This study demonstrates how the density of a neighbourhood affects its energy demand, metabolism (energy and material flows) and its ability to produce its own energy. Single-family detached houses and row townhouses were each modeled using passive solar housing guidelines with the DesignBuilder building energy simulation software. Energy demand is then modeled within neighbourhoods at two densities based on south facing windows fully un-shaded at 9:00 am, and 12:00 pm solar time on Dec. 21. The neighbourhood metabolisms were then calculated based on location and density. The potential energy supply was evaluated from the spatial characteristics of the neighbourhood (for solar) and the metabolism (municipal solid waste and wastewater flows.) The potential energy demand and supply are then compared for the varying building types and densities to determine the sensitivity of the energy supply and demand relationships.

Despite potentially increased sales and operational efficiencies, a surprising number of firms have not adopted e-business. Annual surveys of e-business use in Canada and other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries reveal significant differences in adoption rates between sectors. The surveys identify product characteristics as a key rationale for not adopting online selling. There are examples, however, of firms in all sectors that have discovered how to use online selling (i.e., through direct retailing, portals, online auctions - or other models). This research identifies the key internal capabilities that let firms implement online selling tools and reconfigure their way of doing business, by innovating their business model, to take advantage of e-business. Wheeler’s (2002) Net-Enabled Business Innovation Cycle (NEBIC) model is a theoretical framework for studying the process of implementing e-business tools as technology innovations for business growth where “net-enablement” refers to a firm’s innovative use of networks connected via information technologies. The NEBIC model suggests four sets of capabilities a firm needs to create value for its customers by utilizing technology: choosing enabling technologies, matching technology benefits with economic opportunities, executing business innovation for growth, and assessing customer value. The model is grounded in dynamic capability and absorptive capacity theories, offering an integrated way to adopt an e-business application, such as online selling, using internal capabilities that management can develop through planning, knowledge acquisition, training, and recruitment. This research is the first to operationalize the constructs in the NEBIC model and increase the understanding of the firm capabilities required to implement online selling as a technology innovation for business growth. The study also extends the NEBIC model by developing a construct to measure the innovation in business models firms need as they implement online selling tools. Data gathered from a national sample of Canadian firms are analyzed to test four hypotheses. These concern net-enablement capabilities, and the selection and implementation of online selling, together with the associated outcome of such innovation in terms of business model innovation. The overarching hypothesis is that firms that successfully select and implement online selling have better developed net-enablement capabilities. Further, those firms will innovate their business model. The research to test these hypotheses proceeded in two stages. First, exploratory research accessed both current literature and feedback from academic and professional experts to identify and develop scales and measurements for the net-enablement constructs of the research model. In the second empirical stage, these scales were used to measure capability development and business model innovation in a cross-section sample of Canadian firms. Responses to an online survey were analyzed to test the statistical properties of the scales, and structural equation modeling (SEM) assessed the hypothesized relationships between net-enablement capability for online selling and actual business model innovation. The research contributes to the literature on e-business adoption, and the application of dynamic capability and absorptive capability theories for technology adoption. In particular, it provides empirical support for Wheeler’s NEBIC model for e-business tools selection and implementation. The data confirm that firms with better-developed net-enablement capabilities are more likely to select and implement online selling tools successfully. The data also substantiate the view that online sellers have indeed innovated their business models to incorporate the practical tools of online selling. Practitioners considering extending their market through online sales are advised to assess their net-enablement capability first. The scales developed through this research provide a tool for identifying these important capabilities and routines within organizations. It is particularly important that firms looking to incorporate online selling should evaluate (and develop as necessary) their ability to access new technology; evaluate their strategic options and match them with the benefits of the proposed technology; handle, manage, and implement the project; and reconfigure elements of their business model, i.e., make changes to their product or service and its payment methods. Successful online sellers do not depend on a single factor; rather they develop “net-enablement” capability, a continuous and multi-faceted process of related capability sets that involve all parts of the organization.

Since European settlement the Aspen Parkland has been subject to agricultural intensification. This research assessed the agronomic, ecologic and economic impact of native Parkland conversion into tame pasture, by building on a study initiated in 1980 investigating the short-term agronomic responses within three landscape-level treatments: an intensive Clear & Break (C&B), a Spray & Burn (S&B) and a burnt Native Check (NC). Historical information was supplemented with recently collected data (2005-2006). Production remained high within the NC relative to the others after 25 years, in part due to contributions from browse in areas with increasing woody species. Plant species composition also demonstrated considerable convergence (i.e. overlap) between native and tame grasslands, and although not different in soil organic matter, microfaunal activity differed marginally. Net present value (NPV) economic analysis indicated the NC and S&B provided greater aggregate returns over the study period, and has implications for aspen management in the future. / Rangeland and Wildlife Resources

Dramatically higher fuel prices and massive petroleum imports from politically unstable countries have contributed to a major national initiative to generate renewable fuels in the United States. Often, such policies are enacted and implemented with huge taxpayer expenditures without due diligence to the consequences. The evaluation of the water quality impacts of converting pastureland to intensive biomass production for fuel in a southern Texas watershed suggest significant increases erosion and nutrient loadings to water bodies. The Best Management Practices (BMPs), cover crop and filter strips when implemented individually failed to produce status-quo reduction levels. Combined BMPs implementation produced improved mitigation, at substantially higher costs, highlighting the issue of sustainability related to the economics of renewable fuels. The estimation of the net energy of biomass ethanol accounting for the production input data indicate a greater than one energy return for biomass crops. However, the policy results indicate that only 70 percent in net contribution to the energy supply is achieved due to relatively lower energy returns compared to conventional fossil fuels. In addition, because the ethanol produced has to have the energy used deleted from the total, the cost of producing a gallon of biomass ethanol is substantially higher than that of gasoline. The impacts of an exogenously-specified biofuel mandate fulfilled by the production of a dedicated biomass crop and its consequent effects on commodity prices and overall welfare are estimated. Net farm income increased due to an increase in crop prices; however, both consumer surplus and total surplus decreased. The analysis is extended to estimate the sensitivity of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres returning to crop production and the potential of higher biomass yields. The results indicate that net farm income decreased and consumer surplus increased due to a decrease in crop prices, resulting in an increase in overall welfare. This current research evaluates the unintended consequences of the U.S. energy policy and provides interesting insights of the potential economic and environmental impacts. These results suggest policy makers should be cautious before enacting energy policy and consider multiple alternative energy sources in an economic and financial context to achieve a sustainable energy goal.

One of the main aims of Component adaptation [Szy97] is to help application developers reuse components so that they can plug-in third party components into their application. This research concentrates on this type of adaptation but in the context of Web Services. Web Services are becoming increasingly popular. Web Services often fit the requirements of being a component, and can be reused in a very similar manner. Hence there is a requirement for adaptation of Web Services just as there is the need for adaptation of software components. There are now quite a few adaptation techniques, but few of them have identified adaptation techniques for Web Services. This approach to adaptation allows for the modification of data and behaviour of existing Web Services. The approach to adaptation uses eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) transformation applied to the message passed between Web Services. These messages are commonly in XML format, hence XSL can be used to modify them. The application of the transformation is guided by a specification written in XML. The adaptation is executed by a generic runtime system that uses these specifications which are referred to as Guiding Specifications. This has been demonstrated by way of a motivating real world example implemented on the .Net platform. It is shown how an adapter can be specified using a simplistic Guiding Specification and related XSLT documents. This allows the implementation to work more efficiently than hand coding each adapter. It is the underlying generic runtime support that provides much of this benefit. Component based software engineering (CBSE) constructs applications by assembling components together, CBSE has been of great help to application developers due to the very fact that tailor made components can be purchased from third party vendors and can be plugged-in to a system to form a working application. But in practice 'as-is' reuse is very unlikely to occur, and most components need to be changed in some way to match the requirements of the application architecture and other components. The process of changing thecomponent for use in a particular application is often referred to as Component Adaptation.

The pathology of a disfiguring and debilitating fatal disease affecting a high proportion of the wild population of Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) that was discovered is described. The disease, named devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), has been identified in devils found across 60% of the Tasmanian landscape. The prevalence of this disease was extremely variable, possibly reflecting seasonal trapping success. Between 2001 and 2004, 91 DFTD cases were obtained for pathological description. Grossly, the tumours presented as large, solid, soft tissue masses usually with flattened, centrally ulcerated and exudative surfaces. They were typically multi-centric, appearing first in the oral, face or neck regions. Histologically, the tumours were composed of circumscribed to infiltrative nodular aggregates of round to spindle-shaped cells often within a pseudocapsule and divided into lobules by delicate fibrous septae. They were locally aggressive and metastasised in 65% of cases. There was minimal cytological differentiation amongst the tumour cell population under light and electron microscopy. The diagnostic values of a number of immunohistochemical stains were employed to further characterise up to 50 representative cases. They were negative for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, von Willebrand factor, desmin, glial fibrillary acid protein, CD16, CD57, CD3 and LSP1. DFTD cells were positive for vimentin, S-100, melan A, neuron specific enolase, chromogranin A and synaptophysin. In conclusion, the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics together with the primary distribution of the neoplasms indicate that DFTD is an undifferentiated neoplasm of neuroendocrine histogenesis.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Project (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tenn., 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-122).

Project (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tenn., 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-122).

Project (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tenn., 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-122).