Length-weight relationships for some important forage crustaceans from South Africa

The diet of marine animals is usually determined by stomach content analysis. Although partially digested prey fragments can often be identified to species level, it is difficult to estimate the original mass of the prey organism. This information, however, is essential for calculating both the total food intake as well as the relative contribution of each prey item. In this study we present regression equations that can be used to estimate the original mass of 18 common South African crustaceans from various indigestible fragments such as the carapace (length and width), chelae (length and width of left and right dactylus) and eye (length and width)

MS 073 Guide to the William C. Moloney MD papers; 1952-1954

William C. Moloney MD kept a personal journal, with photographs, for much of his two years in Japan with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. In January of 1986, Dr.Moloney donated his journal, correspondence and diary pages to the Harris County Medical Archive. He died in 1998 at the age of 91. His first contribution was a set of ten reprints representing his work with the ABCC from 1952 to 1954. Dr.Moloney\u27s journal is a fine document, one which will be of great use to historians. It is an important record of personal impressions, thoughts and details of events. The journal gives new insights into the work of the ABCC and into the people who participated in that work. Dr. Moloney wrote in his journal from April 1952 to February 1954. The Korean War was on and there was a great deal of military activity in southern Japan. The collection is open for research. The collection consists of a handwritten journal, loose calendar or notebook pages and some reprints. The journal is in generally fair condition. The paper is slightly acidic and the binding is loose. There are numerous photos glued onto the pages. The collection encompasses the years 1952-1954 and is 0.25 cubic feet (1 box)

On the generation and the nonlinear dynamics of X-waves of the Schroedinger equation

The generation of finite energy packets of X-waves is analysed in normally dispersive cubic media by using an X-wave expansion. The 3D nonlinear Schroedinger model is reduced to a 1D equation with anomalous dispersion. Pulse splitting and beam replenishment as observed in experiments with water and Kerr media are explained in terms of a higher order breathing soliton. The results presented also hold in periodic media and Bose-condensed gases.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, corrected version to be published in Physical Review

AN ECOSYSTEM FRAMEWORK FOR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTHERN BENGUELA UPWELLING SYSTEM

A “four-step framework” for applying ecosystem approaches to fisheries management in the southern Benguela is proposed. First, static ecosystem models can be used to highlight important interactions by assessing the net trophic impacts of each species on all the others. Second, using a dynamic simulation approach, indicators quantifying interaction strength and functional impacts can provide information on the size of impacts on ecosystem components when a group is overfished. Third, dynamic simulations can suggest some possible short- and long-term ecosystem effects of altered fishing under strategies developed and selected using standard single-species models. Finally, the net combined ecosystem effects of the revised strategies for all fisheries in the ecosystem need to be considered together. For this to be accomplished, overall objectives for regional fisheries management, objectives for each fishery, and non-consumptive objectives need to be clearly stated and carefully considered in the provision of advice in an ecosystem context. A selected theoretical fishing strategy is examined to explore the possible ecosystem effects of implementing an option such as this in the southern Benguela ecosystem.Afr. J. mar. Sci. 26: 63–7

Design of Farthest-Point Masks for Image Halftoning

In an earlier paper, we briefly presented a new halftoning algorithm called farthest-point halftoning. In the present paper, this method is analyzed in detail, and a novel dispersion measure is defined to improve the simplicity and flexibility of the result. This new stochastic screen algorithm is loosely based on Kang's dispersed-dot ordered dither halftone array construction technique used as part of his microcluster halftoning method. Our new halftoning algorithm uses pixelwise measures of dispersion based on one proposed by Kang which is here modified to be more effective. In addition, our method exploits the concept of farthest-point sampling (FPS), introduced as a progressive irregular sampling method by Eldar et al. but uses a more efficient implementation of FPS in the construction of the dot profiles. The technique we propose is compared to other state-of-the-art dither-based halftoning methods in both qualitative and quantitative manners

Service users as the key to service change? The development of an innovative intervention for excluded young people

Background. Excluded young people, especially those affected by street gangs, often have complex unmet needs and high levels of health and social inequalities. This paper outlines the development of Music & Change, an innovative and comprehensive intervention accessible to young people, which aimed to holistically meet the mental health and other needs of its participants and ultimately to reduce offending rates. Its central principle was co-production and partnership with its potential users. Method. The setting was an inner-city housing estate; the core group of participants was 15 young people aged 16-22. The intervention used contemporary music skills (e.g. DJing and lyric writing) and other co-produced project activities as a vehicle to build relationships with practitioners and address young people’s multiple needs. Data was gathered using a focused ethnography, largely from field notes, and analysed using thematic analysis in order to ascertain users’ perceptions of its delivery. Results. Young people identified six key principles of the intervention, such as the need for, consistent relationships with trusted staff, mental health support to be wrapped round other youth-led activities and local service delivery within their safe territories. Discussion. Music & Change was valued by young people who do not easily engage with professionals and services. The findings led to the development of the ‘Integrate’ model, which is using these co-produced principles to underpin several new pilot projects that aim to address the health and social inequalities of excluded young people

Using decision analysis to evaluate candidate OMPs for the South African west coast rock lobster fishery

Simulation models frequently are used to provide information to assist in decision-making in natural resource management. The sheer volume of information to process can be overwhelming, however, and there is a danger that some management objectives are not adequately considered, because of the difficulties of making decisions when there are multiple, conflicting objectives. Formal decision-analysis methods have been used in conservation biology to choose among simulation model results. This paper suggests that they can also be used in South African fisheries management, where simulation models are used extensively in developing operational management procedures

Divergent Sensory Phenotypes in Nonspecific Arm Pain: Comparisons With Cervical Radiculopathy

Objectives: To investigate whether distinct sensory phenotypes were identifiable in individuals with nonspecific arm pain (NSAP) and whether these differed from those in people with cervical radiculopathy. A secondary question considered whether the frequency of features of neuropathic pain, kinesiophobia, high pain ratings, hyperalgesia, and allodynia differed according to subgroups of sensory phenotypes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Higher education institution.Participants: Forty office workers with NSAP, 17 people with cervical radiculopathy, and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (N=97). Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Participants were assessed using quantitative sensory testing (QST) comprising thermal and vibration detection thresholds and thermal and pressure pain thresholds; clinical examination; and relevant questionnaires. Sensory phenotypes were identified for each individual in the patient groups using z-score transformation of the QST data. Results: Individuals with NSAP and cervical radiculopathy present with a spectrum of sensory abnormalities; a dominant sensory phenotype was not identifiable in individuals with NSAP. No distinct pattern between clinical features and questionnaire results across sensory phenotypes was identified in either group. Conclusions: When considering sensory phenotypes, neither individuals with NSAP nor individuals with cervical radiculopathy should be considered homogeneous. Therefore, people with either condition may warrant different intervention approaches according to their individual sensory phenotype. Issues relating to the clinical identification of sensory hypersensitivity and the validity of QST are highlighted