Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater invertebrates, 2013

The conservation status of 644 freshwater invertebrate taxa, across five Phyla, 28 Orders and 75 Families, was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) criteria. Forty-six species were ranked Nationally Critical, 11 Nationally Endangered and 16 Nationally Vulnerable. One hundred and seventy-two taxa were listed as Data Deficient. A full list is presented, along with summaries and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for freshwater invertebrates

Production of Neutral Fermion in Linear Magnetic Field through Pauli Interaction

We calculate the production rate of neutral fermions in linear magnetic fields through the Pauli interaction. It is found that the production rate is exponentially decreasing function with respect to the inverse of the magnetic field gradient, which shows the non-perturbative characteristics analogous to the Schwinger process. It turns out that the production rate density depends on both the gradient and the strength of magnetic fields in 3+1 dimension. It is quite different from the result in 2+1 dimension, where the production rate depends only on the gradient of the magnetic fields, not on the strength of the magnetic fields. It is also found that the production of neutral fermions through the Pauli interaction is a magnetic effect whereas the production of charged particles through minimal coupling is an electric effect.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure

Towards a performative theory of resistance: Senior managers and revolting subject(ivitie)s

This article develops a performative theory of resistance. It uses Judith Butler’s and Karen Barad’s theories of performativity to explore how resistance (to organizational strategies and policies) and resistants (those who resist such strategies and policies) co-emerge, within and through complex intra-actions of entangled discourses, materialities, affect and space/time. The article uses empirical materials from a case study of the implementation of a talent management strategy. We analyse interviews with the senior managers charged with implementing the strategy, the influence of material, non-sentient actors, and the experiences of the researchers when carrying out the interviews. This leads to a theory that resistance and resistants emerge in moment-to-moment co-constitutive moves that may be invoked when identity or self is put in jeopardy. Resistance, we suggest, is the power (residing with resistants) to say ‘no’ to organizational requirements that would otherwise threaten to render the self abject

Using non-nutritive sucking to support feeding development for premature infants: A commentary on approaches and current practice

Non-nutritive sucking is often used with premature infants by either using a pacifier or an expressed breast nipple to support the introduction and development of early oral feeding. The pattern of non-nutritive sucking is distinct in that it involves two sucks per second in contrast to nutritive sucking which is one suck per second. Although some literature has identified that non-nutritive sucking has some benefit for the premature infant’s feeding development, it is not entirely clear why such an approach is helpful as neurologically, activation of non-nutritive and nutritive skills are different. A summary is presented of the main approaches that use non-nutritive sucking with reference to the literature. This paper also considers other factors and beneficial approaches to managing the introduction of infant feeding. These are: the infant’s toleration of enteral feeds pre oral trials, overall development and gestational age when introducing oral experiences, developing swallowing skills before sucking, physiological stability, health status, as well as the development and interpretation of infant oral readiness signs and early communication

Spaces on the Stave: Documenting the Musical Lives of Transgender People in Ireland

'Spaces on the Stave: Documenting the Musical Lives of Transgender People in Ireland' is a study situated in the domain of cultural musicology, establishing socio-historical context in alignment with a mapping of the musical lives of transgender people in Ireland. Identifying and interviewing transgender music-makers resulted in the collation of primary data for this research, combined with a nationwide survey that maps transgender music fandom. This data was analysed in order to develop a cultural historical perspective on the impact that gender identity has had on music-making and consumption for transgender people in Ireland. This research project engages with three research methods: archival research, online survey, and the semi-structured interview. Archival research reveals traces of a history of transgender people in Ireland from the 1970s onwards with documentation of transgender experiences, community frameworks and music consumption. The survey investigates the role of music in participants' lives, transgender musical icons within Ireland and internationally and music venues, scenes and communities in Ireland. 230 transgender people from all over Ireland responded to the survey and shared their experiences as a means of supporting this research project centred on their lives and music. The series of interviews conducted with four transgender music-makers based in Ireland provide insight into career development, status in venues, spaces and scenes, and perspectives on a lineage of transgender music-makers. This thesis serves as a documented chronology of transgender musical experiences in Ireland dating from the 1970s to the present

Maternal hemoglobin and hematocrit levels during pregnancy and childhood lung function and asthma. The Generation R Study

Objective: To examine the associations of maternal hemoglobin and hematocrit levels during pregnancy with childhood lung function and asthma, and whether adverse pregnancy outcomes and atopic predisposition modify the associations. Methods: In a population-based prospective cohort study among 3672 subjects, we measured maternal hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in early pregnancy, and lung function by spirometry and current asthma by questionnaire at age 10 years. Results: Higher maternal hematocrit levels, both continuously and categorized into clinical cut-offs, were associated with lower forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF75) in children (Z-score (95%CI): −0.04 (−0.07, −0.01), per increase of 1 SDS in hematocrit level; Z-score (95%CI) difference: −0.11 (−0.20, −0.03) compared with normal hematocrit levels, respectively), taking lifestyle and socio-economic factors into account. Adverse pregnancy outcomes and atopic predisposition did not modify the results. No associations of maternal hemoglobin and hematocrit with current asthma were observed. Conclusion: Higher maternal hematocrit levels during pregnancy are associated with lower childhood lung function but not with risk of asthma. Adverse pregnancy outcomes and atopic predisposition do not modify these associations. Underlying mechanisms need to be further studied