title: Nanoswimmer-oriented Direct Targeting Strategy Inspired by Momentum-based Gradient Optimization

authors: Ali, Muhammad

abstract: This paper considers the advantage of knowledgeaided direct targeting strategy (DTS) over systemic targeting for tumor homing in complex human vasculature. Tumor location in the body can be estimated by closely observing the tumortriggered bio-physical gradients in its vicinity, helping drugloaded magnetic nanoswimmers to accumulate at the disease location. These nanoswimmers are assembled by magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), which act as contrast agents increasing the diagnostic capability of different medical imaging techniques. We propose a novel DTS inspired by the iterative gradient descent (GD) with momentum optimization for tumor targeting amplification. We show by computational experiments that the MNPs accumulate at the disease location at a faster rate and the probability of tumor detection is higher for the proposed knowledge-aided DTS as compared to the knowledgeless systemic targeting. We believe that our work for tumor targeting amplification based on such nanosystem will open new horizons in the field of diagnosing tumor at its early stage.

text: Nanoswimmer-oriented Direct Targeting Strategy Inspired by Momentum-based Gradient Optimization This paper considers the advantage of knowledgeaided direct targeting strategy (DTS) over systemic targeting for tumor homing in complex human vasculature. Tumor location in the body can be estimated by closely observing the tumortriggered bio-physical gradients in its vicinity, helping drugloaded magnetic nanoswimmers to accumulate at the disease location. These nanoswimmers are assembled by magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), which act as contrast agents increasing the diagnostic capability of different medical imaging techniques. We propose a novel DTS inspired by the iterative gradient descent (GD) with momentum optimization for tumor targeting amplification. We show by computational experiments that the MNPs accumulate at the disease location at a faster rate and the probability of tumor detection is higher for the proposed knowledge-aided DTS as compared to the knowledgeless systemic targeting. We believe that our work for tumor targeting amplification based on such nanosystem will open new horizons in the field of diagnosing tumor at its early stage.

year: 2019

title: The international law gaze: the Supreme Court and the UN International Law Commission’s dialogue on subsequent conduct in the interpretation of contracts and treaties

authors: Alvarez-Jimenez, Alberto

abstract: The New Zealand Supreme Court in Bathurst Resources Limited v L & M Coal Holdings Limited (Bathurst Resources Limited v L&M Coal Holdings Limited [2021] NZSC 85) recently explored the issue of evidence of subsequent conduct in the interpretation of contracts. Generally, the role of subsequent conduct is limited. In 2018, the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC) examined in detail the use of subsequent agreements and practice in the interpretation of international treaties under art 31(3)(a) & (b) and art 32 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) (70th Session – Subsequent agreements and subsequent practice in relation to the interpretation of treaties [2018] (ILC Subsequent Practice)). Despite the contrast between contracts and treaties, the ILC’s work can be valuable to the Supreme Court. This article explores how.

text: The international law gaze: the Supreme Court and the UN International Law Commission’s dialogue on subsequent conduct in the interpretation of contracts and treaties The New Zealand Supreme Court in Bathurst Resources Limited v L & M Coal Holdings Limited (Bathurst Resources Limited v L&M Coal Holdings Limited [2021] NZSC 85) recently explored the issue of evidence of subsequent conduct in the interpretation of contracts. Generally, the role of subsequent conduct is limited. In 2018, the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC) examined in detail the use of subsequent agreements and practice in the interpretation of international treaties under art 31(3)(a) & (b) and art 32 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) (70th Session – Subsequent agreements and subsequent practice in relation to the interpretation of treaties [2018] (ILC Subsequent Practice)). Despite the contrast between contracts and treaties, the ILC’s work can be valuable to the Supreme Court. This article explores how.

year: 2022-03-15

title: Boat electrofishing survey of fish abundance in the Ohau Channel, Rotorua, in 2017

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: The aim of the survey was to provide on-going monitoring of the fish communities and abundance by boat electrofishing in the Ohau Channel, especially fish species that are taonga to Maori (tuna, or eels, morihana, or goldfish, and kōura, or freshwater crayfish). In the current study, we present the findings from the eleventh year of sampling (2017) and a summary of previous surveys.
We used the University of Waikato’s 4.5 m-long, aluminium-hulled electrofishing boat to catch a total of 1,110 fish and 3 kōura (18.2 kg in total) from 11 sites on 5 December 2017. The sites comprised 2,909 lineal m and 11,636 m2 in area. Kōura (freshwater crayfish) and 6 fish species were present, with common bully the most abundant species (up to 29.6 fish 100 m⁻² at the site 8, edge habitat). Goldfish (up to 14.2 100 m⁻²) was the next most abundant species, with most goldfish at sites 8 and 11 in and around the side channel. Common smelt were next the most abundant species (up to 11.4 fish 100 m⁻²). Mean density of bullies (7.8 fish 100 m⁻²) was much higher than for smelt (1.69 fish 100 m⁻²). Kōura had a patchy distribution with only 3 individuals were caught at two sites.
Comparing catches over the 11 years of sampling, the mean abundance of common bullies in 2017 was consistent with densities in most post-wall years (after 2007), but lower than in 2007 before wall closure (Newman-Keuls multiple range test, P = 0.034). The cause of fluctuating bully abundance is not known, and was not accounted for by changes in water clarity expressed as black disc distance (BDD), water temperature, or water conductivity. Poor water clarity can reduce the efficiency of electrofishing, but low BDD did not correspond with low common bully densities. In 2017, smelt abundance had recovered somewhat from the low catches from 2014 to 2016.
Goldfish biomass increased initially (2009-2010) because of targeted fishing in the side channel (site 11), which has dense macrophytes and offers good habitat for goldfish with no flow. However, the continued rise in goldfish density from 2012 on suggests a real increase in goldfish numbers. In contrast to most previous years, no eels were caught in 2017.
Analysis of fish densities before and after wall closure is hampered by the single data point before closure. However, we now have 10 years of post-wall data, and comparisons of means and standard deviations suggest that the number of bullies have been lower since 2008 with the exception of 2015, when bully densities were the same as 2007, i.e., before wall closure. The large number of small juvenile bullies (<30 mm) suggests that recruitment is taking place in the channel, so fluctuating bully abundance is likely to be controlled by factors other than wall closure.

text: Boat electrofishing survey of fish abundance in the Ohau Channel, Rotorua, in 2017 The aim of the survey was to provide on-going monitoring of the fish communities and abundance by boat electrofishing in the Ohau Channel, especially fish species that are taonga to Maori (tuna, or eels, morihana, or goldfish, and kōura, or freshwater crayfish). In the current study, we present the findings from the eleventh year of sampling (2017) and a summary of previous surveys.
We used the University of Waikato’s 4.5 m-long, aluminium-hulled electrofishing boat to catch a total of 1,110 fish and 3 kōura (18.2 kg in total) from 11 sites on 5 December 2017. The sites comprised 2,909 lineal m and 11,636 m2 in area. Kōura (freshwater crayfish) and 6 fish species were present, with common bully the most abundant species (up to 29.6 fish 100 m⁻² at the site 8, edge habitat). Goldfish (up to 14.2 100 m⁻²) was the next most abundant species, with most goldfish at sites 8 and 11 in and around the side channel. Common smelt were next the most abundant species (up to 11.4 fish 100 m⁻²). Mean density of bullies (7.8 fish 100 m⁻²) was much higher than for smelt (1.69 fish 100 m⁻²). Kōura had a patchy distribution with only 3 individuals were caught at two sites.
Comparing catches over the 11 years of sampling, the mean abundance of common bullies in 2017 was consistent with densities in most post-wall years (after 2007), but lower than in 2007 before wall closure (Newman-Keuls multiple range test, P = 0.034). The cause of fluctuating bully abundance is not known, and was not accounted for by changes in water clarity expressed as black disc distance (BDD), water temperature, or water conductivity. Poor water clarity can reduce the efficiency of electrofishing, but low BDD did not correspond with low common bully densities. In 2017, smelt abundance had recovered somewhat from the low catches from 2014 to 2016.
Goldfish biomass increased initially (2009-2010) because of targeted fishing in the side channel (site 11), which has dense macrophytes and offers good habitat for goldfish with no flow. However, the continued rise in goldfish density from 2012 on suggests a real increase in goldfish numbers. In contrast to most previous years, no eels were caught in 2017.
Analysis of fish densities before and after wall closure is hampered by the single data point before closure. However, we now have 10 years of post-wall data, and comparisons of means and standard deviations suggest that the number of bullies have been lower since 2008 with the exception of 2015, when bully densities were the same as 2007, i.e., before wall closure. The large number of small juvenile bullies (<30 mm) suggests that recruitment is taking place in the channel, so fluctuating bully abundance is likely to be controlled by factors other than wall closure.

year: 2018