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Atmospheric Trace Metal Biogeochemistry And Fluxes To Shelf Seas, Christina Louise Wells Jan 1999

Atmospheric Trace Metal Biogeochemistry And Fluxes To Shelf Seas, Christina Louise Wells

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The total concentrations of particulate trace metals (Al. Cd, Co, Cu, Fe. Mn, Na. Ni. Pb, Zn) with analytical quality assurance, have been determined in atmospheric aerosols at two coastal sites, and during cruises in the Celtic Sea. Sampling at a site on the western English Channel covered 19 months and represents one of the most comprehensive time series of trace metals in atmospheric aerosols. Aerosol concentrations of Cd. Cu, Pb and Zn for the English Channel were lower than previously reported and Al. Co and Mn concentrations were similar to literature values. The elements were grouped according to behaviour …

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Monitoring Of Trace Metal Behaviour In Natural Waters, David John Whttworth Jan 1999

Monitoring Of Trace Metal Behaviour In Natural Waters, David John Whttworth

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

An automated voltammetric dissolved trace metal monitor was developed and validated for in situ analysis of estuarine waters. The system was successfully applied to the determination of Ni concentrations during two studies in the Tamar Estuary. The automated system used Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry (AdCSV) for trace metal analysis with a continuous flow sampling procedure and an on line LTV digestion system to ensure complete breakdown of interfering and metal complexing organic ligands. Its application to the measurement of total dissolved Ni in the Tamar Estuary showed a high measuring frequency of up to 6 fully calibrated samples per hour …

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The Measurement And Characterisation Of Aerosol In The Urban Atmosphere (Pm10) And An Evaluation Ofthe Sources Of These Particles By Number, Andrew Lindsay Dye Jan 1999

The Measurement And Characterisation Of Aerosol In The Urban Atmosphere (Pm10) And An Evaluation Ofthe Sources Of These Particles By Number, Andrew Lindsay Dye

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The link between human health and the mass of fine particulate matter below 10 µm(PM10) in air is well documented. Current research suggests that the number, size and shape of particles may be of most concern and that in the urban atmosphere combustion sources of PM10, especially diesel engine sources, dominate the line (< 1 µm) and ultra-fine ( <0.1 µm) particles. Despite this, the number, size and shape of particles in urban air has not been reported to any great extent or detail, and the percentage contribution to the numbers of particles from different sources is largely unknown. The objectives of this research were to characterise fine particles with respect to their morphology and thus apportion the sources of particles by number. Urban aerosol above 1 µm was initially examined to study the fluctuations in PM10 number and make retrospective analysis of periods of elevated PM10 for source identification in Plymouth, UK. Aerosol was collected via a Burkard spore trap and examined using light microscopy with image analysis between 16 March 1995 and 31 August 1996, at a background site in Plymouth, UK. Two periods, 19 January-4 February and 10-25 March 1996, identified as UK wide PM10 episodes, were retrospectively studied and compared with PM10 mass measurements. The mean number count for the whole period was 10.5 x 104 ± 7.9 x 104 particles m ˉ³ The two PM10 episodes had elevated average number concentrations of 13.5 x 104 ±7.6 x 104 particles m ˉ³ for 19 January- 4 February 1996, and 13.0 x 104 ± 9.7 x 104 particles m ˉ³ for 10-25 March 1996. During the periods of elevated PM10 the tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) mass of panicles had a low correlation with the particles less than 5 µm and an increased correlation to the particles greater than 5 µm in size. Outside of these peak periods the PM10 TEOM mass was most closely correlated with the number of particles less than 5 µm in size. This work shows the difference in urban aerosol during periods of air quality guideline exceedence. These findings agree with literature that an aged continental aerosol source has a key role in the generation of UK wide PM10 mass exceedances. Further analysis of the line urban aerosol (< 1 µm) was made using direct sampling of urban aerosol on to porous carbon films (PCF) developed in this research. The efficiency of collection was low (ea. 5%) but the samples were representative and enabled transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for sub-micron particle analysis. Measurement was made of the fractal dimensions and diameter of particles. This was used to identify any ageing and ultimately the sources of aerosol. PCF were used in the simultaneous collection of urban roadside and background aerosol, on seven dates between December 1996 and August 1997 in Plymouth, UK. The average perimeter fractal dimension (PFD) of aerosol was consistently significantly greater at the roadside than the background (+ 0.02), indicative of a smoother, aged aerosol at the background site. The sampling of a variety of combustion engines was made for source identification purposes. The particle morphology produced from the diesel engines showed great uniformity of particle morphology with varying speed and load; no consistent significant differences were found. The morphology results were comparable to other density fractal dimensions and perimeter fractal dimension values found in other studies for diesel. A natural log relationship between the median particle size and the median PFD was found for the diesel engine sources but not in petrol samples. This natural log trend was considered as a tentative 'fingerprint' of diesel engine combustion and was in harmony with literature values of PFD for diesel engine particles. Using the fractal measures, size and particle classification the bulk of aerosol was identified as from hydrocarbon combustion sources; ea. 88-92% of the roadside and ea. 77-86% of background. A component of carbon ceno-spheres were identified contributing ea. 6-12% of both the roadside and background aerosol. Non-combustion particles increased from ea. 1-4% of the roadside to ea. 7-9% of the background, as did the proportion of aged combustion particles, from 0-1% of roadside to 2-3% of the background aerosol. A strong correlation for the median size vs. PFD morphology curve between, the roadside and diesel sources (0.93 - 0.95) and the background and petrol sources was found (0.95). The roadside aerosol was significantly different to the petrol source in the l20-220nm size range (p=0.007) and there was a low correlation of the petrol and the roadside size vs. morphology curve (0.66). This suggests the domination of

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Volcanic Emissions And Distal Palaeoenvironmental Impacts In New Zealand, Teresa Mary Giles Jan 1999

Volcanic Emissions And Distal Palaeoenvironmental Impacts In New Zealand, Teresa Mary Giles

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis is a palaeoenviromnental investigation into possible non-climatic effects on the environment from volcanic ash fall and toxic emissions outside the blast zone of a volcanic eruption. These effects are determined from palynological and geochemical changes following tephra fall at a range of sites across the North Island of New Zealand which were located at increasing distances from the main volcanic source, the Taupo Volcanic Zone. These sites collectively covered a wide variety of habitats existing under different climatic regimes. The first site is a peat bog at a warm temperate, comparatively unstable coastal location, Matakana Island. The peat …

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The Distribution And Reactivity Of Organochlorines In Estuaries, Andrew O. Tyler Jan 1999

The Distribution And Reactivity Of Organochlorines In Estuaries, Andrew O. Tyler

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In February 1997, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme initiated a protocol to reduce the risks to human health and the environment arising from persistent organic pollutants. The initial list of 12 families of organochlorine pollutants included polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) selected for their persistence, bioaccumulation capacity and toxicity. The aim of this work was to further understanding of the behaviour of these organochlorines (OCs) in estuarine systems. Field surveys were conducted at UK estuarine (Humber, Clyde and Dee) and coastal locations. Sediments were analysed for OCs and a range of …

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Antimony Speciation By Chromatographic Sample Introduction To Plasma Spectroscopy, Alen Bruce Guy Jan 1999

Antimony Speciation By Chromatographic Sample Introduction To Plasma Spectroscopy, Alen Bruce Guy

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Antimony (Sb), an element in Group V of the Periodic Table, has an ancient and varied chemistry with many applications in industry and medicine. However, although sensitive analytical methods exist for the determination of Sb very tittle is known about the speciation of the element. It is widely known that the toxicity of Sb is not only dependent upon its oxidation state but also its molecular form. Thus this study has utilised chromatographic sample introduction directly coupled to plasma spectroscopic instruments to facilitate separations of Sb based upon molecular form coupled with sensitive detection methods. Fundamental studies, using NMR to …

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Automated Flow Injection Instrumentation For Monitoring Nitrogen Species In Natural Waters, Simon Philip Coles Jan 1999

Automated Flow Injection Instrumentation For Monitoring Nitrogen Species In Natural Waters, Simon Philip Coles

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The provision of high quality analytical data is an essential prerequisite for understanding the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients in the aquatic environment. Due to the instability of samples collected for nutrient determinations however, in situ analysis is preferred. This approach also allows for high temporal and spatial resolution of the data and alteration of the sampling frequency to meet local environmental needs. Chapter One describes the role of nitrogen species, particularly ammonia and nitrate, in the aquatic environment, their sources, and possible environmental effects and summarises analytical techniques for their determination. Solid state miniaturised detectors and their suitability for in …

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Structural Characterisation And The Diagenetic Pathways Of C25 Highly Branched Isoprenoid Hydrocarbons, Lesley Anne Johns Jan 1999

Structural Characterisation And The Diagenetic Pathways Of C25 Highly Branched Isoprenoid Hydrocarbons, Lesley Anne Johns

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) hydrocarbons have been widely reported in recent sediments. It is known that two species of diatomaceous algae, the diatoms Haslea ostrearia and Rhizosolenia setigera are able to biosynthesise C25 HBI alkenes. Large scale cultures of H. ostrearia studied previously, allowed isolation and characterisation of five HBI polyenes. The stereochemistry of the chiral centres was not reported however. The concentrations of HBIs often decrease with depth in sediment cores but the reasons for this are unknown.

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Analytical Applications Of The Peroxyoxalate Chemiluminescence Reaction, Matthew Graham Sanders Jan 1999

Analytical Applications Of The Peroxyoxalate Chemiluminescence Reaction, Matthew Graham Sanders

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The overall objectives of this thesis were to investigate the potential of the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (POOL) reaction for the quantitative detection of target analytes in non-aqueous matrices and to compare quantitative performance with fluorescence detection. The target analytes investigated were polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic amines. These were selected as an important class of compounds in engine exhaust emissions and a detergent additive in diesel fuel respectively. Chapter one outlines the challenges of analysing petroleum products and engine exhaust emissions and discusses the potential of luminescence techniques, particularly chemiluminescence (CL), for the quantification of trace components. The chapter also …

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Laminated Sediments Of Loch Ness, Scotland: Indicators Of Holocene Environmental Change, Michael Colin Cooper Jan 1999

Laminated Sediments Of Loch Ness, Scotland: Indicators Of Holocene Environmental Change, Michael Colin Cooper

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Sediment cores, two approximately 6 metres and one about 1 metre in length, were recovered from the profundal plain of the northern basin of Loch Ness, Scotland. Examination revealed that the sediment is composed of irregular sequences of pale and dark laminations, most sub-millimeter in thickness, some ca 5 mm thick. Enumeration of laminae, and determination of lamination thickness, was carried out using X-radiography and image analysis. A hypothesis was developed that the finer laminations represent varves. This was tested by means of lamination counting, and by radiocarbon dating of material from one 'long' core. Comparison of the two chronologies …

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Parental Choice In Secondary Education : Socio-Spatial Dynamics And Motivation, Edward Michael Parsons Jan 1999

Parental Choice In Secondary Education : Socio-Spatial Dynamics And Motivation, Edward Michael Parsons

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis has two main aims. First, to establish whether the strengthening in 1988 of the right of parents to choose a secondary school for their child has led to increased travel to out-of-catchment schools in a case study area. Second, to identify the extent of socio-spatial variation of patterns and trends in choice of school. Secondary school transfer data relating to over 16,000 children for 1991 and 1993 to 1995 was analysed in a Geographical Information System (GIS). One hundred and sixty two parents of children about to transfer to secondary school were interviewed with the objective of revealing …

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Mercury Species In Natural Gas Condensate, Azman Bin Shafawi Jan 1999

Mercury Species In Natural Gas Condensate, Azman Bin Shafawi

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The presence of ultra-trace levels of mercury in industrial gas and condensate streams is a cause of both environmental and production concern. The toxic nature of the element, in all forms, together with its ability to shut-down large processing plants dictates a need for its accurate and precise measurement. The study which investigated the recovery of various mercury species, spiked into synthetic and real condensate samples using conventional and new digestion and/or extraction techniques showed recovery was dependent upon the speciation. Using the most efficient technique, L

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The Origins And Occurrence Of Estrogenic A-Ring Aromatic Steroids In U.K. Sewage Treatment Works Effluents, Stewart James Niven Jan 1999

The Origins And Occurrence Of Estrogenic A-Ring Aromatic Steroids In U.K. Sewage Treatment Works Effluents, Stewart James Niven

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

There is worldwide concern over the possible estrogenic effects of organic chemicals on a variety of wildlife and indeed on humankind. In the U.K., estrogenic compounds in sewage treatment works (STW) effluents have been implicated in causing the increases in egg yolk protein production observed in caged male trout and other fish species. At the initiation of the present study, few of the estrogenic compounds in STW effiuents had been recognised, although circumstantial evidence suggested that steroidal hormones were primary candidates. Cholesterol is abundant in STW effluents and is the precursor of all steroidal hormones biosynthesised in mammalian systems. Thus, …

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Void Structure, Colloid And Tracer Transport Properties Of Stratified Porous Media, Tobias John Mathews Jan 1999

Void Structure, Colloid And Tracer Transport Properties Of Stratified Porous Media, Tobias John Mathews

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The characterisation of the properties of porous materials is of great importance in the effective management of natural and manmade systems. A sophisticated network model, 'Pore-Cor', of some of these properties has been previously developed. The present study has significantly extended the scope of the model's predictive capabilities. Flow and transport behaviour was examined in laboratory sand columns of various depths. These experiments examined unsaturated flow of water and conservative solute tracer transport through homogeneous sand samples. Flow through these was not homogeneous or repeatable. Experimental observations found that this may have been due to subtle random variations in packing, …

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Responses Of Recent Benthic Foraminifera To Metal Pollution In South West England Estuaries: A Study Of Impact And Change, Sheila Joan Stubbles Jan 1999

Responses Of Recent Benthic Foraminifera To Metal Pollution In South West England Estuaries: A Study Of Impact And Change, Sheila Joan Stubbles

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

There was a major discharge into Restronguet Creek, south-west Cornwall in January 1992 of metalled acidic mine water drainage from the recently closed Wheal Jane tin mine. Shortly after this discharge a post-impact study using the responses of Recent benthic foraminifera as indicators of metal pollution was carried out on this Creek which had not been investigated previously. Because of a lack of pre-discharge foraminiferal data from Restronguet Creek, other estuaries, which previously drained metal mining regions, have been sampled in order to determine the background levels in foraminiferal populations. These estuaries, Fowey (Cornwall), Avon and Erme (south-west Devon) have …

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The Hydrology Of A Major Valley Wetland At Goss Moor, Cornwall, Carl Alexander Lugemalila Ishemo Jan 1999

The Hydrology Of A Major Valley Wetland At Goss Moor, Cornwall, Carl Alexander Lugemalila Ishemo

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis aims to fiimish an understanding of the water fluxes and storages occurring at the subcatchment scale in Goss Moor, a large lowland wetland in Cornwall, UK. Goss Moor constitutes approximately 5 km^ of poor fen and similar wetland areas sited on clayey alluvial and periglacial deposits in the base of a broad/shallow headwater valley. The bedrock is kaolinised granite and pelite. The hydrological characterisation was achieved using variables measured directly on site, using spectrally derived stream flow components and using flows output from a caUbrated numerical model of transient groundwater flow beneath the wetland. The study demonstrated the …

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Privatising Britain's Passenger Railway : Expectations And Outcomes Of The 'Free' Market Approach, Jon Shaw Jan 1999

Privatising Britain's Passenger Railway : Expectations And Outcomes Of The 'Free' Market Approach, Jon Shaw

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The privatisation of the British railway industry was announced in 1992, and a central plank of the government's strategy was to liberalise British Rail's (BR's) passenger market at the time of its divestiture. Competition was to be introduced both for the market, through franchising, and in the market, by freeing up access to the rail network. This thesis examines the policy adopted to promote competition in the British passenger railway industry. Its central aim is to assess the extent to which the promotion of competition between passenger train operators was an appropriate policy goal. In pursuit of this aim, the …

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The Autecology Of The Meadow Thistle (Cirsium Dissectum L. Hill) On Devon Rhos Pastures, With Particular Reference To The Effect Of Major Environmental Variables On The Population Dynamics, John Ross Jan 1999

The Autecology Of The Meadow Thistle (Cirsium Dissectum L. Hill) On Devon Rhos Pastures, With Particular Reference To The Effect Of Major Environmental Variables On The Population Dynamics, John Ross

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Semi-natural wet grassland communities are rapidly disappearing from the farmed landscape. Protection of remaining areas and restoration of degraded areas has become a priority with organisations concerned with the conservation of biodiversity in the U.K. The research described in this thesis provides an insight into the community dynamics of one particularly rare plant community, the Cirsio-Molinietum fen meadow (NVC M24). This was achieved by examining the autecology of Cirsium dissectum, one of the key indicator species of this community. The habitat environment where C. dissectum is present was characterised at eight Devon M24 locations and ten non-M24 locations. This revealed …

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Soil Moisture Variability: Implications For The Hydrology, Erosion And Management Of Gullied Catchments In Central Spain, Christopher Fitzjohn Jan 1999

Soil Moisture Variability: Implications For The Hydrology, Erosion And Management Of Gullied Catchments In Central Spain, Christopher Fitzjohn

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In semi-arid environments, the combination of a non-uniform distribution of vegetation, an often highly irregular terrain and complex geological, pedological and management histories have frequently given rise to considerable spatial variability in the physical and hydrological properties of soils. Heterogeneity within the soil's physical and hydrological properties can result in pronounced differences in infiltration and soil moisture. The hydrological response of semi-arid landscapes to rainfall events may therefore be spatially non-uniform. Quantifying the spatial pattern of hydrological response is important for identifying those areas within the landscape which arc vulnerable to runoff and erosion. Since soil moisture is considered to …

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Made In The Gdr : The Changing Geographies Of Women In The Post-Socialist Rural Society In Mecklenburg-Westpommerania, Bettina Van Hoven-Iganski Jan 1999

Made In The Gdr : The Changing Geographies Of Women In The Post-Socialist Rural Society In Mecklenburg-Westpommerania, Bettina Van Hoven-Iganski

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis explores women's experiences in rural areas under state socialism in the GDR and in the New Germany since 1989. The study is located within feminist geographical thinking and draws on a variety of qualitative and quantitative sources. Data for the research were collated through various research methods both qualitative and quantitative including correspondence, focus group interviews, key informant interviews, and the consultation of documentary evidence and statistical sources. The thesis employs a modified grounded theory approach. Data were processed and analysed using the computer-assisted analysis programme NUD.IST Version 4.0. The thesis focuses on questions that emerge from a …

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Cytokine Profiles And Their Relevance To Human Transplantation, Nicola Helen Cartwright Jan 1999

Cytokine Profiles And Their Relevance To Human Transplantation, Nicola Helen Cartwright

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The aim of this project was to develop an in vitro functional assay for the prediction of allograft rejection following renal transplantation. This assay was also used to study acute GVHD following identical sibling bone marrow transplantation. Lymphocyte cytokine profiles were measured by ELISA (protein secretion) and flow cytometry (cytokine expression) following mitogen stimulation and MLR. In normal individuals, considerable inter-individual variations were found in both protein secretion (IL-2, IL- 4, IL-10 and IFN-γ) and cytokine expression (IL-2 and IFN-γ). Strong relationships were found between IL-2 protein and expression, IL-2 and IL-10 protein, and IL-10 and IFN-γ protein secretion. Analysis …

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Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis-Based Investigations Of Uvr- And Visible Light-Induced Single Strand Breakage In Cultured Human Cells, Jeremy Fraser Kendall Jan 1999

Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis-Based Investigations Of Uvr- And Visible Light-Induced Single Strand Breakage In Cultured Human Cells, Jeremy Fraser Kendall

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Single strand breaks induced by very low fluence UVR (20 µW cmˉ² , 310 nm) and visible light (70 µW cmˉ² , 405 nm) and higher fluence unfiltered xenon arc lamp radiation (3 mW cmˉ² ) were measured by single cell gel electrophoresis. The normal responses of 6 cell lines to the low fluence radiation show a peak in single strand breaks after approximately 2 minutes, after which time the single strand breakage returns to background levels despite continued irradiation. This was not observed with the higher fluence irradiation. The repair of these single strand breaks was observed to be …

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Immunogenetics Of Type 1 Diabetes In Man, Andrea Dawn Hodgkinson Jan 1999

Immunogenetics Of Type 1 Diabetes In Man, Andrea Dawn Hodgkinson

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes is associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on human chromosome 6. To analyse the contribution of the class I region of the MHC to disease susceptibility, polymorphism of the class Ib molecule HLA-E and several genetic markers within the region was investigated in 378 British Caucasoid patients with type 1 diabetes as defined by the National Diabetes Group, 100 multiplex families from the BDA Warren Repository and 216 unselected normal British Caucasoid controls. PCR-Sequence-Specific Oligonucleotide Probing (PCR-SSOP) was used to analyse polymorphism of the HLA-E gene, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis was used …

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Sediment Transport In The Swash-Zone Of Natural Beaches, Tony Butt Jan 1999

Sediment Transport In The Swash-Zone Of Natural Beaches, Tony Butt

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Concurrent measurements of velocity, water depth, sub-surface pore-pressure and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) were obtained from the swash-zone o f a macrotidal, dissipaiive (tanP = 0.014), fine to medium grained (dso^ 0.24mm) beach at Perranporth, Cornwall, UK, in low (H^ = 0.8m) to high (Hj « 2.2m) energy conditions. Velocity, pressure and SSC were measured using electromagnetic current meters, pressure transducers and a four-level array of miniature optical backscaner sensors respectively. Results show an infragravity dominated wave field in the swashzone in both high and low energy conditions. In low energy conditions, the ratio between low ( f < 0.05Hz) and high ( f > 0.05Hz) frequency …

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Potential Use Of Protease Enzymes In Liquid Diets For Pigs, Jane Davina Beal Jan 1999

Potential Use Of Protease Enzymes In Liquid Diets For Pigs, Jane Davina Beal

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

A programme of study was undertaken to assess the effect of pretreating raw soya bean and processed full fat soyabean meals with protease enzymes prior to use in liquid feed for grower and finisher pigs. A series of laboratory studies was undertaken to examine the efficacy of three microbial proteases (P2, P3 and P4) in partially hydrolysing soya protein and in reducing the levels of trypsin inhibitors in raw soyabean. Pretreatment consisted of steeping ground soyabean for 24 h at 20° C in the absence (control) or presence of 20 000 units gˉ¹ N of P2, P3 or P4. Pretreating …

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''Even The Truth Needs A Barnum'' Nicolas Nabokov, Music And The Cold War, Ian Hugh Wellens Jan 1999

''Even The Truth Needs A Barnum'' Nicolas Nabokov, Music And The Cold War, Ian Hugh Wellens

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis examines composer Nicolas Nabokov’s political involvement in the world of music in the 1940s and 1950s. In particular it concerns his attempt to use contemporary art music as a means of countering the influence of the Soviet Union, via the festivals he organised for the CIA-financed Congress for Cultural Freedom (CCF). To the best of my knowledge both Nabokov and the musical activities of the CCF have previously been ignored by musical scholarship: this thesis therefore makes an important contribution to our understanding of the relationship between music and politics in the cold war period. My text divides …

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A Framework For Improving The Implementation Of Process Based Change, Zoe Katherine Nash Jan 1999

A Framework For Improving The Implementation Of Process Based Change, Zoe Katherine Nash

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis is located within the field of Information Systems implementation. More specifically it focuses within Information Systems at the issues associated with implementation of business proves-based change. There is much evidence, both theoretical and empirical, to suggest that there are a high percentage of Information Systems and Business Process implementation failures (Meredith 1981, Lucas 1981, Walsham 1993, Land et al 1989). The aim of this thesis is twofold. Firstly to analyse the reasons behind the failures in process-based change implementations and secondly to provide a solution that will enable companies to overcome some of the problems and thus reduce …

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Issues For Music And Education In West Africa, Trevor Wiggins Jan 1999

Issues For Music And Education In West Africa, Trevor Wiggins

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

My published output represents an ongoing engagement with the issues of studying, learning, understanding and transmitting music. More specifically, it has the music of Ghana in West Africa as its primary focus. This music is then considered from a number of points of view:- • as music, where the sonic events can be charted, documented and analysed • as 'ethnic' music where the function and meaning of this music for its culture can be considered • as a cultural artefact where the changing processes of transmission and preservation are observed • as pedagogical material where the nature of learning related …

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Military Identities : Men, Families And Occupational Change., De Bere Samantha Regan Jan 1999

Military Identities : Men, Families And Occupational Change., De Bere Samantha Regan

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis is based on a longitudinal study of servicemen and their families, as they experience transition from careers in the Royal Navy to civilian life. The analysis is based on data derived from three sets of focused interviews with twenty couples, conducted in Plymouth over a period between November 1995 and October 1998, and the findings of a questionnaire survey of just over two-hundred leavers. It develops a theoretically distinctive approach, drawing on the literature of organisations, discourses and identity, in order to understand servicemen's relationships with naval careers, and the implications for adaptation to civilian life on leaving. …

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In The Labyrinths Of Deceit: Culture, Modernity And Disidentity In The Nineteenth Century, Richard Joseph Walker Jan 1999

In The Labyrinths Of Deceit: Culture, Modernity And Disidentity In The Nineteenth Century, Richard Joseph Walker

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis examines the nature of identity and the problems implicit in attempts to affirm it within the context of nineteenth century modernity. By exploring a number of texts from Romanticism to the fin de siecle, it can be. seen that autonomous and coherent identity is not a stable entity. Drawing upon Rene Descartes'work on constructions of selfhood as a starting point, these ideas can be detected in an assessment of identity's alter ego - the disidentical self which is characterised by masks, disguises, madness, pathological behaviour, criminality and addiction. Examples of such paradigms for disidentity can be found in …

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