Osteological features of some clupeid fishes (Teleostei: Clupeiformes) of Iran.

This paper presents the conclusions of a comparative analysis of six osteological features: the Structure of the vertebral column, the morphology of the predorsal bones, the vertebral column regionalization, the pterygiophore interdigitation with neural spines of dorsal fin, the pterygiophores interdigitation of with the haemal spines of the anal fin, and the intermuscular bones (IMB) and hypomerals (HM) of 12 clupeid species of the families Alosidae, Dorosomatidae, Dussumieridae and Ehiravidae. Conceivable taxonomically beneficial osteological features are nominated and utilized to discrete the clupeid species explored. Formulae for the structure of the vertebral column, the dorsal- and anal-fin pterygiophores' interdigitation with the neural and haemal spines of the vertebrae are established.

Vein pattern visualisation for biometric identification with cGAN on a New Zealand dataset.

Forensic identification using vein patterns in standard colour images presents significant challenges due to their low visibility. Recent efforts have employed various computational techniques, including artificial neural networks and optical vein disclosure, to enhance vein pattern detection. However, these methods still face limitations in reliability when compared to Near-Infrared (NIR) reference images.

'You make the call': Improving radiology staff scheduling with AI-generated self-rostering in a medical imaging department.

Introduction: New Zealand's shortage of medical imaging technicians has intensified due to factors like illness, the pandemic, and an ageing workforce. Addressing staff retention issues requires attention to intrinsic factors like workplace satisfaction and work-life balance. Self-rostering has proven effective in healthcare by enhancing work-life balance, job satisfaction, and retention, but it has not been implemented widely in radiology.

CANINE HOOKWORM PRESENCE IN TONGATAPU, TONGA.

Dogs are common in Tonga, where they exist in a close relationship with humans as pets and guard dogs and often are free-roaming due to limited property fencing and the need to scavenge for food. Little is known about the health status of these dogs and the type and level of pathogens carried by them. In this study, blood and fecal samples were analyzed to identify the presence of endoparasites and determine packed cell volume (PCV) values for dogs in Tonga.

Freshwater fishes of Iraq: a revised and updated annotated checklist2023.

The current status of the freshwater fishes of Iraq is revised, and an updated checklist is presented. The confirmed freshwater fishes of Iraq comprise 98 species belonging to 16 orders, 28 families, and 56 genera. Among these, 21 species (21.

Imaging Pathway of a Pediatric Patient with Succinate Dehydrogenase B-Deficient Paraganglioma.

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are rare in children, at only 1 in every 50,000 cases. Even though some cases are sporadic, they have been connected to syndromes such as von Hippel-Lindau, multiple endocrine neoplasia types IIa and IIb, neurofibromatosis type 1, and hereditary pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma syndromes. A genetic mutation causes around 60% of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas in children under 18.

The asymmetry in the sagitta of four mugilid species obtained from Köyceğiz Lagoon, Aegean Sea, Turkey.

Otolith features such as size and weight were analysed in 656 fish specimens of Chelon auratus, Chelon labrosus, Chelon saliens and Mugil cephalus collected from the Köyceğiz Lagoon System, Aegean Sea, southwest Turkey. The aim was to calculate the asymmetry value of the otolith length (OL), otolith width (OW) and otolith weight (OWe). The asymmetry value of OL was greater than that of OW and OWe.

Examining the Peer-Reviewed Published Literature Regarding Low Back Pain in Rowing: A Scoping Review.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent in the rowing population. The body of existing research variously investigates risk factors, prevention, and treatment methods.

Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the breadth and depth of the LBP literature in rowing and to identify areas for future research.

Defining and measuring objective and subjective spinal stiffness: a scoping review.

Purpose: Examine and identify the breadth of definitions and measures of objective and subjective spinal stiffness in the literature, with a focus on clinical implications.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted to determine what is known about definitions and measures of the specific term of spinal stiffness. Following the framework by Arksey and O'Malley, eligible peer-reviewed studies identified using PubMed, Ebsco health, and Scopus were included if they reported definitions or measures of spinal stiffness.

Prevalence of sport specialisation and association with injury history in youth football.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of sport specialisation in youth football, and to investigate the associations of sport specialisation and volume of sport participation with injury history.

Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire.

Setting: New Zealand youth football teams.

Scanning electron microscopy and morphological analysis reveal differences in the otolith morphology of three species of the family Lethrinidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) from Yemen.

Otoliths, or ear-stones, are calcareous components in the static-acoustic organs of teleost fishes with a characteristic morphology. As such, they are widely used in fisheries because of the information stored in them concerning, for example, environment, age, and so forth. Otoliths of three lethrinid species Lethrinus borbonicus (Valenciennes, 1830), L.

Features of the vertebral column and caudal fin skeleton for identifying Engraulis australis in food of the Australasian gannet Morus serrator, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.

Identifying fish species from their bone remains is employed in identifying the prey of aquatic animals. However, diagnostic skeletal descriptions are scarce for fish species prey found in the food of piscivorous birds and other marine predators in New Zealand. The present article addresses this knowledge gap, providing a diagnostic description for the vertebral column and the skeleton of the caudal fin of the Australian anchovy Engraulis australis inhabiting coastal waters in and around the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.

Determining massage dose-response to improve cancer-related symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance: A 7-arm randomized trial in palliative cancer care.

Background: The efficacy of various massage doses in palliative cancer care settings is still debated, and no specific protocol is available.

Aim: Evaluating response to various massage doses for symptom cluster of pain-fatigue-sleep.

Design: A 7-arm randomized-controlled trial with weekly massage for 4 weeks depending on the prescribed dose (15-, 30-, or 60-min; 2× or 3×/week) and a 4-week follow-up.

Hyperostotic bones observed in the first record specimen of spotted sicklefish, Drepane punctata (Linnaeus, 1788), from the Gulf of Oman.

This is the first confirmed record of a 430 mm TL spotted sicklefish, Drepane punctata (Linnaeus, 1758), in the Gulf of Oman collected in August 2021. Here, we describe a hyperostotic deformity in the head, maxilla and premaxilla, dorsal fin, caudal fin rays, and neural and haemal spines of some vertebrae. In the head, the occipital and supraoccipital crests were swollen.

Cross-sectional survey of husbandry for pet guinea pigs () in New Zealand.

Aims: To describe basic husbandry (veterinary care, substrate and bedding, toys, frequency of cleaning) provided to guinea pigs () by a sample of owners in New Zealand.

Methods: Respondents were invited to complete a survey disseminated through the social media channels of animal interest and advocacy groups (3 September 2020 to 3 November 2020). Respondents who agreed to participate were asked a range of questions regarding the provision of husbandry to their oldest pet guinea pig.

Measuring ramp use in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus).

To investigate the utility of ramps as enrichment and as a method for establishing demand for commodities, the latency to climb a ramp of increasing slope to obtain food was measured in four guinea pigs. The average height where guinea pigs failed to climb was 29.1 cm (slope 14.

Indoor air quality, largely neglected and in urgent need of a refresh.

Nil.

New Echocardiography Reference Ranges for Aotearoa (NewERA) Study: the application of international echocardiographic reference values to linear measurements of the hearts of healthy, young Māori and Pacific adults may not detect cardiac enlargement.

Aims: To develop ethnic-specific echocardiography reference ranges for Aotearoa, and to investigate the impact of indexation to body surface area (BSA). Current reference international ranges are derived from people of mostly NZ European ethnicity and may not be appropriate for Māori and New Zealanders of Pacific ethnicity, who both experience high rates of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Echocardiography was performed in a cross-sectional study of 263 healthy adults (18-50 years): Māori (N=71, 43 female), Pacific (N=53, 28 female), European (N=139, 74 female).

Stability Matters: Radiochemical Stability of Therapeutic Radiopharmaceutical Lu-PSMA I&T.

Labeling radiopharmaceuticals and testing the quality of the labeled product before injecting it into patients are standard operating procedures in the nuclear medicine department. There is a different shelf life for each labeled product, which determines how long a product can maintain in vitro stability before it needs to be discarded. Lu is a radioactive isotope that is increasingly being accepted into the treatment paradigm for palliation of advanced-stage tumors, including metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Quantifying and managing plastic waste generated from building construction in Auckland, New Zealand.

Each year, construction and demolition (C&D) waste contributes at least 25,000 tonnes to the total amount of plastic landfilled in Auckland, New Zealand. The growing use of plastic in the packaging of building materials, use of polystyrene and products, such as building wrap, are contributing to this. Unlike countries such as the UK, most construction waste in New Zealand is not sorted on-site, and C&D waste is often co-mingled; therefore, minimal analysis on the recoverability of plastics has been attempted.

Discrimination of pollen of New Zealand mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium agg.) and kānuka (Kunzea spp.) (Myrtaceae).

The very similar appearance of pollen of the New Zealand Myrtaceous taxa Leptospermum scoparium s.l. (mānuka) and Kunzea spp.

Thermal Performance of School Buildings: Impacts beyond Thermal Comfort.

Based on field study data regarding the winter indoor thermal environment of three classrooms with different building envelopes, this study compared and evaluated these environments, not only related to students' thermal comfort but also to their health. The inadequacy of the conventional New Zealand school building for maintaining a comfortable and healthy winter indoor thermal environment has been identified. A classroom with thermal mass had 31%, 34% and 9% more time than a classroom without thermal mass when indoor temperatures met 16 °C 18 °C and 20 °C respectively and has 21.

Assessing the performance of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) on the Mechner counting procedure.

This study assessed brushtail possums' performance on the Mechner counting procedure. Six brushtail possums were required to produce different Fixed-Ratio (FR) response targets by lever pressing. Their responses provided access to food reinforcement delivered either upon completing the target FR response requirement on a single lever or, in different conditions, on completing the target FR before producing an additional response on a second lever.