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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
361

Migration processes of 137Cs in the drinking water reservoir Lago Maggiore: Measurements and Modeling: Migration processes of 137Cs in the drinking water reservoir Lago Maggiore: Measurements and Modeling

Putyrskaya, Viktoryia 22 October 2010 (has links)
Das künstliche Radionuklid 137Cs wurde seit über einem halben Jahrhundert in die Natur eingebracht. Sein erstes Erscheinen in Sedimenten der zentraleuropäischen Seen korrespondiert mit den Nuklearwaffentests in den 60er-Jahren des 20. Jahrhunderts. Die stärkste Kontaminierung der europäischen Seen und Flüsse entstand als Folge des radioaktiven Niederschlags nach dem Unfall in Tschernobyl im Frühjahr 1986. In dieser Arbeit wurde das Migrationsverhalten des künstlichen 137Cs im Lago Maggiore und anderen Seen im Alpenvorland als Folge dieses Niederschlags untersucht. Der Lago Maggiore zählt zu den größten Trinkwasserreservoiren südlich der Alpen. Nach dem Unfall in Tschernobyl gingen ungefähr 20 kBq•m-2 des 137Cs auf die Oberfläche des Sees nieder. Im Zeitraum von 2003 bis 2005 wurden Sedimentkerne und Wasserproben an sieben unterschiedlichen Stellen des Lago Maggiore entnommen. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit Daten über die Verteilung des 137Cs in den Zuflüssen, dem Wasser des Sees, in Schwebstoffen und Bodensedimenten und mit der Assoziierung von 137Cs mit verschiedenen geochemischen Fraktionen. Um den Abfluss des 137Cs aus dem Wassereinzugsgebiet in den Fluss zu modellieren, wurde ein Compartmentmodell verwendet. Zur Modellierung der Aufnahmemenge von 137Cs im Sediment und der vertikalen Verteilung innerhalb dessen wurde ein Diffusions-Konvektions-Modell entwickelt. Dieses Modell berücksichtigt die Aufnahme von Aktivität durch Sedimentation, Fixierung und Rücklösung, retardierte Diffusion, die Verdichtung des Sediments sowie den Einfluss konkurrierender Ionen auf die retardierte Diffusion innerhalb des Sediments. Die Ergebnisse der Parameteroptimierung – im Wesentlichen die Sedimentationsrate und der 137Cs-Verteilungskoeffizient Kd, welcher die Aufnahme der Aktivität in das Sediment determiniert – werden erörtert und mit denen anderer europäischer Seen, die eine ähnliche 137Cs-Deposition, aber unterschiedliche limnologische Eigenschaften aufweisen, verglichen. Zur Beurteilung der Bioverfügbarkeit von 137Cs wurde die 137Cs-Aktivitätskonzentrationen von Fischproben aus dem Lago Maggiore gemessen. Aus bereits existierenden Daten und unseren Messergebnissen wurden 137Cs Fisch-Wasser Konzentrations-Verhältnisse errechnet und mit denen für andere Seen, die von ähnlichen 137Cs-Kontaminationen betroffen sind, verglichen. / Artificial Cs-137 has been introduced into the environment for more than half a century. Its first appearance in central European lake sediments corresponds to the nuclear weapons testing in the 1960s. The largest contamination of European lakes and rivers occurred as a consequence of the fallout after the Chernobyl accident in spring 1986. In this work the migration behaviour of artificial Cs-137 in Lago Maggiore and other pre-alpine lakes as a consequence of these fallouts was studied. Lago Maggiore is one of the largest drinking water reservoirs in the south of the Alps. After the Chernobyl accident roughly 20 kBq•m-2 of 137Cs were deposited onto the lake surface. From 2003 to 2005 bottom sediment cores and water samples were collected at 7 different locations of Lago Maggiore. Data on the 137Cs distribution in tributaries, lake water, suspended matter, bottom sediments, and the 137Cs association to different geochemical fractions are presented in this work. To model the run-off of 137Cs from the watershed into the lake a compartment model was used. For modeling the input of 137Cs into and the vertical distribution within the sediment a diffusion–convection type model was developed. This model takes into account the uptake of activity by sedimentation, fixation and redissolution, retarded diffusion, the influence of competing ions on the retarded diffusion within the sediments, and compaction of sediments. The results of the parameter optimization – mainly the sedimentation rate and the 137Cs distribution coefficient Kd, which determines the uptake of activity into the sediment – are discussed and compared with those of other European lakes characterized by similar 137Cs deposition levels but different limnological properties. To estimate the bioavailability of 137Cs, its activity concentrations in fish samples from Lago Maggiore were measured. Combining the existing data with our measurements, 137Cs fish–water concentration ratios were calculated and compared with those for other lakes which were affected by similar 137Cs contamination.
362

Limnological aspects of the Uvs Nuur Basin in northwest Mongolia

Paul, Markus 12 November 2012 (has links)
The limnological knowledge of waters in arid regions, especially Mongolia, is still insufficient. It was the goal of the Mongolian-German research project “Limnological Particularities of Characteristic Waterbodies in the Uvs Nuur Basin” to develop a systematic inventory of waters, describe their morphological, hydrophysical, chemical and biological characteristics and to generalize the framework of abiotic and biotic factors that determine their character. During the field work, carried out from 1996 to 1999, samples of water, sediments, benthic and planktonic biota were taken from 76 places at 15 stagnant water bodies, 21 streams and several groundwater bodies; morphological, hydrological, physical and hydrochemical measurements were made. Chemical and biological analyses were carried out in Germany. The most important taxonomical groups were determined by German and international specialists. The results of the work are presented and discussed separately for running waters, lakes and groundwater. Based on these findings, several general topics are dealt with: factors shaping the character of water bodies, food webs, biogeography, spatial sequence of water bodies, typology and protection issues. A checklist of 596 taxa was compiled; 109 additional taxa from the Russian and Mongolian literature were included. Two species (Cyclops glacialis Flößner 2001 and Acanthocorbis mongolica Paul 2011) were new for the science and 103 species were new reports for Mongolia. A regional stream typology with 11 different types was developed using the criteria ecoregion, altitude and catchment area. The typology developed for stagnant waters comprises 9 types based on altitude, lake area, existence of an outflow and relative depth. This dissertation comprises 139 pages and an appendix of 59 pages, 50 tables, 94 figures and a map.:Acknowledgments ii Abstract iii List of Tables iii List of Figures vi 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Significance of the investigations 1 1.2 Aims of the investigations 2 1.3 Sequence of field research activities 3 1.4 Area of investigation 4 1.4.1 Topographic situation and morphology .4 1.4.2 Climate 5 1.4.3 Geology and soils 9 1.4.4 Vegetation 10 1.4.5 Population and economy 10 1.4.6 Former limnological investigations in the Uvs Nuur Basin 11 1.4.7 Short description of the investigated waters 12 2 Methods 15 2.1 Sampling 15 2.2 Field measurements 16 2.3 Laboratory analyses and data evaluation 19 3 Results and discussion 26 3.1 Rivers 26 3.1.1 Morphology and hydrology 26 3.1.2 Runoff dynamics 34 3.1.3 Water temperature and freezing 38 3.1.4 Chemical properties 39 3.1.5 Aquatic biota 43 3.2 Lakes 53 3.2.1 Formation and morphometry 53 3.2.2 Water level changes and water balance 58 3.2.3 Temperature and overturn dynamics of the water body 63 3.2.4 Vertical gradients of physico-chemical parameters and chlorophyll 65 3.2.5 Horizontal gradients in Uvs Nuur: surface temperature and suspended matter 69 3.2.6 Salinity and ionic composition 71 3.2.7 Nutrients and trophic state 74 3.2.8 Sediments 79 3.2.9 Aquatic biota 83 3.3 Groundwater 95 3.3.1 Hydrology 95 3.3.2 Chemical composition 96 3.3.3 Biota 98 4 Conclusions and synthesis 99 4.1 Exogenous factors influencing the character of water bodies 99 4.1.1 Biological structure of running waters 100 4.1.2 Biological structure of lakes 104 4.2 Food webs 105 4.3 Biogeographical classification 110 4.4 Spatial sequence of water bodies and material flows 113 4.5 Transformation of the water bodies 116 4.6 Typology of water bodies 117 4.7 Protection of landscape and waters 121 5 Literature 124 6 Appendices 140 6.1 Tables 140 6.2 Cross sections and longitudinal profiles of rivers 169 6.3 Microscopical images of algal species 175 6.4 Satellite images 179 6.5 Photographs of sampled waters 182
363

Augmented reality fonts with enhanced out-of-focus text legibility

Arefin, Mohammed Safayet 09 December 2022 (has links) (PDF)
In augmented reality, information is often distributed between real and virtual contexts, and often appears at different distances from the viewer. This raises the issues of (1) context switching, when attention is switched between real and virtual contexts, (2) focal distance switching, when the eye accommodates to see information in sharp focus at a new distance, and (3) transient focal blur, when information is seen out of focus, during the time interval of focal distance switching. This dissertation research has quantified the impact of context switching, focal distance switching, and transient focal blur on human performance and eye fatigue in both monocular and binocular viewing conditions. Further, this research has developed a novel font that when seen out-of-focus looks sharper than standard fonts. This SharpView font promises to mitigate the effect of transient focal blur. Developing this font has required (1) mathematically modeling out-of-focus blur with Zernike polynomials, which model focal deficiencies of human vision, (2) developing a focus correction algorithm based on total variation optimization, which corrects out-of-focus blur, and (3) developing a novel algorithm for measuring font sharpness. Finally, this research has validated these fonts through simulation and optical camera-based measurement. This validation has shown that, when seen out of focus, SharpView fonts are as much as 40 to 50% sharper than standard fonts. This promises to improve font legibility in many applications of augmented reality.
364

Night Vision Goggle Simulation in a Mixed Reality Flight Simulator with Seamless Integrated Real World

Sproge, Sofia January 2024 (has links)
Night vision goggles (NVGs) are optical devices used to enhance human vision at low light conditions such as nighttime. The image seen through the goggles is brightened but with the consequence of introduced visual limitations and illusions. Because of this, fighter pilots need to undergo proper training with such equipment before operating with them in real-life. An NVG simulation within a Mixed Reality (MR) flight simulator can in theory be used to build the skills needed and directly translate them into real life. In this thesis, an NVG effect was added to a video see-through camera feed(VST) such that a whole NVG simulation could be experienced in an MR flight simulator. Furthermore, a method to seamlessly integrate the VST into the nocturnal virtual world was proposed. By conducting a semi structured interview with an NVG expert, the experienced realism, presence, and training value of the implemented effects were measured. A thematic analysis of the gathered interview data provided insight into the most important themes regarding NVG simulations within an MR flight simulator. / <p>Examensarbetet är utfört vid Institutionen för teknik och naturvetenskap (ITN) vid Tekniska fakulteten, Linköpings universitet</p>
365

Local collaboration in a Mixed Reality environment : Adding virtual heads to improve social presence / Lokalt samarbete i en miljö med blandad verklighet : Att lägga till virtuella huvuden för att förbättra den sociala närvaron

Detto, Lucas January 2023 (has links)
This thesis investigates the use of virtual avatar heads to enhance local video see-through collaboration in a mixed reality environment. When users engage with each other using a head-mounted display, the device sits atop their head and obstructs their view, concealing their gaze and facial expressions while collaborating. This makes communication harder by removing non-verbal hints. The proposed solution aims to restore them by rendering virtual avatar heads on top of users heads. The study examines the impact of different avatar styles, including the potential effects of the uncanny valley, as well as the use of lip syncing versus facial tracking to animate avatar mouths. An application was developed using Unity3D to implement this solution, allowing two users to collaborate in a mixed reality environment with avatars on their heads. An experiment was conducted with 56 participants, where users collaborated in two tasks: the twenty question game and a collaborative object placement task. A between-subject design was used to compare with and without avatars, avatar rendering type and avatar lip animation. During the experiment, social presence, user experience and performance were measured through questionnaires (Networked Minds of social presence, NASA TLX and User Experience Questionnaire) and eye gaze data. The study found that although there was not always a strong difference between no avatar and avatars, the use of cartoon avatars with lip syncing was the most favorable option, enhancing the user’s comfort and facilitating interpretation of their partner’s emotions and feelings, as well as receiving more attention from them, which could be due to the Uncanny Valley. However, no evidence of performance improvement was found. The findings of this study have important implications for the design of collaborative mixed reality environments, highlighting the potential benefits of using virtual avatars to enhance communication and social presence. The study also underscores the importance of avatar style and facial animation as well as the potential impact of the uncanny valley on user experience. / Denna avhandling undersöker användningen av virtuella avatarhuvuden för att förbättra lokalt samarbete med genomskinlig video i en mixed reality-miljö. När användare interagerar med varandra med hjälp av en huvudmonterad display sitter enheten ovanpå huvudet och skymmer sikten, döljer blicken och ansiktsuttrycken medan de samarbetar. Detta försvårar kommunikationen genom att ta bort icke-verbala ledtrådar. Den föreslagna lösningen syftar till att återställa dem genom att rendera virtuella avatarhuvuden ovanpå användarnas huvuden. Studien undersöker effekterna av olika avatarstilar, inklusive de potentiella effekterna av uncanny valley, samt användningen av läppsynkronisering kontra ansiktsspårning för att animera avatarernas munnar. En applikation utvecklades med Unity3D för att implementera denna lösning, så att två användare kan samarbeta i en mixed reality-miljö med avatarer på sina huvuden. Ett experiment genomfördes med 56 deltagare, där användarna samarbetade i två uppgifter: spelet med tjugo frågor och en samarbetsuppgift för objektplacering. En mellanobjektsdesign användes för att jämföra med och utan avatarer, avatarens renderingstyp och avatarens läppanimering. Under experimentet mättes social närvaro, användarupplevelse och prestanda med hjälp av frågeformulär (Networked Minds of social presence, NASA TLX och User Experience Questionnaire) och ögonstyrningsdata. Studien visade att även om det inte alltid fanns en stark skillnad mellan ingen avatar och avatarer, var användningen av tecknade avatarer med läppsynkronisering det mest fördelaktiga alternativet, vilket förbättrade användarens komfort och underlättade tolkningen av deras partners känslor och sinnestämming, samt fick mer uppmärksamhet från dem, vilket kan bero på Uncanny Valley. Det fanns dock inga bevis för att prestandan förbättrades. Resultaten av denna studie har viktiga konsekvenser för utformningen av kollaborativa mixed reality-miljöer och belyser de potentiella fördelarna med att använda virtuella avatarer för att förbättra kommunikationen och den sociala närvaron. Studien understryker också vikten av avatarstil och ansiktsanimering samt den potentiella inverkan av uncanny valley på användarupplevelsen.
366

Preliminary investigations of organic pollution in water environment of some urban lakes in Hanoi city, Vietnam

Nguyen, Bich Thuy, Nguyen, Thi Bich Ngoc, Duong, Thi Thuy, Le, Thi My Hanh, Pham, Quoc Long, Le, Duc Nghia, Le, Thi Phuong Quynh 11 December 2018 (has links)
Lakes in Hanoi play an important role in local human life. However, along with the economic and social development, some urban lakes have been polluted, especially organic pollution. This paper presents the monthly survey results for organic pollution assessment of ten selected lakes in Ha Noi city: the Ho Tay, Truc Bach, Thien Quang, Ba Mau, Bay Mau, Hoan Kiem, Ngoc Khanh, Giang Vo, Thanh Cong and Thu Le lakes during the period from March 2014 to February 2015. The survey results showed that the Ba Mau lake was organic polluted at level IV whereas other lakes were contaminated by organic matters at level III. Organic pollution may come from both autochthonous and allochthonous sources. Compared with the results of previous studies, the water quality of 10 lakes in the period from March 2014 to February 2015 has been improved thank for the recent application of some positive solutions for lake environmental protection. / Hệ thống hồ ở Hà Nội đóng vai trò quan trọng trong đời sống của người dân. Tuy nhiên, cùng với sự phát triển kinh tế xã hội, nhiều hồ trong nội đô đã và đang bị ô nhiễm, đặc biệt là ô nhiễm hữu cơ. Bài báo này trình bày kết quả khảo sát ô nhiễm hữu cơ tại 10 hồ trong thành phố Hà Nội: hồ Tây, Trúc Bạch, Thiền Quang, Ba Mẫu, Bảy Mẫu, Hoàn Kiếm, Ngọc Khánh, Giảng Võ, Thành Công và Thủ Lệ trong thời gian từ tháng 3 năm 2014 đến tháng 2 năm 2015. Kết quả khảo sát cho thấy hồ Ba Mẫu bị ô nhiễm hữu cơ ở mức IV, các hồ còn lại bị ô nhiễm hữu cơ ở mức III. Ô nhiễm hữu cơ tại các hồ có thể do cả hai nguồn cung cấp chất hữu cơ, ngoại lai và nội sinh. So với kết quả quan trắc trước đây, chất lượng nước 10 hồ Hà Nội đã được cải thiện do gần đây đã áp dụng một số biện pháp bảo vệ môi trường cho các hồ.
367

Sequence-to-Sequence Learning using Deep Learning for Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Mishra, Vishal Vijayshankar January 2017 (has links)
No description available.
368

Towards Navigational Aids using Augmented Reality for People with Alzheimer’s Disease in Outdoor Environments : A user study using HoloLens 2 around a University campus

Prémont, Léa January 2023 (has links)
This paper investigates the potential of augmented reality (AR) as a navigational aid for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), offering innovative solutions to the evolving challenges of AD care. As the disease progresses, patients often require more assistance and may transition to care centers, resulting in reduced independence. Prior to this, home-based care aims to stimulate cognitive functions and preserve autonomy. To enhance their freedom and mobility, it is proposed to leverage AR technology to create a first-person navigational aid addressing the unique needs of AD patients. The research confronts two primary challenges: firstly, exploring the design of AR navigational aids customized for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease adapted to outdoor use. Then, it aims to develop an outdoor localization system for the HoloLens 2 and evaluate its performance. Despite limitations induced by the approximate positioning, various types of aids compatible with the technical constraints faced have been envisioned. A set of features was implemented using the optical see-through AR headset HoloLens 2. These features included two distinct types of holograms (Arrow and Wind) and the ability to catch user attention prior to turns, allowing us to explore the effectiveness of these design choices. They were evaluated through a user study involving 15 healthy participants. Usability and task load were measured with Nasa-TLX and SUS questionnaires. An approximate positioning for outdoor use of the HoloLens 2 was elaborated using a smartphone as a GPS receiver, and a Kalman filter for filtering and fusion with IMU data. This enables to reach positioning accuracy at the meter level. This research demonstrates the promising utility of AR in assisting navigation in outdoor environments. Despite few significant results, the Arrow hologram appears to be a better fit for usability and users’ personal preferences. Further research is needed to get significant results on the impact of adaptive aids. The outdoor use of AR navigational aids is still limited by the poor visibility of holograms outdoors and low positioning accuracy. / Denna artikel utforskar potentialen hos förstärkt verklighet (AR) som navigationshjälpmedel för personer med Alzheimers sjukdom (AD) och erbjuder innovativa lösningar inom AD-vård. När sjukdomen fortskrider behöver patienterna mer hjälp och kan övergå till vårdcentraler, vilket minskar deras självständighet. Hemvård strävar efter att stimulera kognitiva funktioner och bevara autonomi. Vi föreslår utnyttja AR-teknologi för en skräddarsydd navigeringshjälp i första person för AD-patienters behov. Forskningen möter två utmaningar: att utforska AR-navigeringshjälpmedel för personer med Alzheimers sjukdom och anpassade för utomhusanvändning. Vi strävar efter att utveckla utomhuslokaliseringssystem för HoloLens 2 och utvärdera prestanda. Trots begränsningar på grund av ungefärlig positionering kan vi föreställa oss hjälpmedel som är kompatibla med tekniska begränsningar. Vi använde HoloLens 2 med funktioner som två hologramtyper och användaruppmärksamhetsfångst före svängar, utvärderat med 15 deltagare. Vi skapade ungefärlig positionering för HoloLens 2 utomhus med en smartphone som GPS-mottagare, med Kalman-filtrering och IMU-fusion för meter-noggrannhet. Forskningen visar AR:s lovande nytta i utomhusnavigering. Trots få signifikanta resultat verkar pilhologrammet passa användbarhet och preferenser bättre. Mer forskning behövs för att bedöma adaptiva hjälpmedels effekter. Användningen av AR-navigeringshjälpmedel utomhus begränsas av dålig synlighet och låg positionsnoggrannhet. / Cet article explore le potentiel de la réalité augmentée (RA) comme aide à la navigation pour les personnes atteintes de la maladie d’Alzheimer (MA), offrant une solution novatrice aux défis en constante évolution des soins liés à la MA. À mesure que la maladie progresse, les patients ont souvent besoin d’une assistance accrue et sont transférés dans des centres de soins, ce qui diminue leur indépendance. Avant cela, les soins à domicile visent à stimuler leurs fonctions cognitives et à préserver leur autonomie. Dans cette optique, nous proposons d’utiliser la RA pour créer une aide à la navigation à la première personne adaptée aux besoins spécifiques des patients atteints de la MA. La recherche aborde deux défis principaux : la conception d’aides à la navigation en RA pour les personnes atteintes de la MA, adaptées à une utilisation en extérieur, et le développement d’un système de localisation en extérieur pour HoloLens 2, suivi de son évaluation. Malgré les limitations liées au positionnement approximatif, nous avons envisagé différents types d’aides compatibles avec ces contraintes techniques. Nous avons mis en place un ensemble de fonctionnalités en utilisant le casque de RA HoloLens 2. Ces fonctionnalités incluent deux types d’hologrammes (Flèche et Vent) et la capacité à attirer l’attention de l’utilisateur avant les virages, nous permettant d’explorer l’efficacité de ces choix de conception. Ils ont été évalués lors d’une étude avec 15 participants en bonne santé. Nous avons élaboré une méthode de positionnement approximatif pour une utilisation en extérieur de l’HoloLens 2 en utilisant un smartphone comme récepteur GPS, avec un filtre de Kalman pour le filtrage et la fusion avec des données inertielles, permettant d’atteindre une précision de positionnement au mètre. Cette recherche démontre l’utilité prometteuse de la RA dans l’assistance à la navigation en extérieur, bien que des recherches supplémentaires soient nécessaires pour obtenir des résultats significatifs sur l’impact des aides adaptatives. L’utilisation des aides à la navigation en RA en extérieur est encore limitée par la visibilité réduite des hologrammes en extérieur et la faible précision du positionnement.
369

Ein Dialog zwischen Managementlehre und Alttestamenlicher Theologie: McGregors Theorien X und Y zur Führung im lichte alttestamentlicher Anthropologie

Kessler, Volker 30 September 2004 (has links)
Text in German / This dissertation is a contribution to cybernetics, a sub-discipline ofPractical Theology. It is a dialogue between theology and management science. The first part discusses whether such a dialogue is reasonable at all. There are a lot of parallels between wisdom theology in the Old Testament and modern management theory. We discuss the benefits and the limitations of wisdom, and the way Israel took advantage of wisdom knowledge of the surrounding peoples. Finally, we draw conclusions for the way how church leadership could integrate knowledge from management theory. The main part of this dissertation is on anthropology and leadership. McGregor invented 1957/60 the so-called theories X andY. He demonstrated that leadership styles of managers are affected by the way they look at their subordinates. Leaders who regard people as lazy (theory X) will try to movitate people by extrinsic factors. Theory Y assumes that human beings have intrinsic motives to work. This assumption is an implicit basis of modem leadership concepts. The background and influence of these theories are explained. Especially, we follow the way from the anthropology of the reformators to theory X and from theory X (Taylorism) to theory Y. Limitations of theory Y are also discussed. In the next step we describe various facets of Old Testament anthropology dealing with man's willingness and capacity to work. The significance of the imago dei in this context is discussed by and large. Finally, we compare these facets with the theories X and Y. Result: The reformators emphasized one-sidedly the undignity of human beings implying that many Protestants consider theory Y as too positive, too humanistic. Old Testament portrays both the dignity and the undignity of human beings. Old Testament anthropology correlates better with theory Y. Thus theory Y is not an antibiblical theory. / Practical Theology / D.Th (Practical Theology)
370

Disturbance, recovery and resilience in tropical forests : a focus on the coastal peat swamp forests of Malaysian Borneo

Cole, Lydia Eve Spencer January 2013 (has links)
Tropical forests have existed for up to one hundred million years, and today provide many ecosystem services vital for human well-being. They also harbour great biodiversity, which, in addition to its intrinsic value, plays a key role in the functioning of these ecosystems. Despite their local to global significance, there are still many knowledge gaps concerning the dynamic processes that govern the functioning of tropical forests. Rapid rates of deforestation and landscape conversion, predominantly for logging and industrial agriculture, are limiting the time and opportunity available to collect the information needed to fill these gaps. This research aims to shed light on the long-term ecological functioning of tropical forests, specifically investigating the history of disturbance in these ecosystems and the response of forest vegetation to past perturbations. The carbon-rich tropical peat swamp forests found along the coast of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, are a central focus of this study. For these forests in particular, a large deficit of knowledge surrounding their history and unique ecological functioning is coupled with some of the highest conversion rates of all tropical forest ecosystems across the world. In this thesis, palaeoecological data has been used to reconstruct temporal variability in forest vegetation coincident with external perturbations in order to identify changes in the resilience of these ecosystems through time, via indicators such as slowing rates of recovery and reduced regeneration of forest vegetation. Results suggest that tropical forest ecosystems have, for the most part, shown resilience to natural disturbances in the past, ranging from instantaneous localised tree-fall to longer-term regional climatic change; but that recent anthropogenic disturbances, of novel forms and greater intensities, are jeopardizing the potential for forest recovery and thus compromising ecosystem resilience. These findings enhance our understanding of the ecology of tropical peat swamp forests, and tropical forests more broadly. They also provide a context for contemporary tropical forest management, allowing for predictions on future responses to disturbance and enabling more ecologically sustainable landscape planning.

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