This study will not attempt to analyze the various types of plastics presented with respect to the chemical ingredients and chemical processes necessary for their manufacture, but it will deal primarily with the selection and use of the various types of plastics as materials suitable for use in the construction of projects in an industrial arts program.

The self-sustaining status of Georgian Bay’s trophy muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) fishery is owed in part to the widespread distribution of high quality coastal wetlands used as nursery habitat. The specific wetland features that promote the recruitment of young-of-the-year (YOY) muskellunge in Georgian Bay have not been clearly defined, and without such information, it is unclear to what extent an unprecedented period of sustained low water-levels (c. 1999), and/or shoreline modifications, will continue to degrade the suitability of nursery habitats used by muskellunge throughout Georgian Bay. In this thesis, I use data from two years of intensive sampling in two embayments of northern Georgian Bay to statistically differentiate between wetlands that were found with and without YOY muskellunge. By doing so, I have provided the first quantifiable definition of suitable nursery habitat for muskellunge in Georgian Bay. Muskellunge nurseries have a structurally complex community of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV; e.g. Potamogeton richardsonii) within the water column (≤ 1-m depth) and a fish community that had abundant suitable prey (e.g. Cypinid species) and a scarcity of early-life predators (e.g. Perca flavescens). Some key aspects of the SAV community were governed by wetland's bathymetry, and this relationship makes it possible to model the effect of changing water-level scenarios on habitat suitability. I translated these results into a management tool for fish management agencies by creating an Index of Nursery Habitat Suitability (INHS) that can be applied to other embayments in Georgian Bay to identify high quality early-life habitats for muskellunge. I developed two INHS models and applied them to an independent dataset from other regions of Georgian Bay, and found them to differentiate between sites that were known to be used by YOY muskellunge and those where YOY were absent. These were also able to track deterioration in habitat quality associated with the recent decade of low water levels. Both INHS models rely on variables based on robust ecological relationships known to favour YOY survivorship that can be readily collected by fish management agencies, and one INHS model does not require detailed information of the aquatic plant community. Both models were also designed to minimize the frequency of false negatives (suitable nursery sites misidentified as unsuitable) and false positives (unsuitable nursery sites misidentified as suitable). These INHS models should become an important tool that will complement harvest regulations to promote this economically and ecologically valuable, self-sustaining muskellunge population in Georgian Bay. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The following Ph.D. describes how a period of sustained low water levels and shoreline modifications in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, have impacted the coastal wetland habitat used by muskellunge during their early life. To counteract these adverse effects, the thesis provides a definition of the wetland features that promote the survival of young-of-the-year muskellunge in Georgian Bay. Included is a proposed management tool in the form of an Index of Nursery Habitat Suitability (INHS) for muskellunge that can be used to identify high-quality, early-life habitat of muskellunge. Furthermore, the INHS can be used to predict how the quality of this habitat responds to different water-level scenarios and to shoreline modification in Georgian Bay, and to guide rehabilitative efforts of degraded wetland habitat.

No description available.

The streams of the southeastern United States are both hotspots for biodiversity and centers of imperilment. The specific spatiotemporal scales at which stressors impact biota are often unknown, partly due to inadequate knowledge about many species' life-histories. I conducted two complementary studies to investigate the habitat associations of an imperiled highland stream fish, the Candy Darter Etheostoma osburni. In Chapter 2, I asked (1) does micro-habitat suitability correlate with the "robustness" (i.e., viability) of four distinct populations? In Chapter 3, I expanded the extent of investigation, and asked (2) which environmental factors, expressed at what spatial scales, best explain in-stream conditions, and (3) do stream segments where Candy Darters persist have cooler temperatures and less fine-sediment than segments where the species is extirpated or historically went undetected? Chapter 2 revealed Candy Darters demonstrate ontogenetic habitat shifts, with age-0 individuals selecting slower water velocities than adults. Despite, clear habitat selection for multiple habitat variables, suitability attributed to fine-sediment avoidance most strongly correlated with population robustness across streams. Chapter 3 indicated Candy Darters are extirpated from most areas in Virginia and southern West Virginia. Land use and natural catchment features, including geology, elevation, and stream geomorphology, predominantly explained instream conditions. Populations persist in segments with cool stream temperatures and low embeddedness year-round. To recover Candy Darters, managers will need to remedy pervasive land-use threats and restore stream habitat, while operating within the impending context of warming air and water temperatures and the existential threat of the introduced Variegate Darter E. variatum. / M. S.

With post-bloom chemical fruit thinning responses being heavily influenced by tree carbohydrate reserves and weather conditions, there is a need for alternative thinning practices such as chemical blossom thinning in the Mid-Atlantic apple growing region. This project sought to 1) evaluate timing strategies for lime sulfur + stylet-oil blossom thinning sprays and 2) screen chemical agents for their suitability and efficacy as blossom thinners. In the first study, two 'Gala'/'M.9' blocks in different states (North Carolina and Virginia) were utilized in 2019 to compare between pollen tube growth model-guided blossom thinning sprays and those that are based on fixed time intervals between the initial application and subsequent thinning sprays. It was generally found that model-guided blossom thinning sprays and sprays applied at 20% open bloom and 48 hours after reduced fruit set, crop load, and improved fruit weight. In the second study, a 'Honeycrisp'/'B.9' and 'Cripps Pink'/'M.9' apple block in Virginia were used in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate multiple chemical agents with and without stylet-oil. Most of the treatments under-thinned compared to untreated control trees. However, it was determined that ammonium thiosulfate with and without stylet-oil was the most effective thinning agent. Potassium bicarbonate + stylet-oil was observed to cause excessive fruit russeting and phytotoxicity. This project demonstrated that optimum apple crop loads can be obtained if lime sulfur + stylet-oil blossom thinning sprays are applied at the proper time, and that multiple chemical agents offer potential use for chemical blossom thinning in the Mid-Atlantic region / Master of Science in Life Sciences / For apple trees to produce high quality fruit, a proportion of the flowers and/or fruit must be removed in a practice known as "thinning". Chemical blossom thinning is a relatively new method of thinning in the Mid-Atlantic apple growing region. This project sought to 1) evaluate spray timing of blossom thinning sprays and 2) evaluate different chemicals for their suitability in blossom thinning. In the first study, two 'Gala' apple orchards in two states (North Carolina and Virginia) were utilized in 2019 to compare a computer model-guided spray timing to structured spray timings based on the amount of time between the first and second sprays. It was found that the model-guided sprays, and sprays occurring once 20% of the blossoms had opened and reapplied 48 hours after, were the most effective in thinning the flowers. In the second part of the study, a 'Honeycrisp' orchard and a 'Cripps Pink' orchard in Virginia were used in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate different chemicals for their potential as blossom thinners. Unfortunately, most of the treatments did not achieve sufficient thinning results compared to untreated trees. However, it was determined that ammonium thiosulfate with and without stylet-oil was the most effective thinning chemical. Potassium bicarbonate with stylet-oil was found to cause excessive injury to the fruit and foliage. This project demonstrated that blossom thinning can be effective when the sprays are applied at the correct time and that multiple chemical agents offer potential for blossom thinning in the Mid-Atlantic.

Efforts to reintroduce and maintain populations of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) to the California Central Valley, specifically the Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM) and the Mojave Desert (Antelope Valley) portion of Tejon Ranch, have largely been unsuccessful due to dwindling numbers of translocated animals. The objective of this study was to improve upon previous models for the CPNM using aerial survey data and then apply the model to the Tejon Ranch. Aerial survey data collected from 2000-2010 on the CPNM was used to establish “use” and “non-use” areas in the model. Model variables included vegetation type (forest, shrub, grassland, semi-desert scrub, crops, and bare areas), slope, and road density. Vegetation and road density variables were treated categorically and slope as a continuous variable. Kernel density estimation (KDE) was used to estimate utilization distributions and home ranges (Fieberg 2007). An 80% isopleth was used to define “used” and “unused” habitat areas within the study site. Binary logistic regression was used to detect correlations between habitat variables and habitat use by pronghorn. Results of the regression analysis indicated overall significance with a p-value of < 0.0001 (testing that all slopes = 0). Each habitat variable comparison was made after adjusting for the other variables (e.g., slope effects were evaluated after adjusting for road density and vegetation type) and was found to be significant. Each variable coefficient was then included in a predictive equation and entered into GIS to generate a map to predict where pronghorn would likely be observed. Similar layers were created for the Tejon Ranch and the predictive equation was run with the CPNM statistical analysis. Limited conclusions about habitat suitability on the CPNM or the Tejon Ranch can be made based on the habitat data available for this model. While slope, road density, and vegetation type are all significant habitat variables influencing pronghorn habitat use, further study is needed to understand the mechanisms driving these relationships. With additional data expansion of the current habitat suitability model would help to further define pronghorn habitat use, specifically the creation of a focused model of a particular season, life history period, or individual animal use to identify more detailed habitat use patterns.

Recruitment processes includes evaluation of candidates qualifications and employers have the opportunity to found recruitment decisions on candidate personal suitability. What falls under the term personal suitability though, has during the years been a bit unclear. The first purpose of this study is therefor to examine the evaluation of qualifications, the term personal suitability and also employer’s possibilities to use the term in a non-discriminatory way in a recruitment process, this through the legal dogmatic method. The second and third purposes are further to put the evaluation of qualifications and the concept personal suitability in a social context and observe possible risks associated to the recruitment process from a genus perspective. Those purposes and questions are answered through the socio-legal method. The study is a literature study and it is limited to only concern direct discrimination because of gender. The result shows that employers can use the term personal suitability in recruitment processes if the candidate’s educational qualifications and work- and profession experience are equivalent. The employer has to be able show reasons for the decision though, explain why the personal suitability’s were needed and how they are connected to the actual work to make sure that the decision does not constitutes discrimination because of gender. The result also shows several risks associated to the evaluation of qualifications and the term personal suitability. The risks might be caused by the social norms society creates, norms that further creates expectations about how women and men are or should be as employees, leaders and colleagues. These social norms create risks if they affect references, interviewers, employers and recruiters to the extent that one gender becomes mistreated. Social norms are created all over and will most likely continue to exist. They may also be one reason why our labour market is gender segregated and why women in general are given less favorable opportunities and possibilities. The study shows that it is of importance that references, interviewers, employers and recruiters don’t get affected and perceive jobseekers personal suitability based on out-dated and discriminatory norms.

Houston is one of the fastest growing metropolis’ in the country. Driving this growth is the oil and gas industry and also the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical center. With such growth comes various problems. One of the leading problems according to its citizens in 2014 was traffic and the lack of access to public transportation. This project aims to help find solutions to this problem by locating areas that could help improve public transportation access and take a look at Houston’s accessibility via roadways. Using datasets from various Houston agencies such as the City of Houston and the Houston-Galveston Area Council, overlay analysis was used to help find prime areas that could be improved. Using ESRI ArcMap, models were completed in order to automate the analysis process. Tools such as raster conversion, Euclidean distance, zonal stats as table, and reclassify were used. In order to analyze Houston accessibility via the roadways, ArcGIS Online was used. Several Proximity analyses were run in order to view various types of dating dealing with the accessibility of Houston using roadways. The results show areas that do not currently have access to public transportation and areas that would be suitable locations for improvements based on different criteria. For roadway access, the results show average commute times, drive-time accessibility, and freeway access. This will allow for the accessibility of Houston to be shown whether it is by public transportation or by roadway.

This study uses the case of the Maipo Valley in Chile to examine how climate change will affect viticultural suitability. Using a geographic information system analysis of topographic, soil, land use, and climate data, a baseline assessment of viticultural suitability in the Maipo Valley was performed. The impact of climate change on viticultural suitability was modeled by overlaying downscaled global circulation model temperature data for two emission scenarios. The findings of this study suggest that the capacity of vineyard managers in the Maipo Valley to cultivate high-quality traditional grape varietals from cooler grape maturity classes might be limited in the future.

v anglickém jazyce Theoretical and Practical Aspect of Unit-linked Insurance Abstract United-linked insurance (ULI) is the most widely sold type of life insurance in the Czech Republic; frequently, however, this product is sold to clients without respecting their investment profile and financial needs (mis-selling); mis-selling, in turn, results in the loss of confidence in the system of financial distribution and its efficiency. Even though the current legislation offers tools to mitigate mis-selling (not only) of ULI, in practice such legal regulation proves to be insufficient. The causes of this relate to both the distributors and their customers, as well as to the financial products themselves. Behavioural research has proven marked shortcomings in the economic and legal understanding of a human being as a homo economicus, i.e. as a rationally acting agent. A number of studies evidence that people oftentimes demonstrate limited rationality, which negatively impacts financial distribution, in that these cognitive errors may be purposefully and skilfully abused by distributors who use their marketing and sales strategies to the clients' disadvantage. In this respect, this thesis analyses the current financial-political customer protection doctrines; the status of the ULI customer protection,...