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An Investigation Into Sustainable Forest Policies And Practices In Syria, Rim Rateb Al Berni Jan 2010

An Investigation Into Sustainable Forest Policies And Practices In Syria, Rim Rateb Al Berni

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Appreciation of how forest land can be managed in a sustainable way in arid and semi-arid zones (ASAZs) of centralized countries is limited. Accordingly, this thesis seeks to analyse the role of government and communities, including women, in the formulation and implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM) policy and practices in the semi-arid environment of Syria where such land is limited in extent (e.g. 3% forest and 57% rangeland) and yet where its high biodiversity value is of international significance. The thesis employs a variety of methods: a case study approach (Syria); a questionnaire (i.e. 142 respondents); face-to-face interviews (i.e. …

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Regulating Geopolitical Space: Eu Interaction With East Africa, Veit Klemens Bachmann Jan 2010

Regulating Geopolitical Space: Eu Interaction With East Africa, Veit Klemens Bachmann

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Relations with developing countries have been a field of collective European policy for more than fifty years. Yet, European development policy remains fragmented; conducted on different levels through a variety of actors with multiple instruments applied in various policy fields. Articulations of Europe's collective role in the world first emerged in the 1970s under the idea of Europe as a civilian power (Duchene 1972, 1973b). These initial elaborations have served as a key point of departure in political and academic debates on the international identity and role of an integrated/integrating Europe (see for example Solana 2002; Ferrero- Waldner 2007; also …

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Aqueous And Solid Phase Interactions Of Radionuclides With Organic Complexing Agents, Estela Reinoso-Maset Jan 2010

Aqueous And Solid Phase Interactions Of Radionuclides With Organic Complexing Agents, Estela Reinoso-Maset

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Characterising the geochemistry and speciation of major contaminant radionuclides is crucial in order to understand their behaviour and migration in complex environmental systems. Organic complexing agents used in nuclear decontamination have been found to enhance migration of radionuclides at contaminated sites; however, the mechanisms of the interactions in complex environments are poorly understood. In this work, radionuclide speciation and sorption behaviour were investigated in order to identify interactions between four key radionuclides with different oxidation states (Cs(I) and Sr(II) as important fission products; Th(IV) and U(VI) as representative actinides), three anthropogenic organic complexing agents with different denticities (EDTA, NTA and …

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Surface Adsorption And Pore-Level Properties Of Mineral And Related Systems Of Relevance To The Recycling Of Paper, Christopher Mark Gribble Jan 2010

Surface Adsorption And Pore-Level Properties Of Mineral And Related Systems Of Relevance To The Recycling Of Paper, Christopher Mark Gribble

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

There is a significant problem for the paper recycling industry known as “stickies”. “Stickies” are tacky species, present in recycled paper and coated broke, derived from coating formulations, adhesives, etc. They impact negatively on paper quality and cause web runnability problems by deposit build-up. To sustain recycling, stickies are controlled by adsorbing them onto minerals added to the recycled stock. So the aim of the project was to characterise non-porous and porous minerals suitable for paper-making, and then use the knowledge gained to improve the adsorption of stickies. The pore level properties of the minerals used to control stickies are …

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Localisation And Resilience At The Local Level: The Case Of Transition Town Totnes, Robert John Hopkins Jan 2010

Localisation And Resilience At The Local Level: The Case Of Transition Town Totnes, Robert John Hopkins

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis provides a critical review of the Transition movement, a grassroots response to peak oil and climate change, co-founded by this author. It focuses on two key aspects of the Transition approach, resilience and economic relocalisation, with the aim of analysing whether and how they can be implemented in a locality based on the Transition approach, and assessing what socio-economic and community-related structures would be necessary to implement such a process. The focus of the research is Totnes, Devon, which because of its status as the UK’s first Transition initiative and the longer history of various initiatives to promote …

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Shifting Interfaces: Art Research At The Intersections Of Live Performance And Technology, Scott Delahunta Jan 2010

Shifting Interfaces: Art Research At The Intersections Of Live Performance And Technology, Scott Delahunta

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This collection of published works is an outcome of my practice-led inter-disciplinary collaborative artistic research into deepening understanding of creative process in the field of contemporary dance. It comprises thirty written works published from 1999 to 2007 in various formats and platforms. This collection is framed by a methodological discussion that provides insight into how this research has intersected over time with diverse fields of practice including contemporary dance, digital and new media arts and non-art domains such as cognitive and social science. Fields are understood in the context of this research to be largely constituted out of the expert …

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Why Bother With Podcasting? A View From The Legal Practice Course, Maggie Hemsworth Jan 2010

Why Bother With Podcasting? A View From The Legal Practice Course, Maggie Hemsworth

The Plymouth Law and Criminal Justice Review

No abstract provided.

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Enhancing The Learning Experience In Undergraduate Geoscience Fieldwork Through The Use Of Hand-Held Technologies, Meriel Fitzpatrick, Jason Truscott Jan 2010

Enhancing The Learning Experience In Undergraduate Geoscience Fieldwork Through The Use Of Hand-Held Technologies, Meriel Fitzpatrick, Jason Truscott

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Aims of projectTo evaluate the effectiveness of electronic and lab-based exercises in preparing students to use PDAs in the field; To investigate the pedagogic impact of PDAs during fieldwork; To enhance the learning material delivered through PDAs to support learning in the field. Background to project (or context)The idea for this project emerged from a development project which evaluated the use of learning technologies during Stage 1 and 2 geoscience fieldwork located in Kingsand/Cawsand, (FitzPatrick, 2009). This previous project provided significant insight into the student experience of using PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) during fieldwork, and raised some interesting questions about …

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Development Of A Student Resource For Problem-Based Learning In Ecological Economics Informed By Student Experience And Reflection, Lynda Rodwell Jan 2010

Development Of A Student Resource For Problem-Based Learning In Ecological Economics Informed By Student Experience And Reflection, Lynda Rodwell

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Ecological Economics is concerned with linking human behaviour to the environment via the economy. An Ecological Economist aims to solve real life problems such as traffic congestion, excessive emissions levels and unsustainable consumption levels. This fellowship was needed in order to fill the gap in resources available to students by giving them active role in the creation of a resource to aid problem based learning (PBL) in the field of Ecological Economics.To develop a student resource to improve the learning and teaching experience for problem-based learning in Ecological Economics.To use student experience and reflection to inform the development of problem …

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A Bi-Regional Cge Model Of The South West Housing Market, Sarah-Jane Keast Jan 2010

A Bi-Regional Cge Model Of The South West Housing Market, Sarah-Jane Keast

Plymouth Business School Theses

Volatility within the UK housing market is thought to be a significant factor driving instability in the wider macro economy. Research investigating the characteristics and behaviour of the housing market has suggested that under supply of housing is one of the key reasons for the high and increasing levels of house prices the nation has recently been experiencing. Consequently, much of the current government's housing policy is aimed at increasing the level of supply by reforming the planning system and increasing investment in the development of new housing. Under supply is also a major concern at the regional level, particularly …

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Key Determinants Of The Voluntary Adoption Of Corporate Internet Reporting And Its Consequence On Firm Value : Evidence From Egypt, Amr Nazieh Mahmoud Ezat Elsayed Jan 2010

Key Determinants Of The Voluntary Adoption Of Corporate Internet Reporting And Its Consequence On Firm Value : Evidence From Egypt, Amr Nazieh Mahmoud Ezat Elsayed

Plymouth Business School Theses

Corporate Internet reporting represents one of the voluntary types which helps to achieve transparency by disseminating various types of timely information by using different presentation types and easily accessible tools. Corporate governance has become one of the most crucial issues in recent years due to the consequent scandals that have happened either in developed or developing countries. Therefore, most stakeholders demand greater transparency within the disclosed information provided by various companies. Consequently, the current study aims to contribute to the disclosure literature by examining the association between corporate Internet reporting and its main components, and corporate governance and ownership structure …

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Minor Parties In English Local Government, Luke Samuel Sloan Jan 2010

Minor Parties In English Local Government, Luke Samuel Sloan

Plymouth Business School Theses

This thesis examines the electoral performance of minor parties in English local government from 1973 to 2008, a period that has seen a sharp increase in the numbers of candidates from such parties. Beginning with an overall assessment of the extent to which candidates from minor parties have contested local elections and the level of success in being elected, the thesis then explores the spatial distribution of minor party candidates, the types of people that become candidates and, considering the relative lack of electoral success, their motivations for standing. Traditional studies of party systems frequently exclude parties that do not …

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Modern Seawater Acidification: The Response Of Foraminifera To High-Co2 Conditions In The Mediterranean Sea, B. B. Dias, M. B. Hart, C. W. Smart, J. M. Hall-Spencer Jan 2010

Modern Seawater Acidification: The Response Of Foraminifera To High-Co2 Conditions In The Mediterranean Sea, B. B. Dias, M. B. Hart, C. W. Smart, J. M. Hall-Spencer

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

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Some Will Pay For What Others Will Pay To Avoid): Vernacular Typography And Popular Culture: Part Of Portfolio Kurl Up N Dye, I Rae Jan 2010

Some Will Pay For What Others Will Pay To Avoid): Vernacular Typography And Popular Culture: Part Of Portfolio Kurl Up N Dye, I Rae

School of Art, Design and Architecture

No abstract provided.

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Peatland Restoration. Report To Iucn Uk Peatland Programme., Paul Lunt, T Allott, P Anderson, M Buckler, A Coupar, P Jones, J Labadz, P Worrall Jan 2010

Peatland Restoration. Report To Iucn Uk Peatland Programme., Paul Lunt, T Allott, P Anderson, M Buckler, A Coupar, P Jones, J Labadz, P Worrall

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The focus of this review paper is on peatland restoration, in particular what are the policies,present drivers and examples of best practice within the UK. The aim is to review opportunitiesand constraints to peatland restoration and make recommendations which could be used toinform future policy.Peatlands are wetlands in which restoration typically has three main aims. Firstly, to managevegetation more effectively to restore sites and their conservation features to favourablecondition; secondly, where feasible, to restore peat formation; and finally appropriatemanagement of water (chiefly peat wetness, but also water quality, runoff volume and timing)Vegetation management occurs on a continuum from the vegetation …

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Pyrosequencing Of Mytilus Galloprovincialis Cdnas: Tissue-Specific Expression Patterns, Ja Craft, Ja Gilbert, B Temperton, Ke Dempsey, K Ashelford, B Tiwari, Th Hutchinson, Jk Chipman Jan 2010

Pyrosequencing Of Mytilus Galloprovincialis Cdnas: Tissue-Specific Expression Patterns, Ja Craft, Ja Gilbert, B Temperton, Ke Dempsey, K Ashelford, B Tiwari, Th Hutchinson, Jk Chipman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

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Involving Students In Researching Learning And Teaching Approaches: An Additional Focus For Undergraduate Student Publications?, Sue Berkill Dec 2009

Involving Students In Researching Learning And Teaching Approaches: An Additional Focus For Undergraduate Student Publications?, Sue Berkill

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Sue Burkill, Head of Education Enhancement, University of Exeter

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Applying Palaeoecology To Conservation: A Long-Term Perspective For Informed Management Of A Fynbos Nature Reserve, James Macpherson Dec 2009

Applying Palaeoecology To Conservation: A Long-Term Perspective For Informed Management Of A Fynbos Nature Reserve, James Macpherson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This investigation proposes that long-term perspectives are essential in ecological conservation/restoration. Such a perspective is particularly important for fynbos, which has been substantially altered by an unspecified level of anthropogenic disturbance. Fossil pollen and micro-charcoal deposits are used to establish a proxy record for ecosystem state that can be applied to conservation. This is carried out at a nature reserve in the Langeberg Range, Western Cape, South Africa. Modern pollen-vegetation relationships are also examined to reduce inaccuracies in the fossil record. Three distinct phases are identified for the reserve over a period extending up to ~1000 years before present (BP). …

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Microdeterminants Of Poverty Among The Farming Population In Bangladesh, S Rahman Dec 2009

Microdeterminants Of Poverty Among The Farming Population In Bangladesh, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This paper examines the determinants of poverty among the farming population of Bangladesh by applying a probit model with heteroscedastic structure (hetprobit). The model diagnostic reveals that the choice of hetprobit instead of a standard probit is more appropriate in this case. Among the socioeconomic factors, land ownership, farm resource endowments and non-agricultural income significantly reduce the probability of becoming poor. On the other hand, the number of dependants and education of female members significantly increase the likelihood of becoming poor. Adoption of green revolution technology does not seem to have any significant influence on the likelihood of being poor. …

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More Ignorant And Stupid Than Wilfully Cruel: Homicide Trials And 'Baby-Farming' In England And Wales In The Wake Of The Children Act 1908, Daniel Grey Nov 2009

More Ignorant And Stupid Than Wilfully Cruel: Homicide Trials And 'Baby-Farming' In England And Wales In The Wake Of The Children Act 1908, Daniel Grey

SOLON Law, Crime and History (previously SOLON Crimes and Misdemeanours: Deviance and the Law in Historical Perspective)

This article examines the impact of the Children Act 1908 on longstanding concerns that foster or informally 'adoptive' parents were uniquely likely to murder the children in their care. Making particular reference to the last two high-profile cases of 'baby-farmers' tried for homicide on the Welsh and English Assize circuits (in 1907 and 1919, respectively) it argues that the infant life protection provisions in the 1908 Act had a dramatic and immediate impact on such prosecutions, removing the automatic presumption of malice in cases where fostered or adopted children died in suspicious circumstances.

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Whether Crop Diversification Is A Desired Strategy For Agricultural Growth In Bangladesh?, S Rahman Aug 2009

Whether Crop Diversification Is A Desired Strategy For Agricultural Growth In Bangladesh?, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This study aimed at examining the merit of crop diversification as a strategy for agricultural growth in Bangladesh. Specifically, the existence of economies of diversification, scale economies and diversification efficiencies at the farm level were examined using a stochastic input-distance function approach. The results reveal strong evidence of diversification economies amongst most crop enterprises except the combination of modern rice and modern wheat enterprises. Ray economies of scale exist in Bangladeshi cropping system. Also, significant are efficiency gains made from diversification among cropping enterprises. The key policy implication is that crop diversification should be a desired strategy for agricultural growth …

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A Blended Approach To Evidence Learning In Professional Practice, Ml Fisher, A Thoburn, T Arkinstall, T Proctor-Childs Jun 2009

A Blended Approach To Evidence Learning In Professional Practice, Ml Fisher, A Thoburn, T Arkinstall, T Proctor-Childs

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Research and e-learning both need to have real-life usability in order to be of benefit. This paper analyses the journey followed as an electronic portfolio was introduced into the midwifery programme at a University in the United Kingdom. Underpinning this innovation were key findings from the literature and an ongoing study exploring “Assessment of Practice”. Due to a number of curricular changes required by the authors’ institution and the professional body, the decision was made to incorporate these – together with current evidence – into a blended portfolio for use by undergraduate midwifery students. The part-electronic, part-paper portfolio enables students …

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Production Efficiency Of Jasmine Rice Producers In Northern And North‐Eastern Thailand, S Rahman, A Wiboonpongse, S Sriboonchitta, Y Chaovanapoonphol Jun 2009

Production Efficiency Of Jasmine Rice Producers In Northern And North‐Eastern Thailand, S Rahman, A Wiboonpongse, S Sriboonchitta, Y Chaovanapoonphol

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The paper jointly evaluates the determinants of switching to Jasmine rice and its productivity while allowing for production inefficiency at the level of individual producers. Model diagnostics reveal that serious selection bias exists, justifying use of a sample selection framework in stochastic frontier models. Results from the probit variety selection equation reveal that gross return (mainly powered by significantly higher Jasmine rice price), access to irrigation and education are the important determinants of choosing Jasmine rice. Results from the stochastic production frontier reveal that land, irrigation and fertilisers are the significant determinants of Jasmine rice productivity. Significantly lower productivity in …

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Gp Carers' Project, H Donnellan May 2009

Gp Carers' Project, H Donnellan

School of Health Professions

No abstract provided.

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Scientific Divers Quantify First Known Outbreaks Of Cold-Water Coral Disease, J Hall-Spencer, C Munn, K Hiscock May 2009

Scientific Divers Quantify First Known Outbreaks Of Cold-Water Coral Disease, J Hall-Spencer, C Munn, K Hiscock

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Coral diseases are widely reported in the tropics but the first incidence of cold-water coral disease was not noted until 2002 when divers recorded an outbreak at 10-28 m depth off Lundy in a NE Atlantic marine protected area. The seafan Eunicella verrucosa exhibited coenchyme necrosis and subsequent diving surveys of >600 colonies at 13 sites since revealed that disease outbreaks were widespread in SW England to depths of 50 m from 2003-2008, possibly caused by infection by Vibrio bacteria at high temperatures.

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Undergraduate Nurses’ And Midwives’ Participation And Satisfaction With Live Interactive Webcasts., Gr Williamson, I Maramba, Rb Jones, J Morris Apr 2009

Undergraduate Nurses’ And Midwives’ Participation And Satisfaction With Live Interactive Webcasts., Gr Williamson, I Maramba, Rb Jones, J Morris

School of Nursing and Midwifery

INTRODUCTION: E-Learning methods such as webcasting are being used increasingly in healthcare education, including that of nurses and midwives. Webcasting means live synchronous broadcasting over the internet, where students participate simultaneously in text 'chat room' interactive discussions when logged on to a webpage where they can see and hear a presentation such as a PowerPoint lecture, a list of other participants, and access 'chat rooms'. AIMS: This paper reports student participation and satisfaction with the use of webcasting in a third year undergraduate nursing and midwifery research methods module in one higher education institution faculty of health and social work …

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Impacts Of Climate Change On Indirect Human Exposure To Pathogens And Chemicals From Agriculture, Aba Boxall, A Hardy, S Beulke, T Boucard, L Burgin, Pd Falloon, Pm Haygarth, T Hutchinson, Rs Kovats, G Leonardi, Ls Levy, G Nichols, Sa Parsons, L Potts, D Stone, E Topp, Db Turley, K Walsh, Emh Wellington, Rj Williams Apr 2009

Impacts Of Climate Change On Indirect Human Exposure To Pathogens And Chemicals From Agriculture, Aba Boxall, A Hardy, S Beulke, T Boucard, L Burgin, Pd Falloon, Pm Haygarth, T Hutchinson, Rs Kovats, G Leonardi, Ls Levy, G Nichols, Sa Parsons, L Potts, D Stone, E Topp, Db Turley, K Walsh, Emh Wellington, Rj Williams

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Objective Climate change is likely to affect the nature of pathogens and chemicals in the environment and their fate and transport. Future risks of pathogens and chemicals could therefore be very different from those of today. In this review, we assess the implications of climate change for changes in human exposures to pathogens and chemicals in agricultural systems in the United Kingdom and discuss the subsequent effects on health impacts. Data sources In this review, we used expert input and considered literature on climate change; health effects resulting from exposure to pathogens and chemicals arising from agriculture; inputs of chemicals …

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Ethics And Vulnerability In Street Prostitution; An Argument In Favour Of Managed Zones, Anna Carline Mar 2009

Ethics And Vulnerability In Street Prostitution; An Argument In Favour Of Managed Zones, Anna Carline

SOLON Law, Crime and History (previously SOLON Crimes and Misdemeanours: Deviance and the Law in Historical Perspective)

This article draws upon the work of Judith Butler, in particular her approach to ethics and the concepts of vulnerability and 'liveable lives,' in order to provide a critical analysis of reform proposals contained in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill (now Act 2008) in relation to street prostitution. The article will argue that the proposals presented in the Bill problematically use the vulnerability of street sex workers in order to promote a moralistic agenda. In contrast it will be argued that managed zones, as proposed by Liverpool City Council, provide a potentially more ethical approach to the issue of …

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Profits, Supply And Hyv Adoption In Bangladesh, S Rahman, B Shankar Feb 2009

Profits, Supply And Hyv Adoption In Bangladesh, S Rahman, B Shankar

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The adoption of HYVs (High Yielding Varieties), for increased farm profitability, and the accelerated supply of cereals are important objectives for Bangladesh agriculture. In this paper, we have investigated the manner in which price and non-price factor affect these three criteria, based upon a model of rational variety choice. The model is empirically implemented using translog profit functions and a switching regression framework, and applied to a cross-sectional farm-level dataset of Bangladeshi farms for the 1996 crop year. Results indicate that rice prices, land availability, irrigation, rural infrastructure, labour wages and prices of animal power services are important factors, while …

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Regional And Foreign Accent Processing In English: Can Listeners Adapt?, Caroline Floccia, Joseph Butler, Jeremy Goslin, Lucy Ellis Jan 2009

Regional And Foreign Accent Processing In English: Can Listeners Adapt?, Caroline Floccia, Joseph Butler, Jeremy Goslin, Lucy Ellis

School of Psychology

Recent data suggest that the first presentation of a foreign accent triggers a delay in word identification, followed by a subsequent adaptation. This study examines under what conditions the delay resumes to baseline level. The delay will be experimentally induced by the presentation of sentences spoken to listeners in a foreign or a regional accent as part of a lexical decision task for words placed at the end of sentences. Using a blocked design of accents presentation, Experiment 1 shows that accent changes cause a temporary perturbation in reaction times, followed by a smaller but long-lasting delay. Experiment 2 shows …

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