Using a Flow Through device to reconstruct the thermal gradient in the water column based on G. inflata Mg/Ca

We present Mg/Ca analyses performed via a Flow Through sequential dissolution device connected to an ICP-OES on the planktonic foraminifer Globorotalia inflata. The aim of the study is to explore the possibility to reconstruct the thermal gradient in the water column by separating non-crusted and crusted calcite phases in the tests of G. inflata using the difference between their Mg/Ca ratios as a measure of the thermal gradient. An important assumption is that the non-crusted part of the tests is calcified in shallow, warmer water than the crusted part. For analyses a range of different preparation steps were used to determine the ideal way of separating the phases. Foraminifer tests were (not) cleaned, (not) crushed, and (not) pulverized before online analysis with the FT device. To analyze samples with a FT device the foraminifer tests are placed on a filter with a mesh of 0.45 μm preventing clay minerals to wash through. A sequential dissolution protocol first rinses the samples with buffered Seralpur water before QD HNO3 is added in small steps to create a ramp of increasing acid strength. As acid is kept constant at each concentration for several minutes, dissolution of a specific calcite phase can take place. Initial results show that it is most effective to slightly crush the tests without applying standard cleaning procedures, but rather analyze them without cleaning. Samples were selected from the South Atlantic (core tops and specific downcore samples) and the Mediteterranean (plankton tows). All samples were chosen based on previous work on them to provide comparison with routinely analysed Mg/Ca ratios. The South Atlantic samples have been analyzed extensively as bulk samples separated in difference size fractions and crusted vs. non-crusted (Groeneveld and Chiessi). The Mediterranean samples were not only analyzed as bulk samples but also by Laser Ablation ICP-MS (von Raden et al.). Results show that bulk analyses are reliably reproduced by the FT method, especially for samples which are dominated by crusted calcite. Samples which were uncrusted often gave much higher Mg/Ca ratios than the bulk analyses. These higher Mg/Ca ratios mainly occur in the plankton tow samples and were also identified with Laser Ablation ICP-MS. A possible reason for this could be the presence of a high Mg amorphous calcite layer on the outside of foraminifer tests which have not completed their calcification yet as was recently also pointed out in several other studies. Identification of the crusted and uncrusted phases, and therewith a thermal gradient, seems to give the expected differences but a more rigorous statistical treatment is needed to pinpoint singular dissolution phases

MolabIS - An integrated information system for storing and managing molecular genetics data

BACKGROUND: Long-term sample storage, tracing of data flow and data export for subsequent analyses are of great importance in genetics studies. Therefore, molecular labs do need a proper information system to handle an increasing amount of data from different projects. RESULTS: We have developed a molecular labs information management system (MolabIS). It was implemented as a web-based system allowing the users to capture original data at each step of their workflow. MolabIS provides essential functionality for managing information on individuals, tracking samples and storage locations, capturing raw files, importing final data from external files, searching results, accessing and modifying data. Further important features are options to generate ready-to-print reports and convert sequence and microsatellite data into various data formats, which can be used as input files in subsequent analyses. Moreover, MolabIS also provides a tool for data migration. CONCLUSIONS: MolabIS is designed for small-to-medium sized labs conducting Sanger sequencing and microsatellite genotyping to store and efficiently handle a relative large amount of data. MolabIS not only helps to avoid time consuming tasks but also ensures the availability of data for further analyses. The software is packaged as a virtual appliance which can run on different platforms (e.g. Linux, Windows). MolabIS can be distributed to a wide range of molecular genetics labs since it was developed according to a general data model. Released under GPL, MolabIS is freely available at http://www.molabis.org

Escapement of the Cape rock lobster (Jasus lalandii ) through the mesh and entrance of commercial traps

Metal-framed traps covered with polyethylene mesh used in the fishery for the South African Cape rock lobster (Jasus lalandii) incidentally capture large numbers of undersize (<75 mm CL) specimens. Air-exposure, handling, and release procedures affect captured rock lobsters and reduce the productivity of the stock, which is heavily fished. Optimally, traps should retain legalsize rock lobsters and allow sublegal animals to escape before traps are hauled. Escapement, based on lobster morphometric measurements, through meshes of 62 mm, 75 mm, and 100 mm was investigated theoretically under controlled conditions in an aquarium, and during field trials. SELECT models were used to model escapement, wherever appropriate. Size-selectivity curves based on the logistic model fitted the aquarium and field data better than asymmetrical Richards curves. The lobster length at 50% retention (L50) on the escapement curve for 100-mm mesh in the aquarium (75.5 mm CL) approximated the minimum legal size (75 mm CL); however estimates of L50 increased to 77.4 mm in field trials where trapentrances were sealed, and to 82.2 mm where trap-entrances were open. Therfore, rock lobsters that cannot escape through the mesh of sealed field traps do so through the trap entrance of open traps. By contrast, the wider selection range and lower L25 of field, compared to aquarium, trials (SR = 8.2 mm vs. 2.6 mm; L25 =73.4 mm vs. 74.1 mm), indicate that small lobsters that should be able to escape from 100-mm mesh traps do not always do so. Escapement from 62-mm mesh traps with open entrance funnels increased by 40−60% over sealed traps. The findings of this study with a known size distribution, are related to those of a recent indirect (comparative) study for the same species, and implications for trap surveys, commercial catch rates, and ghost fishing are discussed

UNDER-REPORTING OF CATCHES OF SOUTH COAST ROCK LOBSTER PALINURUS GILCHRISTI, WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FISHERY

Under-reporting of fishery catches can severely affect the precision of stock assessment estimates, which require accurate information on catch and catch rate. Under-reporting of catches of South Coast rock lobster Palinurus gilchristi over the past decade was estimated from verified daily catch rates and the number of days spent at sea by the commercial fleet. The malpractice increased sharply between the 1997/98 and 2000/01 fishing seasons. The index of abundance for the resource (standardized catch per unit effort) increased by 2&#37 for 1998/99, 12&#37 for 1999/00 and 14&#37 for 2000/01, after eliminating under-reported information from the input data. An agestructured production model, with the adjusted abundance index as an input, and including known and estimated over-catches between 1991/92 and 2000/01, increased the maximum sustainable yield estimate from 360 to 390 tons tail mass. The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) management regulation that was historically used in the fishery failed to address over-harvesting as a result of poor compliance. A combined TAC and Total Allowable Effort management strategy was introduced in 2000/01 to restrict fishing effort (days at sea) on the basis of quota size and vessel efficiency. Changes in management strategy, which include cancellation of the license of a fishing company responsible for systematic under-reporting and over-harvesting, decrease in fishing effort, reduction in over-capacity of vessels and other infrastructure and stabilization of trap catch rates have improved the outlook for the fishery

Uitdrukking geven aan het onzegbare. Over de betekenis van metaforen voor de begeleiding bij existentiële processen.

Deze afstudeerscriptie onderzoekt de rol die beeldtaal kan spelen in de begeleiding van mensen bij existentiële processen. Geestelijke verzorging is bij uitstek een vakgebied waarin blijkt dat taal niet altijd toereikend is om uitdrukking te geven aan dat wat er leeft, of wat er wezenlijk toe doet. Waar gewone taal tekortschiet om existentiële thema’s te benoemen en te bespreken, kan beeldende taal, zoals die van metaforen, vaak wel een uitkomst bieden. Dit onderzoek richt zich op metaforen die de cliënt in het gesprek inbrengt als indicaties voor hoe de cliënt zichzelf, de wereld en zijn problemen ziet. Aan de hand van literatuur uit het vakgebied van de (psycho)therapie en counseling zijn diverse functies, werkingen en kwaliteiten die aan metaforen worden toegeschreven bestudeerd en samengebracht tot zeven functies: de relationele functie, het reduceren van weerstand, toegang tot het zelf, expressie van het zelf, verstaan van het zelf, het openen van nieuwe perspectieven en mogelijkheden voor het zelf en integratie van het zelf. Deze functies blijken in verschillende opzichten ook relevant te zijn voor existentiële processen, wat beeldtaal tot een onmisbaar element maakt van geestelijke begeleiding

Order parameters in spin-spin and plaquette lattice theories

We present some basic properties of the gauge theories in the lattice formulation. We discuss the possible order parameters of the theory and their usefulness from the point of view of the numerical calculations. We study the properties of the low coupling constant expansion, i.e. the continuum limit of the theory. Finally we show the results of the numerical calculations for various lattice systems

Breeding value estimation for somatic cell score in South African dairy cattle

Two fixed regression testday models were applied for variance component estimation and prediction of breeding values for somatic cell score, using testday records of the first three lactations of South African Holstein and Jersey cows. The first model (ML-model) considered the testdays of the different lactations as different traits in a multiple-trait animal model and the second analysis (RM-model) treated later lactation records as repeated measures of the first lactation. Heritabilities from the RM-model were more in the range of literature estimates compared to that of the ML-model, i.e. 0.19 + 0.003 for the Holstein breed and 0.18 + 0.003 for the Jersey breed. Rank correlations indicated that minor changes occur in the ranking of proven sires between breeding values obtained from the ML- and RM-models. Although genetic correlations between parities are not unity, the RM-model estimates more competitive variances and requires extensively less computer time to predict breeding values compared to the ML-model and are therefore recommended for breeding value estimation on a national basis. South African Journal of Animal Science Supp 2 2004: 32-3

Towards Uniform Gene Bank Documentation In Europe – The Experience From The EFABISnet Project

In the EFABISnet project, a collaborative effort of EAAP, FAO and partners from 14 European countries, in cooperation with the European Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources (ERFP), national information systems for monitoring the animal genetic resources on breed level were established in Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. The network was soon extended beyond the project plans, with the establishment of EFABIS databases in Finland, Greece, and Hungary. The network was then complemented by a set of inventories of national gene bank collections to strengthen the documentation of ex situ conservation programmes. These documentation systems were established by the National Focal Points for management of farm animal genetic resources. Here we present the experience gained in establishment of these national inventories of gene banks and their relevance to the Strategic Priority Areas of the Global Plan of Action which could be useful for other areas in the world