We live in an age where science fiction is quickly becoming science fact. Dick Tracy's 2-way wrist TVs are Apple Watches. Automated smart homes are plentiful. Cars are now able to drive themselves. And in those cars, riders no longer need to depend on a deejay to choose their music for them; these listeners build their own radio stations, on the spot, out of any music and conversation they want to hear, all at the touch of a button that is fully connected to Wi-Fi, the internet, and unlimited cell data plans.This research will examine digital radio's impact upon traditional radio in the current media environment. It will first take a look at the history of radio, specifically examining radio's reaction and adaptation when a new form of competitive media moved into the mass communication environment, and how radio fared in the face of that competition. The research will then look at uses and gratifications for both traditional and digital radio, which will be analyzed using media niche theory. From this, we will ascertain the niche breadth of each medium, as well as how much overlap exists between the two, and finally, which medium achieves niche superiority over the other in terms of gratifications observed.

North American Giant Salamanders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), commonly known as hellbenders, have been experiencing a population decline for decades due to human influences, such as pollution and habitat destruction. Many efforts are underway to save the hellbender but their entire potential geographical range has not been well-studied. Currently, hellbender populations are delineated by county boundaries and are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Production, an Ecological Niche Model, was used to model the current hellbender potential distribution at a macro-scale under two different environmental scenarios. Additionally, future potential distributions were projected under two different climate change scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways) to predict where possible habitat loss and expansion may occur in coming decades. Niche modeling was also used to evaluate the influence of environmental parameters across geography and between two sub-species of hellbender, the Eastern hellbender and the Ozark hellbender. Results showed that vegetation indices had some influence on current distribution predictions, while future models revealed that potentially large areas of currently suitable habitat may be lost, especially in the Ozark Mountains and the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Habitat expansion was predicted for several areas in the New England region of the northern Appalachian Mountains. The most influential variables were the maximum temperature of the warmest month, temperature annual range, and annual precipitation, while slope and elevation were less influential. However, areas of very high slope and elevation were not suitable for hellbenders, confirming previous descriptive habitat analyses. Current and future modeled distributions will provide conservationists with a more specific, and quantified, geographical and ecological description of where environmentally suitable areas exist for hellbenders. Micro-scale, stream-based studies provide areas of future research.

No description available.

Changes to rivers that alter physical and thermal habitat may cause fish population abundance to decline, due to fewer individuals maturing and entering the adult population. The Weber River has become highly degraded with many dams and diversions altering fish habitat, river volume, velocity, and temperature, and limiting movement between reaches. Bluehead suckers (Catostomus discobolus) occupy only 47% of their historical range and the genetically-distinct Weber River (northern UT) population is declining and contains few young, juvenile fish. My objectives were to determine whether spawning and rearing habitat available in the Weber River may be limiting bluehead sucker reproductive success and population growth. I used reach-based surveys to locate and quantify spawning habitat in the Weber River and Ferron Creek (central Utah), a relatively unaltered river for comparison. I sampled slow-water backwaters near (< 1 km) spawning reaches for juvenile sucker and surveyed habitat characteristics. I conducted laboratory experiments to evaluate the effect different temperature and velocity treatments (12-19°C, 0.004-0.18 m/s) have on juvenile bluehead sucker growth. In the Weber River and Ferron Creek, reaches with gravel (4-64 mm diameter), cobble (64-256 mm diameter), and pools (6-26 pools/km) were used by spawning bluehead sucker. In Weber River backwaters, deeper backwaters contained significantly more juvenile sucker (18-378 sucker; range: 19-87 cm max depth). Laboratory results indicated that juvenile bluehead sucker growth was greatest in the cooler temperature and slower velocity treatments. Collectively these results suggest spawning habitat is limited by the availability of small, rocky substrate and pools and rearing habitat is limited by the availability of deep, slow backwaters at the optimal temperature. By evaluating factors that may limit bluehead sucker population growth, this study will provide a template for future restoration efforts directed at recovering this imperiled population.

Society is making increasing efforts to become more sustainable by fostering new technologies such as renewable energy. Often, there are significant challenges to introducing new technologies because existing infrastructure, institutions, social groupings, and behaviours have co-evolved with and consequently support incumbent technologies - a condition known as lock-in. To support efforts to introduce new technologies, researchers have developed conceptual frameworks that aim to increase our understanding of socio-technical change. One promising framework is Strategic Niche Management (SNM); however despite its strength as an ex post analytical tool, SNM has yet to be used to guide experiments with new technologies. This thesis aims to make SNM more usable for those introducing new technologies by responding to four weaknesses identified in existing literature: a weak link between the conceptual framework and action, the vague role of actors, an inadequate appreciation of issues of consensus and limits of influence, and an inadequate appreciation of the challenges that actors may face. This is achieved by identifying promising insights and testing them on a case study of wind power in Australia. The literature review identifies dynamics that have been linked to positive feedbacks in the development of new technologies and socio-technical change. These are: stimulating demand, increasing use, learning and articulation, increasing functionality, decreasing costs, decreasing uncertainty, embedding and alignment, increasing legitimacy, attracting actors, and strengthening expectations and visions. These dynamics can be used to provide a better link between theory and action. The review also identifies particular actor roles - such as niche manager, macro actor, prime mover, and dedicated network builder - and actions that actors in these roles may take. These roles and actions are linked to the dynamics. Also reviewed are issues related to consensus and limits of influence; a particularly useful concept in this regard is resource interdependency. Finally, the review identifies challenges to encouraging the dynamics aimed at helping actors to anticipate problems in the introduction of new technologies. T he relevance of this approach and applicability of these insights are tested with a case study of wind power in Australia. The case study explains changes related to grid-connected wind power in Australia between about 1997 and 2007. There was significant socio-technical change: for example, installed grid-connected wind farm capacity grew from about 1 MW to almost 900 MW, an industry and industry association formed, there were unprecedented changes in energy policy, new high-level actor groups formed to oversee the grid-integration of wind power, Governments amended planning schemes, and public opinion was increasingly articulated. The dynamics identified in the literature review were all relevant to wind power. The study provides examples of the actors that can encourage these dynamics and how they might do so. Most challenges identified in the literature review were relevant to wind power and possible strategies for managing them were identified. Also revealed were challenges in transitional strategies, legitimacy of the technology and consensus. These findings are discussed in detail. These findings are intended to help actors foster technologies for sustainability.

<p>In this thesis, we aim to find out ways that Multimind’s create customer focused value and sustain the value in the recruitment industry and their customer relationship management in the niche market. Our purpose is also to study their strategy, policies and their organizational culture especially in customer focused value and relationship management in this service business.  In this thesis we will study only on their strategy toward this niche market. Therefore, the scope of study will cover its business’s history on company’s objective, operation process, organization’s culture, company’s policy and strategy in market learning and innovation. We use qualitative method by conducting the interview with the informant. We use both primary and secondary data for collecting the data. In our primary data, judgment sampling method is being applied in selecting the interviewee. For Secondary data; we have searched the information from the company’s website, academic journals from university library. </p>

Les termites forment un groupe animal important en milieu tropical, où leur richesse spécifique est plus élevée que dans n’importe quel autre écosystème. Ils se nourrissent de matière organique végétale à différent état de décomposition, du bois dur à la matière organique minérale du le sol. Cette diversification du régime alimentaire ne se produit que chez les Termitidae, parfois appelés « termites supérieurs », alors que les autres familles se nourrissent exclusivement de bois ou d’herbe. Les termites humivores sont extrêmement abondants en Amérique du Sud et en Afrique tropicale, mais sont relativement peu étudiés par rapport aux termites xylophages. C’est particulièrement vrai pour le groupe Anoplotermes, qui représente le groupe de termites le moins bien connu. Ce travail vise à faire la lumière sur l’écologie et la diversité de ce groupe strictement humivore, et comprend les sections suivantes : (1) Des échantillonnages standardisés dans sept sites de Guyane Française ont révèle, avec quelques exceptions, que les termites xylophages sont relativement peu spécialisés à un site. Au contraire, les espèces du groupe Anoplotermes, ainsi que les termites humivores en général, sont spécialisés à un type de forêt. Cette spécialisation contribue plus que probablement à la diversification écologique, et donc, à une augmentation de la richesse spécifique des termites humivores. (2) En utilisant les ratios d’isotopiques δ13C et δ15N, nous avons aussi trouvé qu’il existe une spécialisation des espèces le long d’un gradient d’humification chez le groupe Anoplotermes, de l’interface entre le bois pourri et le sol au sol pauvre en matière organique. Donc, au moins deux facteurs favorisent la richesse spécifique du groupe Anoplotermes dans le sol, malgré le manque d’évidence pour une séparation spatiale et temporelle entre les espèces. Cette spécialisation spécifique réduit la compétition interspécifique aux espèces se nourrissant de matière organique au même état de décomposition. (3) Ce mécanisme n’est probablement pas restreint aux espèces du groupe Anoplotermes et le ratio isotopique δ15N varie considérablement entre les termites humivores de manière générale. Les termites humivores comptent des espèces avec des régimes alimentaires différents ne partageant pas toujours les mêmes niches écologiques. Cette diversification du régime alimentaire ne c’est pas produit de manière aléatoire durant l’évolution des termites et les espèces proches tendent à se nourrir du même substrat. (4) Au niveau intraspécifique, il semble que la compétition contraigne la dynamique des colonies. En effet, chez A. banksi, nous avons trouvé que les nids matures sont surdispersés. Les nouveaux nids se trouvent principalement à une certaine distance des nids établis, plus particulièrement dans les trous laissés par les nids morts. Si ce patron est le résultat d’une sélection des sites de nidification, ou plutôt d’une exclusion compétitive reste sujet à discussion, mais met néanmoins en évidence la présence de compétition chez les termites humivores du groupe Anoplotermes. (5) Au vu de la richesse spécifique locale du groupe Anoplotermes, le nombre d’espèces décrites reste remarquablement bas. Après inspection du matériel type, seuls 30 espèces du groupe se sont avérés valides en Amérique du Sud, alors que 80% des espèces que nous avons collectées sont nouvelles pour la science. Cette disproportion entre ce qui est connu et la diversité réelle du groupe, met en évidence le besoin de réaliser des études supplémentaires pour améliorer la connaissance de ce groupe peu connu, le groupe Anoplotermes.

In this thesis, we aim to find out ways that Multimind’s create customer focused value and sustain the value in the recruitment industry and their customer relationship management in the niche market. Our purpose is also to study their strategy, policies and their organizational culture especially in customer focused value and relationship management in this service business.  In this thesis we will study only on their strategy toward this niche market. Therefore, the scope of study will cover its business’s history on company’s objective, operation process, organization’s culture, company’s policy and strategy in market learning and innovation. We use qualitative method by conducting the interview with the informant. We use both primary and secondary data for collecting the data. In our primary data, judgment sampling method is being applied in selecting the interviewee. For Secondary data; we have searched the information from the company’s website, academic journals from university library.

Root symbioses with dark septate endophytic fungi (DSE) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide plant tolerance to environmental stresses. This research answers several fundamental questions about the occurrence of these fungi in roots of prairie grasses. Traditional methods and current molecular techniques were combined in order to: 1) define the role and specificity of DSE in plant tolerance to drought; 2) assess the level of host specificity in DSE; 3) document AMF biodiversity and pattern of root colonization at different soil depths; 4) define the influence of soil depth and plant species on the distribution of DSE and AMF in roots and; 5) reveal how DSE and AMF interact in plant roots.<p> Under controlled conditions, DSE isolates showed host preference in colonizing roots and promoting plant growth. They colonized with more intensity the plant species from which they were isolated [Agropyron cristatum L. or Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch) Nevski subsp. Juncea (Syn: Elymus junceus Fisch)]. Inoculation with five DSE isolates resulted in growth stimulation of the C3 grasses A. cristatum and P. juncea, and growth depression of the C4 grass Bouteloua gracillis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths, under water stress. Plant C concentration suggested that DSE inoculation may have resulted in net C drain from B. gracillis.<p. In the field, soil depth influenced root colonization in A. cristatum, Panicum virgatum L., Nassella viridula Trin and Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Löve., while AMF diversity was influenced by the interaction between soil depth and host plant species. Molecular analysis of roots serially sampled during one growing season from the A and B soil horizons, in stands of these grasses, revealed spatial and temporal changes in DSE and AMF community composition, and a significant correlation in DSE and AMF community structure.<p> These results suggest that DSE and AMF are adapted to specific environmental conditions and that root occupation by these fungi is a dynamic phenomenon. It is proposed that temporal variation in root occupation by DSE and AMF impacts plant and ecosystem processes at different times during the growing season.

L'aster à rameaux étalés (Eurybia divaricata) est une herbacée forestière rare au Canada, mais commune dans le reste de son aire de répartition. Au Québec, seulement 11 occurrences sont répertoriées et elles se trouvent en Montérégie. L'espèce a le statut d'espèce menacée au Canada depuis 1995 et au Québec depuis 2005. Cette étude a été entreprise afin de mieux comprendre la dynamique des populations au Québec et pour déterminer quels facteurs écologiques définissent le microhabitat. L'étude démographique a été effectuée sur quatre populations; deux à St-Armand et deux au Petit Pinacle près de Frelishburg. Les individus ont fait l'objet d'un suivi de trois ans (2007 à 2009). Ceci a permis de connaître la structure des populations et de construire des matrices de transition et d'élasticité. Ces matrices calculent les taux de croissance des populations d'une année à l'autre et font ressortir les comportements démographiques les plus importants pour la croissance de celles-ci. Les résultats montrent que l'espèce est une herbacée typique des sous-bois par la structure de ses populations et par les taux de croissance qui varient autour de 1,0. En reliant les facteurs écologiques et l'importance attribuée aux comportements démographiques, les résultats montrent que la lumière disponible, associée à l'ouverture de la canopée, est le facteur le plus déterminant. Les populations sous un couvert forestier ouvert ont des taux de croissance positifs, et attribuent plus de ressources à la croissance individuelle, la propagation végétative et la fertilité. Lorsque la canopée se referme, la survie des individus devient le comportement démographique le plus important. Ces populations ont des taux de croissance en général négatifs et qui fluctuent, ce qui augmente leurs probabilités d'extinction. L'étude de l'habitat a montré que la présence de cet aster est influencée par la lumière et l'épaisseur de litière. Ces facteurs contribuent à la germination, à l'établissement des semis et à la propagation des rhizomes. La rareté de l'espèce pourrait s'expliquer par la fréquence modifiée des perturbations, qui ne permet plus de retrouver assez fréquemment les conditions favorables pour la recolonisation de l'espèce dans le paysage. Puisque la grande majorité du territoire naturel constituant l'habitat de l'espèce se trouve sur des terres privées, la meilleure recommandation est d'encourager les organismes de conservation à promouvoir la conservation de son habitat par l'acquisition de terrains ou de servitudes de conservation. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Eurybia divaricata, espèce menacée, démographie, matrices de transition, microhabitat, lumière disponible