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A fair and inclusive competition depends on a scoring system that takes all relevant factors into account. We analysed the current World Para Point System for swimming and identified several theoretical and practical disadvantages. We propose and test a Fair World Para Point System that not only improves the algorithm, but also extends it to accommodate for the age of the athlete. It also provides a method to break point ties. This will enable para masters swimmers for the first time to compete fairly with each other. We also develop and publish tools that enable event organisers to directly use the Fair World Para Point System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neopterin and 7,8-dihydroneopterin are used as biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, but the effect of kidney function on these measurements has not been extensively explored. We examine the levels of oxidative stress, inflammation and kidney function in intensive patients and compare them to equivalent patients without sepsis.

Trace elements (TEs) can reduce both the quantity and quality of agricultural produce when essential trace elements are deficient or when any trace element accumulates beyond threshold concentrations in soil. Therefore, TEs in agricultural systems should be managed to ensure that soil concentrations are kept within guideline levels and do not affect production. Oil palm agriculture in Indonesia occurs on weathered, acidic soils that require substantial fertilizer inputs to maintain production. To understand whether TE accumulation in soils resulting from fertilizer and pesticide use may affect production in the future, we have developed a mass-balance model to calculate likely concentrations of TEs in soils after given time periods under production conditions. Our model was developed to simulate processes which occur in the soil-plant system and involve the transport of TEs. It was developed to be rationally convenient, that is, parsimonious, working at environmentally relevant concentrations and able to be applied at the hectare scale to large agricultural systems. The model uses the mass-balance equation ... and uses the critical parameters of rainfall, evaporation, erosion, soil adsorption coefficient, initial plant and soil contaminant concentrations, as well as soil-and-crop specific parameters. We validated our model using a data set from a 64-year fertilizer trial, which had known inputs and application rates of fluorine (F), cadmium (Cd) and uranium (U). We applied the validated model to a smallholder oil palm plantation in Indonesia, modelling accumulation of copper (Cu), F, Cd and U under recommended production conditions, to determine which TEs might limit production and the likely timeframes for this. Our results indicate that topsoil concentrations of Cu and F were likely to reach phytotoxic concentrations in soils (289 and 719 mg kg-1, respectively), within 50 years under these conditions. The future feasibility of intensive oil palm production on weathered, low fertility soils such as those in Indonesia should be assessed to avoid long-term negative impacts on soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debris flows are hazardous yet often unrecognised and poorly understood by the public and natural hazards community. Some catchments generate debris flows with average recurrence intervals (ARIs) <10 years, but most debris flow catchments have ARIs ranging from decades to millennia. Consequently, many debris flow catchments pose an underappreciated hazard, especially where there are dwellings on debris flow fans and other depositional areas. Here, we describe how to use simple and well-accepted methods to: Make a preliminary identification of catchments that are susceptible to debris flows. Estimate the threshold ARI for debris flows in a catchment below which there is an unacceptable annual risk to life for the occupiers of any dwellings. Identify the 'window of non-recognition' where debris flows are sufficiently infrequent within a catchment that it is not recognised as susceptible, yet frequent enough that the risk to life exceeds the accepted threshold. Explore the influence of the important parameters driving the annual risk to life from debris flows. We show that, given precautionary but realistic assumptions about debris flow hazards and the vulnerability of dwellings and their occupants, catchments with no history of debris flow activity can pose an unrecognised and unacceptable risk to life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotic factors such as the presence of invasive animal and/or plant species are well known as major causes of ecological degradation and as limiting either natural or assisted (human-induced) ecological restoration. However, abiotic aspects of the landscape, such as water availability and soil physical/chemical conditions can also potentially limit restoration and should be considered. Dryland ecosystems are amongst the world’s most threatened and least protected. New Zealand’s drylands have been drastically changed, initially through burning, agricultural and grazing practices and the impacts of introduced herbivores and plants. This research aimed at identifying some of the key environmental factors preventing the reestablishment of native woody species in a New Zealand dryland ecosystem. The experiments involved a combination of shading, irrigation and grazing exclusion. The results showed that supplemental water was not beneficial for the survival and growth of the native seedlings, unless combined with shade. Fencing proved important for establishment, even though the species used are regarded in the literature as unpalatable to herbivores. The results indicated that the presence of shade was fundamental for the establishment and growth of the native seedlings likely due to improvements in the microclimate, soil aeration, and water availability to seedlings.

In ecological studies, the population of interest is often spread over a large area. In these studies, obtaining a sample with good spatial coverage is an important feature in the design of a survey. In most cases adjacent, or neighbouring, units are more similar than units further apart and the resulting spatial autocorrelation should be taken into account.

Conservation of Prunus padus L., a tree of high ecological and pharmacological importance, has been evaluated by storing seeds at subzero (-20 °C and -80 °C) and cryogenic (-196 °C) temperatures for various durations. The effect of the seed's water content (WC) ranging from 3.5% to 21.1%, fresh weight basis, and the effect of cooling and rewarming procedures on seed viability was investigated. Emergence of seedlings was observed for 40%-55% of the noncryopreserved seeds, with no significant effect of WC. The same seedling emergence was recorded for seeds cryopreserved by direct immersion in liquid nitrogen within the WC range of 3.5%-15.0%. Seeds rehydrated above 17% WC were unable to tolerate cryopreservation. Seedling emergence was not affected by cooling regime but decreased by 10% after stepwise rewarming compared with rapid rewarming in a water bath or on air. No reduction in seedling emergence was recorded after storage at -20 °C, -80 °C, and -196 °C for 1 h, 1 week, and 1 month. We recommend seed storage at subzero or cryogenic temperatures as an effective conservation option for P. padus and possibly other Prunus species. We also demonstrated high effectiveness and reliability of Bayesian statistical methods for analyzing binomial data such as the data obtained in seed conservation experiments. Key words: Bayesian statistics, hydration window, Prunus padus, seed cryopreservation, water content. La conservation du Prunus padus L., un arbre d'une grande importance ecologique et pharmacologique, a ete evaluee en entreposant les graines a des temperatures sous zero (-20 et -80 °C) et cryogenique (-196 °C) pendant differentes periodes de temps. L'effet de la teneur en eau des graines, de 3,5 % a 21,1 % sur la base du poids frais, ainsi que l'effet de la procedure de refroidissement et de rechauffement sur la viabilite des graines ont ete etudies. Un taux d'emergence de 40-55 % a ete observe chez les graines non cryoconservees sans effet significatif de la teneur en eau. Le meme taux d'emergence des semis a ete enregistre chez les graines cryoconservees par immersion directe dans l'azote liquide pour la gamme de teneur en eau allant de 3,5 % a 15,0 %. Les graines rehydratees a plus de 17 % de teneur en eau ont ete incapables de tolerer la cryoconservation. Le regime de refroidissement n'a pas eu d'impact sur l'emergence des semis qui a par contre diminue de 10 % apres un rechauffement progressif comparativement a un rechauffement rapide dans un bain d'eau ou a l'air libre. Aucune reduction n'a ete observee dans l'emergence des semis apres un entreposage a -20, -80 et -196 °C pendant une heure, une semaine ou un mois. Nous recommandons d'entreposer les graines a des temperatures sous zero ou cryogenique considerant qu'il s'agit d'une option efficace pour la conservation de P. padus et possiblement d'autres especes de Prunus. Nous avons aussi demontre que les methodes statistiques bayesiennes sont tres efficaces et tres fiables pour l'analyse des donnees binomiales, telles que les donnees obtenues dans les tests de conservation des graines. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: statistiques Bayesiennes, fenetre d'hydratation, Prunus padus, cryopreservation des graines, teneur en eau., Introduction Rapid increase in human population in the past decades accompanied by dramatic ecological changes has been the cause of enormous worldwide depletion of plant biodiversity (Wang et al. 2014). [...]

The Fundamental Soil Layers (FSL) serve historically as New Zealand's primary source of soil information. They contain a range of New Zealand's soil attribute information held in a spatial database. Despite their wide use in a range of applications, few direct assessments of the accuracy of FSL attribute information have been undertaken to date. This study aims to provide an assessment of the accuracy of the FSL by comparing observed data for Profile Available Water (PAW) and Potential Rooting Depth (PRD) with FSL estimates for these two attributes. Two datasets were used to conduct the tests. The first dataset (n = 35) contained measured observations for PAW and PRD. A second dataset (n=173) contained measured observations for PRD only. A regression model found a weak relationship between measured values and FSL estimates for PAW and PRD (correlations ranged from -0.08 to 0.17). Additional FSL estimates provided in the form of class intervals were tested by calculating the proportion of observed values within the specified FSL class interval. The effect of estimate lineage (underlying data and estimation method) on the accuracy of the class intervals was assessed using a logistic regression. Overall the FSL estimates for PRD and PAW were inaccurate, and allowance for data lineage did not improve the accuracy of the FSL estimates. Additional keywords: digital soil mapping, modelling, soil databases, soil physical properties, soil water, Received 15 January 2014, accepted 20 April 2015, published online 27 October 2015, Introduction The Fundamental Soil Layers (FSL) contain a range of New Zealand's soil attribute information within a Geographic Information System (GIS) accessible spatial database. The development of the FSL relied [...]