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Late-Holocene Lake Diatom-Inferred Palaeoclimate From Central Turkey, Jessie Woodbridge Jan 2009

Late-Holocene Lake Diatom-Inferred Palaeoclimate From Central Turkey, Jessie Woodbridge

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In the semi-arid environment of the Eastern Mediterranean, water can be a limiting resource and its availability is influenced by different climate factors. Knowledge of late Holocene water balance is limited for this region. Lake systems and organisms respond to environmental variability and can be used as a proxy for palaeoclimate. The aims of this research project were to reconstruct late Holocene palaeoclimate using diatom frustules preserved within crater lake sediments in central Turkey. Two lakes (Nar Golu and Kratergòl), located in the same climate region, were selected for this purpose. Modem lake samples and sediment cores collected between 1999-2006 …


The Power Of Empowerment:Recognising Power Relations Within 'Development' For Communities In Zambia, Karen Treasure Jan 2009

The Power Of Empowerment:Recognising Power Relations Within 'Development' For Communities In Zambia, Karen Treasure

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Empowerment has emerged as a key focus of development policy and practices in the contemporary era, where simultaneously a need for 'development' is ascribed due to historically determined power relations imposed through discourse and intervention. This research enquires into the contradiction inherent in assuming an intemational agenda to empower those who are continually disempowered. Through analysis of a series of case studies of development projects in Zambia, this research argues that the potential of the empowerment agenda is inherently limited by the ongoing structural conditions of development. In the cases studied, community members successfiilly achieve a form of 'subjective empowerment' …


Transformations Of Organic And Inorganic Phosphorus In Estuarine Particle- Water Systems, Jin Bo Zhao Jan 2009

Transformations Of Organic And Inorganic Phosphorus In Estuarine Particle- Water Systems, Jin Bo Zhao

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis describes methodologies to detemiine organic and inorganic phosphorus in water and discusses biological, physical and chemical controls on the transformations of organic and inorganic phosphorus in laboratory microcosms of estuarine particle-water systems. Phosphorus is an important nutrient and the accurate determination of phosphorus species in natural waters is essential for understanding the biogeochemical cycling of the element. Chapter one reviews phosphorus impacts on water quality and relevant UK legislation, the sources, speclation and fractionation of phosphorus, the sediment/water phosphorus cycle and analytical methods for the determination of dissolved Inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and organic phosphorus (DOP) species In natural …


Partnerships In The Development And Management Of Marine Nature-Based Tourism : An Analysis Of Effectiveness, Claire Kelly Jan 2009

Partnerships In The Development And Management Of Marine Nature-Based Tourism : An Analysis Of Effectiveness, Claire Kelly

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Partnerships have become increasingly prevalent across a wide range of sectors for the delivery of services and implementation of policy. Partnerships are seen as a more inclusive way of delivering policy interventions than more traditional state led or 'top-down' approaches. Yet it is unclear as to whether the partnership approach provides an effective vehicle for policy delivery. Academic debate has also focused on the most appropriate methods for evaluating different types of partnerships. To date, effectiveness has been viewed as an endpoint; a cumulative process which is the product of a set of variables acting on a one-dimensional process, which …


An Enhanced -1800-Year Record Of Recent Volcanic Ash-Fall Events For Northern New Zealand From The Analysis Of Cryptotephra, Maria J. Gehrels Jan 2009

An Enhanced -1800-Year Record Of Recent Volcanic Ash-Fall Events For Northern New Zealand From The Analysis Of Cryptotephra, Maria J. Gehrels

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The history of volcanic eruptions in North Island, New Zealand, based on the visible stratigraphic record of tephras is not fully representative of the type, frequency and magnitude of eruptions that have occurred in the past or that are likely to occur in the future, Relatively small-scale eruptions from the region's andesitic volcanoes can produce widespread fine tephra falls with considerable impact, such as during recent eruptions of Mt Ruapehu ( 1995-1996) and Mt Ngauruhoe ( 1974-1975), and their threat is therefore likely to be underestimated. The aim of this study was to develop an enhanced stratigraphic record of recent …


The Sustainability Of Surfing Tourism At Remote Destinations, Emily Kate Hugues Dit Ciles Jan 2009

The Sustainability Of Surfing Tourism At Remote Destinations, Emily Kate Hugues Dit Ciles

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Surfing is an increasing component of the adventure tourism sector. Growth in surfing as a lifestyle, sporting activity and industry has generated a surge of exploration and intrusion by surfing tourism into remote and vulnerable destinations worldwide in the "search" for uncrowded waves at uncharted locations. Consequendy, there have been concerns at the impacts of surfing tourism on coastal, island and marine areas, often characterised by fragile environments and host communities, compounded the lack of management in isolated regions, and of the surfing tourism industry. The aim of this study was to examine surfing tourism in remote and sensitive destinations …


Ict Access And Use In The Remote Rural Town Of Hatherleigh (Devon, Uk): Towards Citizen Engagement?, Afraa Jalal Sallowm Jan 2009

Ict Access And Use In The Remote Rural Town Of Hatherleigh (Devon, Uk): Towards Citizen Engagement?, Afraa Jalal Sallowm

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Information communication technologies (ICTs) have reached into everyday life. This emphasises the increasing importance of understanding the relationship between ICTs and society (Giddens 1994; Castells 1996; Walsham 2001). Over the last few decades, ICTs have shaped many aspects of society, and the specific role that ICTs have played in influencing government and governance structures has received particular attention. Today, the term 'governance' is widely used and accepted amongst a variety of academics and practitioners. However, in recent years the processes by which rural areas are governed have changed remarkably. Many scholars accept the conceptual and theoretical debate concerning the actual …


Homing Place: Towards A Participatory, Ambulant And Conversive Methodology, Misha Myers Jan 2009

Homing Place: Towards A Participatory, Ambulant And Conversive Methodology, Misha Myers

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

The practice-as-research project Homing Place proposes a transferable percipient-led methodology of performance and research activated by ambulant and conversive mechanisms as the culmination of this research. The thesis is comprised of a range of activity that represents a moment and way of writing practice. Three artworks that comprise part of the practical component of this thesis--- way from home, Take me to a place and Yodel Rodeo-- each involved participation and contribution from particular audiences and social groups in spatial and conversational modes of performance executed through processes of wayfinding, mapping and walking. One of the primary contributions of knowledge …


Non-Governmental Organizations And Hiv/Aids In Kolkata, India: A Discursive Analysis Of Policy And Programming, Elizabeth Grace Williams Jan 2009

Non-Governmental Organizations And Hiv/Aids In Kolkata, India: A Discursive Analysis Of Policy And Programming, Elizabeth Grace Williams

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis presents the findings from a study that explores the language and discourses of HIV/AIDS in India circulating at different levels of the policy process during the early years of the pandemic, with a particular focus upon the work of NGOs in Kolkata, West Bengal. The study was exploratory and used Walt and Gilson's (1994) analytic framework of content, context, actors and process to guide data collection. Eleven NGOs were identified for case studies using a snowballing technique. The research design used multiple methods of data collection including semi-structured interviews, informal interviews, participant observation, the keeping of a research …


Walter De Maria: The Lightning Field, Janet Mccann Jan 2009

Walter De Maria: The Lightning Field, Janet Mccann

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

Walter De Maria (b.1935) is best known for The Lightning Field, a large-scale, remote outdoor work constructed in New Mexico, USA, and completed in 1977. Both De Maria and The Lightning Field have largely been critiqued solely within the art-historical framework of 'Land Art'. This thesis argues that such a framework has been too homogeneous and too narrow in its scope to do justice to the true complexities either of the artist's practice or of the visitor's experience of The Lightning Field, which involves considerably more than the dramatic spectacle of lightning. It proposes that De Maria's wide-ranging artistic career …


Quantifying The Slip Rates, Spatial Distribution And Evolution Of Active Normal Faults From Geomorphic Analysis: Field Examples From An Oblique-Extensional Graben, Southern Turkey, Sarah J. Boulton, Alexander C. Whittaker Jan 2009

Quantifying The Slip Rates, Spatial Distribution And Evolution Of Active Normal Faults From Geomorphic Analysis: Field Examples From An Oblique-Extensional Graben, Southern Turkey, Sarah J. Boulton, Alexander C. Whittaker

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.


Learning From Experience In Urban Programming: The Case Of Shahar Project In Bangladesh, S Rahman Jan 2009

Learning From Experience In Urban Programming: The Case Of Shahar Project In Bangladesh, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The article offers a reflective analysis of various problems encountered and lessons learned in implementing a programme to improve the livelihood security of the urban poor in secondary cities of Bangladesh. The study is based on the author's involvement as an external action-research partner, and a review of relevant secondary literature. A number of key lessons emerge for the success of project operations. These are the need for (1) a clear understanding of the links between project activities and project objectives by all staff; (2) capacity building for all staff tailored to their needs; (3) clear targeting criteria and programme …


Record Of Cenozoic Sedimentation From The Amanos Mountains, Southern Turkey: Implications For The Inception And Evolution Of The Arabia-Eurasia Continental Collision, Sarah J. Boulton Jan 2009

Record Of Cenozoic Sedimentation From The Amanos Mountains, Southern Turkey: Implications For The Inception And Evolution Of The Arabia-Eurasia Continental Collision, Sarah J. Boulton

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.


Sustainability Through Community Planning: A Substantive Level Approach, Toni Soji Ola Jan 2009

Sustainability Through Community Planning: A Substantive Level Approach, Toni Soji Ola

Plymouth Business School Theses

This study identified ways of translating sustainability and sustainable development aims and objectives into practical means in a local government setting, through action research, thereby contributing to the global sustainability debate. This is in an attempt to fill the gap identified in literature, which relates to the paucity of research on translating sustainability into practical means. In achieving one of its aims, the study proposed three levels of abstraction in the form of globalisation theory, sustainability theory and applied sustainable development, conceptualised as grand theory, meso theory and substantive theory. The linkage between these theories was established, thereby contributing and …


Credit Scoring Models For Egyptian Banks : Neural Nets And Genetic Programming Versus Conventional Techniques, Hussein Ali Hussein Abdou Jan 2009

Credit Scoring Models For Egyptian Banks : Neural Nets And Genetic Programming Versus Conventional Techniques, Hussein Ali Hussein Abdou

Plymouth Business School Theses

Credit scoring has been regarded as a core appraisal tool of banks during the last few decades, and has been widely investigated in the area of finance, in general, and banking sectors, in particular. In this thesis, the main aims and objectives are: to identify the currently used techniques in the Egyptian banking credit evaluation process; and to build credit scoring models to evaluate personal bank loans. In addition, the subsidiary aims are to evaluate the impact of sample proportion selection on the Predictive capability of both advanced scoring techniques and conventional scoring techniques, for both public banks and a …


Inter-Port Competition And Inland Container Transport: A Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Approach To Achieve Lntermodal Transport System Development Strategies In Taiwan, Yih-Ching Juang Jan 2009

Inter-Port Competition And Inland Container Transport: A Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Approach To Achieve Lntermodal Transport System Development Strategies In Taiwan, Yih-Ching Juang

Plymouth Business School Theses

Inland container transport has intensified over the past thirty years in Taiwan. It is closely related to inter-port competition and port selection by container carriers. In the 1980's, large containerships only berthed at Kaohsiung port due to the limit of container terminal operation capacities of Keelung port and the carrier's regional hub port decision in the country region. The container traffic of the south-north motorways made them more crowded and increased road maintenance expenses. The purpose of this research is to study inter-port competition and inland container transport flows in Taiwan. Although Taiwan is an island, the freight transport policy …


Inter-Port Competition And Inland Container Transport: A Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Approach To Achieve Intermodal Transport System Development Stratergies In Taiwan., Yhi-Ching Juang Jan 2009

Inter-Port Competition And Inland Container Transport: A Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Approach To Achieve Intermodal Transport System Development Stratergies In Taiwan., Yhi-Ching Juang

Plymouth Business School Theses

Inland container transport has intensified over the past thirty years in Taiwan. It is closely related to inter-port competition and port selection by container carriers. In the 1980's, large containerships only berthed at Kaohsiung port due to the limit of container terminal operation capacities of Keelung port and the carrier's regional hub port decision in the country region. The container traffic of the south-north motorways made them more crowded and increased road maintenance expenses. The purpose of this research is to study inter-port competition and inland container transport flows in Taiwan. Although Taiwan is an island, the freight transport policy …


'Country Life'? Rurality, Folk Music And 'Show Of Hands', Richard Yarwood, Clive Charlton Jan 2009

'Country Life'? Rurality, Folk Music And 'Show Of Hands', Richard Yarwood, Clive Charlton

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.


Impact Of Land Fragmentation And Resource Ownership On Productivity And Efficiency: The Case Of Rice Producers In Bangladesh, S Rahman, M Rahman Jan 2009

Impact Of Land Fragmentation And Resource Ownership On Productivity And Efficiency: The Case Of Rice Producers In Bangladesh, S Rahman, M Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The paper analyzes the impact of land fragmentation and ownership of resources on productivity and technical efficiency in rice production in Bangladesh using farm level survey data. Results reveal that land fragmentation has a significant detrimental effect on productivity and efficiency as expected. The elasticity estimates of land fragmentation reveal that a 1% increase in land fragmentation reduces rice output by 0.05% and efficiency by 0.03%. On the other hand, ownership of key resources (land, family labour, and draft animals) significantly increases efficiency. The mean elasticity estimates reveal that a 1% increase in family labour and owned draft animal improve …


Farm Productivity And Efficiency In Rural Bangladesh: The Role Of Education Revisited, Mn Asadullah, S Rahman Jan 2009

Farm Productivity And Efficiency In Rural Bangladesh: The Role Of Education Revisited, Mn Asadullah, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This article reassesses the debate over the role of education in farm production in Bangladesh using a large dataset on rice producing households from 141 villages. Average and stochastic production frontier functions are estimated to ascertain the effect of education on productivity and efficiency. A full set of proxies for farm education stock variables are incorporated to investigate the 'internal' as well as 'external' returns to education. The external effect is investigated in the context of rural neighbourhoods. Our analysis reveals that in addition to raising rice productivity and boosting potential output, household education significantly reduces production inefficiencies. However, we …


The Economic Determinants Of Crop Diversity On Farms In Rural Bangladesh, S Rahman Jan 2009

The Economic Determinants Of Crop Diversity On Farms In Rural Bangladesh, S Rahman

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The study examines the economic determinants of crop diversity using a survey of 406 farmers located in 21 villages in three agro-ecological regions of Bangladesh. The computed value of diversity indices of crop concentration (Herfindahl), richness (Margalef) and evenness (Shannon) confirm that farming system in Bangladesh is still relatively diverse despite four decades of thrust in the diffusion of a rice-based ‘Green Revolution’ technology. Results reveal that a host of price and non-price factors significantly influence farmers’ decision to diversify. Likelihood of diversification increases with a fall in the prices of fertilizers, animal power services and modern rice and a …


Benthic Foraminifera Assemblages In The Central Barents Sea: An Evaluation Of Combining Live And Total Fauna Studies In Tracking Environmental Change, Mh Saher, Dk Kristensen, M Hald, S Korsun, Ll Jørgensen Jan 2009

Benthic Foraminifera Assemblages In The Central Barents Sea: An Evaluation Of Combining Live And Total Fauna Studies In Tracking Environmental Change, Mh Saher, Dk Kristensen, M Hald, S Korsun, Ll Jørgensen

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

We present living (stained) benthic foraminifera assemblage data in nine surface sediment samples from the central Barents Sea collected in 2005 and 2006. The abundances of 20 selected species are compared to these from previously published total fauna assemblages of nearby samples. Between 1 and 3 total fauna samples from various years (between 1971 and 1992) are compared with the modern (2005 and ’06) samples. The main purpose of the paper is to evaluate the applicability of this comparison. We conclude that, with proper caution, comparing live and total fauna can yield valuable results. Eliminating fragile species, and clustering species …


Design Of Marine Protected Areas On High Seas And Territorial Waters Of Rockall Bank, Jason M. Hall-Spencer, Mark Tasker, Marta Soffker, Sabine Christiansen, Stuart Rogers, Maria Campbell, Kjartan Hoydal Jan 2009

Design Of Marine Protected Areas On High Seas And Territorial Waters Of Rockall Bank, Jason M. Hall-Spencer, Mark Tasker, Marta Soffker, Sabine Christiansen, Stuart Rogers, Maria Campbell, Kjartan Hoydal

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.


Undergraduate Research Journals: Praising Success But Recognising Doubt And Even "Failure", Alan Jenkins Dec 2008

Undergraduate Research Journals: Praising Success But Recognising Doubt And Even "Failure", Alan Jenkins

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Editorial


Impact Of Environmental Production Conditions On Productivity And Efficiency: A Case Study Of Wheat Farmers In Bangladesh, S Rahman, Mk Hasan Sep 2008

Impact Of Environmental Production Conditions On Productivity And Efficiency: A Case Study Of Wheat Farmers In Bangladesh, S Rahman, Mk Hasan

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Environmental conditions significantly affect production, but are often ignored in studies analysing productivity and efficiency leading to biased results. In this study, we examine the influence of selected environmental factors on productivity and efficiency in wheat farming in Bangladesh. Results reveal that environmental production conditions significantly affect the parameters of the production function and technical efficiency, as well as correlates of inefficiency. Controlling for environmental production conditions improves technical efficiency by 4 points (p<0.01) from 86% to 90%. Large farms are more efficient relative to small and medium sized farms (p<0.01 and 0.05), with no variation among regions. Policy implications include soil fertility improvement through soil conservation and crop rotation, improvement in managerial practices through extension services and adoption of modern technologies, promotion of education, strengthening the research-extension link, and development of new varieties that have higher yield potential and are also suitable for marginal areas.


Post-Qualifying Social Work - Evaluation Project Stage Ii, H Donnellan, G Jack May 2008

Post-Qualifying Social Work - Evaluation Project Stage Ii, H Donnellan, G Jack

School of Health Professions

No abstract provided.


The Perceived Impact Of Location Privacy: A Web-Based Survey Of Public Health Perspectives And Requirements In The Uk And Canada., Philip Abdelmalik, Maged N.Kamel Boulos, Ray Jones May 2008

The Perceived Impact Of Location Privacy: A Web-Based Survey Of Public Health Perspectives And Requirements In The Uk And Canada., Philip Abdelmalik, Maged N.Kamel Boulos, Ray Jones

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BACKGROUND: The "place-consciousness" of public health professionals is on the rise as spatial analyses and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are rapidly becoming key components of their toolbox. However, "place" is most useful at its most precise, granular scale - which increases identification risks, thereby clashing with privacy issues. This paper describes the views and requirements of public health professionals in Canada and the UK on privacy issues and spatial data, as collected through a web-based survey. METHODS: Perceptions on the impact of privacy were collected through a web-based survey administered between November 2006 and January 2007. The survey targeted government, …


A Framework For Bioprofile Analysis Over Grid, Pin Hu Jan 2008

A Framework For Bioprofile Analysis Over Grid, Pin Hu

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

An important trend in modern medicine is towards individualisation of healthcare to tailor care to the needs of the individual. This makes it possible, for example, to personalise diagnosis and treatment to improve outcome. However, the benefits of this can only be fully realised if healthcare and ICT resources are exploited (e.g. to provide access to relevant data, analysis algorithms, knowledge and expertise). Potentially, grid can play an important role in this by allowing sharing of resources and expertise to improve the quality of care. The integration of grid and the new concept of bioprofile represents a new topic in …


Meeting Report: Risk Assessment Of Tamiflu Use Under Pandemic Conditions, Ac Singer, Bm Howard, Ac Johnson, Cj Knowles, S Jackman, C Accinelli, Ab Caracciolo, I Bernard, S Bird, T Boucard, A Boxall, Jv Brian, E Cartmell, C Chubb, J Churchley, S Costigan, M Crane, Mj Dempsey, B Dorrington, B Ellor, J Fick, J Holmes, T Hutchinson, F Karcher, Sl Kelleher, P Marsden, G Noone, Ma Nunn, J Oxford, T Rachwal, N Roberts, M Roberts, Ml Saccà, M Sanders, Jo Straub, A Terry, D Thomas, S Toovey, R Townsend, N Voulvoulis, C Watts Jan 2008

Meeting Report: Risk Assessment Of Tamiflu Use Under Pandemic Conditions, Ac Singer, Bm Howard, Ac Johnson, Cj Knowles, S Jackman, C Accinelli, Ab Caracciolo, I Bernard, S Bird, T Boucard, A Boxall, Jv Brian, E Cartmell, C Chubb, J Churchley, S Costigan, M Crane, Mj Dempsey, B Dorrington, B Ellor, J Fick, J Holmes, T Hutchinson, F Karcher, Sl Kelleher, P Marsden, G Noone, Ma Nunn, J Oxford, T Rachwal, N Roberts, M Roberts, Ml Saccà, M Sanders, Jo Straub, A Terry, D Thomas, S Toovey, R Townsend, N Voulvoulis, C Watts

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.


Young People's Geographies In Rural Post-Socialist Germany: A Case Study In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Nadine Daniela Schafer Jan 2008

Young People's Geographies In Rural Post-Socialist Germany: A Case Study In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Nadine Daniela Schafer

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

An increasing interest in young people's rural lives can be registered within social sciences. However, only a very limited amount of research has been conducted in the context of post-socialist countries even though rural young people are described as one of the groups most severely affected by declining standards of welfare and by the rise of socio-economic inequalities in post-socialist communities (see Brake & Buchner 1996; McAuley 1995; Kollmorgen 2003). This thesis aims to address this gap by analysing the way rural young people in the East German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern perceive and negotiate structural disadvantages. It follows a wider …