Stoat trap tunnel location : GIS predictive modelling to identify the best tunnel location : a thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Geographic Information Systems in Massey University

Stoats are recognised as one of the biggest threats to New Zealand's threatened species. They are difficult to control because of their biological characteristics. Currently trapping is the most common type of control technique that has a proven success rate. Research studies have shown that some traps catch more stoats than others. However the reason for this is not well documented. The effectiveness of a trap set is difficult to determine because not all trap locations are the same and not all people have the same ability to select the best location for a trap. This study uses GIS to spatially analyse stoat capture data from a control operation on Secretary Island in conjunction with commonly available vegetation, habitat, diet and home range spatial data to see if there are consistent patterns that could be used as variables in a model that would predict the best place to locate a stoat trap tunnel. The model would then be tested against a similar dataset from Resolution Island. The Department of Conservation supplied the stoat capture data from the control operations on both islands. Standard spatial analysis techniques were used to generate surfaces that combined the capture data with the vegetation, habitat, diet and home range surfaces to produce predictive surfaces. The key finding from the research was that it is possible to produce a predictive model, although one was not created because the spatial datasets were not of a high enough resolution to provide conclusive evidence that could be confidently used as a variable in a model. The spatial analysis also indicated that stoats on both islands were caught mainly in the warmer northwestern parts of the islands although the study could not determine why there was a preference for these areas. In rugged terrain like that found on both islands the location of the track network will influence where the majority of stoats will be caught

William James and the Evolution of Consciousness

Despite having been relegated to the realm of superstition during the dominant years of behaviourism, the investigation and discussion of consciousness has again become scientifically defensible. However, attempts at describing animal consciousness continue to be criticised for lacking independent criteria that identify the presence or absence of the phenomenon. Over one hundred years ago William James recognised that mental traits are subject to the same evolutionary processes as are physical characteristics and must therefore be represented in differing levels of complexity throughout the animal kingdom. James's proposals with regard to animal consciousness are outlined and followed by a discussion of three classes of animal consciousness derived from empirical research. These classes are presented to defend both James's proposals and the position that a theory of animal consciousness can be scientifically supported. It is argued that by using particular behavioural expressions to index consciousness and by providing empirical tests by which to elicit these behavioural expressions a scientifically defensible theory of animal consciousness can be developed

A Planned Jefferson Lab Experiment on Spin-Flavor Decomposition

Experiment E04-113 at Jefferson Lab Hall C plans to measure the beam-target double-spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic $\vec p(e, e^\prime h)X$ and $\vec d(e, e^\prime h)X$ reactions ($h=\pi^+, \pi^-, K^+$ or$K^-$) with a 6 GeV polarized electron beam and longitudinally polarized NH$_3$ and LiD targets. The high statistic data will allow a spin-flavor decomposition in the region of $x=0.12 \sim 0.41$ at $Q^2=1.21\sim 3.14$ GeV$^2$. Especially, leading-order and next-to-leading order spin-flavor decomposition of $\Delta u_v$, $\Delta d_v$ and $\Delta \bar{u} - \Delta \bar{d}$ will be extracted based on the measurement of the combined asymmetries $A_{1N}^{\pi^+ - \pi^-}$. The possible flavor asymmetry of the polarized sea will be addressed in this experiment.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, contribution paper to SPIN2004 conferenc

Phase transitions in argon films

We present heat-capacity data detailing the evolution of the first six layers of argon adsorbed on graphite foam. The second and third layers have liquid-solid-gas triple points similar to the first layer. These layers exhibit a phase diagram consisting of two-dimensional solid, liquid, and gas phases on top of a solid film. Above the temperatures of the individual-layer triple points, the melting transition for each layer appears to be first order, and the first two layers show evidence of registry transitions prior to melting. For films of a total thickness of about four layers and up, the melting of each of the first three layers occurs at temperatures above the bulk triple point, as reported by Zhu and Dash [Phys. Rev. B 38, 11 673 (1988)]. Our results confirm those of an ellipsometry study [H. S. Youn and G. B. Hess, Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 918 (1990)] that found layering transitions above what were believed to be the layering critical-point temperatures. We observe heat-capacity peaks identified with these transitions and with melting transitions that join them with the low-temperature layering transitions. A phase diagram based on these data may represent the signature of a preroughening transition and a disordered flat phase in the bulk-crystal interface

Initial experience using a femtosecond laser cataract surgery system at a UK National Health Service cataract surgery day care centre

© 2019 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/OBJECTIVES: To describe the initial outcomes following installation of a cataract surgery laser system.SETTING: National Health Service cataract surgery day care unit in North London, UK.PARTICIPANTS: 158 eyes of 150 patients undergoing laser-assisted cataract surgery.INTERVENTIONS: Laser cataract surgery using the AMO Catalys femtosecond laser platform.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: intraoperative complications including anterior and posterior capsule tears.SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: docking to the laser platform, successful treatment delivery, postoperative visual acuities.RESULTS: Mean case age was 67.7±10.8 years (range 29-88 years). Docking was successful in 94% (148/158 cases), and in 4% (6/148 cases) of these, the laser delivery was aborted part way during delivery due to patient movement. A total of 32 surgeons, of grades from junior trainee to consultant, performed the surgeries. Median case number per surgeon was 3 (range from 1-20). The anterior capsulotomy was complete in 99.3% of cases, there were no anterior capsule tears (0%). There were 3 cases with posterior capsule rupture requiring anterior vitrectomy, and 1 with zonular dialysis requiring anterior vitrectomy (4/148 eyes, 2.7%). These 4 cases were performed by trainee surgeons, and were either their first laser cataract surgery (2 surgeons) or their first and second laser cataract surgeries (1 surgeon).CONCLUSIONS: Despite the learning curve, docking and laser delivery were successfully performed in almost all cases, and surgical complication rates and visual outcomes were similar to those expected based on national data. Complications were predominately confined to trainee surgeons, and with the exception of intraoperative pupil constriction appeared unrelated to the laser-performed steps.Peer reviewe

Using placebos in research involving terminal illnesses

Placebos are medical interventions that falsely lead patients to believe that they are receiving treatment and that their condition is being changed, when truly no specific treatment is being administered. Using placebos in research involving terminal illnesses has become debatable. While a placebo could potentially give way to new treatments, through testing alongside a specific drug in a clinical trial, the placebo itself may fail and the patient is not cured leading to possible fatality. It has been found that using placebos in research, like performing surgeries, can aid in medical or clinical research and could help our society financially by discouraging unnecessary operations. On the other hand, there are also risks involved, including the health risks that may result from the placebo-controlled trial, and most importantly the justification and ethics of using placebos on patients without their consent. While evaluating several studies involving placebo-induced treatments, we have discovered methods in which placebos can help society; although these helpful means can also raise issues regarding one’s ethics. Using placebos in treatments will not necessarily treat the illness itself, but they can be beneficial towards research in discovering new treatments for terminal illnesses