A Synthesis of Tagging Studies Examining the Behaviour and Survival of Anadromous Salmonids in Marine Environments

This paper synthesizes tagging studies to highlight the current state of knowledge concerning the behaviour and survival of anadromous salmonids in the marine environment. Scientific literature was reviewed to quantify the number and type of studies that have investigated behaviour and survival of anadromous forms of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), brown trout (Salmo trutta), steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii). We examined three categories of tags including electronic (e.g. acoustic, radio, archival), passive (e.g. external marks, Carlin, coded wire, passive integrated transponder [PIT]), and biological (e.g. otolith, genetic, scale, parasites). Based on 207 papers, survival rates and behaviour in marine environments were found to be extremely variable spatially and temporally, with some of the most influential factors being temperature, population, physiological state, and fish size. Salmonids at all life stages were consistently found to swim at an average speed of approximately one body length per second, which likely corresponds with the speed at which transport costs are minimal. We found that there is relatively little research conducted on open-ocean migrating salmonids, and some species (e.g. masu [O. masou] and amago [O. rhodurus]) are underrepresented in the literature. The most common forms of tagging used across life stages were various forms of external tags, coded wire tags, and acoustic tags, however, the majority of studies did not measure tagging/handling effects on the fish, tag loss/failure, or tag detection probabilities when estimating survival. Through the interdisciplinary application of existing and novel technologies, future research examining the behaviour and survival of anadromous salmonids could incorporate important drivers such as oceanography, tagging/handling effects, predation, and physiology

Solid state NMR investigation of protein-based biomaterials. Resilin : an extremely efficient elastomeric protein

Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance experiments were performed in order to investigate the microscopic properties of three resilin/resilin-like proteins: An16, rec1-resilin, and natural resilin in dragonfly tendons. Three different types of experiments were performed: measurements of chemical shifts in carbon-13 spectra, measurements of residual quadrupole couplings in deuterated water absorbed in the samples, and measurements of proton residual dipole couplings based on the buildup of multiple quantum coherences. The results suggest that the molecular chains in the materials tested are primarily randomly coiled and lacking in regular structure, and are able to easily change between many transient conformations. These conformations can vary significantly in terms of their structural characteristics, resulting in a broad distribution of localized dynamics. When stretched, An16 showed a slightly increased tendency to adopt beta-sheet secondary structure. The natural resilin also exhibited slightly more rigid structure than the other materials, which may be related to greater efficiency in the natural crosslinking process.Science, Faculty ofPhysics and Astronomy, Department ofGraduat

The influence of technique and physical capacity on ball release speed in cricket fast-bowling.

This study examined the relationships between physical capacity, bowling technique and ball speed in 20 fast-bowlers. Technique factors correlated with ball speed were; bowling action duration (r = -0.639, p = 0.002), run-up velocity (r = 0.616, p = 0.004), back foot contact (BFC) time (r = -0.608, p = 0.004), front foot contact (FFC)-ball release (BR) duration (r = -0.602, p = 0.005), delivery stride phase acceleration (r = -0.582, p = 0.007), delivery stride duration (r = -0.547, p = 0.012), time of peak horizontal braking force (r = -0.538, p=0.014), peak pelvis COM velocity (BFC-BR) (r = 0.469, p = 0.037) and peak vertical GRF time (r = -0.461, p = 0.041). Physical capacities were; 10-30 m split (r = -0.554, p = 0.011), 30 m sprint (r = -0.482, p = 0.031) and IMTP (r = 0.471, p = 0.036). Stepwise regression showed bowling action duration and 10-30 m split explained 54% (p = 0.001) of ball speed variation. Ball speed was associated with faster run-ups, shorter BFC times and abrupt FFC GRF application. Coaches should also consider sprint speed and lower-body strength as important modifiable factors for fast-bowlers

Comparison of the clinical effectiveness of different off-loading devices for the treatment of neuropathic foot ulcers in patients with diabetes : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Effective off-loading is considered to be an important part of the successful clinical management of diabetic foot ulcers. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the safety and effectiveness of different off-loading devices for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The medical literature was extensively searched from January 1966 to May 2012. Systematic reviews and controlled studies that compared the use of different off-loading devices formed the evidence base. Studies were critically appraised to determine their risk of methodological bias, and data were extracted. Results were pooled using random effects meta-analysis and tested for heterogeneity. When compared with removable devices, non-removable off-loading devices were found, on average, to be more effective at promoting the healing of diabetic foot ulcers (RRp = 1.43; 95% CI 1.11, 1.84; I2 = 66.9%; p = 0.001; k = 10). Analysis, stratified by type of removable device, did not detect a statistically significant difference between non-removable off-loading devices and removable cast walkers; however, on average non-removable off-loading devices performed better than therapeutic shoes at promoting the healing of diabetic foot ulcers (RRp = 1.68; 95% CI 1.09, 2.58; I2 = 71.5%; p = 0.004; k = 6). The two types of non-removable off-loading devices i.e. total contact casts and instant total contact casts (removable cast walker rendered irremovable by securing with bandage or lace), were found to be equally effective (RRp = 1.06; 95% CI 0.88, 1.27; I2 = 3.3%; p = 0.31; k = 2). In conclusion, non-removable off-loading devices regardless of type, are more likely to result in ulcer healing than removable off-loading devices, presumably because patient compliance with off-loading is facilitated.