Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-110).

Thesis (D. Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Botany, 1996? / Includes bibliographical references.

Oil sand deposits are found at three depths; shallow, intermediate, and deep. Shallow deposits are processed by surface mining while deep deposits are processed using thermal extraction methods. There are currently no production methods to extract oil sand at intermediate depths. The motivation for this research is to demonstrate the technical applicability of methods to access oil sand that is too shallow for thermal extraction methods and too deep for economical surface mining. This work consisted of developing a system concept as a method for accessing, fragmenting, and removing oil sand at intermediate depths. A technical analysis and a cost estimate were also performed. In addition, the applicability of a comparative methodology was demonstrated with case studies. A key gap in the understanding of how to implement the system concept is tooling design and power requirements for fragmenting oil sand and interburden; and so a set of laboratory experiments was conducted to investigate the power required to cut oil sand. Oil sand blocks were formed from oil sand samples for the experiments. These blocks underwent various tests to examine their characteristics. Tests included: shear testing, extraction testing, porosity measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. Lab-scale experiments were conducted in dry, wet, and frozen conditions in support of the fragmentation aspect of the system concept. Thermal imaging was used to qualitatively view temperature variation during the testing process and cutter wear was viewed using a digital microscope. Results were compared against a steady-state cutting model with recommendations for future work.

In a series of greenhouse experiments, isolates representing serotypically distinct subpopulations of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii recovered from root nodules of field-grown subclover Trifolium subterraneum cv. "Nangeela"), were evaluated for their symbiotic effectiveness potential, their effect on regrowth potential of subclover, and for their competitive abilities to form nodules. Isolates from the nodule dominant serotypes AS6, AS6-21, and AS21 were shown to be suboptimally effective at fixing nitrogen gas (N₂) relative to RT162X95, a highly effective commercial inoculant strain. Although the majority of isolates representing the minor nodule occupying serotypes AS27, AG4, and AP17 were also shown to be of moderate effectiveness, isolates ADS14 and RW11 of serotype AS27 were equally as effective as RT162X95. Subclover regrowth was influenced by the severity of the first harvest. Plant-isolate combinations possessing superior N₂-fixing capabilities were more adversely affected by severe clipping than were the less effective combinations. Isolate 88FL3,5, a mediocre N₂-fixing member of the nodule dominant serotype AS6, was not universally more competitive at forming nodules than other isolates. Although 88FL3,5 formed more nodules than many of the other isolates when mixed in equal numbers with each of them separately, isolates ADS14 and ADS16 significantly outcompeted 88FL3,5 even though they represented a minor nodule occupying serotype, AS27. The nodule occupying successes of 88FL3,5 or ADS16 could be overcome if their respective competitor had a numerical advantage ranging between 10:1 and 25:1. Since the soil-borne population of 88FL3,5 has been shown to outnumber other subpopulations of rhizobia in the same soil by at least 10:1, it is not surprising that it can occupy the majority of nodules on field-grown plants even in the presence of more competitive types. Why the highly effective and highly competitive members of serotype AS27 are rarely recovered from nodules of field-grown Trifolium subterraneum L. is a question that merits further study. / Graduation date: 1992

In one study described herein, 20 privately owned structures were treated with a 0.05% application of imidacloprid (Premise 75 WSP) in order to control infestations of subterranean termites. All applications were made at 15 L per 3.05 linear m per 0.30 m of depth. Ten structures were infested with Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and ten structures were infested with Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. All structures were inspected through 42 months post-treatment. Only one structure infested with R. flavipes required post-treatment action. Six structures infested with C. formosanus required post-treatment action. In another study, efficacy data were gathered on Premise Granules when broadcast over an open field and when utilized as a "spot treatment" for control of subterranean termites infesting structures. Open field grids with active R. flavipes were utilized in this study. Grids measuring 8.53 m x 7.32 m were marked off, in-ground commercial termite monitors were installed, and grids were treated with Premise Granules. Untreated southern yellow pine surface boards were then placed in grids to determine if Premise Granules would suppress foraging and feeding on surface boards. Premise Granules did suppress surface feeding of R. flavipes for 9 months post-treatment, although termites were active throughout the study in in-ground commercial termite monitors within treated grids. In a third study, 10 structures built on monolithic slabs, five received a "spot treatment" with Premise Granules at points of subterranean termite infestation 0.61 m either side of active exterior subterranean termite mud tubes. Structures were inspected through 12 mo post-treatment. Suppression of R. flavipes was sustained for 8 wks in all treatment replications following application of granules, with failures at 8, 12, and 28 weeks post-treatment. A laboratory trial was initiated to simulate field treatments with Premise 75 WP 0.10 % AI imidacloprid for treatments of structures. The focus of this research was to investigate the dissipation and translocation of imidacloprid in urban environments. Treated sandy loam soil was added to 19-L buckets. Four different plant species commonly found in urban environments were planted in buckets. Results in these trials indicate that imidacloprid was soluble and that there is leaching.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- Lincoln University, 2009. / Also available via the World Wide Web.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, 1985. / Includes bibliographical references (last 24 unnumbered leaves ).

[Truncated abstract] Evolution in two genetically diverse sown populations of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was examined over 16 years at Mt Barker, a long growing season site, and at Nabawa, a short growing season site, in south-west Western Australia. One population consisted of a mixture of 40 strains sown in equal proportions, while the other was a bulk-hybrid population consisting of F2 seed from 253 crosses. Seed harvested annually and kept in cold storage was grown in an irrigated common garden at the University of Western Australia Field Station at Shenton Park, along with samples of the ancestral mixtures, to examine changes within these populations. Evolution in the strain mixture populations was measured by changes in strain frequency; strains were considered ecologically successful if their relative contribution was maintained or increased from that at sowing. Mixtures containing an additional 12 cultivars were also sown at each site to examine short-term population changes. The relative importance of 38 attributes measured in single-strain swards and spaced plants at Nabawa and Mt Barker was then related to strain success in mixtures at each site. Evolution in the bulk hybrid populations was measured in spaced plants at Shenton Park by changes in mean values and variability of 26 attributes. The ancestral populations evolved into markedly different populations at each site. Most evolution occurred within three years of sowing, due to elimination of poorly adapted genotypes. Within sites, the direction of selection was similar for both mixtures. In the strain mixture populations, different strains became dominant at each site. Divergent strains, those not identical to the sown strains, were significant components of the populations, particularly at Mt Barker, but their frequency did not increase. In the bulk hybrid populations, changes occurred in the means of 20 characters and variability declined in 11 characters at one or both sites. Appropriate flowering time was fundamental for success in both environments. At Nabawa, early flowering was crucial, while successful genotypes at Mt Barker were midseason and late flowering. Flowering time in both environments was a compromise between sufficient earliness for adequate seed production prior to the onset of summer drought, and deferment for as long as possible to allow plants to develop maximum size to compete for light in spring. The balance between these two competing forces differed in response to length of the growing season at each site

Thesis (B. Sc. Hons)--University of Adelaide, 1984. / Mounted photographs. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [62-73]).