The phenomenon and increasing rate of urbanisation is causing many researchers to look deeper at life in cities. Increasingly recognised are the benefits of urban green space and their associated recreational parks and nature reserves. While there is a growing literature on the environmental services provided by these areas; so too is there a growing literature on the numerous social benefits that recreational green spaces in particular afford their users. Although imagined and generally designed as salubrious public spaces, many parks often fall short of this. In fact research has shown that a park's design, its surroundings, and its management can all combine to exclude certain types of people. In this study I conducted ethnographic research to participate in and observe the activities of visitors to False Bay Nature Reserve in Cape Town. False Bay Nature Reserve includes a series of nature reserves and the Cape Flats Waste Water Treatment Works, and is situated in the area of Cape Town known as the Cape Flats. Much of the Cape Flats is beset by poverty, unemployment, and violent drug - related crime carried out by notorious gangs. Despite the challenges of the surrounding areas, my study reveals that False Bay Nature Reserve provides relative safety to its users as well a range of enjoyable re creational activities. Some of the key recreational activities are separated distinctively between two key sites in the reserve. Furthermore the visitors of these sites differ markedly in race, ethnicity and income. The legacy of apartheid almost certainly accounts for much of this separation; however, the study indicates that the barriers of this legacy are eroding and can potentially be further dismantled with engaged and informed management strategies. Due to its surroundings, the reserve is vulnerable and recently experienced a period where crime was prevalent, vegetation was overgrown, and it was feared by many of its users, particularly women. The reserve had in many ways become what researchers call a landscape of fear, a not so uncommon description of parks around the world. However, management and the majority of visitors feel the reserve has recovered from this period. This is in large part due to upgrades that improved recreational facilities and security in the reserve. Accounts from visitors high light how important a sense of safety is for people frequenting this reserve, most of who live in nearby neighbourhoods. The reserve still faces some challenges today, but is a significant asset to the City of Cape Town and many of its more marginalised residents. This study challenges much of the literature on the benefits of urban green space and associated parks. It shows that particularly in cities of the Global South such as Cape Town, parks require specific management strategies that prioritise safety and in doing so promote and ensure inclusivity for all.

0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

Personal and shared events have led me to regard nature as providing a space in which certain beneficial experiences are unique. Reinforced by popular culture and scientific inquiry this primordial disposition to the environmentally natural is hardly investigated through architecture. The term ecological in design is mostly attributed to bio-mimicry form making and resource sustainable design, but is under-explored as a purely human psychological benefit. Evidence of the unique American connection to nature is clear in our tradition of exploration and camping. While the current disconnect with nature is tied directly to politics, economy, and urban extents of the American landscape. Traditional urban parks find subtractions in the city to preserve or sometimes create a natural environmental state. The last century of urban disinvestment combined with the aforementioned hinterland expansion has led to even less creating of parks, and more hyper-capitalistic intrusion into the public realm. Most recently a wave f downtown resurgence, both by the citizen and developer makes it the ideal spot for a ABSTRACT new civic park. This vertical park located in the Financial District of New York City will respond to the ultimate of American urban verticality and synthetic form. And its purposeful inefficiency as a profit generator can partially sustain itself through luxury profit nodes catered to the surrounding community. Inspired by computational design, Japanese patterns and layers, and synthetic replication of the organic; the towers only resemblance to typical skyscrapers is in its ambition. / 0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

Myzus persicae (Sülzer), commonly known as the green peach aphid (GPA), is a polyphagous insect that can infest over 100 families of economically important plants and is major pest for vegetable crops. This study utilizes the Arabidopsis-GPA model system with the aim to elucidate the role of the plant disaccharide trehalose in providing defense against GPA. This study demonstrates a novel role for TPS11 in providing defense against GPA. TPS11 expression was found to be transiently induced in Arabidopsis plants in response to GPA infestation and the TPS11 gene was required for curtailing GPA infestation. TPS11, which encodes for trehalose phosphate synthase and phosphatase activities, contributes to the transient increase in trehalose in the GPA infested tissues. This work suggests that TPS11-dependent trehalose has a signaling function in plant defense against GPA. in addition, trehalose also has a more direct role in curtailing GPA infestation on Arabidopsis. This work also shows that TPS11 is able to modulate both carbohydrate metabolism and plant defenses in response to GPA infestation. the expression of PAD4, an Arabidopsis gene required for phloem-based defenses against GPA, was found to be delayed in GPA infested tps11 mutant plants along with increased sucrose levels and lower starch levels as compared to the GPA infested wild type plants. This work provides clear evidence that starch metabolism in Arabidopsis is altered in response to GPA feeding and that TPS11-modulated increase in starch contributes to the curtailment of GPA infestation in Arabidopsis.

Green weight and green weight per unit volume relationships for loblolly pine trees have not been studied extensively and models for predicting weights across broad geographic areas are not readily available. In this regard three basic interrelated issues were addressed in this study: 1) an examination of weight per unit volume relationships, 2) an assessment of how tree, stand, and geographic characteristics affect weight per unit volume relationships, 3) a derivation of models of weight per unit volume for predicting total bole weight and merchantable weight, 4) a derivation of models for predicting green weight directly, and 5) a comparison of objectives 3) and 4). This study showed that green weight per unit volume varies somewhat within stems, but the variation is large. There is no discernable trend by stand characteristics, and the geographic trends were inconclusive. Data from four data sets were combined and region-wide prediction models for total green weight, green weight to any upper merchantable diameter, and green weight to any upper merchantable height were developed for loblolly pine trees. / Master of Science

Faculty of Science School of Chemistry 9309501t Stanley.manzini@up.ac.za / The solventless reaction between Mn(CO)4(PPh3)Br and PPh3 as neat reagents using FTIRS was conducted and the activation enthalpy change of formation was found to be 143 ± 19 kJmol-1 while the activation entropy change of formation was 104 ± 7 Jmol-1K-1. The same reaction was also carried out in chloroform and the activation enthalpy change of formation was found to be 146 ± 8 kJmol-1 while the activation entropy change of formation was 114 ± 6 Jmol-1K-1. When the reaction was conducted in TCE solution, the activation enthalpy and entropy changes of formation were 137 ± 6 kJmol-1 and 97 ± 5 Jmol-1K-1 respectively. The solventless reaction of Mn(CO)4(PPh3)Br with PPh3 in KBr matrix using DRIFTS was also conducted and the activation enthalpy change of formation was found to be 169 ± 28 kJ.mol-1 while the activation entropy change of formation was 204 ± 57 J.mol-1.K-1. The sample preparation method, the type of support and the particle size of the support material influenced the reaction rate. The soventless reaction Mn(CO)4LBr + L → Mn(CO)3L2Br + CO [L= P(p-C6H4-R)3, R = Ph, MeO, Cl, F] in KBr using DRIFTS was also studied. It was found that the electronic effects of the ligand already attached on the metal complex influenced the rate of the reaction. An optical microscopy study of the reaction Mn(CO)4LBr + L' → Mn(CO)3LL'Br + CO [L= P(p-C6H4-R)3, R = H, Ph, MeO] was undertaken in an attempt to reconcile the wellbehaved reaction kinetics of the solventless reactions with solventless reactions by observing the microscopic behaviour of the reagents. The reactions were observed to go through a melt phase at temperatures much lower than the lowest melting point of the reagents, provided the reagents were in contact with each other. Isolated reagents neither reacted nor melted. The molten reagent thus served as a medium that allowed the diffusion of the reagents and products to ensure well-behaved kinetics. Investigation using 31P NMR demonstrated that the dissociation of the attached phosphine ligands also iii iv took place. The evidence obtained using the various techniques enabled the elucidation of the reaction mechanism. The solventless reaction, (η5-C5H5)2ZrCl2 + Na+RCOO-, R = C6H5, p-C6H4-NO2, p-C6H4- NH2 → (η5-C5H5)2ZrCl(RCOO) + NaCl did not occur but the reaction was found to take place in the NMR solvent. Single crystal XRD study of (η5-C5H5)2ZrCl(RCOO) R = C6H5, p-C6H4-NO2 revealed that the carboxylato ligand was coordinated in a bidentate fashion. The reaction of chlorobis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)hexylzirconium(IV) with internal hexene isomers failed to yield terminal olefins even under harsh experimental conditions. Isomerisation reactions using substituted zirconium metallocenes also failed to produce the terminal olefin. The reaction of Cp2ZrCl2 / n-BuLi with internal hexenes yielded a stoichiometric amount of 1-hexene. The reaction was found to be catalytic in Cp2ZrCl2 but limited by the amount of n-BuLi.

This dissertation seeks to examine whether neighborhood public parks have a relationship to neighborhood change, including gentrification outcomes, through the investigation of a city-wide study of the neighborhood parks system in Philadelphia. It addresses the gap in the literature that examines investments in existing neighborhood parks and examines how they effect the surrounding community. In this dissertation, I ask the following research questions: What does a multi-dimensional concept of public park accessibility look like? What effect does proximity to a small neighborhood park have on the demographics and quality of the surrounding built environment? What effect does park quality of small neighborhood parks have on the quality of the surrounding built environment? Four methodological tools were used in this study: analysis of policy documents, Google Street View remote surveying, geographic information system (GIS) analysis, and statistical analysis. This study is the first of its kind that examines existing neighborhood parks, their quality, and the relationship to demographics and development in neighborhoods at a city-wide scale. The findings expand existing green gentrification literature and finds that while parks themselves are associated with gentrification and increased built environment development, the number of amenities in a park is not associated with an increase in the gentrification of the surrounding neighborhood. This key finding opens the door for cities to invest into their existing neighborhood parks without fear that improvements will trigger gentrification and displacement in vulnerable neighborhoods as long as additional policy steps are enacted to keep residents in place. / Geography

Marketers have made attempts to understand the disconnect between consumers’ expressed desire to engage in sustainable behavior and their lack of adoption of sustainable products with ambiguous results. Because companies that engage in sustainability initiatives often focus on either environmental or social sustainability, the broader impact of sustainability is not always understood. When a company makes a promise to be socially sustainable, consumers may also think that the company is environmentally sustainable and vice versa. Moreover, consumer evaluations of companies that make promises to be either socially or environmentally sustainable may be different if the company later delivers a success along the same versus the other dimension of sustainability. A success along a sustainability dimension that matches the initial sustainability promise is referred to here as a paired success. Alternatively, complementary successes incorporate both sustainability dimensions, where a company first promises to be sustainable along one dimension of sustainability but later delivers a successful outcome along the other sustainability dimension. Attitudes are expected to be enhanced when a company delivers a complementary because the company has accounted for consumers’ interconnection of the sustainability dimensions. A failure to be sustainable along either dimension is predicted to diminish consumer evaluations of the company. Four experiments were conducted to explore the interconnection between social and environmental sustainability and its effect on consumer evaluations of the company. Study 1 first examines the prediction that consumer perceptions of social and environmental sustainability are interconnected in consumers’ minds. Study 2 then examines how consumers’ attitudes towards companies that make either social or environmental sustainability promises compare to companies that do not make sustainability promises. Additionally, study 2 investigates how consumer attitudes towards companies are impacted by paired and complementary successes and sustainability failures. Study 3 explores the psychological mechanisms of perceived sincerity and competence. Finally, study 4 is a behavioral choice experiment used to generalize the findings to actual behavior, exploring how the interconnectedness of social and environmental sustainability influence consumer product choices. The findings from these studies offer insights into how consumers perceive companies that consider both the social and environmental dimensions of sustainability.

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Minskningen av miljöbelastningen är ytterst viktig för att värna om planeten för de kommande generationer. Tillsammans med den höga efterfrågan för hållbart arbete har Förenta nationerna, FN, framfört och utvecklat 17 globala mål för en hållbar utveckling, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Detta arbete kallas för Agenda 2030. Arbetet utreder Green Kaizen, eller Green Accelerator, metoden på Scania, hos en större produktionsenhet. Metoden avser att öka medvetenhet och engagemang, med målet att minska miljöpåverkan samt accelerera hållbarhetsarbetet på Scanias motormontering. Verktyget Green Performance Map, GPM, användes för att tydliggöra vilka aktiviteter som kan utföras direkt i monteringsstationerna med ändamålet att förbättra hållbarhetsarbetet. Syftet med studien var att utforska hur en produktionsenhet inom motormonteringen på Scania kan bidra till accelerationen av det totala hållbarhetsarbetet. Fallstudien skall besvara huruvida Green Kaizen metoden accelererar det miljömässiga hållbarhetsarbetet inom Scanias motormontering. Utöver det undersöktes även hur mer effektiv och tydlig kommunikation kan stimulera delaktigheten och sprida god arbetsmiljö hos samtliga medarbetare på den avsedda avdelningen miljöförbättring. Metoder som användes för att reda ut frågeställningarna var: observationer, enkäter samt intervjuer. Tjänstemän och montörer på Scanias motormontering var nyckelpersonerna som data grundades på. Resultatet visade brister i miljöförbättringsarbetet. Bristerna som identifierade svar inom följande områden: informationsöverföringen, involveringen av medarbetarna samt kunskap, verktyg och resurser. Detta kan behövas för att tillföra en kultur av kontinuerlig miljöförbättringsarbete på området och hela företaget. Åtgärder såsom att förbättra avfallshanteringen samt öka involveringen av medarbetarna genom diverse aktiviteter har framtagits för att gynna det undersökta området i Scanias motormontering. Slutsatsen visade att metoden Green Kaizen kan effektiviseras för att accelerera miljöförbättringsarbetet på Scanias motormonteringsenhet. Även vikten av ökad motivation, stöd, informationsspridning, utbildning och miljömässig kommunikation påvisades för kontinuerlig miljöförbättringsarbete på enheten. / Reducing the environmental impact is extremely important to protect the planet for future generations. Together with the high demand for sustainable work, the United Nations, the United Nations, has developed and developed 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A project called Agenda 2030. The work investigates the application of Green Kaizen, which is a method that increases awareness and commitment, to reduce the environmental impact and accelerate the sustainability work of the case study that took place at Scania's engine assembly. The Green Performance Map tool, GPM, is used to process which activities that can be executed directly in the assembly line to contribute to the overall durability improvement in engine assembly. The purpose was to explore how a production unit in engine assembly at Scania can contribute to accelerating the overall sustainability work. Whether the method adds to the commitment of the employees by communicating the sustainability work was investigated within Scania's engine assembly. In addition, how clearer communication can stimulate participation and spread agood working environment around the environmental improvement work among all employees in the intended department. Observations, surveys, and interviews were conducted with fitters and key people at the assembly unit at Scania. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. The results showed the shortcomings in the environmental improvement work. These shortcomings included the transfer of information, the involvement of employees and knowledge, tools, and resources, performed by the employees. There is a need to add a culture of continuous environmental improvement work to the area and the entire company. Measures such as improving waste management and increasing the involvement of employees through activities have been developed based on the results in the area studied in Scania's engine assembly. The conclusion showed that the Green Kaizen method can be used to accelerate the environmental improvement work on Scania's engine assembly unit that was investigated. Furthermore, it was shown that increased motivation and support, dissemination of information and training can communicate the importance of continuous environmental improvement work at the unit.