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No description available.

In the semi-arid Limari­ River basin, Region of Coquimbo in northern Chile sixty percent of years receive less than the long-term average annual precipitation, and dry spells tend to be multi-year. Below-normal precipitation is not always associated with ENSO cycles, but shows a high correlation to El Nino 3 region sea surface temperature.Since early during the colonial period, land in Coquimbo was utilized as a source of minerals, meat, wheat, and timber for smelters. These extractive productive processes caused the destruction of most of the natural vegetation. Impacts of past use have persisted until today and the region is still affected by intense degradation. Land ownership was originally held in haciendas and communes. Analysis of Landsat satellite imagery shows that vegetation response increases marginally during rainy years in both land tenure regimes. Most of the increase is explained by the planting of rainfed wheat and the response of less palatable native species such as Gutierrezia spp. Hence, the capacity of natural vegetation to respond to above normal precipitation is limited on both private and communal lands.Twenty five percent of the land belongs to agricultural communes, and families in these communes are considered to be poor or indigent. Three agricultural communes were surveyed, and a vulnerability index was constructed based on the community right-holders' responses. Findings show that access to productive resources (i.e., land, water, technology, credit) is a key determinant of differential vulnerability. Vulnerability is defined here as the capacity of an individual or a community to adapt (or cope, or respond) to drought. Differences in access within communities are caused by the inequitable distribution of land by the communes' boards of directors in the recent past. Access to agricultural credit is limited because families do not have collateral. Vulnerability is also conditioned by access to water, greenhouses, irrigation technology, chemicals, and improved seed. The most vulnerable families depend on off-farm employment provided by private agriculture. Governmental responses are reactive based on emergency relief rather than proactive: there is no drought long-term planning, nor consideration of differential levels of vulnerability levels among different segments of the population.

The human genome project has allowed for the rapid identification of a large number of protein families based on similarities in their genetic sequences. In the present study, I report the functional characterization of a 44 kDa protein that functions in cardiolipin synthesis and remodeling. Although it is present in most tissues, it is abundant in multiple brain regions including olfactory bulbs, hippocampus, cerebellum, cortex, and brain stem, and is detectable in both primary neurons and glial cells. In assays performed in vitro, this protein significantly increased the incorporation of [14C]oleoyl-CoA into phosphatidylinositol and CL using either lysophosphatidylinositol, or monolysocardiolipin or dilysocardiolipin as acyl acceptors, respectively. This protein did not display significant acyltransferase activity with a number of other lysophospholipid acyl acceptors. Overexpressing this enzyme in HEK-293 cells increased total CL content, but did not significantly affect levels of other glycerophospholipids. Analysis of the fatty acyl profile of CL from cells overexpressing this protein indicated increased total saturated fatty acids, particularly stearate, palmitate, and myristate, and increased levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids α-linoleic acid (18:3n-3), eicosatrienoic acid (20:3n-3), and eicosapentanoic acid (20:5n-3). In accordance with its observed role in CL remodeling, subcellular localization of this protein was predominately mitochondrial. This protein is also regulated during embryogenesis, and in varying metabolic states.

Graduation date: 1984

Beginning with Palauan perspectives and worldviews, this thesis traces the genealogy of the modern-day court system in Palau. It ends with an analysis of cases showing how the return of public lands in Palau has been largely impeded by the nature of a court system that came from a different set of interests than that of Palauans’ interests. The court system embodies ideologies in place that do not necessarily fit well with Palauan needs and interests. Many problems may be seen in the land cases analyzed in this thesis. As a result, it is argued that there is no better time than now for Palauans to reassess not only the way they choose to resolve conflicts, but also which ideology governs the way they decide to operate. / Pacific Island Studies

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-101). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2003. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Arts. Bibliography: p. 273-289.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 84 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-84).

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1992. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-118). Also available online.