Habitat requirements of black mudfish (Neochanna diversus) in the Waikato region, North Island, New Zealand.

Black mudfish (Neochanna diversus) were found at 39 of 80 sites in the Waikato region, New Zealand, ranging from large wetlands to small swampy streams. Of the sites with mudfish, 87% were dry at some time during summer. Sites with mudfish also generally had emergent and overhanging vegetation and tree roots, and showed low to moderate human impact. Black mudfish coexisted at some sites with juvenile eels or mosquitofish, but were absent from all sites with common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) or inanga (Galaxias maculatus). Sites with mudfish had almost exclusively semi-mineralised substrates or peat; only one site had mineralised substrate. Geometric mean catch rate for the 39 sites with mudfish was 0.70 fish per trap per night. Mean summer water depth was only 2.1 cm at sites with mudfish, compared to 22.6 cm at 41 sites without. Winter and maximum water depths were also less at sites with mudfish than at sites without mudfish. Mean turbidity was 11.5 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) at sites with mudfish, but 21.3 NTU at sites without mudfish. Mudfish catch rates were negatively correlated with summer water depth, winter water depth, disturbance scale rating, and turbidity. A discriminant function model based on these variables successfully predicted 95% of the sites with mudfish. Habitat preference curves are also presented

En quoi la pratique théâtrale est-elle cruciale dans le cadre de l'enseignement d'une langue étrangère ?

Communiquer est un processus interactif complexe qui engage tout le corps. L'apprentissage d'une langue étrangère ne peut donc pas se faire assis derrière un bureau car la langue a besoin d'être incarnée pour que les élèves puissent pleinement se l'approprier et ainsi accéder au sens. La pratique théâtrale offre cette possibilité unique de mettre le corps et les émotions au centre des apprentissages et de vivre la langue grâce à la mise en place de situations de situation de communication authentique. Utilisée par des enseignants anglais et français pour enseigner des langues étrangères, elle n'est pourtant pas envisagée de la même façon ce qui est révélateur d'une conception de l'enseignement propre à une culture éducative donnée

Visions of Weakness: Apocalyptic Genre and the Identification of Paul\u27s Opponents in 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

Barrier, Jeremy (2005) Visions of Weakness: Apocalyptic Genre and the Identification of Paul\u27s Opponents in 2 Corinthians 12:1-6, Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 47 : No. 1. This repository hosts selected Restoration Quarterly articles in downloadable PDF format. For the benefit of users who would like to browse the contents of RQ, we have included all issue covers even when full-text articles from that issue are unavailable. All Restoration Quarterly articles are available in full text in the ATLA Religion Database, available through most university and theological libraries or through your local library’s inter-library loan service

Physical and chemical properties of sporopollenin exine particles

The chemical structure of sporopollenin was extensively reviewed, along with some considerations pertaining to its physical and biological properties. A comparative study is presented of extraction protocols to isolate exines from L. clavatum, in particular, but with extension to spores from other species, namely, Lycopodium spec., Ambrosia trifida, Aspergillus niger and Chlorella vulgaris. Physical aspects of the materials extracted were studied, including size (highlighting large and small types of commercial “Lycopodium”), wall thickness, mechanical resistance and density.Encapsulation of a wide variety of compounds in sporopollenin microcapsules was investigated using passive, vacuum, compression and centrifugation methods. Diverse products, with molecular weights ranging from less than 1kDa to 464kDa, were successfully encapsulated in exines, including both polar (e.g. dyes, proteins, carbohydrates and oligonucleotides) and non-polar products (e.g. oils and waxes). It was shown that a protein, alkaline phosphatase, does not lose its initial activity after it has been encapsulated in exines and subsequently released.Sporopollenin was found to grant oils protection against photooxidation triggered by UV light and the extinction coefficient of sporopollenin was determined (20,000-40,000m¯¹). Protective abilities offered by exines to oils against aerial oxidation, and refining effects of sporopollenin on rancid fats, were studied, completed by a preliminary investigation of sporopollenin’s redox characteristics. A flavour test on 20 volunteers showed that exines mask the taste of encapsulated cod liver oil up to a 1/1 (w/w) loading level.Sporopollenin was also used in solid-phase organic synthesis. It was established that the reaction of ammonia, primary aliphatic amines and aniline with sporopollenin formed an amide bond on a carboxylic group of the sporopollenin. A short diamine was attached to sporopollenin in order to construct a spacer arm by further reaction between the free amino end and succinic anhydride. Sporopollenin was derivatised with bromine and chlorine by addition to the unsaturated functional groups, substitution of the hydroxyl groups and chloromethylation of the aromatic rings. The attached halogen atoms were then successfully substituted by azide and thiols. The thiol availability to nucleophilic substitution and formation of disulphide bridges was assessed

Microstructure of epitaxial strained BiCrO3 thin films

The structure and microstrucutre of fully-strained BiCrO3 thin films have been investigated by X-rays diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, at room temperature. Interestingly, three structural variants are simultaneously stabilized within the film. While txo of them are consistent with the existing phases in the bulk-below and above the 420 K structural transition, a different phase is identified. The existence of various structures has been attributed to the inhomogeneous distribution of local strains and oxygens resulting from a minimization of the strain-energy at the interface. These findings will open the route to a better understanding of Bi-based perovskites and metastable phases.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Applied Physics Letter

Improving Maternal Outcomes through Quantifying Blood Loss in Cesarean Sections

Abstract Problem: Postpartum hemorrhage is a preventable, leading cause of maternal death in the United States and is a direct result of a delay in diagnosis, intervention, and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage. Inaccurate measurement of blood loss from the use of estimation instead of quantitative techniques leads to a failure to recognize and respond appropriately. While there are risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage, all pregnant women are at risk. Methods: This Quality Improvement (QI) project used a descriptive cohort study design, utilizing a retrospective chart review, to evaluate the quantification of blood loss during cesarean sections on maternal outcomes. Data was collected six months prior to the implementation of quantification of blood loss (QBL) and six months after the implementation of QBL. Results: A total of 2,269 patients’ charts were reviewed with 466 patients found to have had a postpartum hemorrhage and met inclusion criteria. There were 179 EBL participants and 287 QBL participants whose charts were reviewed for rate of mild, moderate, or severe PPH, uterotonic administration, blood product transfusion, surgical intervention, and ICU admission. The overall PPH rate was 15.2% in the EBL group and 27% in the QBL group. Severe PPH rate did decrease from 26.8% to 21% with the implementation of QBL even though it was not a statistically significant finding (p=.180). However, a decrease in the rate of severe PPH is clinically significant. Surgical intervention decreased from 6.1% to 5.2% (p=.421) with the implementation of QBL; while this is not statistically significant, it is clinically significant. Uterotonic use (p=.441), blood product administration (p=.399), and ICU admissions (p=.503) did now show statistically significant improvement in maternal outcomes. Implications: The implementation of quantification of blood loss did not improve maternal outcomes but the advantage of accurate measurement of blood loss is a crucial step for healthcare providers to provide timely and appropriate interventions for their patients. The decrease in the rate of severe PPH along with the decrease in the rate of surgical intervention show the implementation of QBL is making a difference. QBL is not only beneficial in cesarean sections, but also for all births, and improving the outcomes to postpartum women across the United States. Repeating this project at a hospital with different demographics and socioeconomic levels could yield different data results and show improvement in maternal outcomes with the implementation of QBL