Comparison of injuries to New Zealand rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) caused by hand versus snare collection

Following the prohibition in New Zealand of lobster snares in late 2005, we undertook research to compare the frequency and extent of injuries to rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) (Hutton) caused by recreational SCUBA divers using lobster snares compared with hand collection. Rock lobsters were sampled between January 2006 and October 2006 from multiple dive sites around the North Island of New Zealand. Of the 124 rock lobsters caught, 20.9% were in a soft shell state. Female rock lobsters constituted 43.5% of the catch, but only one was carrying eggs. Female mean tail width was 72.2 mm; male mean tail width was 71.9 mm. We found that hand collection caused significantly more injuries than snare collection, to both soft shell and hard shell animals. Hand collection also resulted in more major injuries, with 18% of hard shell animals and 31% of soft shell animals losing two or more limbs. We recommend that the prohibition on the use of rock lobster snares be lifted, as their use appears to significantly reduce injury and stress to rock lobsters in recreational dive areas, and increase the survival of undersized individuals released after capture

Computer-assisted detection of lung cancer nudules in medical chest X-rays

Diagnostic medicine was revolutionized in 1895 with Rontgen's discovery of x-rays. X-ray photography has played a very prominent role in diagnostics of all kinds since then and continues to do so. It is true that more sophisticated and successful medical imaging systems are available. These include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Tomography (CT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). However, the hardware instalment and operation costs of these systems remain considerably higher than x-ray systems. Conventional x-ray photography also has the advantage of producing an image in significantly less time than MRI, CT and PET. X-ray photography is still used extensively, especially in third world countries. The routine diagnostic tool for chest complaints is the x-ray. Lung cancer may be diagnosed by the identification of a lung cancer nodule in a chest x-ray. The cure of lung cancer depends upon detection and diagnosis at an early stage. Presently the five-year survival rate of lung cancer patients is approximately 10%. If lung cancer can be detected when the tumour is still small and localized, the five-year survival rate increases to about 40%. However, currently only 20% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at this early stage. Giger et al wrote that "detection and diagnosis of cancerous lung nodules in chest radiographs are among the most important and difficult tasks performed by radiologists"

Abundance and Function of Multiple Haemoglobin Isomorphs from Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Haemoglobins perform the vital physiological function of transporting oxygen from the external environment to the tissues. Poikilothermic rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss = Salmo gairdneri = S. irideus) produce multiple forms of haemoglobin that respond differently to varying environmental and physiological conditions. However, the timescale and physiology of these changes are not known. Changes in isomorph abundance may potentially originate from the production of new isomorphs in already circulating erythrocytes. Alternatively, new isomorphs may be produced through the reassembly of extant haemoglobin subunits. The final hypothesis is that changes in isomorph abundance occur through the production of new erythrocytes with red blood cells ‘pre-programmed’ to produce a particular set of haemoglobins. Changes originating from production of new erythrocytes would require longer periods of time before being detectable; weeks to months depending on the temperature regime. To test this, paired groups of rainbow trout were subjected to either 10ºC or 20ºC for 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. A total of 14 isomorphs were observed after the haemolysate was separated using cellulose acetate electrophoresis. However, no detectable differences in isomorph abundance were found between treatment groups. In a follow-up experiment, anaemia was induced in rainbow trout to stimulate the production of new erythrocytes. The trout were then held at either 10ºC or 20ºC for 21 days. This resulted in relative increases in the abundance of anodal haemoglobin isomorphs in the 20ºC acclimated group and a corresponding decrease in cathodal haemoglobin isomorphs. To further confirm that changes in abundance were occurring through the production of new erythrocytes, separation of erythrocytes into age classes was undertaken to compare the isomorphs present in mature erythrocytes with those from erythrocytes produced under amended temperature regimes. Using Percoll density gradients, red blood cells from anaemia-induced trout acclimated to either 10ºC or 20ºC were enriched into mature and young erythrocyte fractions. Further significant differences in abundance were found between both anodal and cathodal isomorphs when compared between treatment groups. From these results it was concluded that changes in haemoglobin isomorph abundance originated from the production of new erythrocytes. Cellulose acetate gel electrophoresis was carried out on seven haemoglobin fractions that had undergone prior separation from whole haemolysate by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography. Each haemoglobin fraction was found to be composed of two isomorphs for a total of 14 haemoglobin isomorphs. The oxygen binding properties of each fraction was examined under varying conditions of temperature, pH, ATP and chloride concentrations. Cathodal functional groups HbI to HbIII were found to be insensitive to temperature, pH, chloride and the organic phosphate ATP. In contrast, the anodal fractions (HbIV to HbVII) all responded to pH and temperature changes, while HbVI and HbVII responded to ATP. However, no fraction responded to increased chloride concentrations. These results suggest that different varieties of rainbow trout may produce different forms of haemoglobin as part of an adaptive response to local environmental conditions, leading to variation in the functional properties of some of the less abundant functional groups such as HbIII. Despite the theory that cathodal haemoglobins function as emergency back-up supplies of oxygen being proposed more than thirty years ago, no published information can be found for it being tested in the laboratory. Two groups of anaemia-induced rainbow trout were placed in a divided annular flume for 24 days. The high activity group was subjected to a forced swimming speed of 2.5 body lengths (B.L.) s-1 for 6 h d-1. When not undergoing forced exercise the treatment group were maintained at the same speed as the low activity group of 0.5 B.L. s-1. Significant differences in haemoglobin isomorph abundance were present between the initial samples taken at the time of anaemia induction and high and low activity groups. However, only the C4 isomorph demonstrated a significant difference between high and low activity groups. When total anodal and cathodal isomorphs were compared between initial state, high activity and low activity groups, no differences were present. These data suggest that the induction of anaemia had an effect on the composition of the isomorphs but no physiological effect on oxygen delivery. In addition, the swimming velocity of 2.5 B.L. s-1 employed for the high activity group may have been an insufficient stimulus to induce changes in isomorph abundance. It is concluded that changes in haemoglobin isomorph abundance occur in response to chronic changes in the environment. Increases in the abundance of anodal isoforms in response to increasing temperature allows for increased delivery of oxygen to tissues undergoing increases in metabolic activity associated with higher temperatures. The multiple haemoglobin isomorphs of rainbow trout provide an increased efficiency in delivery of oxygen to tissues under varying metabolic conditions of pH, temperature and oxygen saturation. The cathodal and anodal haemoglobin functional groups of rainbow trout exhibit different oxygen affinities in response to temperature, pH and ATP concentration but not to physiologically realistic chloride concentrations. The oxygen binding properties of the isomorphs within the cathodal and anodal functional groups are broadly similar. However, differences in responses by the anodal functional groups to NTPs may exist. An examination of the hypothesis that cathodal haemoglobins act as reserve oxygen delivery sources under prolonged activity produced no significant results. However, this hypothesis still remains viable and needs to be tested under different experimental conditions. This work provides a basis for further research into the adaptive abilities of rainbow trout. The selection of rainbow trout which better adapt to wide ranges of environmental conditions would allow for targeted introduction by fisheries managers to aquatic systems previously not considered optimal for trout growth thereby expanding the fishery

Mobile bullying in South Africa – exploring its nature, influencing factors and implications

Mobile bullying is a form of electronic bullying that is relatively new. It involves the use of mobile technology applications such as email, chat rooms, instant messaging and small text messages. This form of bullying often goes unnoticed. Victims, institutions and parents are unaware of how to deal with it and there is limited knowledge about its legal and social implications. Due to an increase in mobile web adoption as well as active mobile users in South Africa, mobile bullying is escalating and has become a major concern in schools and communities. There is limited empirical research examining this type of aggression in schools. We lack knowledge of the nature and prevalence in schools and there are no effective models to predict or measure the level of this aggression. The present study aims to bridge this gap by examining the nature, prevalence and implications of this form of aggression in various South African high schools. The study will also identify the significant factors influencing this aggression and aims to create awareness of the problem

Age composition, growth, and reproduction of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in the lower Waikato, New Zealand

A total of 566 koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) from the lower Waikato region were aged from scales and opercular bones, and growth was modelled with the von Bertalanffy growth function. There was no difference in growth rate between male and female carp. Growth of koi carp between zero and 3 years of age was lower than that of common carp in Europe and Australia. However, after 5 years of age the growth of koi carp was higher than that of common carp in Europe, but still below that of carp in Australia. Males rarely lived in excess of 8 years, whereas females lived to 12 years. Mean total fecundity calculated from 44 running-ripe females was 299 000 oocytes (±195 600 SD) (range 29 800–771 000). Relative fecundity ranged from 19 300 to 216 000 oocytes kg–1 total body weight, with a mean of 97 200 (±35 000 SD) oocytes kg–1. Feral koi carp in the Waikato are capable of multiple spawnings within their lifetimes. Within a spawning season, Waikato populations of feral koi carp contained females that spawned once, and females that had the potential to have spawned repeatedly. Female gonadosomatic index (GSI) varied with season and was negatively related to water temperature

Mobile bullying in South Africa – exploring its nature, influencing factors and implications

Mobile bullying is a form of electronic bullying that is relatively new. It involves the use of mobile technology applications such as email, chat rooms, instant messaging and small text messages. This form of bullying often goes unnoticed. Victims, institutions and parents are unaware of how to deal with it and there is limited knowledge about its legal and social implications. Due to an increase in mobile web adoption as well as active mobile users in South Africa, mobile bullying is escalating and has become a major concern in schools and communities. There is limited empirical research examining this type of aggression in schools. We lack knowledge of the nature and prevalence in schools and there are no effective models to predict or measure the level of this aggression. The present study aims to bridge this gap by examining the nature, prevalence and implications of this form of aggression in various South African high schools. The study will also identify the significant factors influencing this aggression and aims to create awareness of the problem

Constructive Murder and the Charter: In Search of Principle

This article explores the principle of constructive murder and how it interacts with the sentencing and the parties sections of the Criminal Code. The authors re-examine these issues in light of the Charter. They conclude that constructive murder has no place in a post-Charter Canada

Sustainability : a cross-cultural comparison of attitudes and behaviours

This study examines the relationship of cultural background to sustainability-relevant attitudes\ud and behaviours. MANOVA results indicated that East and West are converging on materialism,\ud and that there are no cross-cultural differences in behaviours relating to the conservation of\ud natural resources. However, South East Asians appear to be more inclined to minimise\ud consumption than are Westerners. The results suggest that cross-cultural differences should be\ud taken into account in promoting pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours around the world.\ud Presented as Paper No 62 at conference at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, held between 14-17 Jul. 200

\u27Texas Maroon’ Bluebonnet

The Texas state flower, the bluebonnet, encompasses all six of the Lupinus species native to Texas. The most widespread and popular bluebonnet, Lupinus texensis Hook., is a winter annual that produces violet-blue [violet-blue group 96A, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), 1982] racemes in early to midspring and is predominately self-pollinating. The Texas Dept. of Transportation uses this species widely for floral displays along roadsides throughout much of the state (Andrews, 1986). Rare white and even rarer pink variants exist in native populations, and a breeding project was initiated in 1985 to develop bluebonnets with novel flower colors for use as bedding plants. ‘Abbott Pink’ was the first seed-propagated cultivar to be developed from this program (Parsons and Davis, 1993). The second cultivar, ‘Barbara Bush’ with novel lavender shade flowers, was developed more recently (Parsons et al., 1994). As with the cultivars previously developed, we used recurrent phenotypic selection to develop ‘Texas Maroon’. This cultivar is intended for use as a bedding plant for maroon flower color