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The Spatial Characterisation Of Transitional Areas Between Plant Communities: A Case Study From Upland Britain, Wendy Jane Gill Jan 1996

The Spatial Characterisation Of Transitional Areas Between Plant Communities: A Case Study From Upland Britain, Wendy Jane Gill

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The concept of the ecotone was formalised by Clements (1 905) as a boundary zone between plant communities. Little research exists on the ecological importance or the geographical variability of these zones. Two types of boundaries are acknowledged: the ecotone and the ecocline. The ecotone is a sharp boundary; the ecocline a gradual boundary. The term 'transitional area' is proposed here to more accurately describe these areas as this research demonstrates that a complex continuum exists between the two end points. Additionally, mosaics often complicate the nature of the transition and may form a boundary type in their own right. …

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The Effects Of Whole Tree Harvesting On Site Hydrology And Soil Structure At Beddgelert Forest, N. Wales, Uk, Julia Elizabeth Hodgkins Jan 1996

The Effects Of Whole Tree Harvesting On Site Hydrology And Soil Structure At Beddgelert Forest, N. Wales, Uk, Julia Elizabeth Hodgkins

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The ITE biogeochemistry group monitoring solute movement at Beddgelert Forest provided an opportunity to study the hydrology of a steep section of hillslope in a high rainfall environment. The aim of the experiment was to characterise and compare the hillslope hydrologies of one forested and one whole tree harvested site. Particular attention was paid to the influence of trees both directly on soil water pathways and indirectly on soil characteristics. Atmospheric inputs were monitored for the slope and individual plots for one year. In spite of high rainfall volumes, the slope was not waterlogged indicating a soil with high conductivity. …

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Flow Injection And Chemometric Techniques For The On-Line Monitoring Of Industrial Liquid Effluents, Kevin Neil Andrew Jan 1996

Flow Injection And Chemometric Techniques For The On-Line Monitoring Of Industrial Liquid Effluents, Kevin Neil Andrew

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The legal requirement to monitor discharges of harmful substances in industrial waste waters is presented in Chapter One, which also discusses the merits of using automated online analytical instruments for this purpose. Flow injection analysis with solid-state UV-visible detection is proposed as a potential on-line effluent monitoring technique, and the principles and advantages of this methodology are summarised. Chapter Two describes the development of a portable, automated Fl monitor for on-line determination of ammonia in liquid effluents. The development process culminates with deployments of the system at two chemical production sites, and validated results are presented for on-line analyses of …

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The Middle To Late Cretaceous Microbiostratigraphy (Foraminifera) And Lithostratigraphy Of The Cauvery Basin, Southeast India, Archana Tewari Jan 1996

The Middle To Late Cretaceous Microbiostratigraphy (Foraminifera) And Lithostratigraphy Of The Cauvery Basin, Southeast India, Archana Tewari

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The present research is on the Cretaceous microbio- and litho-stratigraphy of the Cauvery Basin, Southeast India. The planktonic and benthonic foraminifera are used to establish microbiostratigraphic zonations for the mid-Cretaceous succession in the Basin; leading to the first proposal of a benthonic foraminiferal zonation scheme. The schemes are primarily defined for regional application. In the absence of a formal lithostratigraphic classification for the Cretaceous succession in the Basin, a revised lithostratigraphy, in line with standard stratigraphic procedure, is proposed. The systematic taxonomy of the foraminifera studied is documented and revised in line with Western standards. The study shows that, in …

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Investigation Of Chelating Dye Impregnated Resins For The Selective Adsorption And Separation Of Trace Metals From Aqueous Solutions, Richard Matthew Charles Sutton Jan 1996

Investigation Of Chelating Dye Impregnated Resins For The Selective Adsorption And Separation Of Trace Metals From Aqueous Solutions, Richard Matthew Charles Sutton

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The preparation and characterisation of novel, high efficiency chelating sorbents which were suitable for the preconcentration and separation of trace metals from complex matrices using a single column has been described. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates in the form of cellulose and polystyrene resins were modified with chelating dyes by either covalent bonding or physical adsorption respectively. Large particle size polystyrene resins were used for preliminary investigations of dye loading and metal retaining capacities. After crushing resins to an intermediate particle size, capacity factors (k' values) and metal retaining capacities of four resins were determined. One resin, MN200, was chosen for …

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Holocene Palaeohydrology From Testate Amoebae Analysis: Developing A Model For British Peatlands, Wendy Ann Woodland Jan 1996

Holocene Palaeohydrology From Testate Amoebae Analysis: Developing A Model For British Peatlands, Wendy Ann Woodland

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Testate amoebae (Protozoa: Rhizopoda) are particularly abundant in peatlands. Previous studies have used testate amoebae in palaeoenvironmental studies, but have used qualitative data only, so that results are expressed only in terms of 'wet', 'dry' or 'moist'. This study uses testate amoebae to derive quantitative reconstructions of mire surface wetness for part of the Holocene and is split into two parts. The first part of this study modelled the responses of individual testate amoebae species to environmental variables on ombrotrophic mires, since the peatland-climate link makes these habitats the one of the most useful in palaeoclimate reconstructions. 163 samples of …

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Flow Injection Instrumentation For The In Situ Monitoring Of Nutrients In Sea Water, Anthony R. J . David Jan 1996

Flow Injection Instrumentation For The In Situ Monitoring Of Nutrients In Sea Water, Anthony R. J . David

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In order to investigate the biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems, a quantitative understanding of primary production and the temporal and spatial distribution of nutrients is necessary. This thesis describes the development of a submersible FI based nutrient sensor for the in situ determination of nitrate in estuarine and coastal waters. Chapter One describes the role of nitrogen in the global and marine nitrogen cycles and provides an overview of laboratory and in situ methods for its determination. Chapter Two describes the key parameters for a field instrument and culminates with the overall design specification for the system. Chapter Three describes in …

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Flow Injection Chemistries For The In Situ Monitoring Of Nutrients In Sea Water, Trevor Mccormack Jan 1996

Flow Injection Chemistries For The In Situ Monitoring Of Nutrients In Sea Water, Trevor Mccormack

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

In order to investigate the biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems, a quantitative knowledge of nutrient status i.e. spatial and temporal distribution, and primary production is necessary. This thesis describes chemistries for the determination of the major nutrient species, nitrate (as total oxidised nitrogen minus nitrite) and phosphate (as orthophosphate) using Flow Injection (FI) analysis. Chapter One describes the role of nitrogen and phosphorus in the aquatic environment and overviews laboratory and in situ methods for their determination. Chapter Two describes the development and optimisation of an FI method for the determination of nitrate in natural waters of varying salinity (0-3 5 …

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Slurry, Solution And Speciation Analysis By Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, Karen Lorraine O'Hanlon Jan 1996

Slurry, Solution And Speciation Analysis By Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, Karen Lorraine O'Hanlon

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry has been investigated for solution, slurry and speciation analysis. It has been shown that it is possible to optimise a simultaneous multielement analysis for slurry and solution samples using solid state detection and optimisation algorithms. A range of certified reference materials have been analysed using optimum conditions and results were in good agreement with certified values. Slurry nebulisation has been used for the first time in the analysis of NIST SRM Total Diet' and carbon black samples. Both radially and axially viewed ICP spectrometers were used in these studies. Modifications of the mass transport …

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Environmental Speciation Of Tin And Lead By Hplc-Icp-Ms, Cristina Rivas-Urraca Jan 1996

Environmental Speciation Of Tin And Lead By Hplc-Icp-Ms, Cristina Rivas-Urraca

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

New methodologies have been developed for the determination of organotin and organolead compounds in environmental samples. Several high performance liquid chromatographic separations of organotin compounds have been tested and the best system (cation-exchange chromatography with methanol and a citrate buffer) employed for the determination of tributyltin (TBT), triphenyltin (TPhT), dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT) in environmental samples. The coupling between high performance liquid chromatography (HPLQ and the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for this application has been modified to yield limits of detection of 0.44,0.26,1.4 and 0.23 ng. g-' as Sri for TBT, TPhT, DBT and MBT respectively. Different extraction …

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The In Vitro Manipulation Of Cauliflower (Brassica Oleracea L. Convar. Botrytis (L.) Alef. Var. Botrytis L.) Meristematic Tissues For Utilisation In Genetic Improvement Programmes, Martin Louis Kieffer Jan 1996

The In Vitro Manipulation Of Cauliflower (Brassica Oleracea L. Convar. Botrytis (L.) Alef. Var. Botrytis L.) Meristematic Tissues For Utilisation In Genetic Improvement Programmes, Martin Louis Kieffer

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Cauliflower curd meristem activity (organogenic, plastochronic, phyllotactic) was analysed biometrically and confirmed that the curd is the product of a constant process of meristem production and branch ramification with little if any dominance between branch apices. A growth model based on curd branching pattern was developed and its mathematical expression enabled the estimation of the number of meristems carried by a curd at maturity to be over ten million which was previously widely underestimated. Analysis of the response to the in vitro culture of this meristematic tissues revealed that meristems are not predetermined to produce flower and that their shoot …

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An Analysis Of The Genetic Algorithm And Abstract Search Space Visualisation, Richard Alan Harris Jan 1996

An Analysis Of The Genetic Algorithm And Abstract Search Space Visualisation, Richard Alan Harris

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

The Genetic Algorithm (Holland, 1975) is a powerful search technique based upon the principles of Darwinian evolution. In its simplest form the GA consists of three main operators - crossover, mutation and selection. The principal theoretical treatment of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) is provided by the Schema Theorem and building block hypothesis (Holland, 1975). The building block hypothesis describes the GA search process as the combination, sampling and recombination of fragments of solutions known as building blocks. The crossover operator is responsible for the combination of building blocks, whilst the selection operator allocates increasing numbers of samples to good building …

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International Collision Regulations For Automatic Collision Avoidance, Christopher James Perkins Jan 1996

International Collision Regulations For Automatic Collision Avoidance, Christopher James Perkins

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

This thesis considers the relationship between collision regulations and an automatic collision avoidance system (ACAS). Automation of ship operations is increasingly common. The automation of the collision avoidance task may have merit on grounds of reduced manual workload and the elimination of human error. Work to date by engineers and computer programmers has focused on modelling the requirements of the current collision regulations. This thesis takes a new approach and indicates that legislative change is a necessary precursor to the implementation of a fully automatic collision avoidance system. A descriptive analysis has been used to consider the nature of the …

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Bereavement And Moral And Spiritual Development : An Exploration Of The Experiences Of Children And Young People, Valerie Clark Jan 1996

Bereavement And Moral And Spiritual Development : An Exploration Of The Experiences Of Children And Young People, Valerie Clark

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis, which is in two parts, attempts to interpret in moral and spiritual terms those responses to bereavement that are often described as psychological. In part one human development is considered comparing religious, philosophical, scientific and psychological theories and a model of the 'core self is proposed (body, mind and emotions) which responds to social and cultural influences in ways that can be considered moral and spiritual. Theories of duty, consequence and virtue are considered as well as Kohlberg's theory of justice reasoning and Gilligan's views about caring. Within spirituality notions of dualism and continuity-discontinuity are noted and a …

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Nearbed Flows And Sediment Movement On The Continental Slope, Paul Gareth Chatwin Jan 1996

Nearbed Flows And Sediment Movement On The Continental Slope, Paul Gareth Chatwin

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

The steep continental slopes of the southern Celtic shelf have long been thought to be a major export region for the flux of sediment from the south west approaches to the deep ocean (47-49°). Recent studies have suggested that the transfer of energy from the large barotropic tidal currents to internal tides, and higher frequency internal waves is locally enhanced, and provides a mechanism for the re-suspension and downslope transport of bed material on the upper slope region. This material is thought to be preferentially transported at the head of the many submarine canyons that exist along these ocean margins, …

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Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome: An Ultrastructural And Epidemiological Investigation, Penelope Sargeant Jan 1996

Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome: An Ultrastructural And Epidemiological Investigation, Penelope Sargeant

School of Biomedical Sciences Theses

Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome (VVS) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the vestibular epithelium of the vulva, which has been estimated to affect 15% of the female population (Goetsch, 1991 ). Many studies have attempted unsuccessfully, to elucidate the cause of this condition, and few advances have been made towards the understanding of the associated inflammatory response. The initial, and principal aim of this investigation was to characterise normal vestibular epithelium using electron microscopy. The ultrastructural characteristics of normal vestibular epithelium were compared with closely related epithelia, and with vestibular epithelia from VVS patients. Other aims included an investigation of the …

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Remote Sensing Of Suspended Sediment, Samantha Jane Lavender Jan 1996

Remote Sensing Of Suspended Sediment, Samantha Jane Lavender

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

A remote sensing near infrared suspended sediment algorithm is developed from first principles and applied to Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imagery (CASI) data flown over the Humber Estuary. Laboratory measurements were used as the basis for the algorithm development, with the resulting spectra indicating that the ideal wavelength for a suspended sediment algorithm is the near infrared. The resulting algorithm took the form of a waveband ratio which was subsequently validated with a semi-analytical water optics model based on the absorption/scattering properties of the optically active constituents. The model was then used to derive a global water-leaving radiance algorithm, which is …

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The Structure And Dynamics Of A Convergent Estuarine Front, Lisa Jane Redbourn Jan 1996

The Structure And Dynamics Of A Convergent Estuarine Front, Lisa Jane Redbourn

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

This thesis considers the structure and dynamics of a convergent front, which forms at the confluence of the Tamar and Lynher rivers during the ebb tide, in the Tamar Estuary, South West England. Temperature, salinity and velocity were sampled at high frequency in the region of frontogenesis, and these data are used to assess the evolution and development of a front during the course of an ebb tide. The equation of continuity and the horizontal equations of motion are applied to the data set in order to evaluate the dynamic regime operating in the vicinity of the front, and its …

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Spreading Pattern And Mesoscale Structure Of Mediterranean Outflow In The Iberian Basin Estimated From Historical Data, G. I. Shapiro, S. L. Meschanov Jan 1996

Spreading Pattern And Mesoscale Structure Of Mediterranean Outflow In The Iberian Basin Estimated From Historical Data, G. I. Shapiro, S. L. Meschanov

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

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The Effect Of Heavy Metal Contamination On Estuarine Benthic Fauna At Varying Levels Of Biological Organisation, Sarah Alicia Michelle Perryman Jan 1996

The Effect Of Heavy Metal Contamination On Estuarine Benthic Fauna At Varying Levels Of Biological Organisation, Sarah Alicia Michelle Perryman

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Biological monitoring techniques, selected to cover increasing levels of biological organisation (cellular, individual, population and community), were compared and contrasted to determine the relative sensitivities of these approaches to heavy metal contammation. The study was centred on the Fal Estuary in Cornwall, an ideal experimental field site-with well documented heavy metal contamination resulting firom the long-term discharge of waste from a local tin mine. Five creeks leadmg from the estuary differ dramatically in the concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments, but little in natural environmental variables (sediment granulometry, salinity etc.). The contaminant induced damage was evaluated at the cellular …

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An Investigation Into The Fate Of Benzylpenicillin And Its Degradation Compounds In Milk Following Intramammary Treatments For Bovine Mastitis, David Roger Hulse Jan 1996

An Investigation Into The Fate Of Benzylpenicillin And Its Degradation Compounds In Milk Following Intramammary Treatments For Bovine Mastitis, David Roger Hulse

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The presence of antibiotics in bovine milk results mainly from the treatment of mastitis by intramammary infusion. The sale of this contaminated milk is illegal and the milk supply is routinely tested for adulteration by antibiotic residues. At present these tests are unspecific microbiological assays which detect only inhibitory substances and consequently the presence of any inactive degradation compounds is not tested for. Various chromatographic approaches exist in the literature which report the resolution of mixtures of antibiotic compounds from milk. However, the presence of antibiotic degradation residues in milk, which may have serious implications for the health of the …

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The Antioxidant Role Of Α-Tocopherol In The Nutrition Of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus Burchell), Remi Thomas Merrett Baker Jan 1996

The Antioxidant Role Of Α-Tocopherol In The Nutrition Of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus Burchell), Remi Thomas Merrett Baker

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The role of the lipid-soluble antioxidant α-tocopherol (vitamin E) in the nutrition of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell) has been investigated with respect to effects on growth, certain indices of health and prevention of tissue lipid peroxidation. Although juvenile C. gariepinus were not found to show an immediate dependency on vitamin E for growth, even during rapid growth stages, a minimum requirement of α-tocopherol based on the prevention of hepatic lipid peroxidation was established at 30-40mg α-tocopherol per kg dry diet. This is in line with published values for numerous cultured fish species. Tissue α-tocopherol accretion was found to be …

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Evaluation Of Techniques For The Biomonitoring Of Pollutants In Members Of The Ulvaceae, Rebecca Schild Jan 1996

Evaluation Of Techniques For The Biomonitoring Of Pollutants In Members Of The Ulvaceae, Rebecca Schild

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

This study involved the development and evaluation of a number of biomonitoring techniques for use with members of the Ulvaceae, Enteromorpha intestinalis (L.) Link, and Viva lactuca (L.). The techniques included both previously established ones and those which required development. The two main procedures developed for these algae were the neutral red retention technique (making use of a vital stain) and the ion leakage Health Index (based upon electrolyte leakage). Following optimisation both were used to produce quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) for a series of n-alcohols using log KOW as the physicochemical parameter. The resultant QSARs were statistically indistinguishable with …

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Eco-Physiology Of Mysids (Crustacea; Peracarida) In The River Tamar Estuary., Angela Mary Moffat Jan 1996

Eco-Physiology Of Mysids (Crustacea; Peracarida) In The River Tamar Estuary., Angela Mary Moffat

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The mysid fauna of the River Tamar Estuary was sampled monthly between January and December 1989. The following species of mysid were found In the estuary. MosopodOPSIS slabborl, Noomysis Intogor, Praunus fioxuosus and SchistomysIs omata. The latter two species, present In low densities throughout tho year, occupied the lower, more salino (>30%o) parts of the estuary, whereas M. slabborl and N. Intogor were abundant In the upper estuary (0.5-30%o). Mosopodopsis slabbori produced between two and three generations per year, and showed a pattern of alternating early and lato-brooding generations. A maximum growth rate for this species was 0.24 mm …

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The Generation Of Quasi-Inertial Oscillations During Upwelling Off The Southern Coast Of The Crimea, Vasyl Vlasenko, V Ivanov, Nataliya Stashchuk Jan 1996

The Generation Of Quasi-Inertial Oscillations During Upwelling Off The Southern Coast Of The Crimea, Vasyl Vlasenko, V Ivanov, Nataliya Stashchuk

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The response of the Black Sea shelf zone to the effect of short-term (less than one day) winds in studied. Mathematical modeling is carried out numerically on the basis of the complete system of the equations of motion, with consideration of continuous fluid stratification, nonlinear terms and terms responsible for turbulent exchange. It is found that a quasi-stationary vertical circulation cell is formed on the shelf under the influence of wind forcing, which favors upwelling. The cell is characterized by a coastal upwelling and lowering of waters in the area of sharp depth increase. Quasi-inertial reciprocal horizontal oscillations (with periods …

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Extension And Hardware Implementation Of The Comprehensive Integrated Security System Concept, Joseph Patrick Morrissey Jan 1995

Extension And Hardware Implementation Of The Comprehensive Integrated Security System Concept, Joseph Patrick Morrissey

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

The current strategy to computer networking is to increase the accessibility that legitimate users have to their respective systems and to distribute functionality. This creates a more efficient working environment, users may work from home, organisations can make better use of their computing power. Unfortunately, a side effect of opening up computer systems and placing them on potentially global networks is that they face increased threats from uncontrolled access points, and from eavesdroppers listening to the data communicated between systems. Along with these increased threats the traditional ones such as disgruntled employees, malicious software, and accidental damage must still be …

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Cellular Aspects Of The Immune Response Of The Turbot, Scophthalmus Maximus (L.), Amanda Susan Burrows Jan 1995

Cellular Aspects Of The Immune Response Of The Turbot, Scophthalmus Maximus (L.), Amanda Susan Burrows

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Peripheral blood leucocytes of the turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, were characterised into 4 distinct groups following morphological, morphometric and histochemical examination. Total and differential cell counts were determined. Thrombocytes, the most abundant leucocyte type (52%), were highly mobile and encountered in several morphological forms. Granulocytes, representing 5.6% of the leucocyte population, histochemically most resembled the mammalian neutrophil. Both large and small lymphocytes (40.8%), were encountered. Monocytes were rarely observed (1.6%). Thrombocytes and monocytes were phagocytic in vitro at 12oc and 22oc, showing increased phagocytic activity at the higher temperature. The thymus was paired and consisted of a well developed outer cortex …

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Particulate Trace Metals In British Coastal Waters, Mark Richard Williams Jan 1995

Particulate Trace Metals In British Coastal Waters, Mark Richard Williams

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Key processes affecting the transport of particulate trace metals in the coastal waters of the Irish and North Seas have been examined. Sample collection and experimentation was carried out on board R.R-S. Challenger in January 1992 (Irish Sea) and in December 1992 and November 1993 (North Sea). Particulate samples were digested in IM HCI and the concentrations of Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn were determined, together with the 206/207Pb isotopic ratio. In the North Eastern Irish Sea the concentrations of suspended particulate trace metals were affected significantly by tidal processes, such that ebb tides transport particles …

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The Effect Of Patient Gender On Medical Decision Making: The Influence Of Decisional Stress, Antonietta Di Caccavo Jan 1995

The Effect Of Patient Gender On Medical Decision Making: The Influence Of Decisional Stress, Antonietta Di Caccavo

School of Psychology Theses

This research investigated the influence of patient gender as a nonclinical variable on treatment decisions made in general practice. Responses to exploratory interviews carried out with 34 GPs supported the relevance of decisional stress in general practice. Decisional conflict theory therefore provided a theoretical basis for predicting that gender differences in management would be most likely to occur under conditions of decisional stress. This is because GPs are likely to rely on gender stereotypes to simplify decision tasks as this allows them to selectively search and appraise information. Responses to interview questions regarding the influence of patient gender on decision …

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The Role Of Causal Perception Of Movement In The Early Social Development Of Autistic Children, Martin Morris Jan 1995

The Role Of Causal Perception Of Movement In The Early Social Development Of Autistic Children, Martin Morris

School of Psychology Theses

Autistic children often lack social behaviours which are normally present by 8-12 months (Klin et al, 1992; Mundy et al, 1986), although current 'top down' theories about autism hypothesise later-developing conceptual difficulties in social cognition. Research indicates that there are abnormal 'bottom up' perceptual processes in autism (Moore, Hobson & Lee, 1995). Processing of unexpected dynamic visual information may occur to a diminished extent (Courchesne, 1987), whilst in normal infancy, causal perception of the movements of animate. and inanimate objects is likely to be important for social cognition and affective relationships (Shultz, 1989; Premack & Dasser, 1990). It has been …

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