A new species of mudfish, Neochanna (Teleostei: Galaxidae), from northern New Zealand

A new species of mudfish, Neochanna, is described from Northland. Neochanna heleios n.sp. is known from only three ephemeral wetland sites on the Kerikeri volcanic plateau and is abundant only at the type locality. The new species has a head resembling that of the brown mudfish, Neochanna apoda, and a caudal region resembling that of the black mudfish, Neochanna diversus. It can be distinguished from all Neochanna species in having a reduced number of principal caudal fin rays (13 or less). Morphometric and meristic comparisons with N. apoda and N. diversus are provided

Optical Tomography for Media with Variable Index of Refraction

Optical tomography is the use of near-infrared light to determine the optical absorption and scattering properties of a medium M ⊂ Rn. If the refractive index is constant throughout the medium, the steady-state case is modeled by the stationary linear transport equation in terms of the Euclidean metric and photons which do not get absorbed or scatter travel along straight lines. In this expository article we consider the case of variable refractive index where the dynamics are modeled by writing the transport equation in terms of a Riemannian metric; in the absence of interaction, photons follow the geodesics of this metric. The data one has is the measurement of the out-going flux of photons leaving the body at the boundary. This may be knowledge of both the locations and directions of the exiting photons (fully angularly resolved measurements) or some kind of average over direction (angularly averaged measurements). We discuss the results known for both types of measurements in all spatial dimensions

Effective integration of 360 degree feedback into the coaching process

This practical paper is based on a skills session as delivered at the BPS Special Group in Coaching Psychology Conference held 2007 in London. The first part of our paper provides a review of the extant research evidence on 360 degree feedback at with focus on effects on individual development, making explicit links to the implications for coaching practice throughout. We conclude that 360 degree feedback is primarily effective when conceptualised and utilised as a finely grained means of instigating individual behaviour change and learning on job relevant attributes and facilitated by a skilled feedback giver. This provides a clear rationale for its use in coaching. We outline how an actual profile can be used as part of a coaching session, using the Saville Work Wave ® Performance 360 as an example

Making the most of psychometric profiles - effective integration into the coaching process

This practical paper is based on a skills session as delivered at the first International Coaching Psychology Conference held in 2006. It commences by discussing the use of psychometrics in general by emphasising the four psychometric principles as hallmarks of a good test; and outlining some of the advantages and potential limitations of psychometrics. In this paper a contemporary instrument, the Saville Consulting Wave® is introduced and its application is discussed in relation to coaching, with particular reference to a performance coaching context at work. It is concluded that no psychometric test is a panacea for each and every situation, but that skilful use greatly enhances the coaching process

New conception of the function of the general vasodilator reflexes

A survey of the literature regarding the vasodepressor and cardiodepressor reflexes is given. Evidence is put forward that the impulses which arise from the cardioaortic and carotid sinus regions control not only the normal vagus restraint of the heart but also the capacity of the circulation. Loss of these impulses not only causes cardiac acceleration but results in an increased return of venous blood to the heart. It is shown that conditions which are believed to be produced in exercise and which are known to reduce the vagus restraint of the heart at the same time reduce the effect of the carotid sinus impulses upon the vessels. The view is therefore put forward that an important function of the vasodepressor reflxes is to control the capacity of the circulation in order to provide a reserve of blood for use in physical exercise, just as is provided a cardiac reserve to deal with such blood maintained by similar reflex mechanisms. The possible clinical significance of the findings is indicated, and a bibliography of the literature referred to in the text is given

Matlab application for fitting progress curves to the Equilibrium Model

The general procedures for carrying out the necessary rate determinations required for accurate determination of the Equilibrium Model parameters, and fitting this data to the mathematical model to generate the parameters, are described in "Peterson, M.E., Daniel, R.M., Danson, M.J. & Eisenthal, R. (2007) The dependence of enzyme activity on temperature: determination and validation of parameters. Biochemical Journal, 402, 331-337". It should be borne in mind that the Equilibrium Model equation contains exponentials of exponentials – quite small deviations from ideal behaviour, or a failure to obtain true Vmax values, may lead to difficulty in obtaining reliable Equilibrium Model parameters

Implementation of the FAA research and development electromagnetic database

The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) has been assisting the FAA in developing a database of information about lightning. The FAA Research and Development Electromagnetic Database (FRED) will ultimately contain data from a variety of airborne and ground-based lightning research projects. An outline of the data currently available in FRED is presented. The data sources which the FAA intends to incorporate into FRED are listed. In addition, it describes how the researchers may access and use the FRED menu system

Stability of the Gauge Equivalent Classes in Inverse Stationary Transport in Refractive Media

In the inverse stationary transport problem through anisotropic attenuating, scattering, and refractive media, the albedo operator stably determines the gauge equivalent class of the attenuation and scattering coefficients