Title page, abstract and table of contents only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / With the increasing use of lasers it is necessary to develop materials that can provide protection to eyes and other sensitive devices. This thesis reports on an investigation into optical limiting of Transition Metal Acetylides (TMAs) that transmit ambient light levels of light but block high energy (laser) light across the visible part of the spectrum. A standard optical limiting testbed is used to measure opt~callimiting at 470, 532 and 630 om for a wide range of Pt:ethynyl related TMAs. I report the effect on optical limiting of altering the central bridge, heavy metal, terminal group, solubilising group and oligomerisation. Most of these materials showed poor optical limiting, especially in the red. Two dimers of Pt:ethynyl, however, have clamping levels at 532 om better than that for Pt:ethynyl. I therefore describe a detailed spectroscopic investigation of two series of oligomers and discuss their structure/property relationships. This investigation also includes a precursor ofPtethynyl, PEPE, which shows remarkable limiting. I also report modelling of optical limiting using a 5-level model constructed using the spectroscopic data. I show that the 5-level model can be validated and accurately predicts the limiting for PEPE against both ps and ns pulses. It can also be used to predict ps limiting for Pt:ethynyl and its oligomers. For ns pulses, however, it predicts much less limiting than that observed. I therefore propose a new mechanism that is important for ns limiting by TMAs. Finally I discuss the broadband limiting of these materials and from analysis of the measurements· I describe structures of materials that may show promising broadband optical limiting. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1320307 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemistry and Physics, 2008

Typescript (Photocopy) / Includes bibliographical references / xix, 290 leaves : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dept. of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Adelaide, 1989

2 v. : ill. ; 26 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dept. of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Adelaide, 1974

vii, 165 [14] leaves : ill. ; 26 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, 1973

Abstract This is an action research thesis, which documents a reflexive process of change undergone by farmers in making transitions from conventional farming to alternative farming. I achieve this through the process of answering the central research question for this thesis: How can the capacity of farmers be developed in the best way to assist them in making the transition from conventional to alternate farming systems? The original starting point for this study was concerned with addressing the problems of conventional farming. The consequences of which are arguably the continued risks to farmers’ lives and natural resources as witnessed in India. However, as the study progressed I realized that changing from conventional farming to alternative farming like organics, biodynamics, permaculture and natural farming involved more than simply a change in farmers’ practices. It was also closely intertwined with broader issues such as farmers’ epistemological relation to the soil and the ontological construction of theories and concepts based on their values and beliefs that influenced their methodological practices. In order to examine the wider issues around transitions to alternative farming, this study was conducted in two regions. Namely, Australia, as an example of the western world practicing modern agriculture and India, as an example of the developing world utilising indigenous farming practices. The early cycles of my study occurred through immersion. This included my firsthand experience as an extension scientist in India and my direct involvement in a series of events in Australia, which assisted in framing the research question. To document the reflexive process of change undergone by farmers in transitions from conventional farming to alternative farming, I conducted convergent interviews with 20 participants in Australia and 18 participants in India. The results of these interviews elicited six major themes as follows: 1. Enriching soil health through perceptional change 2. Knowledge sharing through networking 3. Diversifying through biophysical and socio-cultural processes 4. Learning through experience 5. Indigenous knowledge built through accumulated experiences 6. Self sufficiency through recycling farm resources. Having identified these six themes, I proceeded to construct a tool for each theme so as to merge theory and practice and to address the fact that there are currently inadequate tools available for practitioners seeking to facilitate the change to alternative farming systems. The tools for the respective themes are as follows: 1. Typology on perception of soil in relation to practice 2. Dynamics of knowledge sharing influencing transition 3. Key components for diversity 4. Conditions that facilitate experiential learning for transition 5. Conceptual tool to capture beliefs and faiths around the practice 6. Farm sufficiency assessment tool. Finally, I develop and present an overarching tool, Assessing transition process based on themes, which combines all six of the themes and aims to deepen our understanding of the barriers present in the transition process on a larger scale. I also present these tools to six key people in Australia, who were able to confirm or refute their application in practice. Among the seven tools developed, the Typology on perception of soil in relation to practice is viewed as the most significant tool by the majority of the key people consulted for the following reasons: • This tool has the features of inquiry and action. This statement was supported by the key people who observed that the tool both informs the group of participants where they sit (inquiry) and allows them to see where they want to be, which makes them think about their actions. • This tool also has high practitioner relevance and is trans-disciplinary. Importantly, key people from different fields of specialization were able to identify the benefits of the tool in common. • Having said that the tool has a common application it may be used for diverse purposes. For instance, the tool may be used by an engineer or an architect to understand the epistemological relation of a land owner to their land and how this will influence their plans for land use. • The heterogeneous and diverse nature of the tool allows it to be used in any culture. • The tool, in itself, is reflexive in nature as it helps the user to reflect on own actions. It also has the capacity to remind the user of their accountability to the land resource being utilized. • The tool helps participants to think about the most appropriate or best actions for producing actionable knowledge. • The tool is transparent in exhibiting the different possible types of perceptions in relation to the soil, thereby providing the user with the opportunity for future action. Finally, this thesis examines and illustrates the transformational learning of farmers through an analysis of their epistemology and a reconstruction of their epistemology through ontology, which will result in continued transition for transitional agriculture.

Title page, abstract and table of contents only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / With the increasing use of lasers it is necessary to develop materials that can provide protection to eyes and other sensitive devices. This thesis reports on an investigation into optical limiting of Transition Metal Acetylides (TMAs) that transmit ambient light levels of light but block high energy (laser) light across the visible part of the spectrum. A standard optical limiting testbed is used to measure opt~callimiting at 470, 532 and 630 om for a wide range of Pt:ethynyl related TMAs. I report the effect on optical limiting of altering the central bridge, heavy metal, terminal group, solubilising group and oligomerisation. Most of these materials showed poor optical limiting, especially in the red. Two dimers of Pt:ethynyl, however, have clamping levels at 532 om better than that for Pt:ethynyl. I therefore describe a detailed spectroscopic investigation of two series of oligomers and discuss their structure/property relationships. This investigation also includes a precursor ofPtethynyl, PEPE, which shows remarkable limiting. I also report modelling of optical limiting using a 5-level model constructed using the spectroscopic data. I show that the 5-level model can be validated and accurately predicts the limiting for PEPE against both ps and ns pulses. It can also be used to predict ps limiting for Pt:ethynyl and its oligomers. For ns pulses, however, it predicts much less limiting than that observed. I therefore propose a new mechanism that is important for ns limiting by TMAs. Finally I discuss the broadband limiting of these materials and from analysis of the measurements· I describe structures of materials that may show promising broadband optical limiting. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1320307 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemistry and Physics, 2008

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis uses a transdisciplinary, sustainability-science approach to investigate the dialectics and potential for the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia, to make a transition to sustainability. The Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s historic food, wine and grain breadbaskets, is now home to over 50 opencut and underground black coal mines and is one of the world’s major coalmining and exporting regions. It is Australia’s largest black coal electricity generating region where six coal-fired power stations generate 40% of Australia’s electricity supply. The carbon intensity of the Hunter Valley’s economy makes the region Australia’s largest direct and indirect contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions. The region is a climate change hot spot that embodies the challenges and opportunities confronting Australia if it is to move towards a clean, renewable energy future and ecologically and socially-sustainable economy. The study examines the Hunter Valley as a complex adaptive socio-ecological system nested in an extended panarchy (Gunderson and Holling, 2002) that includes global energy systems and the ecosphere. The research examines the linked ecological and social health impacts of different scenarios for the Hunter Valley, comparing its current status – given the name Carbon Valley (Ray, 2005a) – with an alternative socio-ecological regime described by local residents as a Future Beyond Coal (CAN, 2006). This Future Beyond Coal is a regional manifestation of what Heinberg (2004) calls, at a global scale, a Post-carbon Society. Transdisciplinary sustainability-science is used to examine complex processes in which Hunter Valley residents are dealing with linked ecosystem-human health distress, while developing capacity for anticipating and forging change towards sustainability. They are also boosting the resilience of desirable states while challenging the perverse resilience of coal dependency. The thesis examines the potential for a ‘Just Transition’ to sustainability, a social and economic restructuring process which aspires to move the region’s socio-ecological relationships rapidly towards sustainability through protecting the wellbeing of vulnerable workers, communities and ecosystems. It investigates hegemonic relationships within coal communities, and the role popular education and social learning are playing in building a social movement for sustainability, a movement that links local, regional and global attractors and disturbances in order to change the basin of attraction from the current non-sustainable coal-dependent society to one that is ecologically sustainable and socially just.

Title page, abstract and table of contents only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / With the increasing use of lasers it is necessary to develop materials that can provide protection to eyes and other sensitive devices. This thesis reports on an investigation into optical limiting of Transition Metal Acetylides (TMAs) that transmit ambient light levels of light but block high energy (laser) light across the visible part of the spectrum. A standard optical limiting testbed is used to measure opt~callimiting at 470, 532 and 630 om for a wide range of Pt:ethynyl related TMAs. I report the effect on optical limiting of altering the central bridge, heavy metal, terminal group, solubilising group and oligomerisation. Most of these materials showed poor optical limiting, especially in the red. Two dimers of Pt:ethynyl, however, have clamping levels at 532 om better than that for Pt:ethynyl. I therefore describe a detailed spectroscopic investigation of two series of oligomers and discuss their structure/property relationships. This investigation also includes a precursor ofPtethynyl, PEPE, which shows remarkable limiting. I also report modelling of optical limiting using a 5-level model constructed using the spectroscopic data. I show that the 5-level model can be validated and accurately predicts the limiting for PEPE against both ps and ns pulses. It can also be used to predict ps limiting for Pt:ethynyl and its oligomers. For ns pulses, however, it predicts much less limiting than that observed. I therefore propose a new mechanism that is important for ns limiting by TMAs. Finally I discuss the broadband limiting of these materials and from analysis of the measurements· I describe structures of materials that may show promising broadband optical limiting. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1320307 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemistry and Physics, 2008

Title page, abstract and table of contents only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / With the increasing use of lasers it is necessary to develop materials that can provide protection to eyes and other sensitive devices. This thesis reports on an investigation into optical limiting of Transition Metal Acetylides (TMAs) that transmit ambient light levels of light but block high energy (laser) light across the visible part of the spectrum. A standard optical limiting testbed is used to measure opt~callimiting at 470, 532 and 630 om for a wide range of Pt:ethynyl related TMAs. I report the effect on optical limiting of altering the central bridge, heavy metal, terminal group, solubilising group and oligomerisation. Most of these materials showed poor optical limiting, especially in the red. Two dimers of Pt:ethynyl, however, have clamping levels at 532 om better than that for Pt:ethynyl. I therefore describe a detailed spectroscopic investigation of two series of oligomers and discuss their structure/property relationships. This investigation also includes a precursor ofPtethynyl, PEPE, which shows remarkable limiting. I also report modelling of optical limiting using a 5-level model constructed using the spectroscopic data. I show that the 5-level model can be validated and accurately predicts the limiting for PEPE against both ps and ns pulses. It can also be used to predict ps limiting for Pt:ethynyl and its oligomers. For ns pulses, however, it predicts much less limiting than that observed. I therefore propose a new mechanism that is important for ns limiting by TMAs. Finally I discuss the broadband limiting of these materials and from analysis of the measurements· I describe structures of materials that may show promising broadband optical limiting. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1320307 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemistry and Physics, 2008

The biological significance of macrocyclic complexes has been recognized since they were first synthesized by Neil Curtis. They have the potential to play a critical role in mimicking metalloprotein active sites. Nine Curtis macrocyclic complexes have been studied using X-ray crystallographic techniques. Their structures have been solved and comparisons of the results have been made. Biological importance is also true of the macrocyclic counterpart; side-off and end-off compartmental ligands. In some circumstances these types of ligands are more appropriate because they have extra flexibility due to their pendant arms not being fixed in place by another head-unit, like a traditional macrocycle. The synthesis of a proposed compartmental ligand; 2,2-(N,Nʼ-bis(benzimidazole-2-ylmethyl)methylamine-5,5ʼ-di-tert-butyl-3,3ʼmethanediyl-dibenzyl alcohol (Ligand 1(L1)), has been proposed and outlined. The pendant arms: bis(benzimidazole-2-ylmethyl)amine (BBIM), were successfully synthesized and characterized with 1H NMR, IR and X-ray crystallography. The head-unit: 5,5ʼ-Di-tert-butyl-2,2ʼ-dihydroxy-3,3ʼ-methanediyl-dibenzene methanol (DHTMBA), of L1 was synthesized and characterized using 1H NMR, IR and mass spectrometry. A similar head-unit; 5,5ʼ-Di-methyl-2,2ʼ-dihydroxy-3,3ʼ-methanediyl-dibenzene methanol (DHMMBA), was synthesized in an effort to shorten the synthetic time of the head-unit. This was consequently converted to the chlorine analogue; 3,3ʼ-Bis(chloromethyl)-5,5ʼ-dimethyl-2,2ʼ-methane-diyldiphenol (Cl-DHMMB), and characterized with 1H NMR, IR and X-ray crystallography. Efforts were made to synthesize Ligand 1, but due to synthetic difficulties and time restraints this proved unsuccessful. Suggestions have been made to develop this synthesis.