Nuclear rivalry in South Asia : an examination of post Cold War nuclear arms control initiatives

South Asia has emerged in the post-Cold War era as a region where ongoing nuclear rivalry has the potential to result in a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan. The United States, together with the global community, is devoting considerable effort to prevent the further development and deployment of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan. This thesis analyses the underlying reasons for the ongoing nuclear rivalry between India and Pakistan, details post-Cold War initiatives to end the nuclear rivalry and examines the prospect of United States efforts to cap, reduce and eventually eliminate the nuclear arsenals of India and Pakistan. The thesis finds that historical factors form the basis of the continuing hostility and animosity between the two nations. The two nations have been bitter rivals since the time of partition in 1947 and the disputed territory of Kashmir continues to be the manifestation of deep seated antagonism and hostility. Pakistan's geography leaves it extremely vulnerable to conventional Indian attack and possession of nuclear weapons is seen as a means to redress the imbalance. Strong domestic support together with fervent nationalism and international prestige will continue to drive the nuclear programs of each nation. This thesis concludes that the nuclear rivalry between India and Pakistan is regional in nature and the end of the Cold War has done little to improve the prospects for nuclear disarmament in the region. United States led efforts have failed to persuade India or Pakistan to either accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or dismantle their nuclear weapons. The thesis also notes that the United States has failed to take account of China as a significant regional power and it's impact on the nuclear programs of India and Pakistan. A fresh approach (to include China) with more emphasis on regional dialogue is suggested as a first step to ending the nuclear rivalry.

Nuclear weapons and deterrence

Discusses deterrence theory in relation to the nuclear armed nations. Suggests the world may turn from the deterrence of war using nuclear weapons to deterring countries and other oganisations from their acquisition.

Determination of sodium oxalate in Bayer process liquors using flow analysis with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence detection

The research was a detailed investigation into a challenging analytical chemistry problem for the alumina industry. The successful outcomes were derived through innovative reagent chemistry and novel instrumental development. The resultant methodology and instrumentation deployed on this most demanding sample matrix is more robust, reliable and less expensive than anything currently used in this industry worldwide.

Australia and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, 1945–1974

This volume in the Documents on Australian Foreign Policy series draws on unpublished records from the National Archives of Australia to document the negotiation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) from an Australian perspective. Commencing with early post-war efforts to control nuclear energy following the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the volumes traces Australia’s changing attitude to the issue of nuclear arms control and disarmament during the Cold War years of the 1950s and 1960s and its ambiguous approach to the acquisition of nuclear weapons in the subsequent negotiation of the NPT. Signed by the Gorton government in 1970 after considerable debate in the policymaking community in Canberra, the treaty was ratified by the Whitlam government in 1973 and has since formed a fundamental plank in Australian attitudes and policies towards international efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons.

Raw materials and process chemical recovery in industrial wastewater pollution control

This article illustrates the different methods employed to recover raw materials and process chemicals in various industries. Although only a few industries such as car painting, metal cutting, electroplating, textile, abattoir and pesticide formulation have been illustrated in case studies, almost all the industries can recover raw materials and process chemicals from their waste streams. The case studies show that the investments on new processes or systems used to recover raw materials and process chemicals have a short payback period and hence bring huge savings to those industries. Thus, each industry should try to recover raw material and process chemicals from waste streams.

Steric control over molecular structure and supramolecular association exerted by tin- and ligand-bound groups in diorganotin carboxylates

Structural data (X-ray and solution and solid-state ^₁₁₉Sn NMR) show that skew-trapezoidal-bipyramidal diorganotin compounds of 2-quinaldate are invariably monomeric, owing to the steric bulk of the carboxylate ligand. In contrast, most of the analogous compounds of 2-picolinate (2-pic) can increase their coordination number by polymerization or the incorporation of solvent in their coordination sphere in the solid state. The exceptional compound is tBu₂Sn(2-pic)₂ (3), for which no increase in coordination number is apparent, a result that is correlated with the bulky tert-butyl groups. Thus, judicious choice of tin or ligand substituents can be exploited to dictate coordination number and/or the degree of supramolecular aggregation in the investigated systems.

Effects of alternative dietary lipid sources on performance, tissues chemical composition, mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation capabilities, and sensory characteristics in brown trout (Salmo trutta L.)

The efficiency of five dietary lipid sources (fish oil as control—C; canola oil—CO; poultry fat—PF; pork lard—PL; and oleine oil—OO) were evaluated in juvenile brown trout (58.4±0.7 g) in an experiment conducted over 70 days at 14.6±0.4 °C. The best growth was observed in fish fed the C diet whereas the PL diet fed fish had the best feed utilization. Significant differences in carcass and muscle proximate composition, but not in liver, were noted among fish fed the different dietary treatments. The fatty acid composition of muscle largely reflected that of the diets, while total cholesterol was not affected. The atherogenicity and the thrombogenicity qualities of the trout flesh were modified by the lipid sources. Sensory analysis did not show any significant differences among the cooked fillets with respect to dietary treatments, while in uncooked products, some significant differences were observed. The carnitine palmitoyltransferase I and II (CPT-I and CPT-II) activities of liver and white muscle were assayed for a better understanding of the potential β-oxidation capability of the different dietary lipid sources. The hepatic, but not white muscle CPT-I and CPT-II activities were affected by dietary treatments. This study showed that alternative lipid sources could be used effectively for oil coating extruded diets for brown trout.

Use of phosphite as a control for Phytophthora cinnamomi in southeastern Victorian vegetation communities

One of the major aims of the research presented in this thesis was to assist managers of native vegetation communities in southeastern Australia in understanding the dynamics of P. cinnamomi with an important ecological species, Xanthorrhoea australis. It trialed the use of phosphite in large-scale field applications to establish the usefulness of this management option for the first time on Victorian flora. This thesis describes the process of disease development within mature X. Australia plants. For the first time it was shown that within X. australis plants, secondary disease symptoms are related to the percentage of stem that has been infested by the disease. It was evident that after initial invasion the pathogen moves via root xylem and throughout the plant within vascular to the stem, especially within the desmium. The research shows that the pathogen could not be isolated consistently even though it was considered to be responsible for disease symptoms. Trials of a control fungicide (Foli-R-fos 200) shows that protection occurs in many susceptible plants when 2 and 6g a.i./L phosphite is applied. Phytotoxicity occurred in native plants at Anglesea and within controlled environment trials when using ≥ 6g a.i./L. It will be shown that 2g a.i./L phosphite controls disease in sprayed plots within heathlands at Anglesea and a recently burnt coastal woodland community at Wilson’s Promontory. The proportion of healthy X. australis plants treated with phosphite was significantly higher than the proportion in control plots without phosphite. The research shows that phosphite was recovered from leaves of three species treated with Foli-R-fos 200 in the field. For the first time it has been shown that seed germination was reduced in two species when high concentrations of phosphite were applied. The first documentation of the effect that phosphite has on soil properties showed that nitrogen and oxidised organic carbon were the only parameters to alter significantly. This thesis provides answers to some important questions, answers that can now be used by managers in formulating better policies and actions at an operational level. There has been a dire need in Victoria to address many issues regarding P. cinnamomi and this thesis provides relevant and informative approaches to disease control, and a better understanding of the disease progress.

Humanoid traffic control robot

A traffic control device in the form of a humanoid character robot, doll or dummy is used to warn driver of danger ahead on the road. The device can be used on roads, streets and in other sites where there are moving vehicles. The robotic device informs drivers of impending danger by moving its arms and sounding an acoustic alarm. In this way the robot can simulate a policeman or road flagging operator. The device may also include speed detection and preferably speed indication means. The robot may make decisions based on the detected speed of a vehicle and the limit for the area in operating the arms and sound warning means. The robot may also be equipped with a camera or video. The robot may also be controlled wirelessly.

Nitric oxide control of lower vertebrate blood vessels

The gas, nitric oxide, plays a critical role in the control of the cardiovascular system of animals, and in particular blood pressure. This thesis demonstrated unique mechanisms by which nitric oxide regulates the blood vessels of various animals, which will alter our understanding of vascular regulation by peripheral nerves.

Biology and control of white blister rust of Brassicaceae vegetables

This research project was a response to the outbreak of white blister rust disease and its spread to Brassica oleracea crops in Australia. Disease management strategies based on the understanding of the Albugo - Brassica pathosystem, epidemiology, and the use of chemical control measures were developed for the Australian Brassica industry.

Chemical coding of vascular nitrergic nerves in lower vertebrates

Nitric oxide is an important regulator of blood pressure in mammals. This study provided new information on the role of nitric-oxide releasing sympathetic nerves in vascular regulation of lower vertebrates. The research outcomes advance knowledge on the potential role of these unique nerves in the control of the lower vertebrate cardiovascular system.

Potentiostatic control of ionic liquid surface film formation on ZE41 magnesium alloy

The generation of potentially corrosion-resistant films on light metal alloys of magnesium have been investigated. Magnesium alloy, ZE41 [Mg−Zn−Rare Earth (RE)-Zr, nominal composition 4 wt % Zn, 1.7 wt % RE (Ce), 0.6 wt % Zr, remaining balance, Mg], was exposed under potentiostatic control to the ionic liquid trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium diphenylphosphate, denoted [P_6,6,6,14][DPP]. During exposure to this IL, a bias potential, shifted from open circuit, was applied to the ZE41 surface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to monitor the evolution of film formation on the metal surface during exposure. The EIS data indicate that, of the four bias potentials examined, applying a potential of −200 mV versus OCP during the exposure period resulted in surface films of greatest resistance. Both EIS measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging indicate that these surfaces are substantially different to those formed without potential bias. Time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) elemental mapping of the films was utilized to ascertain the distribution of the ionic liquid cationic and anionic species relative to the microstructural surface features of ZE41 and indicated a more uniform distribution compared with the surface following exposure in the absence of a bias potential. Immersion of the treated ZE41 specimens in a chloride contaminated salt solution clearly indicated that the ionic liquid generated surface films offered significant protection against pitting corrosion, although the intermetallics were still insufficiently protected by the IL and hence favored intergranular corrosion processes.

Effects of bait age, larval chemical cues and nutrient depletion on colonization by forensically important calliphorid and sarcophagid flies

Species colonization patterns on corpses and the frequency of carrion fly oviposition and larviposition are affected by decomposition stage and previous maggot colonization. This study investigated these effects on meat bait colonization by Victorian Diptera of forensic importance. Bait treatments were: 'aged' (aged for 4 days at 22 °C, allowing some decomposition); 'nutrient-depleted' [aged for 4 days at 22 °C with feeding Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae]; 'extract' (fresh bait mixed with liquid formed by feeding C. vicina larvae), and 'fresh' (untreated control bait). Statistical analysis (α = 0.05) revealed that colonization frequency differed significantly among treatments (Welch's F 3,18.83 = 4.66, P < 0.05). Post hoc tests showed that fresh and extract baits were colonized extensively throughout the experiment with no significant difference, whereas the colonization of nutrient-depleted baits was significantly lower. This suggests that larval digestive enzymes, larval excreta and cuticular hydrocarbons have less effect on colonizing Diptera than the nutritional content of meat. The colonization of aged baits did not differ significantly from that of fresh, extract or nutrient-depleted baits. A further experiment testing 'very aged' (aged for 8 days at 28 °C), 'larvae-added' (fresh bait with C. vicina larvae added before placement) and 'fresh' (untreated control) baits revealed that very aged baits were colonized significantly less frequently than either fresh or larvae-added baits (Welch's F 2, 6.17 = 17.40, P < 0.05).