Diet and coexistence of Rattus rattus rattus (Linnaeus), Rattus exulans (Peale) and Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout) on Stewart Island, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology

Coexistence and diet of Rattus rattus rattus, Rattus exulans and, Rattus norvegicus on Stewart Island was investigated by snap-trapping and stomach analysis. The trapping period was from June 1982 to December 1986. Four habitats were trapped for three nights every three months. Morphometric and reproductive information was collected throughout the programme. Studies of food availability, involving two forms of invertebrate sampling and plant phenology recordings, were undertaken in the final year of trapping. Overall rat abundance was 4.0 rats/100 trap-nights which is comparable with other findings in mainland forests and on large offshore islands in New Zealand. R. norvegicus abundance was significantly lower than that of R. rattus and R. exulans. Species composition varied considerably between transects and a high degree of disassociation between R. exulans and R. norvegius was recorded. R. norvegics was restricted to areas very close to water. Seasonal variation in rat abundance was marked and was most affected by changes in R. ratrus and R. exulans numbers. Highest rat abundance was in winter of each year. Male R. exulans were heavier (x = 65.61) than females ( = 60.77) and the same was true for R. norvegicus (male = 201.40, female = 165.50). All rat species were smaller than those trapped previously from New Zealand. Few pregnant rats were trapped but seasonal breeding of R. rattus and R. exulans was suggested by annual increases in the proportions of juveniles in winter and spring. Invertebrates and vegetation were the main foods eaten. In terms of frequency of occurrence and mean percentage volume, invertebrates were most important for R. exulans and R. norvegicus. For R. rattus invertebrates were also the most commonly eaten food but vegetation provided greatest volume of diet. Of the three species, R. rattus had a more varied diet and R. exulans was most reliant on invertebrates. Orthoptera, Opiliones, Chilopoda and Coleoptera were the invertebrates most frequently eaten by R. rattus, whereas Orthoptera, Araneida, Chilopoda and Terricolae were the most common in the diet of R. exulans. Decapoda (freshwater crayfish) were the most frequent diet item of R. norvegicus, and Opiliones, Othoptera, and Araneida were also common. Fruits, especially Prumnopitys ferruginea, and unidentified seeds and rhizomes were the more common plant foods eaten. A greater importance of leaf material than has been previously recorded is suggested in the diet of R. rattus. Birds were rarely eaten by R. rattus and R. norvegicus and not at all by R. exulans. Two instances of R. norvegicus having eaten lizards were recorded. Diet overlap was considerable but significant species differences were found. Diet varied with season for each species and for R.rattus and R. norvegicus there was variation between transects. Coexistence in the various habitats is discussed

Between Philosophy and Art

Similarity and difference, patterns of variation, consistency and coherence: these are the reference points of the philosopher. Understanding experience, exploring ideas through particular instantiations, novel and innovative thinking: these are the reference points of the artist. However, at certain points in the proceedings of our Symposium titled, Next to Nothing: Art as Performance, this characterisation of philosopher and artist respectively might have been construed the other way around. The commentator/philosophers referenced their philosophical interests through the particular examples/instantiations created by the artist and in virtue of which they were then able to engage with novel and innovative thinking. From the artists’ presentations, on the other hand, emerged a series of contrasts within which philosophical and artistic ideas resonated. This interface of philosopher-artist bore witness to the fact that just as art approaches philosophy in providing its own analysis, philosophy approaches art in being a co-creator of art’s meaning. In what follows, we discuss the conception of philosophy-art that emerged from the Symposium, and the methodological minimalism which we employed in order to achieve it. We conclude by drawing out an implication of the Symposium’s achievement which is that a counterpoint to Institutional theories of art may well be the point from which future directions will take hold, if philosophy-art gains traction

Caracterização parcial do elemento CCR em Staphylococcus aureus resistentes à meticilina isolados no sul do Brasil

Os Staphylococcus aureus resistentes à meticilina (MRSA) encontram-se entre os principais agentes de infecção hospitalar, para os quais há grande dificuldade em se obter antimicrobianos para o seu controle. A resistência à meticilina é codificada pelo gene mecA, que está localizado em um elemento genético móvel denominado “staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec” (SCCmec). O SCCmec também possui o complexo gênico ccr (ccrA e ccrB ou ccrC) e a região J, que contém genes que conferem resistência a drogas não beta-lactâmicas. São conhecidos cinco tipos de SCCmec, os tipos I, II e III predominantes em infecções nosocomiais, enquanto os tipos IV e V são, mais comumente, associados a infecções adquiridas na comunidade. Neste contexto, este estudo se propôs a realizar a caracterização fenotípica e genotípica da resistência à meticilina de isolados de S. aureus e fenotípica da resistência à vancomicina, bem como a determinação dos subtipos de ccr associados. Para tanto, foram avaliadas 40 amostras de S. aureus obtidas no Serviço de Microbiologia do Laboratório de Análises Clínicas (LABIMED/Hospital de Caridade Astrogildo de Azevedo – Santa Maria/RS).A concentração inibitória mínima às drogas oxacilina e vancomicina foi determinada pelo método de diluição em agar. A detecção de mecA e dos alótipos de ccr foi realizada através da reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). Todos os isolados testados foram considerados resistentes à oxacilina. Nenhum dos isolados foi classificado como resistente à vancomicina; no entanto, 25% (10/40) dos isolados apresentaram resistência intermediária à vancomicina. O gene mecA foi detectado em todos os isolados. O ccrAB1 foi detectado em nove isolados (22,5%) e o ccrAB3 em 23 (57,5%). Oito isolados foram caracterizados como não ccrAB1 e não ccrAB3. A proporção de alótipos ccrAB3, associado a SCCmec tipo III, sugere que o clone epidêmico brasileiro (BEC) também possa estar presente nos hospitais do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). Considerando que a caracterização do ccr nunca havia sido relatada a partir de isolados desta região do Brasil, este trabalho pode contribuir para o estudo da dinâmica do MRSA na América do Sul.Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are important agents of nosocomial infection, to which considerable difficulty has been faced in order to obtain efficient antimicrobials. Methicillin resistance is codified by the gene mecA, which is located in a mobile genetic element named staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). SCCmec also contains the ccr gene complex (ccrA and ccrB or ccrC), and the region J, which contains the genes responsible by the resistance against non beta-lactamic drugs. Five types of SCCmec have been described, being types I, II, and III the most common in nosocomial infections, while types IV and V are, usually, associated to community-acquired infections. In this sense, this study had the aim to characterize phenotypically and genotypically the methicillin resistance and phenotypically the vancomycin resistance of S. aureus isolates, as well as the associated ccr subtypes. Forty isolates from the “Serviço de Microbiologia do Laboratório de Análises Clínicas (LABIMED/Hospital de Caridade Astrogildo de Azevedo – Santa Maria/RS)” were evaluated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations to oxacillin and vancomycin were determined by agar dilution method. The detection of mecA and the ccr alotypes were performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All isolates tested were considered resistant to oxacillin. No isolate were considered resistant to vancomycin, but 25% (10/40) presented intermediary resistance to vancomycin. The gene mecA was detected in all isolates. ccrAB1 was detected in nine isolates (22. 5%) and ccrAB3 in 23 (57. 5%). Eight isolates were characterized as non-ccrAB1 and non-ccrAB3. The proportion of ccrAB3, which is associated to SCCmec type III, suggests that the Brazilian epidemic clone (BEC) may also be present in the hospitals of Rio Grande do Sul State (Brazil).Considering that no ccr characterization was reported with in S. aureus isolates from this region of Brazil, this study may significantly contribute to the understanding of the MRSA dynamics in South America

Aquaculture and marketing of the Florida Bay Scallop in Crystal River, Florida

The overall goal of this study was to develop a new fishery resource product through open-water aquaculture for the west coast of Florida that would compete as a non-traditional product through market development. Specific objectives were as follows: I. To grow a minimum of 50, 000 juvenile scallops to a minimum market size of40 mm in a cage and float system in the off-shore waters of Crystal River, Florida. 2. To determine the growth rate, survival, and time to market size for the individuals in this system and area to other similar projects like Virginia. 3. To introduce local fishermen and the aquaculture students at Crystal River High School to the hatchery, nursery, and grow-out techniques. 4. To determine the economic and financial characteristics of bay scallop culture in Florida and assess the sensitivity of projected costs and earnings to changes in key technical, managerial, and market related parameters. 5. To determine the market acceptability and necessary marketing strategy for whole bay scallop product in Florida. (PDF has 99 pages.

Economic impact of the Florida cultured hard clam industry

(29pp.

Enhancing Seed Availability For the Hard Clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) Aquaculture Industry By Applying Remote Setting Techniques

The goal of this study was to test a technology that may help ensure a reliable and consistent supply of high quality and inexpensive clam seed to growers, thus fostering an emerging aquaculture industry by eliminating a seed shortage that limits sustainability. The overall objectives were to develop, test and demonstrate technical procedures and determine the financial feasibility of transferring remote setting technology from the Pacific Northwest molluscan shellfish industry to the hard clam aquaculture industry in Florida. (PDF has 44 pages.

Systems, methods, and products for graphically illustrating and controlling a droplet actuator

Systems for controlling a droplet microactuator are provided. According to one embodiment, a system is provided and includes a controller, a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to the controller, and a display device displaying a user interface electronically coupled to the controller, wherein the system is programmed and configured to permit a user to effect a droplet manipulation by interacting with the user interface. According to another embodiment, a system is provided and includes a processor, a display device electronically coupled to the processor, and software loaded and/or stored in a storage device electronically coupled to the controller, a memory device electronically coupled to the controller, and/or the controller and programmed to display an interactive map of a droplet microactuator. According to yet another embodiment, a system is provided and includes a controller, a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to the controller, a display device displaying a user interface electronically coupled to the controller, and software for executing a protocol loaded and/or stored in a storage device electronically coupled to the controller, a memory device electronically coupled to the controller, and/or the controller

Pan-European crop modelling with EPIC: Implementation, up-scaling and regional crop yield validation

Justifiable usage of large-scale crop model simulations requires transparent, comprehensive and spatially extensive evaluations of their performance and associated accuracy. Simulated crop yields of a Pan-European implementation of the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) crop model were satisfactorily evaluated with reported regional yield data from EUROSTAT for four major crops, including winter wheat, rainfed and irrigated maize, spring barley and winter rye. European-wide land use, elevation, soil and daily meteorological gridded data were integrated in GIS and coupled with EPIC. Default EPIC crop and biophysical process parameter values were used with some minor adjustments according to suggestion from scientific literature. The model performance was improved by spatial calculations of crop sowing densities, potential heat units, operation schedules, and nutrient application rates. EPIC performed reasonable in the simulation of regional crop yields, with long-term averages predicted better than inter-annual variability: linear regression R2 ranged from 0.58 (maize) to 0.91 (spring barley) and relative estimation errors were between +-30% for most of the European regions. The modelled and reported crop yields demonstrated similar responses to driving meteorological variables. However, EPIC performed better in dry compared to wet years. A yield sensitivity analysis of crop nutrient and irrigation management factors and cultivar specific characteristics for contrasting regions in Europe revealed a range in model response and attainable yields. We also show that modelled crop yield is strongly dependent on the chosen PET method. The simulated crop yield variability was lower compared to reported crop yields. This assessment should contribute to the availability of harmonised and transparently evaluated agricultural modelling tools in the EU as well as the establishment of modelling benchmark as a requirement for sound and ongoing policy evaluations in the agricultural and environmental domains