An investigation of honey bee Drone Congregation Area formation in rural and semi-rural locations in New Zealand : a thesis presented in part fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand

Male honey bees gather in Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs), and meet with queens to mate in flight. Because they mate on the wing, investigation of these areas using current techniques is not easily facilitated in some areas, which limits research. This study investigates an improved method of studying DCAs in difficult areas; studies the landscape characteristics of DCA locations, and measures pheromone attraction between drones, and honeybee queens and workers, to ascertain any chemical contribution towards DCA formation. Using a camera equipped Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) holding an artificial honey bee queen with 9-Oxo-2-Decenoic Acid (9ODA), trials were conducted to investigate the different flight behaviours of honey bee drones on their mating flights, and the formation of DCAs. The use of the UAV was found to be successful in carrying out DCA research especially in inaccessible areas. Using this method, drone honey bee mating flight activity was investigated in several distinct areas; hill and valley areas; urban park areas, and flat agricultural areas. The data were analysed using Geographic Information System software ArcGIS 10.4.1. Different patterns of drone activity were found in the different areas suggesting that in hill and valley areas where well defined DCAs exist, landscape features played an important part in their location but that in flat areas, landscape features were not shown to play a part in DCA formation and instead, apiary-dependant DCAs dominated, and away from these apiaries, the abundance of drones flying at random in the flat areas (as opposed to being confined in a hill and valley area) would ensure mating. The results also suggest that contrary to some research, DCAs in hill and valley areas have flexible boundaries that may vary in response to other factors such as queen flight behaviour. In order to find out whether chemical influences could contribute to the formation of DCAs, a four- arm olfactometer test was carried out to investigate drone attractiveness to queens, and drone attractiveness to other drones. Contrary to my expectations, drones and queens were not attracted to other drones but rather to workers, perhaps because only sexually immature drones were available for the tests. The study overall confirms the usefulness of using a UAV in difficult areas; demonstrates a significant difference in the spatial dynamics of drone mating flight in different landscape areas, and concludes that DCA boundaries may be constructs that depend on the mating flight parameters of the queen rather than drones only. Further research, especially on the queen’s mating flight parameters is suggested

What was a mortarium used for? Organic residues and cultural change in Iron Age and Roman Britain.

The Romans brought the mortarium to Britain in the first century AD, and there has long been speculation on its actual purpose. Using analysis of the residues trapped in the walls of these ‘kitchen blenders’ and comparing them with Iron Age and Roman cooking pots, the authors show that it wasn't the diet that changed — just the method of preparing certain products: plants were being ground in the mortarium as well as cooked in the pot. As well as plants, the mortars contained animal fats, including dairy products. The question that remains, however, is why these natural products were being mixed together in mortaria. Were they for food, pharmaceuticals or face creams?</jats:p

The Depot Camp

The song, written by James O’Hara, a woodsman from Maine, described the lumbering operation owned and operated by James McNulty of Bangor, Maine.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/songstorysamplercollection/1040/thumbnail.jp

The Blackwater Side

The Blackwater Side is one of many songs that came to Maine from the British Tradition. It is, as Bill Cramp called it, a long love song. This ballad is one in a series of songs that consist of true lovers\u27 discussions, but none are any more good humored than The Blackwater Side.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/songstorysamplercollection/1036/thumbnail.jp

Evaluating the effectiveness of large-scale marine reserves on wide-ranging sharks: a case study of the Cook Islands Shark Sanctuary

Jessica Cramp investigated shark sanctuary effectiveness on oceanic sharks, using a case study in the Cook Islands. She found that sharks benefited from the Sanctuary, but benefits varied based on sharks' movement ecology and release condition. Additionally, an adapted systematic conservation planning approach would close loopholes in shark conservation policy

The convivial space – exploring teacher learning through practitioner research

In this paper we consider the pedagogic and cultural role of practitioner research (PR) in teacher learning, using a case study approach set in a secondary academy school in the West Midlands of England. We acknowledge teacher learning and its influence on pupils as complex and relational, and that this should encourage more research, not deter or reduce our thinking to false certainties. We note literature that endorses practitioner research, particularly its influence on positive identity shifts and enhanced collegiality. Through in-depth ‘acquaintance interviews’ we gathered data from six members of the Innovation Unit in the school and one senior management leader. The findings suggests that practitioner research helped them live more fulfilled lives at work. They felt PR increased their confidence, expertise and enthusiasm at work. These aspects contributed to a shift in their identities and changed the ways they felt about themselves and how they thought they were seen by others. We also explore participants'' reservations about the role of leadership in teacher learning. Finally we contextualise the rich detail of our interview data with a broader view to establish the importance of and explore connections between collegiality, Macmurray’s notions of the personal and the functional, Illich’s conviviality concept and Dewey’s notion of aesthetic learning experiences. In light of this context, we suggest that practitioner research enriches the working world of teachers, offering an alternative view to some more standardised and standardising CPD programmes

Exercise for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults

© 2015 The Cochrane Collaboration. Background: Cancer-related fatigue is recognised as an important symptom associated with cancer and its treatment. A number of studies have investigated the effects of physical activity in reducing cancer-related fatigue. This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in The Cochrane Library (2008, Issue 1). The original review identified some benefits of physical activity on fatigue in cancer both during and after adjuvant treatment. We identified a number of limitations in the evidence, providing clear justification for an updated review. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of exercise on cancer-related fatigue both during and after cancer treatment. Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 1, 2011), MEDLINE (1966 to March 2011), EMBASE (1980 to March 2011), CINAHL (1982 to March 2011), British Nursing Index (January 1984 to March 2011), AMED (1985 to March 2011), SIGLE (1980 to March 2011) and Dissertation Abstracts International (1861 to March 2011) using key words. We also searched reference lists offall studies identified for inclusion and relevant reviews. In addition, we handsearched relevant journals and contacted experts in the field of cancer-related fatigue. Selection criteria: We sought and included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of exercise on cancer-related fatigue in adults. Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently assessed the risk of bias of studies and extracted data based upon predefined criteria. Where data were available we performed meta-analyses for fatigue using a random-effects model. Main results: For this update we identified a total of 56 studies (4068 participants) for inclusion (28 from the original search and 28 from the updated search), with the majority carried out in participants with breast cancer (28 studies). A meta-analysis of all fatigue data, incorporating 38 comparisons, provided data for 1461 participants who received an exercise intervention and 1187 control participants. At the end of the intervention period exercise was seen to be statistically more effective than the control intervention (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.37 to -0.17). Benefits of exercise on fatigue were observed for interventions delivered during or post-adjuvant cancer therapy. In relation to diagnosis, we identified benefits of exercise on fatigue for breast and prostate cancer but not for those with haematological malignancies. Finally, aerobic exercise significantly reduced fatigue but resistance training and alternative forms of exercise failed to reach significance. Authors' conclusions: The findings of the updated review have enabled a more precise conclusion to be made in that aerobic exercise can be regarded as beneficial for individuals with cancer-related fatigue during and post-cancer therapy, specifically those with solid tumours. Further research is required to determine the optimal type, intensity and timing of an exercise intervention

Australian Cosmic Ray Modulation Research

Australian research into variations of the cosmic ray flux arriving at the Earth has played a pivotal role for more than 50 years. The work has been largely led by the groups from the University of Tasmania and the Australian Antarctic Division and has involved the operation of neutron monitors and muon telescopes from many sites. In this paper the achievements of the Australian researchers are reviewed and future experiments are described. Particular highlights include: the determination of cosmic ray modulation parameters; the development of modelling techniques of Ground Level Enhancements; the confirmation of the Tail-In and Loss-Cone Sidereal anisotropies; the Space Ship Earth collaboration; and the Solar Cycle latitude survey.Comment: 47 pages, 37 figures, LaTeX, invited review, in press PASA 18(1). HTML version available at http://www.atnf.csiro.au/pasa/18_1/duldig/paper

Problems, solutions, and strategies reported by users of TENS for chronic musculoskeletal pain: A qualitative exploration using patient interviews

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) could offer a non-drug form of pain relief, but there is no consensus regarding its effectiveness for chronic musculoskeletal pain or chronic low back pain. A recent review of previous trial methodology identified significant problems with low treatment fidelity. There is little information available to inform the development of a pragmatic implementation design for a TENS evaluation.OBJECTIVES: To explore the experiences of secondary care Pain Clinic patients with expertise in using TENS to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. These key informants were selected as they had the potential to generate knowledge which could inform research design and clinical practice.DESIGN: A qualitative method using individual semi- Structured interviews with open questions was selected for its capacity to generate rich data.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine patients (6 women). Thematic analysis was used as the primary data analysis method, and this was enhanced by a case level analysis of the context and processes of TENS use of each individual.FINDINGS: Data analysis indicated that patients learned to address a range of problems in order to optimise TENS use. Patients may need to personalise the positioning of electrodes, and the TENS settings, and to re-adjust these over time. Patients learned to use TENS in a strategic manner, and the outcomes of each strategy varied.CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that a pragmatic TENS evaluation may need to incorporate a learning phase to allow patients to optimise this complex pattern of TENS usage, and evaluation may need to be sensitive to the outcomes of strategic use. These findings also have implications for clinical practice