Evaluation of vegetation and stream health within sites supported by the Hamilton City Council Plants for Gullies Programme

Between August 2012 and March 2013, the Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, conducted a survey of randomly selected Hamilton gully sites which had received plants from the Hamilton City Council’s Plants for Gullies Programme. This survey assessed recent plantings, existing gully vegetation and stream health, along with property owner awareness and engagement with the key restoration principles. The Plants for Gullies Programme has been extremely well received by the Hamilton community and gully owners. Survey participants were actively restoring their gully sites with the most common goal (c. 40%) being the establishment of native plant dominance within 10 years. Gully owners have a good understanding of restoration theory and practise; on average, plant placement in the gullies scored 15.7 out of 20 with consideration of plant environmental requirements and the concept of ecosourcing was understood by c. 76% of landowners surveyed. Also, most of the interviewed participants (c. 80%) were active in seeking guidance from other gullies, often through organised tours. Current stream health was qualitatively assessed and characterised at each of the gully sites. Results provide baseline data for future monitoring. The majority of surveyed sites (c. 50%) had sand or silt substrate and the Bankwood gully had the best features for fauna habitat (e.g. debris and areas of low flow). At the time of visit, c. 60% of surveyed streams had clear water clarity. The poorest water clarity scores were in the Waitawhiriwhiri gully. When assessed on width, length and density, the average riparian buffer score was 12.8 out of 20 while the average stream shading score was 12.7 out of 20. The average bank stability score was 13.1 out of 20, reflecting an erosion problem that many gully owners talked about. Surveyed gullies were diverse in terms of native and exotic vegetation structure and composition; native species contributed between c. 30% to 100% of surveyed trees and shrubs, whereas groundcovers were predominantly exotic. This assessment of gully sites has shown that the Plants for Gullies Programme improves native species diversity through the re-introduction of species that are not naturally regenerating. The Plants for Gullies programme is a powerful tool for engaging private landowners and making cost-effective change to Hamilton City’s native biodiversity. There is now a community of willing gully owners who will continue to restore their gullies with the support of a programme or network. It is our recommendation that the Plants for Gullies Programme is reinstated before this community loses momentum

What does the UK Police National Database tell us about the future of police intelligence?

Developments in technology are transforming society, creating more opportunities for offenders and complicating the policing landscape. The challenge for law enforcement is to identify criminal patterns from an offender’s electronic traces and to provide actionable intelligence. However, these traces are held by diverse police forces and are rarely connected. In 2011, to overcome this challenge, the Police National Database (PND) was launched to provide a national intelligence overview from local data. This study examines the database, using a mixed-methods approach. Descriptive and inferential analyses of PND usage data highlight that different forces use the PND, and its various capabilities, with different levels of frequency. Thematic analyses of interviews and focus groups with PND users identified: specific examples of PND use, as well as its perceived strengths, perceived deficiencies, and future considerations. Implications for policing practice are discussed

Cooperative actors in domestic abuse and their association with prosecution: implications for the criminal justice system

Suggestions to increase prosecution rates in domestic abuse cases often focus on improving victim cooperation and evidence gathering. This study explores the impact of persons involved in abuse investigations by modelling five variables (victim cooperation; witness cooperation; presence of children; suspect admission; and presence of physical evidence) across 540 cases of domestic abuse. The presence of physical evidence, as well as victim and witness cooperation, all increased the likelihood of a charge against the suspect. However, suspect confession often resulted in a police caution, meaning no successful charge. The implications of these findings to improve investigation and prosecution are discussed

Understanding how law enforcement agencies share information in an intelligence-led environment: How operational context influences different approaches

PurposeThe importance of multi-agency information sharing is recognised as central to tackling crime and disorder in an intelligence-driven environment. However, whilst technology can facilitate and enhance this process, barriers to effective agency information exchange are consistently reported. This paper aims to categorise how information sharing takes place in a law enforcement operational setting and whether there is scope to improve the process.Design/methodology/approachThere were two stages to the method; firstly, a select group of practitioners with intelligence-related experience (n = 28) were interviewed to identify the most common approaches to operational information sharing. This generated a categorisation model, which was tested with a larger group of practitioners (n = 73). A mixed-methods approach was adopted.FindingsThe research found consensus surrounding four different approaches to information sharing, labelled as: (1) inform and request, (2) meet and share, (3) customised database and (4) integrated systems. These are used at various levels of frequency, dependent on the operational context.Originality/valueThis research provides original evidence-based research to show law enforcement practitioners vary in the way they share information. By demystifying and categorising the process, it provides understanding for practitioners, policymakers and researchers, allowing barriers to be more readily tackled in a much more cost-effective manner

What Drives Variation in Habitat Use by Anolis Lizards: Habitat Availability or Selectivity?

Geographic variation in habitat availability may drive geographic variation in a species' habitat use; alternatively, species adapted to particular habitat characteristics may use a habitat regardless of its availability within an environment. In this study, we investigated habitat use of two sympatric species of Anolis lizards that are morphologically specialized to use different microhabitats. We examined variation in microhabitat use and availability among four distinct forest types. In each forest type, we quantified available microhabitats (i.e., perch diameter, angle of inclination, and visibility), as well as microhabitats actually used by each species. We found that species consistently differed in microhabitat use, corresponding to each species' morphological specializations. However, microhabitat use of both species varied among sites. This variation in Anolis gundlachi Peters, 1876 reflected differences in microhabitat availability, while the variation in Anolis krugi Peters, 1876 resulted from differential microhabitat selectivity. These results indicate that both habitat availability and habitat preferences must be examined in multiple localities for a species to understand the causes of variation in its habitat use.Organismic and Evolutionary Biolog

Transmitochondrial embryonic stem cells containing pathogenic mtDNA mutations are compromised in neuronal differentiation

Objectives:  Defects of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) cause a series of rare, mainly neurological disorders. In addition, they have been implicated in more common forms of movement disorders, dementia and the ageing process. In order to try to model neuronal dysfunction associated with mitochondrial disease, we have attempted to establish a series of transmitochondrial mouse embryonic stem cells harbouring pathogenic mtDNA mutations. Materials and methods: Transmitochondrial embryonic stem cell cybrids were generated by fusion of cytoplasts carrying a variety of mtDNA mutations, into embryonic stem cells that had been pretreated with rhodamine 6G, to prevent transmission of endogenous mtDNA. Cybrids were differentiated into neurons and assessed for efficiency of differentiation and electrophysiological function. Results:  Neuronal differentiation could occur, as indicated by expression of neuronal markers. Differentiation was impaired in embryonic stem cells carrying mtDNA mutations that caused severe biochemical deficiency. Electrophysiological tests showed evidence of synaptic activity in differentiated neurons carrying non-pathogenic mtDNA mutations or in those that caused a mild defect of respiratory activity. Again, however, neurons carrying mtDNA mutations that resulted in severe biochemical deficiency had marked reduction in post-synaptic events. Conclusions:  Differentiated neurons carrying severely pathogenic mtDNA defects can provide a useful model for understanding how such mutations can cause neuronal dysfunction

and at seminars held at the National Insti-tute of Economic and Social Research

Abstract This paper examines the effect of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the return paid to two different types of skill: general skills, acquired through schooling and work experience, and job-specific skills, acquired by experience in a particular job. Using the UK Labour Force Survey we estimate skill returns in different industries over the period 1994-2001. We evaluate the marginal effect on these returns of the ICT intensity of industry capital and find that the shift towards ICT capital has been associated with a rise in the return to general skills and a reduction in the return to job-specific experience. JEL Classification: J30; J31; O30

What does the UK Police National Database tell us about the future of police intelligence?

Developments in technology are transforming society, creating more opportunities for offenders and complicating the policing landscape. The challenge for law enforcement is to identify criminal patterns from an offender’s electronic traces and to provide actionable intelligence. However, these traces are held by diverse police forces and are rarely connected. In 2011, to overcome this challenge, the Police National Database (PND) was launched to provide a national intelligence overview from local data. This study examines the database, using a mixed-methods approach. Descriptive and inferential analyses of PND usage data highlight that different forces use the PND, and its various capabilities, with different levels of frequency. Thematic analyses of interviews and focus groups with PND users identified: specific examples of PND use, as well as its perceived strengths, perceived deficiencies, and future considerations. Implications for policing practice are discussed