Length at maturity in three pelagic sharks (Lamna nasus, Isurus oxyrinchus, and Prionace glauca) from New Zealand

Reproductive data collected from porbeagle, shortfin mako, and blue sharks caught around New Zealand were used to estimate the median length at maturity. Data on clasper development, presence or absence of spermatophores or spermatozeugmata, uterus width, and pregnancy were collected by observers aboard tuna longline vessels. Direct maturity estimates were made for smaller numbers of sharks sampled at recreational fishing competitions. Some data sets were sparse, particularly over the vital maturation length range, but the availability of multiple indicators of maturity made it possible to develop estimates for both sexes of all three species. Porbeagle shark males matured at 140–150 cm fork length and females at about 170–180 cm. New Zealand porbeagles therefore mature at shorter lengths than they do in the North Atlantic Ocean. Shortfin mako males matured at 180–185 cm and females at 275 –285 cm. Blue shark males matured at about 190 –195 cm and females at 170–190 cm; however these estimates were hampered by small sample sizes, difficulty obtaining representative samples from a population segregated by sex and maturity stage, and maturation that occurred over a wide length range. It is not yet clear whether regional differences in median maturity exist for shortfin mako an

Falling From The Faith : Causes Of Membership Dropout In The Grenada Mission Of Seventh-day Adventists

This study endeavored to find the causes of membership dropout in the Grenada Mission of Seventh-day Adventists and the ways that it may be reduced. The dissertation investigates the biblical and theological basis for seeking to reduce dropouts by undertaking a study of the Great Commission and God’s concern for dropouts. A select review of relevant literature on dropouts was done in an effort to get an overview of the problem in various denominations and regions, as well as to receive insights in reducing dropouts. One hundred and sixty-nine questionnaires were completed by dropouts, and twenty-one by church leaders in the Grenada Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. The Research and Statistical Department of Andrews University evaluated the questionnaire responses. The responses to the questionnaire revealed that the churches in the Grenada Mission of Seventh-day Adventists are experiencing their greatest loss among members under the age of thirty-five (75.7 percent) who are single (67.5 percent). Both church leaders and the dropouts agreed that most dropouts take place within ten years after baptism. The dropouts gave about thirty-five factors that caused them to leave, but when the factors were categorized the major contributor to dropouts was relational problems with members (41.9 percent). The other categories were sexual sins, external influences and pressures, worship and nurture, problems with church standards and practices, assimilation and acculturation, and socioeconomic status. The strategy developed in this dissertation was not tested before the completion of this dissertation but I anticipate a great reduction in dropouts as it is implemented in the Grenada Mission of Seventh-day Adventists

Water Desalination: Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico

This was a study on the history of the Colorado River, the water challenges of the Lower Basin states and the international water laws that govern the United States and Mexico concerning the Colorado river. The main purpose of this study was to determine possible long-term solutions to the growing water needs of the Lower Basin states and how Mexico could help. After discussing some concerns that the Lower Basin states had, research was done on the different types of desalination. This research included the different methods and their processes. MSF, MED, RO and MVC methods are discussed mentioning their different strengths and limitations. Next different possible solutions are discussed. These possible solutions include current practices and their successes. The solution that is discussed in length is water desalination as it offers another method of obtaining water. This part also discusses different ways to power the plant. As Mexico was already going to build nuclear power plants one idea was to build a plant in Mexico and use their power to run a desalination plant. This is one possible solution, to have a desalination plant desalinate water out of the Sea of Cortez in Mexico for the Southwest to use using the Mexico’s nuclear power plant to run the system. The economics of a desalination plant are discussed. The cost of building a plant, cost of desalinating the water, and water transportation costs are examined. After an examination on these different costs are completed it is discussed on who would pay for the desalination plant and who would receive the water. One possibility discussed is that Arizona, California and Nevada all pay an equal share in the cost of building the desalination plant in Mexico. California would then receive the water from the plant and thus would cut back on their consumption from the Colorado River allowing both Arizona and Nevada to increase theirs. A PEST analysis is done at the end of this study. It covers Political, Economical, Socio-cultural and Technological categories associated with this study. It covers different concerns and possible legislations that would need to be amended in order to continue with international desalination

Electronic Identification of 4-H Livestock Projects

This article describes the effectiveness of electronic ear tags placed in 625 sheep and 508 4-H swine projects in five Indiana counties. Electronic ear tags worked well (\u3e98% readability) in lambs when the tags were properly placed on the inside of the animal\u27s ear. Electronic tags were either missing or failed to respond in 33% of the 4-H hogs at the Knox county fair, and swine members had a difficult time visually reading the number on the tags. Electronic ear tags speed up the check-in of animals at the county fair and reduce the potential for human error in transposing numbers

Ethical Pluralism: The Decision-Making System of a Complex World

Today\u27s leaders are faced with many different ethical decisions that are further highlighted by social media and a rapid news cycle. It has been established that there is no universal ethical code, nor is there one unified global culture. Leaders must continually educate themselves and their employees in proper leadership techniques, education, decision-making, and cultural understanding. Pluralism is engrained in ethics, where there are different interpretations of the same information, different ways to analyze the situation and different ethical frameworks. Pluralism can lead to different outputs and decisions across the same situation, but pluralism is not a blight on ethics but a way to understand the reason for different outcomes and feedback