Cheung Suet Ling. / Thesis (M.Ph.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Bibliography: leaves 110-135.

This work has compared polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and traditional visual disease assessment to evaluate the severity of Fusarium ear blight (FEB) ofwheat under field and glasshouse conditions. In a field trial, PCR analysis highlighted the problem of diagnosis of FEB of wheat based on visual disease assessment where natural inoculum was present. PCR-based analysis detected F. poae predominantly in the glumes and Microdochium nivale sub-species were predominantly found in the rachis component of ears. M nivale var. majus was more frequently observed than var. nivale (64 and 36 %, respectively). Quantitative PCR analysis and conventional visual disease assessment were used to evaluate fungicide efficacy against FEB of wheat caused by F. culmorum and F. poae in three glasshouse trials (1994/5-1996/7). Prochloraz and tebuconazole significantly decreased both visual symptoms of FEB and fungal DNA content of F. culmorum and F. poae ear blight of wheat. Overall, both fungicides appeared equally effective, although the efficacy ofthese fungicides was consistently greater as measured by PCR analysis rather than by visual disease assessment. Inoculation with F. culmorum significantly reduced yield (1000 grain weight) whereas inoculation with F. poae had no significant effect on yield. Fusarium culmorum was successfully transformed with the GUS reporter gene. GUS activity levels of transformants varied, but transformation did not affect pathogenicity on wheat seedlings. A GUS transformant was used to study the effectiveness of two fungicides against F. culmorum foot rot of wheat. Primers to the Tri5 gene were used to develop a PCR-based assay for the specific detection ofpotential trichothecene-producing Fusarium species. These primers were also used to develop an RT-PCR-based assay for the detection and semiquantification of F. culmorum Tri5 gene expression 'relative to p-tubulin gene expression' in RNA extracts from F. culmorum. This assay was used to show that time and fungicides can affect Tri5 gene expression in liquid culture.

Metastable b-Ti alloys are titanium alloys with sufficient b stabilizer alloying additions such that it's possible to retain single b phase at room temperature. These alloys are of great advantage compared to a/b alloys since they are easily cold rolled, strip produced and can attain excellent mechanical properties upon age hardening. Beta 21S, a relatively new b titanium alloy in addition to these general advantages is known to possess excellent oxidation and corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures. A homogeneous distribution of fine sized a precipitates in the parent b matrix is known to provide good combination of strength, ductility and fracture toughness. The current work focuses on a study of different mechanisms to engineer homogeneously distributed fine sized a precipitates in the b matrix. The precipitation of metastable phases upon low temperature aging and their influence on a precipitation is studied in detail. The precipitation sequence on direct aging above the w solvus temperature is also assessed. The structural and compositional evolution of precipitate phase is determined using multiple characterization tools. The possibility of occurrence of other non-classical precipitation mechanisms that do not require heterogeneous nucleation sites are also analyzed. Lastly, the influence of interstitial element, oxygen on a precipitation during the oxidation of Beta 21S has been determined. The ingress of oxygen and its influence on microstructure have also been correlated to measured mechanical properties.

―Synaesthetic perception as a mode of being: Crossings of the sensuous and the poetic‖ seeks to disclose the harmonious interrelationship between synaesthetic modes of being, wildness, the poetic, and education. Merleau-Ponty (1962) and, more recently, David Abram (1997) have both proposed that synaesthetic perception, characterized by the overlapping and intertwining of the senses, is common to our direct, preconceptual experience in the life-world. Although we often disregard and discount synaesthetic capacities because they are non-linguistic and non-rational, they are an essential and rich characteristic of being human. The inquiry suggests that greater sensorial awareness that comes from awakening a trust in our sensuous embodied selves is promoted by being in the presence of the poetics of everyday circumambient wildness and in engagements with certain poetic writings which are grounded in the natural realm. Synaesthetic perception, a non-linguistic mode of knowing, must be accorded greater respect; it must be acknowledged and encouraged in all areas of education. Nature poetry, which is rooted in the texture of our ordinary sensuous experience amid wild others, can be an ally of education in this endeavour. The study proposes that it is through an awakening of the wisdom of the senses that we might recognize and value the importance of cultivating an ecopoetic rootedness in and reciprocity with the earth. The practice of a synaesthetic mode of being might bring about a positive transformative power, one that inspires a resistance to the encroachment of technocratic, dehumanizing controls on many aspects of our lives, and urges us to create a more wholesome, habitable earthhome for both human and nonhuman. This is a poetizing inquiry, an increasingly accepted form of qualitative arts-based inquiry, that is written in verse, and presented in a poetic dialogic format. This methodology, which is congruent with the central position of the poetic in the study, is informed by the writer‘s background in poetry and literature. Each of the four chapter-long stanzas takes up one of the main themes: synaesthetic perception as a mode of being, the pulse of childhood knowing, a poetic sense of dwelling, and the intertwining of the senses and the poetic. A distinctive feature of the dissertation is that each stanza is fashioned as a polyvocal performative dialogue: an intertwining of poems, poetic fragments and the voices of others with the researcher‘s own verse-voice. The inquiry is offered as an experimental work in process. The reader is invited to engage in the dialogues by bringing her/his own sensuous experiences in the wild and knowledge of poetry to the piece, thus becoming a co-creator of the inquiry. / Graduate

This thesis concerns the contribution of Buddhism to sustainability. It explores the impacts of Buddhism on the lives of nine individuals and the implications of these impacts for a sustainable world. This thesis regards sustainability as the most pressing issue at this junction in human history. It believes that the shift to sustainability requires profound individual and social transformations throughout the world and that such transformations necessitate the involvement of the spiritual traditions of the world. As one such tradition, Buddhism has the ability to impart principles and practices that have been applied in daily living for over 2,500 years to contemporary sustainability discourse. The modern idea of sustainability first became prominent in the international arena in 1980s when the Brundtland Commission enunciated its vision of the path to sustainability and referred to it as 'sustainable development'. However, this thesis contends that the concept of sustainable development was flawed from the beginning because it was founded on the idea of perpetual economic growth as the solution to environmental and social problems. Instead, the thesis forwards a holistic, systems approach to sustainability that regards human well-being as the ultimate goal. It adopts two theoretical conceptions of sustainability developed by Donella Meadows - the pyramidal framework for sustainability and the scheme of leverage points - as tools to analyse the contribution of Buddhism to sustainability. This thesis examines the literature on Buddhism and sustainability. It finds that Buddhism espouses many ecological and social values conducive to a sustainable philosophy of life. In addition, Buddhist economics has experienced rich theoretical developments in recent years and provides an alternative to mainstream economics based on growth. Buddhist economics has helped propel two Buddhist developmental paradigms - Bhutan's Gross National Happiness and Thailand's Sufficiency Economy - to the forefront of national agendas in their respective countries, thus demonstrating the renaissance of the application of Buddhist thinking in society. At the micro level, many communities around the world are attempting to translate the most fundamental principles of Buddhism into ways for harmonious living and in an attempt to combat the tide of environmental and social degradation. Thus, Buddhism is making an impact on sustainability at many levels around the world. However, this thesis finds little empirical evidence to demonstrate the effect of Buddhism on forms of personal transformation that leads to sustainable behaviour. This is despite the importance of the idea of transformation and personal growth in Buddhism. This empirical void leads to the aim of the thesis, which is to explore the ways in which the beliefs, practices and transformational tools within Buddhism can contribute to living sustainably. To achieve this aim, the methodology of mindful inquiry was employed. Mindful inquiry is a methodological union of East and West and integrates four perspectives: critical theory, hermeneutics, phenomenology and Buddhism. It is appropriate for a values-based research such as this one where the orientation of the researcher is critical to the outcome of the research. A method consistent with mindful inquiry is the basic interpretive qualitative study. The basic interpretive qualitative study used in this study combines elements from ethnography, case study, phenomenology and critical research. It was used to explore the lifeworlds of nine Buddhist participants in order to understand the impact of Buddhism on their lives. The major data gathering technique was in-depth interviews although participant observation and document collection were also used. Analysis of data proceeded through the constant comparative method. The findings from this thesis are divided into three themes. Firstly, the idea of personal sustainability is forwarded as a concept to help understand the impact of Buddhism. Personal sustainability concerns the psychological 'integratedness' of individuals to enable the achievement of higher levels of well-being. The findings suggest that Buddhism has significantly enhanced the personal sustainability level of all nine participants. Secondly, Meadows' ideas of paradigm shift and paradigm transcendence are explored. The findings suggest that paradigm shifts or paradigm transcendence have occurred among the participants through the adoption of Buddhist principles and meditative practices. Thirdly, the notions of happiness and purpose in life are investigated. The findings highlight radical changes in the participants' understandings of these notions and the nature of these understandings that are significantly different from conventional views. As a result of these findings, the thesis argues that the contribution of Buddhism to sustainability can be considerable because Buddhism contributes to the protection of natural capital, the enrichment of social and human capitals, and a deepened understanding of well-being, which is divorced from simplistic ideas such as material accumulation and sensual gratification. The thesis concludes by highlighting the potentials of Buddhism to instigate profound personal and social transformations that could lead to a sustainable world.

Zugl.: Rostock, Univ., Diss., 2006

Die Studie befasst sich mit der Entwicklung der Landwirtschaftsverwaltung in Polen im Zeitraum 1989/90 bis 2003. Die Darstellung konzentriert sich auf Veränderungen von Organisationsstrukturen und Personal in der polnischen Landwirtschaftsverwaltung im Prozess der Transformation und der europäischen Integration.

<p>This research is an evaluative case study of transformation in a Historically White University in South Africa. The research occurs within the context of redress against the inequality and exclusion created by the legacy of apartheid. The research is a qualitative and quantinative study. it is based on based on desk research and include a literature review. Internet search as well as an analysis of key organisational and policy context documents such as reports, projects and surveys are used. semi-structured interviews was held with a sample of staff.</p>

Communication protocols, a class of critical systems, play an important role in industry. These protocols are critical because the tolerance for faults in these systems is low and it is highly desirable that these systems work correctly. Therefore, an effective methodology for describing and verifying that these systems behave according to their specifications is vitally important. Model checking is a verification technique in which a mathematically precise model of the system, either concrete or with abstraction, is built and a specification of how the system should behave is given. Then the system is considered correct if its model satisfies its specification. However, due to their size and complexity, critical systems, such as communication systems, are notoriously resistant to formal modelling and verification. In this thesis, we propose using graph transformation systems (GTSs), a visual semantic modelling approach, to model the behaviour of dynamically evolving communication protocols. Then, we show how a GTS model can facilitate verification of invariant properties of potentially unbounded communication systems. Finally, due to the use of similar isomorphic components in communication systems, we show how to exploit symmetries of these dynamically evolving models described by GTSs, to reduce the size of the model under verification. We use graph transformation systems to provide an expressive and intuitive visual description of the system state as a graph and for the computations of the system as a finite set of rules that transform the state graphs. Our model is well-suited for describing the behaviour of individual components, error-free communication channels amongst the components, and dynamic component creation and elimination. Thus, the structure of the generated model closely resembles the way in which communication protocols are typically separated into three levels: the first describing local features or components, the second characterizing interactions among components, and the third showing the evolution of the component set. The graph transformation semantics follows this scheme, enabling a clean separation of concerns when describing a protocol. This separation of concerns is a necessity for formal analysis of system behaviour. We prove that the finite set of graph transformation rules that describe behaviour of the system can be used to perform verification for invariant properties of the system. We show that if a property is preserved by the finite set of transformation rules describing the system model, and if the initial state satisfies the property, then the property is an invariant of the system model. Therefore, our verification method may avoid the explicit analysis of the potentially enormous state space that the transformation rules encode. In this thesis, we also develop symmetry reduction techniques applicable to dynamically evolving GTS models. The necessity to extend the existing symmetry reduction techniques arises because these techniques are not applicable to dynamic models such as those described by GTSs, and, in addition, these existing techniques may offer only limited reduction to systems that are not fully symmetric. We present an algorithm for generating a symmetry-reduced quotient model directly from a set of graph transformation rules. The generated quotient model is bisimilar to the model under verification and may be exponentially smaller than that model.

Hot-pressed BaTiO3 ceramics are prepared from commercial nano-size powder supplied by Cabot. Samples have been thoroughly analysed for the crystalline phases, microstructure, including stacking faults and dislocations, by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. This research consists of three major endeavours: (a) the analysis of stacking faults, (b) the hexagonal