title: Multiple stressor effects on marine infauna: responses of estuarine taxa and functional traits to sedimentation, nutrient and metal loading

authors: Ellis, Joanne I.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Sedimentation, nutrients and metal loading to coastal environments are increasing, associated with urbanization and global warming, hence there is a growing need to predict ecological responses to such change. Using a regression technique we predicted how maximum abundance of 20 macrobenthic taxa and 22 functional traits separately and interactively responded to these key stressors. The abundance of most taxa declined in response to sedimentation and metal loading while a unimodal response was often associated with nutrient loading. Optimum abundances for both taxa and traits occurred at relatively low stressor levels, highlighting the vulnerability of estuaries to increasing stressor loads. Individual taxa were more susceptible to stress than traits, suggesting that functional traits may be less sensitive for detecting changes in ecosystem health. Multiplicative effects were more common than additive interactions. The observed sensitivity of most taxa to increasing sedimentation and metal loading and the documented interaction effects between multiple stressors have important implications for understanding and managing the ecological consequences of eutrophication, sedimentation and contaminants on coastal ecosystems.

text: Multiple stressor effects on marine infauna: responses of estuarine taxa and functional traits to sedimentation, nutrient and metal loading Sedimentation, nutrients and metal loading to coastal environments are increasing, associated with urbanization and global warming, hence there is a growing need to predict ecological responses to such change. Using a regression technique we predicted how maximum abundance of 20 macrobenthic taxa and 22 functional traits separately and interactively responded to these key stressors. The abundance of most taxa declined in response to sedimentation and metal loading while a unimodal response was often associated with nutrient loading. Optimum abundances for both taxa and traits occurred at relatively low stressor levels, highlighting the vulnerability of estuaries to increasing stressor loads. Individual taxa were more susceptible to stress than traits, suggesting that functional traits may be less sensitive for detecting changes in ecosystem health. Multiplicative effects were more common than additive interactions. The observed sensitivity of most taxa to increasing sedimentation and metal loading and the documented interaction effects between multiple stressors have important implications for understanding and managing the ecological consequences of eutrophication, sedimentation and contaminants on coastal ecosystems.

year: 2017

title: Selection of dispatching rules in simulation-based scheduling of flexible manufacturing

authors: Basnet, Chuda

subjects: flexible manufacturing systems

abstract: Discrete-event simulation has been proposed as a tool for the real-time selection of dispatching rules in the scheduling of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). In this approach, a look-ahead simulation is used to predict the trajectory of the system under different dispatching rules. Then a rule is selected for use in the FMS, based on the performance criterion associated with each trajectory. However, this raises the issue of the criterion to be used for the selection of the rules. A simulation model of an FMS was used to test the effect of rule selection procedure on two performance measures. This simulator was run using four scheduling policies and the performance of the FMS was measured. The main finding of this research is that the use of global criteria gives better results than the use of local criteria.

text: Selection of dispatching rules in simulation-based scheduling of flexible manufacturing Discrete-event simulation has been proposed as a tool for the real-time selection of dispatching rules in the scheduling of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). In this approach, a look-ahead simulation is used to predict the trajectory of the system under different dispatching rules. Then a rule is selected for use in the FMS, based on the performance criterion associated with each trajectory. However, this raises the issue of the criterion to be used for the selection of the rules. A simulation model of an FMS was used to test the effect of rule selection procedure on two performance measures. This simulator was run using four scheduling policies and the performance of the FMS was measured. The main finding of this research is that the use of global criteria gives better results than the use of local criteria.

year: 2011

title: Experiences from the past inform the journey ahead: ‘a way of being’ - culturally responsive and relational professional learning and development.

authors: Murray, Tracy Olive

subjects: Culturally responsive and relational angragogy

abstract: This thesis begins by contextualising the current reality for many Māori learners in Aotearoa New Zealand.  By reviewing the literature around the role of the provider in professional learning and development (PLD) in Aotearoa New Zealand, this thesis seeks to explain a new way of working that has not been well documented before.  Provided is the rationale for the methodology undertaken in the research to ensure the relationship with the participants remained at the heart of the process.  This thesis contends that applying culturally responsive and relational pedagogy across all levels of schooling is a unique way of being that requires deep critical self-reflection and conscious ongoing change in practice.  Learning what to stop doing and what to do differently is part of an ongoing cycle of inquiry that educational leaders at any level must engage in, to implement change in schools for Māori learners.

text: Experiences from the past inform the journey ahead: ‘a way of being’ - culturally responsive and relational professional learning and development. This thesis begins by contextualising the current reality for many Māori learners in Aotearoa New Zealand.  By reviewing the literature around the role of the provider in professional learning and development (PLD) in Aotearoa New Zealand, this thesis seeks to explain a new way of working that has not been well documented before.  Provided is the rationale for the methodology undertaken in the research to ensure the relationship with the participants remained at the heart of the process.  This thesis contends that applying culturally responsive and relational pedagogy across all levels of schooling is a unique way of being that requires deep critical self-reflection and conscious ongoing change in practice.  Learning what to stop doing and what to do differently is part of an ongoing cycle of inquiry that educational leaders at any level must engage in, to implement change in schools for Māori learners.

year: 2018