This thesis examines the relationships people have with rubbish in everyday life. Focusing on domestic recycling policy and practice, environmental concern and action is explored as a sociological problem in a way that moves beyond the individualising paradigms that dominate environmental discourse for behavioural change. In its place, this thesis argues that better explanation may reside in the social context of embedded practices, and how they get enacted in daily life. Beginning with a historical overview and evaluation of current policy, this thesis re-imagines domestic recycling as a complex socio-technical system involving the engagement of different actors. Conducted at the boundaries of sociology, this thesis draws on empirical and theoretical ideas that extend across disciplines. Methodologically the research has been grounded on a principle of mixed methods pragmatism, exploiting the Sequential Explanatory mixed methods research design. Conducted across two phases, Phase One involved the secondary analysis of the Scottish Household Survey and Phase Two the collection and analysis of qualitative data using the Diary- Interview method. The first phase was a macro- analysis of recycling practices in Scotland. The main results of this analysis are presented in Chapter 4, which built a Binary Logistic Regression model, using the Scottish Household Survey, to predict the characteristics of Scottish households likely to engage in recycling behaviour. In addition to identifying the social and structural dimensions of recycling in Scotland, this analysis also enabled a research site to be selected for Phase Two of the study. Chapters 5 and 6 respond to the macro- analysis by accounting for the micro- aspects of recycling practices by looking at the problem inductively. Using qualitative data analysed in Phase Two, these two chapters are based on the idea that how people value the environment is relevant for understanding contemporary recycling practices. Chapter 5 considers the explanatory usefulness of environmental ethics, values and citizenship for explaining why some households engage in environmental behaviour, but others do not. In Chapter 6 these arguments are developed further with a more detailed discussion about how household recycling practices get enacted in everyday life. Using evidence from the data, this chapter considers why commitment to ‘doing’ recycling varies between people and examines recycling as formed, cultivated and maintained habitual behaviour. Taken together the three data chapters try to show that, rather than be an inconsequential feature of normal domestic life, recycling is a practice deeply-rooted in wider social patterns and structural forces. In the final chapter, all of the micro- and macro- findings are integrated together and concluded, along with some reflections on the multidimensionality of contemporary recycling practices in the home, and what this might mean for policy and future research.

Despite over a century of research, malaria parasites (Plasmodium) still remain a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In recent years, the application of theoretical principles from ecology and evolutionary biology to the study of these parasites has started to provide insight into variety of fundamental subjects from the evolution of virulence to the facultative strategies (i.e. phenotypic plasticity) that parasites use to maximize their transmission. It is now becoming increasingly clear that to understand and predict population level patterns of virulence and transmission, the processes that occur at the between-host level must be studied in light of the interactions that happen within hosts (between parasites and between parasites and hosts). In this thesis I combine concepts from evolutionary biology and ecology with tools from molecular and cellular biology and evolutionary genetics, which allow me to study rodent malaria parasites at both evolutionary and ecological timescales. The work I present in this thesis has the following four components: 1. Phylogenetics (chapter 2): I applied recently developed phylogenetic methods to a large DNA sequence dataset that I generated, to provide a better understanding of the phylogeny of rodent malaria parasites and investigate how selection has shaped their genomes. I show that all rodent malaria subspecies can be considered species, provide the first time line for the evolution of this group of parasites and demonstrate that most loci are under purifying selection. 2. Hybridization and reproductive isolation (chapter 3): I show that hybridization between two rodent malaria parasites (P. berghei and P. yoelii) can occur, but only occurs at high levels when one of two proteins (P230 or P48/45) is absent from the surface of female gametes, which indicates that these proteins are involved in gamete recognition. I find that P230, P48/45 and P47 (a possible interaction partner) are evolving under positive selection, a feature often observed in gamete recognition proteins of other taxa. Finally, I show that the fertilization success of P. berghei is reduced in the presence of P. yoelii, but not vice-versa, which indicates asymmetric reproductive interference. 3. Sex allocation (chapter 4): I carry the first test of sex allocation’s assumption that immunity impacts on the fertility of Plasmodium male gametocytes/gametes more than on the fertility of females. I show that while the fertility of both males and females is equally affected, males are affected during gametogenesis and females are mostly affected through gamete dysfunction (i.e. gametes can mate but zygotes fail to develop), which is in agreement with the assumptions of theory. In collaboration, I incorporate these effects into sex allocation theory and predict that malaria parasites can minimize the effects of factors that kill gametocytes/gametes by adjusting their sex ratios. On the other hand sex ratio adjustment cannot compensate for gamete dysfunction or zygote death. These results have applied implications for transmission-blocking vaccines. 4. Infection dynamics of mixed-species infections (chapter 5): I develop a series of experiments to test how a focal parasite species (P. yoelii) is affected by competition with heterospecifics (P. chabaudi) and how the interaction between the two species is mediated by immunity and resource availability. I show that P. chabaudi can boost P. yoelii above its single species level (i.e. facilitation) and that this is mediated by resource availability. On the other hand, P. yoelii’s performance can also be hindered in mice that were exposed to a P. chabaudi infection. My results also reveal that host mortality is exacerbated in mixed-species infections of naïve mice, which may be due to an inability of the host to achieve the right balance between the production and the destruction of red blood cells, when dealing with a mixed-species infection. The work I present here tackles fundamental questions concerning the transmission biology and the within-host interactions of malaria parasites The results presented demonstrate the importance of interactions between hosts and parasites and between different parasite species (at the molecular and the whole organism levels) for determining the outcome of transmission, virulence and within-host parasite performance.

No description available.

Work-related stress is an issue of growing concern around the world.[1] The relationship between work stress and individuals’ psychological and physical health is well acknowledged.[2] In the survey of “stress in the workplace” conducted by American Psychological Association in 2012, two in five (41%) of employed adults report that they typically feel stressed during the workday, up from 36% in 2011, while less than six in ten (58%) report that they have the resources to manage work stress.[3] Historically, Central Business Districts are a focal point of cities, and are occupied by a large group of office buildings and a number of retail spaces. According to Elsbach and Bechky (2007), office workers regularly leave their offices in search of more relaxed, creative environments.[4] However, there is limited "third space" to serve office workers' daily life in the central business district. Most of the design research about wellness of office workers have done focus on the spaces in which people work during office hours. Consideration for office workers in the CBD after office hours is relatively rare. What else is needed to support the life of the office worker, and what kind of spaces they are looking for after hours. Several primary research methods were adopted. First, a survey of research on how the design of traditionally planned CBDs fails to support wellness of office workers was made. Then, the thesis examined what is needed to support the wellness of office workers. In order to make it be specific to the office workers in the CBD of Richmond, qualitative methodology, including interviews and video records of the daily CBD living habits were made. In addition, case studies of recently done CBDs that tackle this question. The Shibaura House, designed by Kazuyo Sejima, located in the business district of Tokyo in Japan, will serve as a primary case study. There are three aims in this research. First is the design of a series of mixeduse spaces in an existing building in the Central Business District of Richmond to support the life of office workers after office hours. It also aims to improve wellness of the office workers in the CBD of Richmond, and try to define the CBD in a new way. The preliminary results for this research indicates the importance of the concern for office workers after hours. It is necessary to focus on the practical effect of the mixed-use building on reducing work stress, improving office workers’ health and enhancing wellness of office workers.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / This study was conducted to examine the effects of discrete precipitation events on the short-term and seasonal evolution of ocean mixed layer temperature and salinity structure. This study was located at Ocean Station "P" (50°N, 145°W) in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. Two numerical modeling experiments were performed. The first was to simulate the response of the mixed layer to hypothetical discrete (isolated) precipitation events. This experiment showed that the effect of a single discrete rain event can van' with season, with the mixed layer depth (MLD) at onset of the rain event, and with the strength of wind stress forcing. A single rain event can have lasting effects on mixed layer depth and temperature for up to 55 days after the event, depending upon the season. The second experiment simulated quasi-realistic "complex" precipitation forcing, with a realistic distribution of synoptic events over a 13-month period. For this experiment, four different precipitation "intensities" were tested. The values of temperature, salinity, and MLD predicted by the model were compared with observed Conductivity Temperature Depth measurements and with the values predicted using constant precipitation forcing. In all experiments, the modelled MLD's approximated the observed MLD and temperature cycle. MLD's for all cases were too deep while temperature was estimated well in winter and was too cool in summer. Predicted salinity provided the greatest discrepancy between the modeled and the observed cycle. The 96 cm, 400-day quasi-realistic precipitation forced case best approximated the salinity observations though predicted salinity was fresher than observed in winter and saltier than observed in summer. Model results suggest that the amount of precipitation observed at Ocean Station "P" was too low to explain the observed and simulated ocean salinity and temperature structure for the year. / http://archive.org/details/discreteprecipit00live / Lieutenant, United States Navy

We investigate the incentive to provide goods of high quality in a vertically related market for different types of business organizations, a farmer-owned cooperative and an investor-owned firm. Contrary to the firm, the cooperative is characterized by decentralized decision making, which gives rise to overproduction and problems coordinating the quality decisions of its members (free riding). Comparing both manufacturers acting as monopolists we show that the cooperative will never supply final goods of higher quality than the firm, and that the problem of quality coordination is mitigated if the cooperative succeeds in preventing overproduction. When a cooperative faces competition of an investor-owned firm (mixed duopoly), it will - except in one limit case - never produce final goods of a higher quality than the firm and will deliver lower quality in a number of scenarios.

Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project / The era of Urban Sprawl created a wave of single family residences moving farther and farther away from city centers. This also caused a series of unintended problems that affect our own health and the health of our natural environment. This paper seeks to find the most effective methods of implementing sustainable, mixed use development in our existing communities, as well as any mistakes that should be avoided in the process. This paper will examine successes and failures of previously implemented designs in order to inform and make recommendations for future designs and developments. The aim of this study is to identify factors that contribute to the success of a mixed use development and also encompass all aspects of sustainability.

My paintings are a combination of transparent images merged with paint and wax. As each piece of art develops, the process is the same. The beginning relies on memory or some connection to my past. Then, the progression evolves through a symbolic infancy with an emerging learning experience, which ultimately transforms into a creative piece, along the road less traveled…to the journey’s end. The transparency comes from the image transfer process, which produces a “ghostly” or antique image due to the deteriorated effect of the image in the transfer. The photographic transfers suggest the image without being so bold as to dominate the overall piece of artwork. The encaustic medium that I use to create the surfaces in my work allows me to explore the features of a sculptural medium. I am able to carve into, apply texture, and build up relief on the surface of each piece. The paint hidden in the crevices or layered on the surface adds emphasis and creates focal points in the painting.

My work reflects the change, growth, metamorphosis, duality, and balance that exists in my life. I focus on the process of change and necessity for adaptation. I’m interested in finding balance among the chaos of everyday living. I’m an observer, an introvert, and a thinker. I see and experience opposing forces all around me. Some are simple observations, such as good versus evil, chaos versus order, organic versus geometric, while some are more personal, such as anxiety versus depression, conflict between the inner versus outer self, disorganization versus obsessive compulsive. I’m fascinated by the delicate point at which opposing forces meet to create balance. I use a variety of papers, found objects, fiber, paint, drawing, and stitching to represent things that are picked up along my journey. Using a variety of materials and imagery represents the chaos of life. Editing, rearranging, dissecting, and reassembling these materials and imagery with deliberate choice are a way to balance the chaos I see and experience to take back control.

My work on canvas and in jewelry focuses on the tension between the hard edges of geometric shape and soft lines of organic form. Light plays an important part in the viewing of these opposing forms. It reflects off the shapes and textures creating sharp contrasts and enhancing the individual sections as they relate to the whole. In my paintings, I set organic floral forms against geometric architectural structures. I create texture and contrast by adding digitally enhanced transfers, torn paper, and acrylic putty. In my jewelry, I also set organic forms against geometric shapes, by adding stone, wire, and various types of metal to the raised surfaces. The different textures in both of my focus areas attract and reflect light, allowing the look and character of the piece to change as the light changes.