The Impact of Public Transport Reform: an Assessment of Deregulation Policies

Ommeren, J.N. van [Promotor]Koopmans, C.C. [Promotor

Evaluation of tendering public transport in The Netherlands

Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Evaluation of tendering public transport in The Netherlands

Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Seed maturation in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

A seed maturation study was conducted to determine the earliest date seed of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) may be safely harvested without reduction in yield or seed quality. In 1981 and 1982, seed and bur weight, seed and bur moisture content, germination and seedling vigor were studied to determine when seeds were mature in 'Mt. Barker1 and 'Nangeela' subclover. Indirect maturity indices were evaluated for use in determining when maximum dry weight is attained. Sampling was begun after flowers had formed on the uppermost reproductive nodes and was continued for 70 days in 1981 and 62 days in 1982. Maximum seed dry weight occurred in Mt. Barker at 54% moisture and 44 days after flowering in 1981 and at 52% seed moisture and 38 days after flowering in 1982. Nangeela attained maximum seed dry weight 46 and 40 days after flowering at seed moisture contents of 53% and 51% in 1981 and 1982, respectively. Seed and bur moisture were closely correlated (r = 0.98 and r = 0.99 for Mt. Barker and r = 0.98 and r = 0.99 for Nangeela) in 1981 and 1982. Seed and bur dry weight were also highly correlated (r = 0.94 and 0.98 for Mt. Barker and r = 0.96 and r = 0.95 for Nangeela) in 1981 and 1982. Scarified seeds attained the 90% level of germination shortly after seed development. Seed weight and germination were not closely correlated. Unscarified seeds attained the 95% level of impermeability 26 to 30 days after flowering. Maximum seedling vigor was reached 6 and 10 days after maximum dry weight for Mt. Barker, and 2 and 10 days after maximum dry weight for Nangeela in 1981 and 1982, respectively. Seeds at this stage were capable of germinating quickly and produced large, strong seedlings. Bur moisture content can be used as a simple index of seed maturity in subclover. Under Willamette Valley conditions, maximum seed dry weight and vigor of Mt. Barker and Nangeela are reached at bur moisture contents of 49 to 58%

Techno-economic WEC system optimisation – Methodology applied to Wavebob system definition

The overall system optimisation of wave energy converters remains a challenging task. Firstly, this is associated with the large number of system parameters and their related constraints, secondly, the complexity of numerical system representations capturing overall system behaviour and, thirdly, the uncertainties in the prediction and formulation of appropriate overall economic system performance objectives. The parameterisation and the modelling challenges require a staged approach for an overall system optimisation. This ranges from simplified system representations exposed to variations within a large parameter space to more sophisticated system models subject to evaluation for a reduced and focused parameter zone. The description of the system dynamics, operation and performance needs to capture the key characteristics of the WEC concept functionality, the technical implementation and the economic application from the beginning and throughout the optimisation and development process. The paper describes the problems that are associated with the widely employed sequential development of wave energy converter (WEC) systems from concept through technology to economic application and presents the methodology applied to the overall techno-economic system optimisation and development process of Wavebob WECs

Techno-economic WEC system optimisation – Methodology applied to Wavebob system definition

The overall system optimisation of wave energy converters remains a challenging task. Firstly, this is associated with the large number of system parameters and their related constraints, secondly, the complexity of numerical system representations capturing overall system behaviour and, thirdly, the uncertainties in the prediction and formulation of appropriate overall economic system performance objectives. The parameterisation and the modelling challenges require a staged approach for an overall system optimisation. This ranges from simplified system representations exposed to variations within a large parameter space to more sophisticated system models subject to evaluation for a reduced and focused parameter zone. The description of the system dynamics, operation and performance needs to capture the key characteristics of the WEC concept functionality, the technical implementation and the economic application from the beginning and throughout the optimisation and development process. The paper describes the problems that are associated with the widely employed sequential development of wave energy converter (WEC) systems from concept through technology to economic application and presents the methodology applied to the overall techno-economic system optimisation and development process of Wavebob WECs

Wassertherapie bei Morbus Parkinson : welche Effekte hat Wassertherapie auf die posturale Kontrolle bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit Morbus Parkinson, gemessen an der Berg Balance Scale?

Darstellung des Themas : Patientinnen und Patienten mit Morbus Parkinson leiden aufgrund ihrer Krankheit häufig an posturaler Instabilität. Dies führt zu einer erhöhten Sturzanzahl und somit zu einer verminderten Lebensqualität. Wassertherapie könnte als eine alternative Therapieform für die posturale Kontrolle von solchen Patientinnen und Patienten angewendet werden. Ziel : In dieser Arbeit wird anhand von wissenschaftlichen Studien aufgezeigt, welche Effekte Wassertherapie auf die posturale Kontrolle von Patientinnen und Patienten hat, gemessen an der Berg Balance Scale. Methode : Anhand eigens definierter Keywords sowie Ein- und Ausschlusskriterien wurde eine systematische Datenbankrecherche in den Datenbanken Medline, CINAHL und EMCARE durchgeführt. Die daraus resultierenden vier Studien wurden mittels AICA Raster kritisch gewürdigt. Die Ergebnisse wurden zusammengefasst, diskutiert und dabei einen Praxis-transfer hergestellt. Ergebnisse : Wassertherapie kann signifikante und klinisch relevante positive (Langzeit-) Effekte in Bezug auf die posturale Kontrolle bei den Betroffenen auslösen. Schlussfolgerung : Die Ergebnisse zeigen auf, das Wassertherapie als eine alternative Therapieform durchaus positive Effekte im Bereich der posturalen Kontrolle bei den Betroffenen erzielen kann. Die Art der Durchführung, die Zeitdauer und die Intensität sind noch nicht genügend erforscht. Es braucht in Zukunft mehr Forschung, um die Effektivität der Wassertherapie weiter zu bestärken.Background : Patients with Parkinson`s disease (PD) frequently suffer postural instability due to their disease. This leads to an increase in falls and therefore to a decrease in quality of life. Aquatic therapy could be used as an alternative form of therapy for postural control in such patients. Aim : This bachelor thesis uses scientific studies to show the effects of aquatic therapy on pos-tural control, measured on the Berg Balance Scale. Methods : Keywords and inclusion and exclusion criteria were used in a systematic database re-search on the health-specific databases Medline, CINAHL and EMCARE. The four stud-ies found were critically assessed using the AICA grid. The results were summarized, discussed and a practical transfer made. Results : Aquatic therapy can lead to significant and clinically relevant, positive (longterm) effects on postural control in those affected. Conclusion : The results show that aquatic therapy, as an alternative form of therapy, can have posi-tive effects on the postural control of patients with PD. The type of aquatic therapy, dura-tion and intensity of therapy are not yet sufficiently studied. More scientific research is needed in the future to reinforce the effectiveness of aquatic therapy