Australian environment

Powell, Kathryn Joy January 2006 (has links)
Forensic anthropologists and archaeologists have been increasingly engaged, at police request, in investigations to locate and recover buried human remains ( Rodriguez and Bass, 1985 ; France et al., 1992 ; Owsley, 1995 ; Hunter et al., 1996 ). Current search methods are derived from archaeology, geology, botany, geography and taphonomy. However, there is limited testing of search techniques, particularly over graves containing human bodies, and few studies that have examined the appearance of gravesites over several years. In the absence of such studies in Australia, eight shallow burials ( six animal graves, two human graves ) and one calibration pit were established in South Australia to provide information about the physical properties of graves and the effectiveness of burial site location techniques. The findings provide descriptive information about the surface appearance of graves over six years, the chemical elements remaining in the upper levels of grave soil and the practical implications of using geophysical instruments to search for buried human remains in typical forensic cases in South Australian landscapes. Key surface indicators identified included ongoing faunal scavenging, soil surface differences, absence of moss, absence of vegetation in dry periods, the slow return of ground debris, and the formation of depressions. These were not all associated with the presence of a body but could be related to disturbance of the ground surface. There was a relationship between surface indicators and seasonal conditions and the position of the gravesites in relation to surrounding landscape features, in particular, trees. Higher levels of certain soil elements at the upper surface layer at the gravesites were identifiable after several years of burial ; in particular, calcium and magnesium were identifiable at the human body and kangaroo gravesites. Ground penetrating radar, electrical resistivity and electromagnetic induction were used to survey the gravesites. Ground penetrating radar provided the most significant results in terms of anomalies compared to the surrounds. However, use of these instruments highlighted the potential of overlooking gravesites due to lack of definitive survey data, the impact of seasonal conditions and the problems associated with using the instruments in some burial areas. Comparison of these findings is made with other international studies. Electrical resistivity surveying was successfully used to locate a 150 year old burial. A national survey on body location techniques used by police investigators in a seven year period was conducted, demonstrating a limited reported success in and use of search techniques other than ground search, implying a need to develop more reliable techniques for clandestine grave location. The results provide previously unavailable information about the surface appearance of gravesites, detectable elements in grave soil and the use of geophysical survey instruments for this purpose in South Australia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Medical Sciences, Discipline of Anatomical Sciences, 2006.
255

Evolution of the Australian flora in response to Cenozoic climate change / Robert S. Hill.

Hill, Robert S. January 1997 (has links)
Includes bibliographies. / 4 v. : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Geology & Geophysics and Botany, 1997?
256

The colonisation of Australia prior to European settlement.

Turner, Phyllis January 2007 (has links)
This thesis presents a view of multiple human contacts with Australia, using a variety of data from the literature; linguistic, ethnographic, geographic, physical anthropology and art history. It will be shown that successive groups of people arrived in Australia before its settlement by Europeans. These people made their presence felt in various ways, which have been considered. Some in ancient and later times may have arrived from Africa, perhaps being blown off course and carried by the currents and winds of the Indian Ocean. Later migrations came from Asia, and finally technologically advanced peoples of Indonesia and China came to Australia. Some of these people left artefacts, practices and language that became part of some Aboriginal languages and some religious beliefs and practice, along with some physical biological traces. The peoples named “Aborigines” by European settlers were a diverse set of groups with a diverse set of physical and cultural influences. In particular the Batak people of Sumatra over a period of time contributed a large component of these diverse influences. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1274235 / Thesis (M.Sc.) -- School of Medical Sciences, 2007.
257

The nature and development of electoral education in Australia

Treadgold, Claire, n/a January 1996 (has links)
This thesis is a study of the nature and development of electoral education, a public information program intended to contribute to the political development of Australians. The aim of the program is to increase awareness of the voting system and other relevant electoral matters. It seeks to counteract the demonstrated ignorance that Australians, especially young Australians, display about this aspect of the democratic processes of Australian society. The present study attempts to identify the origins of electoral education, the factors that gave impetus to its development, and the roles played by its main proponents. The study also examines the impact electoral education has had on education curriculums throughout the years, and the reasons for it attracting greater attention in recent times. The contributions that the Australian Electoral Commission has made to electoral education will be discussed. This includes their Electoral Education Centres, teacher in-service courses, and resource development. Other providers of electoral education will be examined for their contributions to the field. The thesis concludes with an historical case study of the Aboriginal electoral education undertaken by the Australian Electoral Commission.
258

Surface wave dispersion in Australia / by Lindsay Thomas.

Thomas, Lindsay January 1967 (has links)
Typescript / 141 leaves : ill., appendix in end pocket / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Experimental determination of the dispersion of Rayleigh waves across Australia has provided information about the earth's crust in this region. This technique is particularly useful in Australia, where in many areas the low level of natural seismicity prohibits the use of more conventional methods of investigation of the crust. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physics, 1967
259

Tooth size variability in Australian Aboriginals : a descriptive and genetic study / [by] G.C. Townsend

Townsend, Grant Clement January 1976 (has links)
xvi, 247 leaves : ill., maps, tables ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.1977) from the Dept. of Oral Biology, University of Adelaide
260

Practical application of sequence stratigraphy and risk analysis for stratigraphic trap exploration / Takeshi Nakanishi.

Nakanishi, Takeshi January 2002 (has links)
"September 2002" / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 200-209) / xi, 209, [51] leaves : ill. (chiefly col.), maps, plates (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Outlines an evaluation procedure for stratigraphic trap exploration by employing sequence stratigraphy, 3D seismic data visualisation and quantitative risk analysis with case studies in an actual exploration basin. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, National Centre for Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, 2002

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