Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Variability of flats size'

In all biological systems, phenotypes are quantitative measures of an organism's traits. To understand the relation between a genotype and phenotypes, the influence of genetic perturbations, such as gene deletions, on phenotypes is studied. Although it is common practice to look at the mean value of phenotypes to detect changes, it is less common to model such modifications by considering phenotypic variability. However, phenotypic variability could also contain important information about the phenotype-genotype map. Also, phenotypic variability is a determinant of an organism's robustness and fitness. This thesis is a collection of five studies devised to identify and analyse phenotypic variability in S. pombe, S. cerevisiae and E. coli. The first chapter determines the probabilistic nature of the dynamic transition from quiescence to proliferation in S. pombe. Based on the viability and the random nature of the quiescence of knockout genes, we demonstrate that two competing stochastic models explain the data equally well. The second and third chapters provide novel approaches to identifying mutant genes that increase/decrease phenotypic variability throughout the cell cycle of S. cerevisiae. Using machine learning algorithms, we observe that mutants divide in four categories acting positively and/or negatively on phenotypic variability. Additionally, we show that phenotypic robustness is inversely related to cell fitness. The fourth chapter builds morphological interaction networks in S. cerevisiae. By employing a Bayesian network framework, we show that cell size dictates nuclear size throughout most of the cell cycle. The fifth chapter investigates the growth rate of bacterial populations subject to fluctuations in the variance of their cell size distributions. By employing a population balance equation combined with an agent-based model, our results indicate that the cell size distribution affects the growth rate. Moreover, we show that cells possess a cell size regulator within their cycle.

The majority of studies on plant biomass partitioning have focused on the effects of environment. Optimal Partitioning Theory (OPT) suggests that plants should allocate biomass to the organ that acquires the most limiting resource. Though, it has recently been disputed as to how much of this variation is due to variation in size and not environment. Additionally, while a few studies have examined differences between growth forms, the effects of evolutionary history have been largely ignored. Leaf morphology and physiology may also contribute to patterns of biomass partitioning.The role of plant size has been shown to be considerable to plant biomass allocation. Allometric biomass Partitioning Theory (APT) has recently been proposed to predict how plants should partition metabolic production based on the constraints of body size. Here, I assess the relative contribution of environment, growth form, leaf traits and phylogeny on variation in biomass allocation, after accounting for changes in size, using both an empirical and experimental approach. I use a global dataset of seed plants in addition to growing plants with differing evolutionary histories and growth forms hydroponically in two nutrient levels to examine patterns of organ partitioning while accounting for allometrically driven biomass allocation. Both the empirical and experimental interspecific analyses indicate that phylogeny accounts for the majority of the variation in biomass partitioning. Leaf biomass partitioning is partially related to growth form, however this appears to be due to differences in leaf morphology and physiology. While a strong phylogenetic signal exists, about half of the variation was not explained by any of the factors interspecifically, suggesting room for plasticity in partitioning. Intraspecifically, biomass allocation and partitioning was related to environmental factors in the directions predicted by OPT. However, the species-specific allocation response to environmental differences was not uniform, therefore obscuring interspecific patterns. These results have important implications for ecological studies; such that partitioning studies must first assess the role of plant size and evolutionary history in order to fully understand variability in biomass partitioning. Additionally, differences from environment can be incorporated with allometric changes to help understand how plants should allocate biomass.

Small scale fisheries serve as a “safety net” to the landless poor and significantly contribute to nutrition, food security, sustainable livelihood and poverty alleviation especially in developing countries such as Zambia. In spite of this substantial contribution, fisheries are highly susceptible to climate change and variability. The main aim of this study is to investigate the implications of climate variability on small scale fishing activities and the fishers’ adaptive capacity in the Kafue Flats of Zambia. Climatic data from Mumbwa, Kafue Polder, Mt Makulu, Magoye and Lusaka City meteorological stations is examined for the monthly, seasonal and annual variabilities with a central focus on the mean rainfall, temperature and wind speed over the 1982-2011 period. Additionally, the periodic size variation of the Kafue flats catchment area and its effects on the fishing activities are explored using satellite imagery in change detection analysis, employing ARC GIS 10.1 and ENVI 4.8. Further, the study explores the livelihood strategies of the fishing communities in determining their adaptive capacity to climate variability effects. Accordingly, the data sets are analysed using MS EXCEL, SPSS, ANCLIM, TREND TOOL, to establish climatic trends and deduce evidence of change and variability in the Kafue flats. Using snowball sampling technique and household survey, 110 fisher-folk were selected for the study. Besides, dissemination of face-to-face- questionnaires and key informant interviews are employed in this study. Climate variability analysis revealed that strong winds, storms, high rainfall and floods have adverse effects on the fisher-folk and their fishing activities. Thus, 90.9% of the fisher-folk indicated that heavy stormy rains have a larger potential to wreak havoc and cause death due to boat submergence. In addition, 95.5% of the fisher-folk stated that fishing activities do not take place during strong winds and heavy storms until calm weather conditions prevail. It is also established that the fisher-folk who are inclined to remain in a declining fishery are those restricted by a lack of alternative livelihoods and poverty. For instance, nearly half (44.5 %) of the fisher-folk interviewed lack alternative sources of livelihood. The conclusion from the study is that, climate variability has a wide range of impacts on fisheries and fishery dependent households. The explicit and localized impacts of climate variability on fisheries include reduced primary productivity, decrease in lake water levels and fish catches resulting from reduced precipitation and high run off. Therefore, there is need to enhance resilience and adoption of sustainable mitigation and adaptation strategies. The fisher-folk should be educated on alternative livelihoods to enable them cope in an event where climate change and variability severely impact on fisheries.<br>Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>Geography Geoinformatics and Mateology<br>MSc<br>Unrestricted

This study investigated the relationship between working memory and language in typically developing young children. The aim was to gain a better understanding of language development, in particular, the involvement of visual and verbal short-term memory in language acquisition and its influence on vocabulary size. It explored possible underlying causes of why some children have problems in the process of learning to talk, whereas other children acquire language easily. A total of 51 New Zealand English speaking children aged two to five completed a battery of assessments measuring receptive and expressive vocabulary and visual and verbal short-term memory. The standardized tests administered included the Receptive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test (Brownell, 2000b), the Expressive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test (Brownell, 2000a), the Visual Patterns Test (Stokes, Klee, Cruickshank, & Pleass, 2009), and the Test of Early Nonword Repetition (Stokes & Klee, 2009a). Receptive vocabulary knowledge was strongly associated with visual (r = .75) and verbal (r = .60) short-term memory performance and age (r = .72). The relationship of expressive vocabulary to visual short-term memory (r = .80) was stronger than to verbal short-term memory (r = .62) but significant for both and also for age (r= .83). Significant unique predictors for expressive vocabulary were age (R2 change = .60) as well as visual (R2 change = .04) and verbal (R2 change = .04) short-term memory. However, age appeared to be the only unique predictor for receptive vocabulary (R2 change = .54). In addition, the findings suggested that visual and verbal short-term memory increases as children get older. Hence, the Visual Patterns Test and Test of Early Nonword Repetition seem to be good predictors, over and above age, of expressive vocabulary knowledge.

Beach grain size plays a major role in controlling beach slope and sediment transport rates and is a crucial criterion in selecting the appropriate fill material for beach nourishment. Yet, little is known about how and why beach grain size (and sorting) varies both spatially and temporally on high-energy sandy beaches. Therefore, in this PhD research project, the presence, magnitude and predictability of any spatio-temporal sediment variability was investigated on a number of contrasting high-energy (average significant wave height = 0.8 to 3.5 m), predominantly macrotidal (MSR = 3.1 – 6.2 m), sandy (0.26 – 0.64 mm) beach sites around the southwest peninsula of the United Kingdom (UK). The spatial extent of the data collected ranges from regional (one off snapshot of the sediment conditions on 53 beaches over 485 km of coastline) to local scales (repeated high-resolution samples from across the inter- and subtidal zone of a single high-energy sandy beach; Perranporth, UK). The temporal scales of the sampling ranges from tidal scale (~12 hours) up to monthly (long-term monitoring since 2008). A combination of traditional and modern field data collection methods has provided new insights into the sediment dynamics of sandy beaches. Surface and 0.25 m core sediment samples from the 53 beaches around the southwest UK and high-resolution digital measurements with longer 1 m sand cores from the intertidal zone, plus grab samples from the subtidal zone, at Perranporth, indicated the presence of three quasi-permanent spatial trends. On all sandy beaches, surface sediments became coarser (and better sorted) in the seaward direction across the intertidal zone. Peak sediment sizes were observed on the lower beach around mean low water springs, which were an average 19% coarser (and 8% better sorted) than sediments sampled on the upper intertidal beach. Sediment size (and sorting) also increased (improved) with distance down the sediment column over the top 0.25 m to 1 m. Peak sediment sizes at depth were an average 16% coarser (and 16% better sorted) than surface sediments. In the subtidal zone, surface sediments became finer and poorer sorted with increasing offshore distance. Minimum sediment size occurred on the subtidal bar crest and were an average 21% finer (and 51% poorer sorted) than the lower beach sediments and 5% finer (and 38% poorer sorted) than upper beach sediments. The coarsest sediments were usually the best sorted at all locations. The intertidal coarsening was deterministically linked to the location and amount of breaking wave-induced turbulence. The peak sediment sizes (and sorting) on the lower beach correlated with the location of peak wave dissipation (sediment size to amount of wave dissipation, r2 = 0.86) and the finer sediment sizes on the upper beach and bar were coincident with reduced amounts of wave dissipation in these regions. Long-term seasonal monitoring of the surface sediments at Perranporth indicated a background seasonality, where the winter months were an average 35% coarser and 22% better sorted than samples collected in summer. This seasonal pattern was punctuated by episodic storm events that promoted a significant coarsening (up to 112% in the extreme winter storms of 2014) of the surface sediments and significant beach erosion up to 175 m3/m. An empirical model forced by the degree of disequilibrium between an instantaneous and antecedent (weighted average) wave steepness time series was able to capture up to 86% of the sediment grain size and sorting variability, incorporating both the seasonal and storm driven change. The same model, applied to daily observations of sediment size and sorting changes was able to explain 72% of the variability. A conceptual model is proposed that extends the cross-shore sediment transport shape functions to include the various sediment (size and sorting) responses alongside the morphodynamic evolution during persistently high and low wave steepness conditions. Under high steepness waves, the finer material is preferentially removed from the lower intertidal beach, leaving behind coasrer sediments. This fine material is transported to the subtidal bar, which becomes finer (and more poorly sorted) inversely with the coarsening (and improved sorting) of the intertidal zone sediments. Under low steepness waves, this fine material is returned from the bar to the intertidal beach. This work provides a detailed, quantitative insight into the magnitude of sediment grain size and sorting changes exhibited by sandy beaches on a number of spatial and temporal scales. Several consistent trends were observed on a range of sandy beaches despite their different environmental conditions and geological histories. This improved understanding of sediment grain size and sorting changes on beaches will hopefully aid future research efforts and ensure that this fundamental aspect of coastal science is not overlooked or oversimplified.

In this work, the various sources of errors in radar rain estimation are quantified and procedures are developed to reduce them. The few topics explored here are: the variability of drop size distributions (DSDs), radar calibration, and errors in polarimetric rain estimation. The findings resulting from this study include 1) a new filtering technique that reduces the spurious DSD sampling variability while maintaining the physical variability, 2) a generalization of previously suggested DSD models in terms of scaling concepts, 3) the experimental evidence of the physical interpretation of DSD evolution and of R-Z relationships, 4) the time scale dependence of the DSD variability and its implication for radar rain estimation, 5) the quantification of error sources in polarimetric rain estimation and its feasibility in operational environment, and 6) a complete set of stable radar calibration methods and their theoretical limits. All error statistics from this work will be used as a guideline in radar rain estimation.

This research seeks to advance our understanding of how to make better informed species conservation decisions on a global scale and advance our understanding of how species' spatial distributions (their geographic ranges) may be respond to climate change, so we can know which areas should be set aside to ensure their present and future conservation. To understand how species' geographic ranges may change, it's important to first assess how geographic ranges are defined and measured. The quantifiable measurement of a species' geographic range, (its geographic range size), is a key criterion the International Union for the Conservation of Nature uses to determine the conservation status and prioritization of species worldwide. Thus, part one of this thesis evaluates different measures for how geographic range size is commonly quantified in the conservation community, to determine whether some range size measures are more reliable than others.Further, to evaluate how species' geographic ranges may respond to climate change, I examine the climatic factors influencing observable longitudinal range size gradients in the North American tree species range maps from E.L. Little's Atlas of North American Trees.

Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the developed world. Despite that considerable advances in experimental research enabled understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and identified hundreds of potential neuroprotective drugs for treatment, no such drug has shown efficacy in humans. The failure in the translation from bench to bedside has been partially attributed to the poor quality and rigour of animal studies. Recently, it has been suggested that multicentre animal studies imitating the design of randomised clinical trials could improve the translation of experimental research. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be pivotal in such studies due to its non-invasive nature and its high sensitivity to ischaemic lesions, but its accuracy and concordance across centres has not yet been evaluated. This thesis focussed on the use of MRI for the assessment of late infarct size, the primary outcome used in stroke models. Initially, a systematic review revealed that a plethora of imaging protocols and data analysis methods are used for this purpose. Using meta-analysis techniques, it was determined that T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) was best correlated with gold standard histology for the measurement of infarctbased treatment effects. Then, geometric accuracy in six different preclinical MRI scanners was assessed using structural phantoms and automated data analysis tools developed in-house. It was found that geometric accuracy varies between scanners, particularly when centre-specific T2WI protocols are used instead of a standardised protocol, though longitudinal stability over six months is high. Finally, a simulation study suggested that the measured geometric errors and the different protocols are sufficient to render infarct volumes and related group comparisons across centres incomparable. The variability increases when both factors are taken into account and when infarct volume is expressed as a relative estimate. Data in this study were analysed using a custom-made semi-automated tool that was faster and more reliable in repeated analyses than manual analysis. Findings of this thesis support the implementation of standardised methods for the assessment and optimisation of geometric accuracy in MRI scanners, as well as image acquisition and analysis of in vivo data for the measurement of infarct size in multicentre animal studies. Tools and techniques developed as part of the thesis show great promise in the analysis of phantom and in vivo data and could be a step towards this endeavour.

Although hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) generally improve fuel economy (FE) compared to conventional vehicles, evidence of higher FE variability in HEVs compared to conventional vehicles indicates that apart from the improvement in FE, the reduction of FE variability is also of significant importance for HEVs. Over the years research on how to optimise powertrain component sizes of HEVs has generally focused on improving FE over a given driving pattern; FE variability over a realistic range of driving patterns has generally been overlooked, and this can lead to FE benefits of HEVs not being fully realised in real-world usage. How to reduce the FE variability in HEVs due to variation in driving patterns through the optimisation of powertrain component sizes is considered as the research question. This research proposes a new methodology in which powertrain components are optimised over a range of driving patterns representing different traffic conditions and driving styles simultaneously. This improves upon the traditional methodology followed in the reviewed literature, where an optimisation is performed for each individual driving pattern. An analysis shows that the traditional methodology could produce around 20% FE variability due to variation in driving patterns. This study considers a computer simulation model of a series-parallel Toyota Prius HEV for the investigation. Four powertrain components, namely, internal combustion engine, generator, motor, and battery of the Toyota Prius are optimised for FE using a genetic algorithm. For both the proposed and traditional methodologies, the powertrain components are optimised based on 5 standard driving patterns representing different traffic conditions and driving styles. During the optimisation, the proposed methodology considers all the 5 driving patterns simultaneously, whereas the traditional methodology considers each driving pattern separately. The optimum designs of both the methodologies and the simulation model of the Toyota Prius which is the benchmark vehicle for this study are evaluated for FE over the aforementioned 5 standard driving patterns and also 10 real-world driving patterns of a predefined route consisting of urban and highway driving patterns. The proposed methodology provides a single optimum design over the 5 standard driving patterns, whereas the traditional methodology provides 5 different optimum designs, one for each driving pattern. The single optimum design produced by the proposed methodology is independent of the sequence of driving patterns. The proposed methodology reduces FE variability by 5.3% and up to 48.9% with comparable average FE compared to the Toyota Prius and traditional methodology, respectively over the 10 real-world driving patterns, whereas none of the optimum designs of the traditional methodology is able to reduce FE variability compared to the Toyota Prius. This research provides a promising direction to address customer concerns related to FE in the real-world and improves understanding of the effect of driving patterns on the design of powertrain components.

When testing forgings for specifications, it was found that some parts did not meet the requirements for mechanical properties. This triggered an investigation into two of the parts from the lot that did not meet specification. The ultimate reason for failure was due to lower than necessary yield strength and ultimate tensile strength values, as well as unwanted variability between regions of the part. Therefore, samples of the regions were tensile tested to determine the differences that existed in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation. After tensile testing, quantitative metallography and fractography were conducted to identify aspects of the microstructure and fracture surfaces that may have caused the variability. Three aspects of the microstructure that were identified as characteristics that may affect the mechanical properties were: grain size, Widmanstätten colony size, and volume fraction of the β phase. Based on measurements it was determined that a smaller Widmanstätten colony size found to be roughly 120 microns/colony was associated with a larger yield strength and UTS than larger colony sizes of roughly 170 microns/ colony. Grain size also played a role with smaller grain sizes of roughly 1550 microns/grain being associated with a higher yield strength and UTS than the larger grains of roughly 2000 microns/grain. Fractography also suggested that the presence of interlamellar decohesion and trans-lamellar failure may have created sites of further crack initiation, resulting in a lower ultimate tensile strength. These differences were theorized to be caused by a temperature gradient created during the heat treatment that created non-uniform cooling rates, resulting in the differences in microstructural characteristics.

Nutritional quality and availability is thought to regulate geographic patterns of variability in animal body size due to phenotypic plasticity. The purpose of this study is to determine how vegetation quality, abundance and population density influence white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) body size on a subregional spatial scale at Fort Hood, Texas. Harvest and census records are used to test the hypothesis that white-tailed deer exhibit phenotypic plasticity (e.g. larger body size) in response to differences in vegetation quality and availability. Results from these analyses suggest that forage quality and abundance alone is not a main driver of white-tailed deer body size. Analysis of deer population density (generally) resulted in an inverse relationship with body size. Areas with high quality forage and low population density support larger deer while areas with low quality forage and high density support smaller than average deer. The few exceptions occur in areas exhibiting poor quality forage and low population density or high forage quality and high density. Results from this study suggest that continued overcrowding of deer within isolated areas may eventually lead to efficiency phenotypic conditions producing smaller sized deer. These results could prove useful in interpreting deer population responses to harvest management. For successful local management of deer, studies examining the combined influence of habitat variables (such as forage quality, abundance and population density) on deer health offer managers valuable information needed to establish annual harvest goals and understand deer-habitat relationships relative to carrying capacity.

The aim of this thesis is to obtain long-term information on aerosol number size distribution and new particle formation at the Mt. Cimone GAW global station (CMN, 2165 m a.s.l.) to better assess how aerosols impact on Earth system. The size distribution of particles ranging from 9nm to 500nm was continuously observed with a DMPS from November 2005 to July 2013 in the framework of EUSAAR and ACTRIS projects. Size distribution and number concentration are studied at different time scales, together with occurrences of new particle formation (NPF). CMN typical aerosol number size distribution is bimodal while the average total number concentration of 1534±1332/cm^3. The number concentration shows large seasonal variations with higher values during warm months, almost four times higher than those observed in winter. On a daily time-scale, the maximum of total particles occurs in the afternoon. When classifying aerosol number size distribution into nucleation mode, Aitken mode, and accumulation mode, Aitken mode is the main contributor to the total number concentration for about 53%, followed by particles in the accumulation and nucleation modes with 31% and 16%, respectively. NPFs are identified, by classifying each day following standardized classification criteria. CMN is characterized by a NPF events frequency of 26.7%, with the highest event occurrence in May and August, while non-events are more frequent during winter. The growth of nucleation mode particles and the time evolution of their number concentration begin around local noon. The first one lasts almost three hours, with a mean growth rate of 4.65±1.97nm/h, while the latter lasts more than one hour and a half, with a rate of 0.50±0.56/(cm^3 ·s). The average condensation sink (CS) is 0.280 ·10^-3/s during a typical non-event day, and 0.483·10^-3/s during a typical event day. However, low CS observed before the nucleation onset time can be an important factor triggering NPFs, except during winter season.

The understanding of human exposure to indoor particles of all sizes is important to enable exposure control and reduction, but especially for smaller particles since the smaller particles have a higher probability of penetration into the deeper parts of the respiratory tract and also contain higher levels of trace elements and toxins. Due to the limited understanding of the relationship between particle size and the health effects they cause, as well as instrument limitations, the available information on submicrometer (d < 1.0 µm) particles indoors, both in terms of mass and number concentrations, is still relatively limited. This PhD project was conducted as part of the South-East Queensland Air Quality program and Queensland Housing Study aimed at providing a better understanding of ambient particle concentrations within the indoor environment with a focus on exposure assessment and control. This PhD project was designed to investigate comprehensively the sources and sinks of indoor aerosol particles and the relationship between indoor and outdoor aerosol particles, particle and gaseous pollutant, as well as the association between indoor air pollutants and house characteristics by using, analysing and interpreting existing experimental data which were collected before this project commenced, as well as data from additional experiments which were designed and conducted for the purpose of this project. The focus of this research was on submicrometer particles with a diameter between 0.007 - 0.808 µm. The main outcome of this project may be summarised as following: * A comprehensive review of particle concentration levels and size distributions characteristics in the residential and non-industrial workplace environments was conducted. This review included only those studies in which more general trends were investigated, or could be concluded based on information provided in the papers. This review included four parts: 1) outdoor particles and their effect on indoor environments; 2) the relationship between indoor and outdoor concentration levels in the absence of indoor sources for naturally ventilated buildings; 3) indoor sources of particles: contribution to indoor concentration levels and the effect on I/O ratios for naturally ventilated buildings; and 4) indoor/outdoor relationship in mechanically ventilated buildings. * The relationship between indoor and outdoor airborne particles was investigated for sixteen residential houses in Brisbane, Australia, in the absence of operating indoor sources. Comparison of the ratios of indoor to outdoor particle concentrations revealed that while temporary values of the ratio vary in a broad range from 0.2 to 2.5 for both lower and higher ventilation conditions, average values of the ratios were very close to one regardless of ventilation conditions and of particle size range. The ratios were in the range from 0.78 to 1.07 for submicrometer particles, from 0.95 to 1.0 for supermicrometer particles and from 1.01 to 1.08 for PM2.5 fraction. Comparison of the time series of indoor to outdoor particle concentrations showed a clear positive relationship existing for many houses under normal ventilation conditions (estimated to be about and above 2 h-1), but not under minimum ventilation conditions (estimated to be about and below 1 h-1). These results suggest that for normal ventilation conditions and in the absence of operating indoor sources, outdoor particle concentrations could be used to predict instantaneous indoor particle concentrations but not for minium ventilation, unless air exchange rate is known, thus allowing for estimation of the "delay constant". * Diurnal variation of indoor submicrometer particle number and particle mass (approximation of PM2.5) concentrations was investigated in fifteen of the houses. The results show that there were clear diurnal variations in both particle number and approximation of PM2.5 concentrations, for all the investigated houses. The pattern of diurnal variations varied from house to house, however, there was always a close relationship between the concentration and human indoor activities. The average number and mass concentrations during indoor activities were (18.2±3.9)×10³ particles cm-³ and (15.5±7.9) µg m-³ respectively, and under non-activity conditions, (12.4±2.7)x10³ particles cm-³ (11.1±2.6) µg m-³, respectively. In general, there was a poor correlation between mass and number concentrations and the correlation coefficients were highly variable from day to day and from house to house. This implies that conclusions cannot be drawn about either one of the number or mass concentration characteristics of indoor particles, based on measurement of the other. The study also showed that it is unlikely that particle concentrations indoors could be represented by measurements conducted at a fixed monitoring station due to the large impact of indoor and local sources. * Emission characteristics of indoor particle sources in fourteen residential houses were quantified. In addition, characterizations of particles resulting from cooking conducted in an identical way in all the houses were measured. All the events of elevated particle concentrations were linked to indoor activities using house occupants diary entries, and catalogued into 21 different types of indoor activities. This enabled quantification of the effect of indoor sources on indoor particle concentrations as well as quantification of emission rates from the sources. For example, the study found that frying, grilling, stove use, toasting, cooking pizza, smoking, candle vaporizing eucalyptus oil and fan heater use, could elevate the indoor submicrometer particle number concentration levels by more than 5 times, while PM2.5 concentrations could be up to 3, 30 and 90 times higher than the background levels during smoking, frying and grilling, respectively. * Indoor particle deposition rates of size classified particles in the size range from 0.015 to 6 µm were quantified. Particle size distribution resulting from cooking, repeated under two different ventilation conditions in 14 houses, as well as changes to particle size distribution as a function of time, were measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS), and a DustTrak. Deposition rates were determined by regression fitting of the measured size-resolved particle number and PM2.5 concentration decay curves, and accounting for air exchange rate. The measured deposition rates were shown to be particle size dependent and they varied from house to house. The lowest deposition rates were found for particles in the size range from 0.2 to 0.3 µm for both minimum (air exchange rate: 0.61±0.45 h-1) and normal (air exchange rate: 3.00±1.23 h-1) ventilation conditions. The results of statistical analysis indicated that ventilation condition (measured in terms of air exchange rate) was an important factor affecting deposition rates for particles in the size range from 0.08 to 1.0 µm, but not for particles smaller than 0.08 µm or larger than 1.0 µm. Particle coagulation was assessed to be negligible compared to the two other processes of removal: ventilation and deposition. This study of particle deposition rates, the largest conducted so far in terms of the number of residential houses investigated, demonstrated trends in deposition rates comparable with studies previously reported, usually for significantly smaller samples of houses (often only one). However, the results compare better with studies which, similarly to this study, investigated cooking as a source of particles (particle sources investigated in other studies included general activity, cleaning, artificial particles, etc). * Residential indoor and outdoor 48 h average levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 48h indoor submicrometer particle number concentration and the approximation of PM2.5 concentrations were measured simultaneously for fourteen houses. Statistical analyses of the correlation between indoor and outdoor pollutants (NO2 and particles) and the association between house characteristics and indoor pollutants were conducted. The average indoor and outdoor NO2 levels were 13.8 ± 6.3 ppb and 16.7 ± 4.2 ppb, respectively. The indoor/outdoor NO2 concentration ratio ranged from 0.4 to 2.3, with a median value of 0.82. Despite statistically significant correlations between outdoor and fixed site NO2 monitoring station concentrations (p = 0.014, p = 0.008), there was no significant correlation between either indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations (p = 0.428), or between indoor and fixed site NO2 monitoring station concentrations (p = 0.252, p = 0.465,). However, there was a significant correlation between indoor NO2 concentration and indoor submicrometer aerosol particle number concentrations (p = 0.001), as well as between indoor PM2.5 and outdoor NO2 (p = 0.004). These results imply that the outdoor or fixed site monitoring concentration alone is a poor predictor of indoor NO2 concentration. * Analysis of variance indicated that there was no significant association between indoor PM2.5 and any of the house characteristics investigated (p > 0.05). However, associations between indoor submicrometer particle number concentration and some house characteristics (stove type, water heater type, number of cars and condition of paintwork) were significant at the 5% level. Associations between indoor NO2 and some house characteristics (house age, stove type, heating system, water heater type and floor type) were also significant (p < 0.05). The results of these analyses thus strongly suggest that the gas stove, gas heating system and gas water heater system are main indoor sources of indoor submicrometer particle and NO2 concentrations in the studied residential houses. The significant contributions of this PhD project to the knowledge of indoor particle included: 1) improving an understanding of indoor particles behaviour in residential houses, especially for submicrometer particle; 2) improving an understanding of indoor particle source and indoor particle sink characteristics, as well as their effects on indoor particle concentration levels in residential houses; 3) improving an understanding of the relationship between indoor and outdoor particles, the relationship between particle mass and particle number, correlation between indoor NO2 and indoor particles, as well as association between indoor particle, NO2 and house characteristics.

Objective: Ultrasound is used increasingly in swallowing research because it can be a non-invasive, repeatable and cost effective measure of swallowing dynamics and rehabilitative effects. However unstable head position and transducer movement while imaging may result in measurement error that is substantive enough to bias research results. This study investigated the variation in measures of hyoid displacement and submental muscle size within and across three sessions using two methods of acquisition. Methods: Twenty-four healthy participants over the age of 50 attended three sessions. In each session, five dynamic video clips of hyoid movement and five static images of submental muscles were imaged in 2D ultrasound using two acquisition methods. One method involved manual hand-held stabilisation of the transducer and the other method involved a custom-designed stand for stabilisation of the transducer and participant. Hyoid displacement was measured as a percent change between measures made at rest and at maximal excursion. Additionally, cross sectional area (CSA) measurements were made of the paired geniohyoid and the left and right anterior belly of digastric (ABD) muscles at rest. Results: Out of 720 possible measures of hyoid displacement, 675 measures were analysed. There were no significant order effects of session or trial with changes that were <1% and no greater 4.5% for session and no greater than 1.5% for trial from estimated baseline measures. There was a significant effect of method (p<.01), with a systematic decrease in stand measures that were <9.5% and no greater than 16% from estimated baseline measures. Variance was larger across sessions than within sessions. The stand condition was more variable than the hand-held condition for measures of hyoid displacement. Out of a total of 2160 possible measures of submental muscle size, 555 measures of geniohyoid and 1408 measures of ABD muscles were analysed. There were no significant order effects of session, trial or method in geniohyoid muscle measures. The estimated order effects of session were <3% and no greater than 13%, and trials were <0.4% and no greater than 0.7% from estimated baseline measures. There were no significant order effects of session and method in ABD muscle measures with order effects of session that were <2% and no greater than 5.5%. There were significant effects of trial (p<.01) in both ABD muscles with a small systematic increase that was <0.5% and no greater than 0.8%. Variance was larger across sessions than within sessions in all measures of submental muscle size. The stand condition was less variable than the hand-held condition for all measures of submental muscle size. Conclusion: The results from this study provide guidance to researchers who intend to use repeated measures from ultrasound imaging as an outcome measure in swallowing research. The large variability within and across participants in measures of hyoid displacement and geniohyoid muscle size may require further investigation. When the variations described in this current study are considered in the measures of the ABD muscle size then it can be a valuable measure of rehabilitative techniques.

Individuals are believed to benefit in various ways from living in groups. Some species aggregate to increase foraging efficiency and others for social benefits. Why pinnipeds rest in groups is yet not fully understood, but the most common ecological explanation is the benefit of enhanced predator detection. An alternative explanation for grouping, however, is limitation of resting sites, which might force individuals to aggregate on whatever sites are available, despite increased competition for food or mates. My study is focused on group size of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) hauled out on glacial-ice sites in Glacier Bay National Park (GBNP), southeastern Alaska. Previous studies have focused on group size on terrestrial haul-out sites, and to date there have been few studies of group size on ice haul-out sites. In GBNP, peak numbers of harbor seals haul out during the pupping season (June) and the molting season (August). During the breeding season, glacial-ice haul-out sites are used primarily by females and pups, and during the molting season by molting seals. Because seals may group as an anti-predator strategy, I hypothesized that group size would differ between seasons, with smaller groups of mainly mothers and pups during June, and larger-sized groups during August. The aim of this study was to quantify seasonal differences in the group size of harbor seals hauled-out on glacial ice in Johns Hopkins Inlet (JHI), GBNP, southeastern Alaska, and in addition, map and evaluate the large-scale (inlet-level) spatial distribution of seals for both seasons. I used digital aerial survey photographs to map seal distributions. Four replicate aerial surveys were conducted in JHI during both June and August, 2007. Digital images were georeferenced and imported into ArcGIS 9.3 where the location of each seal was digitized, and group size calculated. To assess within- and between-season differences in spatial distribution of hauled-out seals, the location of each seal for each survey was plotted in ArcGIS, and compared to a visual assessment of ice coverage. My results show that harbor seals in JHI tend to haul out as single individuals during both seasons, with the exception of nursing mothers with pups in June, and a few larger-sized groups in August. There was no significant difference in group size between seasons. Group size during June varied very little, with almost all seals being either single or in mother-pup pairs. Group size varied more during August, and although most seals hauled out alone, there were a few larger-sized groups during each survey. The relative lack of grouping behavior is contrary to previous research, and it suggests that predation pressure on seals within JHI may be lower than at other sites. The greater frequency of larger-sized groups in August appeared to be related to reduced availability of glacial-ice haul-out sites. Long-term reduction in the availability of glacial-ice haul-out sites in JHI, therefore, might lead to shifts in haul-out behavior of harbor seals, with more seals being forced to haul out in larger groups.

Word processed copy.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-52)<br>Spatial variability in egg volume was investigated for anchovy, sardine and round herring in the southern Benguela in 1998, 2000 and 200 l. The relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) and egg volume was determined and the parental condition hypothesis was investigated through the relationships of adult size and condition with egg volume. General linear models for each species were used to determine the factors that were significantly related to egg volume at the scale of sample collection. Visual interpretation of the effects of adult size and condition on egg volumes was done on a large scale.

Attempts to quantify the effects of ocean acidification and warming (OAW) on scleractinian corals provide a growing body of response measurements. However, placing empirical results into an ecological context is challenging, owing to variations that reflect both natural heterogeneity and scientific bias. This study addresses the heterogeneity of climate change induced changes in coral recruitment and calcification. To discern scientific bias and identify drivers of the remaining heterogeneity, 100 publications were analyzed using a combination of weighted mixed effects meta-regression and factorial effect size meta‑analysis. A linear model was applied to quantify the variation caused by differing stress levels across studies. The least squares predictions were then used to standardize individual study outcomes and effect size meta-analysis was performed on original and standardized outcomes separately. On average, increased temperature significantly reduces larval survival, while ocean acidification impedes settlement and calcification. Coral resistance to OAW is likely governed by biological traits (genera and life cycle stage), environmental factors (abiotic variability) and experimental design (feeding regime, stressor magnitude, and exposure duration). Linear models suggest that calcification rates are driven by carbonate and bicarbonate concentrations, which act additively with warming. Standardizing outcomes to linear model predictions proved useful in discerning strong sources of scientific bias. The approach used in this study can improve modelling projections and inform policy and management on changes in coral community structure associated with the expected future intensification of OAW.

Ce travail de recherche a été mené dans l’équipe MODGEN du département GenPhySE, 1388 UMR de l’INRA. Il avait pour perspectives de modéliser les variabilités de la taille de portée des ovins pour une meilleure évaluation génétique et de proposer des modèles d’analyse adoptés à ce type de caractère.Les objectifs de l’étude étaient d'identifier, et d'analyser les facteurs environnementaux et génétiques des variabilités des tailles de portée des brebis et de proposer une méthode adaptée pour canaliser les caractères discrets qui prenne en compte conjointement des objectifs sur la moyenne et sur la variabilité du caractère. La thèse s’appuyait sur des données issues de la chaîne nationale de contrôle de performances en relation avec des organismes de sélection ovin qui sont particulièrement intéressés par les résultats de ces recherches (CORAM). Choix des races. Nous avons considéré trois races dont les fréquences de la taille de portée sont plus ou moins élevées. La race Romane connue par sa forte prolificité ainsi des effectifs contrôlés importants a permis des analyses précises. Les deux autres races choisies sont la race Suffolk et la race Rouge de l’Ouest qui ont servi à tester les modèles sur des populations comportant de moins en moins de portées multiples. La taille de portée des ovins considérée comme une variable continue. Au cours de l’étude, nous avons identifié et hiérarchisé les facteurs de variation environnementaux du niveau de prolificité et de de sa variance pour trois races ovines (Suffolk, Rouge de l’Ouest et Romane). Si les facteurs de variation environnementaux du niveau de prolificité étaient déjà bien connus, peu de données concernaient les facteurs de variation environnementaux de la variance. Nous avons également estimé les paramètres génétiques du niveau de prolificité et de sa variance, ils sont cohérents entre eux. Les héritabilités estimées sur la moyenne sont faibles, en cohérences entre les trois races et avec des études antérieures. La non homogénéité des corrélations estimées par le modèle à deux étapes peut s’expliquer par la relation structurelle entre la moyenne et la variance sur l’échelle observée qui n'est pas prise en compte dans ce type d'analyse. A l'échelle d'une race, cette relation dépend de l’écart spécifique entre les seuils; elle est différente de la relation moyenne – variance observée pour l’ensemble des races et qui est calculée sur des données brutes. La taille de portée des ovins considérée comme une variable discrète Nous avons montré l’existence d’une variabilité d’origine génétique dans les trois races étudiées et nous avons montré que le modèle à seuils homothétique [HTM] s’ajustait mieux aux données et qu'il permettait de calculer conjointement l’effet génétique sur la moyenne et sur la variance. Nous avons aussi montré les limites de ce modèle et nous avons proposé une solution afin de donner un cadre plus général à son utilisation et l’utiliser dans les évaluations génétiques. Nous avons également identifié un critère de sélection pertinent qui permet de sélectionner les individus de même moyenne ayant des variances différentes. Nous avons proposé le modèle à seuils indépendants [ITM] ou le modèle multi caractères avec contrainte, ce modèle considère que chaque réalisation est un caractère. Nous avons montré la faisabilité de ce modèle sur les trois races. Ceci nous a permis de mettre en évidence les problèmes liés à la convergence du programme utilisé, et nous avons proposé d’implémenter ce modèle en modifiant le programme TM.

<em>Prospero&nbsp; autumnale&nbsp;</em> kompleks&nbsp; je&nbsp; taksonomski&nbsp; najintrigantniji&nbsp; član&nbsp; roda&nbsp; <em>Prospero,</em>&nbsp; sa&nbsp; centrom rasprostranjenja u Mediteranu. Kompleks se rasprostire i na obalama Atlantskog okeana u Francuskoj, sve do južnih&nbsp; delova Velike&nbsp; Britanije, zatim&nbsp; na Balkanskom poluostrvu, u Panonskoj&nbsp; niziji, sve&nbsp; do Krima, Kavkaza&nbsp; i&nbsp; delova&nbsp; Irana&nbsp; na&nbsp; istoku.&nbsp; Areal&nbsp; kompleksa&nbsp; se&nbsp; preklapa&nbsp; sa&nbsp; arealima&nbsp; ostale&nbsp; dve&nbsp; vrste&nbsp; roda&nbsp; &ndash;&nbsp; uzapadnom Mediteranu sa <em>P. obtusifolium</em>, a u istočnim delovima Mediterana sa&nbsp;<em> P. hanburyi. </em>Za razliku od <em>P. obtusifolium&nbsp; i&nbsp; P. hanburyi,&nbsp; P. autumnale</em>&nbsp; kompleks se odlikuje visokom kariolo&scaron;kom varijabilno&scaron;ću.Razlikuju se četiri osnovna broja hromozoma&nbsp; x&nbsp; = 5, 6, 7 i četiri različita tipa genoma (A, B⁵, B ⁶ i B⁷ )&nbsp; i diploidna&nbsp; citotipa&nbsp; (AA,&nbsp; B ⁵B⁵,&nbsp; B ⁶B⁶i&nbsp; B ⁷B ⁷ )&nbsp; koja&nbsp; se&nbsp; razlikuju&nbsp; u&nbsp; odnosu&nbsp; na&nbsp; osnovni&nbsp; broj&nbsp; hromozoma, veličinu&nbsp; i&nbsp; morfologiju&nbsp; hromozoma.&nbsp; Genom&nbsp; B ⁵ ima&nbsp; x&nbsp; =&nbsp; 5,&nbsp; B⁶ x&nbsp; =&nbsp; 6,&nbsp; a&nbsp; genomi&nbsp; A&nbsp; i&nbsp; B⁷x&nbsp; =&nbsp; 7. Najrasprostranjeniji&nbsp; genom&nbsp; je&nbsp; B ⁷ ,&nbsp; koji&nbsp; je&nbsp; zabeležen&nbsp; u&nbsp; celom&nbsp; arealu&nbsp; kompleksa,&nbsp; dok&nbsp; je&nbsp; A&nbsp; zastupljen&nbsp; u zapadnom Mediteranu, B⁵ u Libiji, a B ⁶je endemičan za Krit. U okviru B ⁷ genoma se, dalje, razlikuju dve linije nastale kao posledica duplikacija 5S rDNK lokusa, pri čemu linija I ima jedan lokus, a kod linije II taj&nbsp; lokus&nbsp; je&nbsp; duplikovan.&nbsp; Osim&nbsp; diploidnih&nbsp; citotipova,&nbsp; poznato&nbsp; je&nbsp; i&nbsp; nekoliko&nbsp; ploidnih&nbsp; nivoa,&nbsp; od&nbsp; kojih&nbsp; su najučestaliji&nbsp; tetraploidi&nbsp; (2n=4x=28)&nbsp; i&nbsp; heksaploidi&nbsp; (2n=6x=42).&nbsp; Za&nbsp; <em>P.&nbsp; autumnale&nbsp;</em> kompleks&nbsp; je karakteristična varijabilnost u veličini genoma između različitih citotipova i unutar pojedinih citotipova. Genomsko restrukturiranje, koje je imalo najveću ulogu u evoluciji i diverzifikaciji kompleksa, nije imalo velikog uticaja na&nbsp; morfolo&scaron;ku varijabilnost, te je&nbsp; iz tog razloga kompleks&nbsp; morfolo&scaron;ki skoro uniforman. Ipak karakteri kao &scaron;to su: boja tunike lukovice, visina biljke, oblik i dimenzije lista, broj cvetova u cvasti i boja cvetova pokazuju izvesnu varijabilnost. Taksonomske nejasnoće nastaju zbog opisanih desetak vrsta između kojih ne postoje jasne morfolo&scaron;ke razlike i kod kojih je prisutno preklapanje vrednosti karaktera.Kako&nbsp; je&nbsp; do&nbsp; sada&nbsp; kompleks&nbsp; najvi&scaron;e&nbsp; bio&nbsp; predmet&nbsp; kariolo&scaron;kih&nbsp; istraživanja,&nbsp; pri&nbsp; čemu&nbsp; su&nbsp; izostale&nbsp; detaljne analize morfolo&scaron;ke i/ili anatomske varijabilnosti, uzorkovan je biljni materijal sa 37 lokaliteta na području Panonske nizije i Balkanskog poluostrva sa ciljem utvrđivanja morfolo&scaron;ke, anatomske, kao i kariolo&scaron;ke varijabilnosti. Određivan&nbsp; je broj hromozoma, nivoi ploidije&nbsp; i veličina genoma. Primenom univarijantne statističke&nbsp; metode,&nbsp; ispitana&nbsp; je&nbsp; varijabilnost&nbsp; morfolo&scaron;kih&nbsp; i&nbsp; anatomskih&nbsp; karaktera,&nbsp; a&nbsp; upotrebom multivarijantne&nbsp; statističke&nbsp; metode&nbsp; su&nbsp; testirane&nbsp; razlike&nbsp; između&nbsp; unapred&nbsp; definisanih&nbsp; grupa,&nbsp; koje&nbsp; su&nbsp; se odnosile na populacije i ploidne nivoe. Korespodentnom analizom su analizirani kvalitativni morfolo&scaron;ki i anatomski&nbsp; karakteri.&nbsp; Ukupno&nbsp; je&nbsp; analizirano&nbsp; 65&nbsp; karaktera&nbsp; (33&nbsp; morfolo&scaron;ka&nbsp; i&nbsp; 32&nbsp; ana tomska).&nbsp; Rezultati kariolo&scaron;ke&nbsp; analize&nbsp; se&nbsp; potvrdili&nbsp; varijabilnost&nbsp; kompleksa&nbsp; na&nbsp; istraživanom&nbsp; području.&nbsp; Detektovana&nbsp; su&nbsp; tri ploidna&nbsp; nivoa&nbsp; (diploidi,&nbsp; tetraploidi&nbsp; i&nbsp; heksaploidi),&nbsp; a&nbsp; potvrđena&nbsp; je&nbsp; i&nbsp; varijabilnost&nbsp; u&nbsp; veličini&nbsp; genoma. Poređenjem monoploidne veličine genoma između tri ploidna nivoa je detektovano smanjivanje veličine genoma&nbsp; sa&nbsp; povećanjem&nbsp; nivoa&nbsp; ploidije.&nbsp; U&nbsp; odnosu&nbsp; na&nbsp; koeficijent&nbsp; varijabilnosti,&nbsp; konstatovano&nbsp; je&nbsp; da&nbsp; se većina&nbsp; morfolo&scaron;kih&nbsp; karaktera&nbsp; nalazi&nbsp; u&nbsp; zoni&nbsp; umerene&nbsp; varijabilnosti&nbsp; (22),&nbsp; a&nbsp; samo&nbsp; pet&nbsp; karaktera&nbsp; je visokovarijabilno.&nbsp; Anatomski&nbsp; karakteri&nbsp; su&nbsp; raspoređeni&nbsp; u&nbsp; četiri&nbsp; kategorije&nbsp; (niskovarijabilni, umerenovarijabilni, visokovarijabilni i veoma visokovarijabilni), pri čemu većina karaktera (20) pripada umerenovarijabilnoj&nbsp; kategoriji. Četiri&nbsp; kvalitativna&nbsp; morfolo&scaron;ka (oblik lukovice, boja tunike, boja cveta i oblik&nbsp; plodnika)&nbsp; i&nbsp; sedam&nbsp; kvalitativnih&nbsp; anatomskih&nbsp; karaktera&nbsp; (oblik&nbsp; poprečnog&nbsp; preseka&nbsp; lista,&nbsp; oblik&nbsp; ćelija epidermisa na licu i&nbsp; naličju,&nbsp; oblik ćelija palisadnog tkiva na licu&nbsp; i&nbsp; naličju, prisustvo papila&nbsp; i&nbsp; kristala u ćelijama&nbsp; parenhima)&nbsp; su&nbsp; pokazala&nbsp; varijabilnost.&nbsp; U&nbsp; korespodentnoj&nbsp; analizi,&nbsp; zasnovanoj&nbsp; na&nbsp; kvalitativnim morfolo&scaron;kim&nbsp; karakterima,&nbsp; izdvojile&nbsp; su&nbsp; se&nbsp; tri&nbsp; grupe.&nbsp; Za&nbsp; prvu&nbsp; grupu&nbsp; su&nbsp; bili&nbsp; zajedničke&nbsp; &scaron;irokojajaste&nbsp; i uzanojajaste&nbsp; lukovice&nbsp; sa&nbsp; ružičastom&nbsp; tunikom,&nbsp; jedinkama&nbsp; u&nbsp; drugoj&nbsp; grupi&nbsp; su&nbsp; bili&nbsp; svojstveni&nbsp; jajasti&nbsp; i uzanojajasti plodnici i lukovice sa braon tunikom, dok su za treću grupu bili karakteristični &scaron;irokojajasti plodnici, loptaste i pljosnate lukovice. U odnosu na kvalitativne anatomske karaktere najvi&scaron; e se izdvojila jedna&nbsp; grupa&nbsp; za&nbsp; koju&nbsp; su&nbsp; bile&nbsp; karakteristične&nbsp; gusto&nbsp; raspoređene&nbsp; papile&nbsp; i&nbsp; prisustvo&nbsp; četvorougaonih&nbsp; i okruglastih epidermalnih ćelija na abaksijalnoj strani lista. Rezultati multivarijantnih analiza, zasnovanih na&nbsp; populacijama&nbsp; kao&nbsp; unapred&nbsp; definisanim&nbsp; grupama&nbsp; i&nbsp; kvantitivnim&nbsp; karakterima,&nbsp; ukazali&nbsp; su&nbsp; na&nbsp; složenu varijabilnost&nbsp; uzorka&nbsp; i&nbsp; izostanak&nbsp; jasne&nbsp; separacije&nbsp; grupa.&nbsp; Naznake&nbsp; razdvajanja&nbsp; grupa&nbsp; su&nbsp; bile&nbsp; uočljive&nbsp; u analizi&nbsp; morfo-anatomske&nbsp; matrice.&nbsp; Izdvojili&nbsp; su&nbsp; se&nbsp; sledeći&nbsp; karakteri:&nbsp; visina&nbsp; stabla,&nbsp; dužina&nbsp; cvasti,&nbsp; broj cvetova,&nbsp; povr&scaron;ina&nbsp; poprečnog&nbsp; preseka&nbsp; lista,&nbsp; ukupna&nbsp; povr&scaron;ina&nbsp; palisadnog&nbsp; tkiva&nbsp; i&nbsp; ukupna&nbsp; povr&scaron;ina sunđerastog tkiva. Najjasnija razdvajanja su uočena u analizama gde su ploidni nivoi predstavljali&nbsp; a priori definisane&nbsp; grupe,&nbsp; naročito&nbsp; u&nbsp; kombinaciji&nbsp; morfolo&scaron;kih&nbsp; i&nbsp; anatomskih&nbsp; karaktera.&nbsp; Karakteri&nbsp; sa diskriminacionim&nbsp; potencijalom&nbsp; između&nbsp; jedinki&nbsp; koje&nbsp; pripadaju&nbsp; različitim&nbsp; ploidnim&nbsp; nivoima&nbsp; jesu:&nbsp; brojcvetova,&nbsp; &scaron;irina&nbsp; listića&nbsp; perigona&nbsp; unutra&scaron;njeg&nbsp; kruga&nbsp; i&nbsp; filamenta&nbsp; spolja&scaron;njeg&nbsp; kruga,&nbsp; povr&scaron;ina&nbsp; poprečnog preseka&nbsp; lista,&nbsp; ukupna&nbsp; povr&scaron;ina&nbsp; palisadnog&nbsp; tkiva,&nbsp; povr&scaron;ina&nbsp; ćelija&nbsp; palisadnog&nbsp; tkiva,&nbsp; visina&nbsp; i&nbsp; &scaron;irina&nbsp; ćelija palisadnog tkiva i udeo epidermisa. Od sva tri ploidna nivoa, najvi&scaron;e izdvojene su bile diploidne jedinke, koje&nbsp; se&nbsp; od&nbsp; tetraploida&nbsp; i&nbsp; heksaploida&nbsp; mogu&nbsp; razlikovati&nbsp; na&nbsp; osnovu:&nbsp; dužina&nbsp; filamenata&nbsp; spolja&scaron;njeg&nbsp; i unutra&scaron;njeg&nbsp; kruga&nbsp; cveta,&nbsp; povr&scaron;ine&nbsp; ćelija&nbsp; palisadnog&nbsp; tkiva,&nbsp; visine&nbsp; i&nbsp; &scaron;irine&nbsp; ćelija&nbsp; palisadnog&nbsp; tkiva,&nbsp; kao&nbsp; i ukupne&nbsp; povr&scaron;ine&nbsp; palisadnog&nbsp; tkiva.&nbsp; Tetraploidi&nbsp; i&nbsp; heksaplodi&nbsp; se&nbsp; najvi&scaron;e&nbsp; međusobno&nbsp; razlikuju&nbsp; na&nbsp; osnovu karaktera u regionu cveta: prečnik otvorenog perigona, dužine listića perigona spolja&scaron;njeg kruga cveta i &scaron;irine filamenta spolja&scaron;njeg&nbsp; kruga cveta.&nbsp; Uočene razlike&nbsp; između tri analizirana ploidna&nbsp; nivoa (diploidi, tetraploidi&nbsp; i&nbsp; heksaploidi),&nbsp; u&nbsp; taksonomskom&nbsp; smislu&nbsp; se&nbsp; mogu&nbsp; tumačiti&nbsp; pre&nbsp; kao&nbsp; jedna&nbsp; od&nbsp; infraspecijskih kategorija, a ne kao kategorija koja bi odgovarala vrsti.<br>Prospero autumnale&nbsp; complex is the most taxonomically intricate member of the genus&nbsp; Prospero&nbsp; with the centre of distribution on the Mediterranean Basin, westwards to&nbsp; the Atlantic coast in France as far north&nbsp; as&nbsp; Great&nbsp; Britain,&nbsp; northwards&nbsp; to&nbsp; the&nbsp; Pannonian&nbsp; Basin&nbsp; and&nbsp; Crimea,&nbsp; and&nbsp; eastwards&nbsp; to&nbsp; Iran.&nbsp; The distribution area of the complex overlaps with distribution areas of the other two species of the genusProspero-P.&nbsp; obtusifolium&nbsp; is&nbsp; present&nbsp; in&nbsp; the&nbsp; western&nbsp; parts&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; Mediterranean,&nbsp; while&nbsp; P.&nbsp; hanburyi&nbsp; is distributed in the eastern Mediterranean. Unlike&nbsp; P. obtusifolium and P. hanburyi, P. autumnale complexis characterized by extraordinary karyological&nbsp; cariation. It encompasses&nbsp;&nbsp; four distinct genomes (A, B&nbsp; 5 , B 6 , B 7 ) and four distinct diploid cytotypes (AA, B 5 B 5 , B 6 B 6 , B 7 B 7 ), each with a unique combination ofbasic chromosome&nbsp; number (x&nbsp; = 5, 6, 7).&nbsp; An additional difference is related to&nbsp; chromosome&nbsp; size and morphology. The B 5 genome&nbsp; has&nbsp; x&nbsp; = 5, B 6 x&nbsp; = 6, and A and B 7x&nbsp; = 7 basic chromosome numbers. The B 7 genome&nbsp; is&nbsp; present&nbsp; in&nbsp; the&nbsp; whole&nbsp; distribution&nbsp; area&nbsp; of&nbsp; P.&nbsp; autumnale&nbsp; complex,&nbsp; while&nbsp; genome&nbsp; A&nbsp; is distributed in the western Mediterranean, B 5 is restricted to Libya, and B 6 is endemic to&nbsp; Crete. Within diploids and tetraploids&nbsp; of&nbsp; B 7 genome, two&nbsp; lineages&nbsp; occur as a consequence&nbsp; of&nbsp; duplication&nbsp; of the 5S rDNA locus. Type I (lineage) has a single locus, while in type II (lineage) 5S rDNA locus is duplicated. Besides diploid cytotypes, the polyploids cytotypes are also known. The most common polyploids are tetra- (2n=4x=28) and hexaploids (2n=6x=42). Variability in the genome size within, as well as between cytotypes, is also characterized for the complex. Genomic restructuring, which played the b iggest role in evolution&nbsp; and&nbsp; diversification&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; P.&nbsp; autumnale&nbsp; complex,&nbsp; did&nbsp; not&nbsp; have&nbsp; a&nbsp; major&nbsp; impact&nbsp; on morphological&nbsp; variability.&nbsp; Only&nbsp; slight&nbsp; variation&nbsp; has&nbsp; been&nbsp; detected&nbsp; in&nbsp; plant,&nbsp; tepal&nbsp; and&nbsp; filament&nbsp; size, flower&nbsp; and&nbsp; seed&nbsp; color,&nbsp; shape&nbsp; and&nbsp; size&nbsp; of&nbsp; leaves&nbsp; a nd&nbsp; color&nbsp; of&nbsp; bulbs.&nbsp; Taxonomic&nbsp; ambiguities&nbsp; areadditionally&nbsp; caused&nbsp; by&nbsp; description&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; new&nbsp; ten&nbsp; species&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; complex.&nbsp;&nbsp; morphological&nbsp; differences between those species are unclear, with overlapping values of the most morphological traits. Until now, P. autumnale&nbsp; complex was mostly karyologicaly investigated, without detail analyses of morphological and/or&nbsp;&nbsp; anatomical&nbsp; variability.&nbsp; The&nbsp; aim&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; present&nbsp; study&nbsp; was&nbsp; to&nbsp; investigate&nbsp; karyological, morphological and anatomical variability on individuals collected on 37 localities across the Pannonian Basin and&nbsp; Balkan Peninsula. Basic chromosome&nbsp; number, ploidy&nbsp; levels, as well as&nbsp; genome size&nbsp; were determined. The variability of morphological and anatomical characters was examined using univariate statistical&nbsp; methods.&nbsp; Differences&nbsp; between&nbsp; predefined&nbsp; groups&nbsp; (populations&nbsp; and&nbsp; ploidy&nbsp;&nbsp; levels)&nbsp; were investigated&nbsp; using&nbsp; multivariate&nbsp; statistics&nbsp; with&nbsp; the&nbsp; attempts&nbsp; to&nbsp; identify&nbsp; morphological&nbsp; and&nbsp; anatomical characters&nbsp; with&nbsp; discriminatory&nbsp; potential.&nbsp; For&nbsp; analysing&nbsp; qualitative&nbsp; morphological&nbsp; and&nbsp; anatomical characters, correspondence analysis was conducted. In total 65 traits were analyzed (33&nbsp; morphological and&nbsp; 32&nbsp; anatomical).&nbsp; The&nbsp; results&nbsp; of&nbsp; karyological&nbsp; analysis&nbsp; confirmed&nbsp; the&nbsp; high&nbsp; variation&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; P. autumnale&nbsp; complex&nbsp; in the study area. Three&nbsp; ploidy&nbsp; levels (diploids, tetraploids and&nbsp; hexaploids)&nbsp; were detected,&nbsp; and&nbsp; the&nbsp; genome&nbsp; size&nbsp; variation&nbsp; was&nbsp; confirmed.&nbsp; Genome&nbsp; downsizing&nbsp; was&nbsp; observed&nbsp; by comparing&nbsp; monoploid&nbsp; genome&nbsp; sizes&nbsp; between&nbsp; three&nbsp; ploidy&nbsp; levels.&nbsp; According&nbsp; to&nbsp; the&nbsp; oefficient&nbsp; ofc variation,&nbsp; most&nbsp; morphological characters show&nbsp; moderate&nbsp; variation (22). Only&nbsp; five traits showed&nbsp; high variation.&nbsp; Anatomical&nbsp; characters&nbsp; were&nbsp; classified&nbsp; into&nbsp; four&nbsp; categories&nbsp; according&nbsp; to&nbsp; the&nbsp; coefficient&nbsp; of variation (with low, moderate, high and very high variation), but the&nbsp; most traits (20) showed moderatevariation. Variation in qualitative morphological (bulb shape and color, flower color and ovary shape) and seven&nbsp; qualitative anatomical characters (leaf cross-sectional area shape, shape&nbsp; of the adaxial and abaxial&nbsp; epidermal&nbsp; cells,&nbsp; shape&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; adaxial&nbsp; and&nbsp; abaxial&nbsp; palisade&nbsp; cells,&nbsp; presence&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; papillae&nbsp; and crystals&nbsp; in&nbsp; the&nbsp; parenchyma&nbsp; cells)&nbsp; were&nbsp; recorded.&nbsp; Three&nbsp; groups&nbsp; of&nbsp; populations,&nbsp; as&nbsp; a&nbsp; result&nbsp; of&nbsp; the correspondence&nbsp; analysis,&nbsp; based&nbsp; on&nbsp; qualitative&nbsp; morphological&nbsp; characters,&nbsp; were&nbsp; formed.&nbsp; Populations&nbsp; of the first group showed common characteristics such as broadly and narrowly ovate shaped bulbs with pink&nbsp; outer&nbsp; tunic.&nbsp; The&nbsp; second&nbsp; group&nbsp; was&nbsp; characterized&nbsp; by&nbsp; bulbs&nbsp; with&nbsp; brown&nbsp; outer&nbsp; tunic,&nbsp; ovate&nbsp; and narrowly ovate ovary, while the third group had broadly ovate ovaries, globose and flattened bulbs. In relation&nbsp; to&nbsp; qualitative&nbsp; anatomical&nbsp; characters,&nbsp; only&nbsp; one&nbsp; group&nbsp; was&nbsp; the&nbsp; most&nbsp; distinguished&nbsp; and&nbsp; was characterized by densely distributed papillae, squared and rounded shape of abaxial epidermal cells. The results&nbsp; of&nbsp; multivariate&nbsp; analyses&nbsp; of&nbsp; quantitative&nbsp; traits,&nbsp; based&nbsp; on&nbsp; populations&nbsp; as&nbsp; presumptive&nbsp; groups, revealed&nbsp; similar&nbsp; patterns&nbsp; without&nbsp; structuring&nbsp; and&nbsp; with&nbsp; no&nbsp; specific&nbsp; groupings.&nbsp; The&nbsp; tendency&nbsp; toward&nbsp; a separation&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; populations&nbsp; was&nbsp; noticeable&nbsp; in&nbsp; the&nbsp; analysis&nbsp; based&nbsp; on&nbsp; combined&nbsp; morpho-anatomical characters. The highest correlation with the canonical axes showed: stem height, inflorescence length,number of flowers, leaf cross-sectional area, palisade and spongy tissue area. The clearest separationsbetween groups were observed with ploidy levels as presumptive groups. Morpho-anatomical traits with discriminatory potential among ploidy levels were: number of flowers, inner tepal width, outer filament width, leaf cross-sectional area, palisade tissue area, the cross-sectional area of palisade cells, height and width&nbsp; of palisade cells and&nbsp; epidermis percentage. The&nbsp; most&nbsp; distinct&nbsp; group among three ploidy&nbsp; levels were diploids and could be distinguished from tetra-&nbsp; and hexaploids by outer and inner&nbsp; filament width, the&nbsp; cross-sectional area&nbsp; of palisade cells, the&nbsp; width of palisade cells, the&nbsp; height&nbsp; of palisade cells and palisade tissue area. Tetra-&nbsp; and&nbsp; hexaploids&nbsp; differed&nbsp; mostly&nbsp; in floral characters: open flower diameter, outer tepal length and outer filament width. For taxonomic purposes, the level of overlap indicates that the ploidy levels could be regarded as showing intraspecific variation.

The AARDVARK (Aortic Aneurysmal Regression of Dilation: Value of ACE-Inhibition on RisK) trial was designed to investigate whether ACE-inhibition reduces the growth rate of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), independent of blood pressure (BP) lowering. A cohort of patients from the AARDVARK trial contributed data to the CAVE sub-study which investigated the roles of peripheral and central BP and 3 measures (standard deviation, coefficient of variation and variation independent of the mean) of visit-to-visit BP variability (BPV) of peripheral and central BPs on the size and growth rate of the diameters of small AAAs. Subjects aged ≥55 years with AAA diameter 3.0–5.4 cm were randomised 1:1:1 to receive perindopril 10 mg, or amlodipine 5 mg, or placebo. Three standardised BP measurements and an AAA ultrasound scan were performed at every trial visit (every 3-6 months over 2 years). Five of 14 trial sites were provided with a BP+ machine which measures both peripheral and central BP. Nine sites collected peripheral BP only with an Omron machine. BPV was based on readings taken after 3 months to avoid confounding from the impact of trial treatments. The primary outcome of the AARDVARK trial was AAA diameter growth (based on external antero-posterior ultrasound measurements in the longitudinal plane), determined by multi-level modelling. 224 patients were randomised between 2011 and 2013 to receive either placebo (n = 79), perindopril (n = 73), or amlodipine (n = 72). Mean baseline age, peripheral BP and AAA size among the 224 patients who contributed peripheral BP data were 71.3 years, 131.5/77.7 mmHg and 4.0cm (external diameter) respectively and were not significantly different from the 139 patients who also contributed central BP data. No significant differences in the modelled annual growth rates were apparent among the 3 randomised groups [placebo 1.68 mm (SE 0.2), perinodopril 1.77 mm (0.2), and amlodipine 1.81 mm (0.2), respectively]. The estimated difference in annual growth between the perindopril and placebo group was 0.08 mm (CI 20.50, 0.65). No evidence of an association was found between peripheral or central BP and AAA size at baseline or AAA growth in-trial. However, significant associations were found between central (but not peripheral) BPV and AAA growth using linear regression after adjustment for possible confounders. This association was stronger for central diastolic than systolic BPV. Evidence of a dose-response effect (albeit underpowered due to this comparison being restricted to quartiles) was apparent, with patients having the most variable central BP exhibiting the highest AAA growth rates. In the AARDVARK trial, small AAA growth rates were lower than anticipated thereby reducing the power of the trial, but there was no apparent impact of perindopril compared with placebo or placebo and amlodipine combined on AAA growth rates, despite more effective BP lowering among those allocated to perindopril. However by contrast, in the CAVE sub-study we showed a significant association between all 3 measures of central BPV and AAA growth despite the small sample size and limited numbers of visits. A larger study is required to confirm these results.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:00:02Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 berti_clf_me_ilha.pdf: 1147349 bytes, checksum: 79588686dea2715fc03a56db3c25b881 (MD5)<br>Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)<br>O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para caracteres de crescimento e forma em um teste de progênies de Eucalyptus cloeziana, com 24 anos de idade, estabelecido em Luiz Antônio, SP. O teste foi instalado com sementes de polinização aberta provenientes de 35 árvores matrizes oriundas de Helenvale e Cardwell St. Forest, Austrália. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com parcela composta por apenas uma planta, com 100 repetições. O ensaio foi mensurado aos 24 anos de idade para diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP), altura total, volume e forma. Foram detectadas diferenças significativas entre progênies para todos os caracteres avaliados. Foram detectados altos coeficientes de variação genética e herdabilidade para todos os caracteres estudados, o que demonstra um forte controle genético na herança destes e a possibilidade de se obter altos ganhos com a seleção massal e individual entre e dentro de progênies. Os ganhos esperados para plantios com 24 anos de idade, realizados em locais com as mesmas características ambientais de Luiz Antônio e com sementes coletadas após a seleção no teste de progênies, foram estimados em 42,91% para DAP e 16,82% para altura<br>The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameter for growth and stem shape traits in a progeny test of Eucalyptus cloeziana, at 24 years old, established in Luiz Antônio, SP. The trial was established with open-pollinated seeds from 35 mother trees from provenances Helenvale and Cardwell St. Forest, Australia. The trial was established in a random block design, with single tree plots and 100 replications. The trial was measured at 24 years old of age for diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, volume and stem shape. All studied traits presented significant differences among progenies. All studied traits presented also high coefficient of variation and heritability, showing a strong genetic control in this traits and the possibility to obtain genetic gains by massal and among and within progenies selection. The expected genetic gains for stands with 24 years old, growing in sites with the same environmental characteristics of Luiz Antônio and with seeds collected after selection in the progeny test were estimated in 42.91% for DAP and 16.82% for height

Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para caracteres de crescimento e forma em um teste de progênies de Eucalyptus cloeziana, com 24 anos de idade, estabelecido em Luiz Antônio, SP. O teste foi instalado com sementes de polinização aberta provenientes de 35 árvores matrizes oriundas de Helenvale e Cardwell St. Forest, Austrália. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com parcela composta por apenas uma planta, com 100 repetições. O ensaio foi mensurado aos 24 anos de idade para diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP), altura total, volume e forma. Foram detectadas diferenças significativas entre progênies para todos os caracteres avaliados. Foram detectados altos coeficientes de variação genética e herdabilidade para todos os caracteres estudados, o que demonstra um forte controle genético na herança destes e a possibilidade de se obter altos ganhos com a seleção massal e individual entre e dentro de progênies. Os ganhos esperados para plantios com 24 anos de idade, realizados em locais com as mesmas características ambientais de Luiz Antônio e com sementes coletadas após a seleção no teste de progênies, foram estimados em 42,91% para DAP e 16,82% para altura<br>Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameter for growth and stem shape traits in a progeny test of Eucalyptus cloeziana, at 24 years old, established in Luiz Antônio, SP. The trial was established with open-pollinated seeds from 35 mother trees from provenances Helenvale and Cardwell St. Forest, Australia. The trial was established in a random block design, with single tree plots and 100 replications. The trial was measured at 24 years old of age for diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, volume and stem shape. All studied traits presented significant differences among progenies. All studied traits presented also high coefficient of variation and heritability, showing a strong genetic control in this traits and the possibility to obtain genetic gains by massal and among and within progenies selection. The expected genetic gains for stands with 24 years old, growing in sites with the same environmental characteristics of Luiz Antônio and with seeds collected after selection in the progeny test were estimated in 42.91% for DAP and 16.82% for height<br>Orientador: Miguel Luiz Menezes Freitas<br>Coorientador: Mario Luiz Teixeira de Moraes<br>Banca: Walter Veriano Valério Filho<br>Banca: Rinaldo César de Paula<br>Mestre

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-10-13T19:51:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ceciliafonsecapoggian.pdf: 268787 bytes, checksum: 5898d68297ebccdcc7f27145276525da (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-10-22T13:01:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ceciliafonsecapoggian.pdf: 268787 bytes, checksum: 5898d68297ebccdcc7f27145276525da (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-22T13:01:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ceciliafonsecapoggian.pdf: 268787 bytes, checksum: 5898d68297ebccdcc7f27145276525da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-26<br>CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico<br>FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais<br>Os animais da raça Guzerá, bem adaptados às condições tropicais do Brasil, têm sido utilizados para produção de leite e carne. Em função da redução do tamanho efetivo da população, a probabilidade de endogamia e deriva genética na raça tem aumentado. Em 1994, iniciou-se o Programa Nacional de Melhoramento da Raça para leite por meio do teste de progênie e do núcleo MOET de seleção. O sucesso deste programa pode ser comprometido pelo aumento do coeficiente de endogamia (F) e perda de diversidade genética na raça, pois os animais de maior valor genético são mais utilizados para reprodução. O objetivo deste trabalho foi examinar a diversidade genética da população Guzerá selecionada para leite no Brasil, calcular a endogamia na raça e avaliar seus efeitos sobre características produtivas e reprodutivas, visando monitorar a variabilidade genética e orientar acasalamentos. Dados genealógicos de 10.051 animais nascidos até 2007 foram usados para estimação dos parâmetros populacionais. O coeficiente médio de endogamia dos animais endogâmicos foi 0,025, e o aumento esperado da endogamia, devido à contribuição não balanceada dos fundadores, foi 0,16%. O coeficiente de relação médio entre os indivíduos da população foi estimado em 1,06%, e o intervalo de gerações, em 7,48 anos. A média do tamanho efetivo populacional por geração foi 77, o número efetivo de fundadores, 318, o número efetivo de ancestrais, 101, e o efeito gargalo, 3,15. Dos 2.106 ancestrais, 47 foram responsáveis por 50% da diversidade genética da população referência. As características produção total de leite, produção de leite aos 305 dias de lactação, produção total de gordura, produção total de proteína e idade ao primeiro parto foram afetadas negativamente (p<0,05) pelo aumento do coeficiente de endogamia. Os valores médios de F, até o momento, são baixos, porém, o reduzido tamanho efetivo da população indica riscos de endogamia e perda de variabilidade genética na raça Guzerá selecionada para leite no Brasil.<br>Animals of the Guzerat breed have strongly fitted to tropical conditions of Brazil, and have been used for milk and beef production. The probability of inbreeding and genetic drift increases due to reduction in the effective population size. In 1994, a selection program for milk production traits was initiated in some purebred herds, using progeny test and MOET nucleus. Its success, otherwise, can be endangered by increase in inbreeding coefficient (F) and loss of genetic diversity, since animals with high genetic value have more chance to reproduce. This study was undertaken to evaluate the evolution and the current genetic status of the Guzerat cattle under milk selection, aiming to monitor the genetic variability and guide matings. Genealogical data of 10,051 animals born until 2007 were used to estimate population parameters. The average F for all inbred animals included in this data set was 0.025 and the increase of inbreeding by unbalancing of founders contribution was 0.16%. The average relationship coefficient was 1.06% and the generation interval was 7.48 years. The mean effective population size by generation was 77, the effective number of founders and effective number of ancestors for the reference population were, respectively, 318 and 101. The bottleneck effect was 3.15. Of 2,106 ancestors, 47 contributed to 50% of the reference population. Total milk production, milk production at 305 days of lactation, total fat production, total protein production and age at first calving was negatively affected (p<0.05) by the increase in F. Average F values and regression coefficients are still low, but the reduced effective population parameters indicates risk of inbreeding, genetic drift and, consequently, loss of variability in the Guzerat breed under milk selection in Brazil.

Relationships between occupational physical exposures and risks of contracting musculoskeletal disorders are still not well understood; exposure-response relationships are scarce in the musculoskeletal epidemiology literature, and many epidemiological studies, including intervention studies, fail to reach conclusive results. Insufficient exposure assessment has been pointed out as a possible explanation for this deficiency. One important aspect of assessing exposure is the selected measurement strategy; this includes issues related to the necessary number of data required to give sufficient information, and to allocation of measurement efforts, both over time and between subjects in order to achieve precise and accurate exposure estimates. These issues have been discussed mainly in the occupational hygiene literature considering chemical exposures, while the corresponding literature on biomechanical exposure is sparse. The overall aim of the present thesis was to increase knowledge on the relationship between data collection design and the resulting precision and accuracy of biomechanical exposure assessments, represented in this thesis by upper arm postures during work, data which have been shown to be relevant to disorder risk. Four papers are included in the thesis. In papers I and II, non-parametric bootstrapping was used to investigate the statistical efficiency of different strategies for distributing upper arm elevation measurements between and within working days into different numbers of measurement periods of differing durations. Paper I compared the different measurement strategies with respect to the eventual precision of estimated mean exposure level. The results showed that it was more efficient to use a higher number of shorter measurement periods spread across a working day than to use a smaller number for longer uninterrupted measurement periods, in particular if the total sample covered only a small part of the working day. Paper II evaluated sampling strategies for the purpose of determining posture variance components with respect to the accuracy and precision of the eventual variance component estimators. The paper showed that variance component estimators may be both biased and imprecise when based on sampling from small parts of working days, and that errors were larger with continuous sampling periods. The results suggest that larger posture samples than are conventionally used in ergonomics research and practice may be needed to achieve trustworthy estimates of variance components. Papers III and IV focused on method development. Paper III examined procedures for estimating statistical power when testing for a group difference in postures assessed by observation. Power determination was based either on a traditional analytical power analysis or on parametric bootstrapping, both of which accounted for methodological variance introduced by the observers to the exposure data. The study showed that repeated observations of the same video recordings may be an efficient way of increasing the power in an observation-based study, and that observations can be distributed between several observers without loss in power, provided that all observers contribute data to both of the compared groups, and that the statistical analysis model acknowledges observer variability. Paper IV discussed calibration of an inferior exposure assessment method against a superior “golden standard” method, with a particular emphasis on calibration of observed posture data against postures determined by inclinometry. The paper developed equations for bias correction of results obtained using the inferior instrument through calibration, as well as for determining the additional uncertainty of the eventual exposure value introduced through calibration. In conclusion, the results of the present thesis emphasize the importance of carefully selecting a measurement strategy on the basis of statistically well informed decisions. It is common in the literature that postural exposure is assessed from one continuous measurement collected over only a small part of a working day. In paper I, this was shown to be highly inefficient compared to spreading out the corresponding sample time across the entire working day, and the inefficiency was also obvious when assessing variance components, as shown in paper II. The thesis also shows how a well thought-out strategy for observation-based exposure assessment can reduce the effects of measurement error, both for random methodological variance (paper III) and systematic observation errors (bias) (paper IV).

Understanding how temperature affects biological systems is a central question in ecology and evolutionary biology. Anthropogenic climate change adds urgency to this topic, as the demise or success of species under climate change is expected to depend on how temperature affects important aspects of organismal performance, such as growth, development, survival and reproduction. Rates of biological processes generally increase with increasing temperature up to some maximal temperature. Variation in the slope of the initial, rising phase has attracted considerable interest and forms the focus of this thesis. I explore variation in growth rate-temperature relationships over several levels of biological organization, both between and within species, over individuals’ lifetime, depending on the ecological context and in relation to important life history characteristics such as generation length and winter dormancy.       Specifically, I examine how a clade of temperate damselflies have adapted to their thermal environment along a 3,600 km long latitudinal transect spanning from Southern Spain to Northern Sweden. For each of six species, I sampled populations from close to the northern and southern range margin, as well from the center of the latitudinal range. I reared larvae in the laboratory at several temperatures in order to measure indiviudal growth rates. Very few studies of thermal adaptation have employed such an extensive sampling approach, and my finding reveal variation in temperature responses at several levels of organization.       My main finding was that temperature responses became steeper with increasing latitude, both between species but also between latitudinal populations of the same species. Additional genetic studies revealed that this trend was maintained despite strong gene flow. I highlight the need to use more refined characterizations of latitudinal temperature clines in order to explain these findings. I also show that species differ in their ability to acclimate to novel conditions during ontogeny, and propose that this may reflect a cost-benefit trade-off driven by whether seasonal transitions occur rapidly or gradually during ontogeny.       I also carried out a microcosm experiment, where two of the six species were reared either separately or together, to determine the interacting effects of temperature and competition on larval growth rates and population size structure. The results revealed that the effects of competition can be strong enough to completely overcome the rate-depressing effects of low temperatures. I also found that competition had stronger effects on the amount of variation in growth rates than on the average value.       In summary, my thesis offers several novel insights into how temperature affects biological systems, from individuals to populations and across species’ ranges. I also show how it is possible to refine our hypotheses about thermal adaptation by considering the interacting effects of ecology, life history and environmental variation.

The evolution of supply chain management has made significant and continuous contributions to logistical processes. This is highly relevant to crude oil logistics in Nigeria, because both indigenous and multinational oil companies who distribute crude oil from Nigerian ports are yet to adopt an integrated export logistics operation. Besides, the study explores the philosophy of supply chain management applying theoretic frameworks of supply chain process management, demand variability, and vertical integration to encourage integrated export logistics for the distribution of crude oil from Nigeria to China. In addition, the research objectives are: to identify the components of crude oil exports; to review the principles of integrated supply chain management; to analyse crude oil demand in China; to evaluate the efficiency of oil distribution, and to propose strategies that will raise the efficiency of crude oil exports to China from Nigeria. A conceptual model was developed to identify relevant issues that guide the synergy of China’s requirement for energy security and Nigeria’s crude oil supply capability. Also, both a Delphi survey and an archival research method’s were adopted to elucidate on the characteristics of the research population, the shipment frequencies between the two countries, and the sources of competing crude oil exports to China. Measures of central tendency from respondent feedback and non-parametric tests support the study’s findings. Furthermore, recommendations for strategic, operational, and tactical organisation of resources were identified to raise integrated crude oil export efficiency from Nigeria to China directed by the theoretic framework. Moreover, their implications for sustainable logistics practice in the short, medium, and long-term are considered. Finally, it was found that adopting vertical integration in a crude oil supply chain will ensure responsiveness to support export efficiency, and enhance the geographic characteristics of Nigeria for increased export shipments to China.

Cette thèse contribue à la modélisation de la variabilité spatiale de la résistance à la traction des structures en béton, à différentes échelles, et son influence sur la fissuration du béton. En particulier, une loi d'effet d'échelle et des champs aléatoires sont utilisés à l'aide de deux approches:D'une part, une approche analytique probabiliste de la méthode Weakest Linkand Localization (WL2) est proposée. Cette méthode estime la distribution de la résistance à la traction, à différentes échelles, en tenant compte des redistributions des contraintes autour du point le plus faible. Cela dépend d'une longueur d'échelle, dont l'identification est discutée. Cette longueur d'échelle explique le caractère aléatoire de la résistance à la traction du béton.D'autre part, une autre contribution de cette thèse est le développement d'une méthode Élément Fini Stochastique (EFS), utilisée pour modéliser l'effet d'échelle et la variabilité spatiale de la résistance à la traction. La méthode consiste d'abord à définir un champ aléatoire, en utilisant la résistance à la traction réduite estimée à partir de l'approche analytique de WL2. Ensuite, des réalisations de champs aléatoires autocorrélées discrétisées sont générées. En outre, le choix des paramètres d'autocorrélations, utilisés pour définir les champs aléatoires, est discuté.L'applicabilité des deux méthodes est évaluée à l'aide de différentes séries expérimentales présentant des effets d'échelle particulièrement statistique. En outre, la méthode EFS est utilisée pour compléter le modèle EF simplifié de la maquette d'enceinte à double paroi VeRCoRs (échelle 1/3). Les incertitudes sur la résistance à la traction, à cette échelle, sont modélisées à l'aide d'un champ aléatoire autocorrelé indépendant à chaque levée. La propagation des incertitudes, à l'état initial, montre sa pertinence dans l'estimation des positions de fissures<br>This thesis is a contribution to the modeling of the spatial variability of tensile strength of concrete structures, at different scales, and its influence on concrete cracking pattern. Particularly, a size effect law and random fields are used through two approaches:On the one hand, an analytical probabilistic approach of the Weakest Link and Localization (WL2) method is proposed. This method estimates the distribution of the tensile strength, at different scales, accounting for the stress redistributions around the weakest point.It depends on a scale length, whose identification is discussed. This scale length accounts for spatial randomness of the concrete tensile strengthOn the other hand, another contribution of this thesis is the development of a Stochastic Finite Element (SFE) method, used to model both size effect and the spatial variability of the tensile strength. The method consists first on defining a random field, using the mean tensile strength estimated from the analytical approach of WL2. Then, discretized autocorrelated random field realizations are generated. Moreover, the choice of autocorrelation parameters, used to define the random fields, is discussed.The applicability of both methods is evaluated using various experimental series exhibiting particularly statistical size effect. Furthermore, the SFE method is used to complete the simplified FE model of a 1/3 mock-up of a double-wall containment building. The uncertainties on the tensile strength, at this scale, are modeled using independent autocorrelated random field at each scale. Uncertainties propagation, at initial state, shows its pertinence in the estimation of crack positions

Tandem amino acid repeats, also known as homopolimeric tract or homopeptides, are very common features of eukaryotic genomes and are present in nearly one-fifth of human encoded proteins. These structures have attracted much interest in the early 1990s when a number of neurological diseases associated with repeat expansion mutations were discovered in humans. Despite their abundance in coding proteins, little is known about their functional consequences. Two scenarios have been proposed. In one, tandem amino acid repeat is considered a neutral structure generated by slippage event and eventually tolerated in protein as long as it does not disrupt the protein function. However, an increasing number of studies proposed that tandem amino acid repeats may be involved in important functional or structural roles. For instance, tandem amino acid repeats had been found to be especially abundant in transcription factors and developmental proteins, where they can potentially modulate protein-protein interaction, exert an effect on gene transcriptional activity, or act as spacer between different protein domains. In addition, several studies have linked changes in repeat size to modification in developmental processes. Despite the advancement made in the last decade, little is known about the selective forces that shape their evolution. The aim of this thesis has been to gain further insight onto the evolutionary dynamics of tandem amino acid repeats by studying the different types of mutations that occur in the amino acid component of the human proteome, by studying the relationship between variability and abundance of amino acid tandem with the evolutionary constraints operating on the proteins, and by studying their conservation and distribution across various vertebrate genomes in both coding and non-coding sequences. The integration of these approaches enabled us to outline an evolutionary model of these structures.

Assessment of trophic interactions between increasing populations of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) and fisheries in southern Australia is limited due to a lack of species specific demographic data and an understanding of the factors influencing population growth. To establish species specific demographic parameters a cross-sectional sample of New Zealand fur seal females (330) and males (100) were caught and individually-marked on Kangaroo Island, South Australia between 2000 and 2003. The seals were aged through examination of a postcanine tooth, which was removed from each animal to investigate age-specific life-history parameters. Annual formation of cementum layers was confirmed and accuracy in age estimation was determined by examination of teeth removed from individuals of known-age. Indirect methods of assessing reproductive maturity based on mammary teat characteristics indicated that females first gave birth between 4-8 years of age, with an average age at reproductive maturity of 5 years. Among reproductively mature females, age-specific reproductive rates increased rapidly between 4-7 years of age, reaching maximum rates of 70-81% between 8-13 years, and gradually decreased in older females. No females older than 22 years were recorded to pup. Age of first territory tenure in males ranged from 8-10 years. The oldest female and male were 25 and 19 years old, respectively. Post-weaning growth in females was monophasic, characterised by high growth rates in length and mass during the juvenile growth stage, followed by a gradual decline in growth rates after reproductive maturity. In contrast, growth in males was biphasic and displayed a secondary growth spurt in both length and mass, which coincided with sexual and social maturation, followed by a rapid decline in growth rates. Age-specific survival rates were high (0.823-0.953) among prime-age females (8-13 yrs of age) and declined in older females. Relative change in annual pup production was strongly correlated with reproductive rates of prime-age females and adult female survival between breeding seasons.

Sisyrinchium micranthum Cav. is an herbaceous plant, one of the rare species of the genus which is described as annual. In Brazil, its distribution occurs throughout the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Santa Catarina (SC), Paraná (PR), São Paulo (SP), and Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The species has a wide morphological variability reported in several studies, and different combinations of morphological features can be observed in the wild. Based on these combinations that characterize various plant profiles, three morphological types have been described as CI, CII and CIII. Sisyrinchium micranthum has three ploidy levels described in the literature whose basic number is x = 8, 2n = 2x = 16, 2n = 4x = 32, and 2n = 6x = 48. To contribute to the knowledge on the taxonomy, reproduction and evolution of the species, this study investigated genetic and cytogenetic characteristics of S. micranthum, as well as aspects of reproductive biology. To study the population genetic structure of S. micranthum in southern Brazil, firstly, nine microsatellite markers were isolated using an enriched genomic library, and characterized in a diploid population. Later, from the analysis of genetic variability with seven markers for 583 plants of 14 sampled sites in the states of RS, SC and PR, populations with individuals of different ploidy levels were observed. An autopolyploid origin was presumed for these polyploids. The gene and allelic diversities were rather similar for most of the accessions. The inbreeding coefficient over all loci showed that S. micranthum exhibited an average excess of heterozygotes (negative inbreeding coefficient value), but the FIS values of individual populations ranged from -0.273 to 0.454. The heterozygote excess could be expected since autopolyploids present polysomic inheritance, which contributes substantially for a high heterozygosity. In addition, the populations were highly structured. The results from the cytogenetic analyses, demonstrated that the variability of S. micranthum is also present in terms of genome organization. Regarding S. micranthum and related species S. laxum Otto ex Sims and S. rosulatum E.P. Bicknell, it was verified that the 18S-26S rDNA varies in number of loci, with a notable reduction of the same in polyploids in relation to diploids, while 5S locus showed a proportional increase in the number of signals as increased ploidy level. The data on genome size (Cx) for the three species studied showed a genome downsizing from diploids to polyploids, and also a small inter and intraspecific variation with respect to the C-value. In terms of reproductive biology, selfing and outcrossing were recorded for the species. Furthermore, crossing between different morphological categories of S. micranthum are compatible as resulted in the formation of fruits. Likewise, the data suggest that S. micranthum and S. laxum do not present complete reproductive isolation. The genetic variability of S. micranthum demonstrated in this study in terms of genetic divergence between populations and variation in rDNA loci number possibly reflect the complex relationship between polyploidy and reproductive aspects of the species.

In den Jahren 2005 bis 2010 erfolgte im Rahmen der Erarbeitung der vorliegenden Dissertationsschrift eine ökologische Untersuchung der Chironomidenfauna in der Talsperre Saidenbach (Sachsen, Erzgebirge). Drei Arten mit hoher Abundanz konnten bei der umfassenden Artenanalyse im Jahr 2005 ermittelt werden: Procladius crassinervis, P. choreus und Chironomus anthracinus. Zusätzlich wurde die Art C. plumosus aufgrund ihrer engen Verwandtschaft zu C. anthracinus in die Untersuchung einbezogen. Die Arbeit ist auf vier Schwerpunkte fokussiert, wobei die Larven und Puppen der vier Arten analysiert wurden. (1) Die Erarbeitung einer zuverlässigen Methode zur Unterscheidung der Larven der beiden eng verwandten Procladius-Arten basierend auf morphologischen Kriterien (Imaginalscheiden-entwicklung, Kopfkapselgröße und Körperlänge) sowie die Tiefenverteilung der Puppen waren eine Vorbedingung für weiterführende Analysen des Lebenszyklus (LZ) dieser beiden Arten. (2) Die Untersuchung des LZ war der zweite Schwerpunkt. Der LZ wurde stark von abiotischen Faktoren wie Temperatur, Sauerstoff und Biovolumen des Phytoplanktons kontrolliert. (3) Die raum-zeitlichen Verteilungsmuster der vier Arten wurden zunächst bezüglich großräumiger Unterschiede über einen Tiefengradienten innerhalb eines Transektes analysiert. Hierbei zeigte sich bei allen vier Arten eine zeitliche Änderung im jeweiligen Hauptverbreitungsgebiet. Die jungen Larven von C. anthracinus, C. plumosus und P. choreus wanderten im Verlauf ihrer Entwicklung bis zur Verpuppung in flachere Bereiche, P. crassinervis wanderte in tiefere Bereiche. Die Analyse der Verteilungsunterschiede der Larven zwischen zwei verschieden stark eutrophierten Buchten ergab höhere Dichten der beiden Chironomus-Arten in der Bucht mit dem größeren Zulauf und der höheren Phytoplanktonkonzentration im Vergleich mit den anderen Arten. Eine Analyse des kleinräumigen Verteilungsmusters fokussierte auf der Frage, ob die Larven gleichmäßig verteilt oder aggregiert auftraten. Die Untersuchung des vertikalen Verteilungsmusters erforschte das Schwimmverhalten der Larven. (4) Der letzte Aspekt war eine experimentelle Untersuchung, die am Beispiel von C. anthracinus durchgeführt wurde mit dem Ziel, den Proximatfaktor für die beobachtete Wanderung der Larven zu ermitteln, der letztendlich die Temperatur war. Puppen bevorzugten im Experiment wärmere Temperaturen und junge Larven kühlere Temperaturen. Die fünfjährige Untersuchung der Chironomiden in der Talsperre Saidenbach beschreibt insgesamt die komplexe Verhaltensreaktion der Chironomiden, die einen wesentlichen Teil der benthischen Lebensgemeinschaft darstellen, bezüglich der Lebenszyklusmuster (Voltinismus, Verpuppung), der Abundanzänderungen (inner- und zwischenjährlich) sowie der groß- und kleinräumigen Verteilung unter der Einwirkung der wichtigsten Umweltfaktoren<br>In the context of the present dissertation an ecological study was performed about chironomids in Saidenbach Reservoir in the Saxony Ore Mountains, Germany during the five years from 2005 to 2010. A preliminary overall species analysis in 2005 showed that three species were most abundant: Procladius crassinervis, P. choreus and Chironomus anthracinus. Additionally, the species C. plumosus was examined because of its close relationship to C. anthracinus. The study is focussed on four subjects, whereby larvae and pupae of the four species were analysed. (1) The elaboration of a reliable method to distinguish the larvae of the two closely related species P. crassinervis and P. choreus on the basis of morphological criteria (imaginal disc development, larval head capsule size and body length) as well as the depth distribution of their pupae was a precondition to the profound analysis of their life cycles. (2) The investigation of the life cycle pattern of the four species was the second focus. The life cycle of the four species was found to be strongly influenced by abiotic conditions such as temperature, oxygen and biovolume of the phytoplankton. (3) The spatial and temporal distribution pattern of the four species was analysed in view of large scale differences over a depth gradient in one transect. Here, in all four species a shift in the mainly settled lake bottom area occurred. The young larvae of C. anthracinus, C. plumosus and P. choreus migrated during maturing and pupation towards shallower areas; P. crassinervis migrated to deeper areas. The distribution differences between two different bays showed that the two Chironomus species had higher densities in the bay with the higher inflow which resulted in a higher phytoplankton standing stock compared to the other species. A small scale distribution pattern analysis focussed on finding out whether the larvae were aggregated or randomly distributed. The vertical distribution analysis examined the swimming behaviour of the larvae. (4) The last aspect was an experimental setup exemplarily driven with C. anthracinus which showed that the migration was stimulated by the proximate factor temperature as pupae preferred warmer temperatures and young larvae colder temperatures. Altogether, the five year study about chironomids in Saidenbach Reservoir pointed out the complex reaction in the behaviour of an important part of the benthic community concerning the life cycle pattern (voltinism, pupation pattern), the changing in abundances (inter-annual and intra-annual) and the large scale and small scale distribution pattern under the rule of the most important environmental factors

A central objective of many ecophysiological investigations is the establishment of mechanistic explanations for plant distributions in time and space. The important, albeit mostly ignored, question arises as to the nature of the organisms that should be used as representative in pertinent experiments. I suggest that it is essential to use a “demographic approach” in physiological ecology, because physiological parameters such as photosynthetic capacity (PC, determined under non-limiting conditions with the oxygen electrode) may change considerably with plant size. Moreover, as shown for nine epiphyte species covering the most important taxonomic groups, the intraspecific variability in PC was almost always higher than the interspecific variability when comparing only large individuals. In situ studies with the epiphytic bromeliad V. sanguinolenta revealed that besides physiological parameters (such as PC) almost all morphological, anatomical and other physiological leaf parameters studied changed with plant size as well. Likewise, important processes proved to be size-dependent on whole-plant level. For example, long-term water availability was clearly improved in large specimens compared to smaller conspecifics due to the increased efficiency of the tanks to bridge rainless periods. As model calculations on whole-plant level for V. sanguinolenta under natural conditions have shown photosynthetic leaf carbon gain as well as respiratory losses of heterotrophic plant parts scaled with plant size. The resulting area related annual carbon balances were similar for plants of varying size, which corresponded to observations of size-independent (and low) relative growth rates in situ. Under favorable conditions in the greenhouse, however, small V. sanguinolenta exhibited surprisingly high relative growth rates, similar to annuals, which clearly contradicts the prevalent, but barely tested notion of epiphytes as inherently slow growing plants and simultaneously illustrates the profound resource limitations that epiphytes are subjected to in the canopy of a seasonal rain forest. From habitat conditions it seems that size-related differences in water availability are the driving force behind the observed size-dependent ecophysiological changes: the larger an epiphyte grows the more independent it is with regard to precipitation patterns. In conclusion, the results strongly emphasize the need to treat plant size as an important source of intraspecific variability and thus urge researchers to consider plant size in the design of ecophysiological experiments with vascular epiphytes<br>Eines der Hauptziele zahlreicher ökophysiologischer Studien ist eine mechanistische Erklärungen für Pflanzenverteilungen in Raum und Zeit. Eine für diese Zielsetzung zentrale Frage, nämlich nach den Pflanzen, die in entsprechenden Experimenten als Repräsentanten einer Art verwendet werden sollen, wurde bisher allerdings meist vernachlässigt. Den Resultaten dieser Dissertation folgend, ist bei Arbeiten mit vaskulären Epiphyten eine „demographische Herangehensweise“ auch für Belange der Ökophysiologie notwendig, da sich z.B. physiologische Parameter wie Photosynthesekapazität (PC, unter nicht limitierenden Bedingungen in der Sauerstoffelektrode gemessen) regelhaft mit der Pflanzengröße änderten. Darüber hinaus war die intraspezifische Variabilität von PC meist höher als zwischenartliche Unterschiede, wie für neun Epiphyten aus den wichtigsten taxonomischen Gruppen gezeigt wurde. In situ Studien mit der epiphytischen Tankbromelie Vriesea sanguinolenta ergaben, dass sich neben physiologischen Parametern wie PC fast alle untersuchten morphologischen, anatomischen und anderen physiologischen Blattparameter mit der Pflanzengröße ändern. Auch auf der Ebene gesamter Pflanzen erwiesen sich wichtige Prozesse als stark größenabhängig. Zum Beispiel war die Wasserverfügbarkeit aufgrund einer steigenden Effizienz der Wassertanks für große Individuen deutlich verbessert gegenüber kleineren Artgenossen. Desweiteren ergaben Modellberechnungen für V. sanguinolenta unter natürlichen Bedingungen, dass der photosynthetischen Kohlenstoffgewinn der Blätter, ebenso wie Respirationsverluste heterotropher Organe regelhaft mit der Pflanzengröße anstiegen. Die resultierenden Blattflächen bezogenen Jahreskohlenstoffbilanzen waren für Pflanzen verschiedener Größen ungefähr gleich, was Beobachtungen von größenunabhängigen (und niedrigen) relativen Wachstumsraten in situ entsprach. Unter günstigen Bedingungen im Gewächshaus stiegen die relativen Wachstumsraten kleiner V. sanguinolenta auf ein überraschend hohes Niveau, vergleichbar dem von terrestrischen, anuellen Pflanzen. Dies widerspricht klar der gängigen, aber kaum belegten Vorstellung von Epiphyten als inherent langsam wachsende Organismen und zeigen gleichzeitig auf, dass Epiphyten im Kronenraum eines saisonalen Regenwaldes aufgrund erheblicher Ressourcenlimitierung ihr Wachstumspotential bei weitem nicht ausschöpfen können. Von den Habitatsbedingungen scheint der systematische Unterschied in der Wasserverfügbarkeit bei verschieden großen Artgenossen die treibende Kraft für die beobachteten größenabhängigen Veränderungen zu sein: Je größer eine Pflanze wird, desto weniger wird sie von unterschiedlichen Niederschlagsmustern beeinflusst. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen den nachhaltigen Einfluss von Pflanzengröße auf die intraspezifische Variabilität ökophysiologischer Parameter und unterstreichen somit die Dringlichkeit Pflanzengröße in experimentellen Designs von ökophysiologischen Studien mit vaskulären Epiphyten zu integrieren

碩士<br>臺灣大學<br>大氣科學研究所<br>98<br>This study discusses the size variability in the formation of concentric eyewall under barotropic dynamics. In observation, the vorticity structure of the core of tropical cyclone can be regarded as an annular ring. The ring is an unstable structure because of barotropic instability. Radial vorticity mixing process occurs while barotropic instability happens and the vorticity outside the radius of maximum wind forms a skirt-like structure then. It has been already known that mixing process also caused central pressure fall in former research. Therefore, We extend the experiment of binary vortex interaction and investigate how the core vortex under active vorticity mixing influence the end state and size of binary vortex interaction by using vorticity ring as core vortex. Moreover, we can understand the relation between the end state of binary vortex interaction and intensity change. In the binary vortex interaction experiments with small vorticity ratios and dimensionless gaps, thick or filled enough rings tend to turn into concentric eyewall vorticity structure and their pressure fall slightly. Thin and hollow rings tend to become monopole or tripole structure while their central pressure fall dramatically. The decreasing value of pressure is dominated by the process of single vorticity ring mixing in thin and hollow ring, so the core vorticity structure is a key factor for rapid intensification. In the end states of binary vortex interaction, the central pressure decrease accompany with the contraction of the radius of maximum wind. The contraction provides more area of high velocity. For the maintenance of kinetic energy conservation, the maximum velocity needs to decrease. This makes the differential rotation weaker and lengthens the filamentation time. The thin and hollow core has the most raising region of high velocity, so it’s difficult to become concentric eyewall vorticity structure -- even it’s pressure intensify rapidly. In the point of view of single core vortex simulation, thin and hollow rings generate vorticity skirt after vorticity rearrangement. It’s hard to format concentric eyewall vorticity structure when the core vortex is skirted. This emphasizes the importance of core vorticity structure again. However, the results of thin and hollow cores with large vorticity ratios or non-dimensional gaps are similar to the results of Rankine. Therefore, the core vorticity rings cause larger size of concentric eyewall structures. Comparing to the ring with vorticity skirt (α – Ring), the skirted one need a further gap between neighboring vortex to form concentric eyewall vorticity structure. It’s also easier to mix into monopole or tripole in thin and hollow α – Ring than in thick or filled α – Ring.

There is a growing recognition that conservation programs using hatchery-reared fish should strive to produce individuals that represent phenotypes present in natural environments. Size variability within cohorts, mediated through inter-individual differences in growth rates, provides one avenue by which phenotype can be studied. High growth rates are generally equated with greater fitness. However, there is evidence that fish with slower relative growth and smaller sizes continue to persist within populations. This thesis aimed to better understand the causes and potential implications of variable sizes and growth rates on the potential recruitment of hatchery-reared Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens. Studies were developed to 1) determine the mechanisms behind these observed variations and 2) assess the behavioural and physiological consequences of being either a fast- or slow-grower (i.e., large or small). Laboratory studies concluded that external factors, most notably the presence of conspecifics during feeding events, influenced size variability more than inherent predispositions towards faster or slower growth. Examination of size-dependent versus size-independent feeding interactions further confirmed that variability does not appear to be the result of underlying fixed behaviours. The consequence of slower growth rates and smaller sizes did not lead to higher mortality or reduced body condition during a low temperature challenge. Recapture rates and downstream movements following stocking events of both young-of-the-year (YOY) and yearling Lake Sturgeon in the Winnipeg River, Manitoba could not be correlated to inter-individual differences in size. Although initial study on the cause of growth and size divergence may lead one to conclude that slow-growing (i.e., small) Lake Sturgeon represent a substandard phenotype, subsequent studies could not point to inferior performance of these individuals when compared to faster-growing (i.e., large) individuals of the same age. As such, the practice of size-selection for relatively faster-growing and larger individuals in future Lake Sturgeon enhancement programs is discouraged, at least until there are more conclusive findings to suggest otherwise. Future studies should continue to look at recruitment in relation to growth rate and size among naturally produced Lake Sturgeon juveniles in order to put the results of this research into context.

碩士<br>國立中山大學<br>海洋地質及化學研究所<br>98<br>Rivers are conduit that transport terrestrial matters to the ocean. Studying how the composition and transport mechanism of terrestrial matters influenced by tide, wave, wind and discharge is an important issue in the disparate of river-sea systems. The aim of this study is to understand the temporal and spatial variability of the grain size distribution of a river plume, using EOF (Empirical Orthogonal Function) to analyze the correlation between environmental processes and suspended sediments. We used CTD and LISST-100 to collect upper-colum profile data at Gaoping River mouth in five (R/V Ocean Research III) cruises from 2005 to 2009. We also deployed an instrumented tetrapods and a moored buoy at the inner Gaoping River mouth and the inner continental shelf off Gaoping River mouth for two days, respectively. In all the upper-column data, the volume concentration increased in surface column when the salinity decreased. The variability of volume concentration are dominant in grain sizes between 10-250 μm. We used EOF to analyz the time series to investigate the correlations among the volume concentration of 5 grain-size groups (&amp;lt;3, 3-10, 10-63, 63-153, and 153-250 μm), salinity, water temperature, and alongshore and across-shore winds. The first eigenmode explains about 50 % of the total correlations. This mode describes the dominant influence of the river runoff that affected all the grain-size classes within the plume. This mode suggests that the grain-sizes between 3-250 μm are of terrestrial origin (low salinity, high water temperature) exported during the ebbing tide. The second eigenmode accounts for about 20 % of the total correlations. This mode describes the dominant influence of the wind. When under the upwelling-favorable across-shore wind, the upwelling brings low temperature and clay-sized suspended sediment from the submarine canyon to the surface. The results suggest that the size-classes greater than 3 μm are terrestrial suspended sediment and transported by the river plume, the size-classes finer than 3 μm are mostly from the submarine canyon by the upwelling-favorable winds.