title: Reproductive biology of yellowbelly flounder Rhombosolea leporina (Günther, 1862) and Rhombosolea spp.

authors: Koverman, Ryan

abstract: Yellowbelly flounder Rhombosolea leporina is a culturally, recreationally, and commercially important flounder species in New Zealand. R. leporina contain high-quality flesh and sexually dimorphic growth, where females grow more rapid and reach an overall larger size than males. These biological characteristics make R. leporina an enticing opportunity for aquaculture. Aquaculture is becoming an increasingly important capability in global food security and an alternative to wild capture fisheries. Understanding and controlling the reproductive biology of an aquaculture species candidate is required to ensure successful production. The understanding of the reproductive biology also facilitates the effective management of wild stocks. Currently, there is a limited amount of literature on the reproductive cycle of R. leporina and no previous literature available on the sexual differentiation in Rhombosolea spp. This study provides a histological investigation into the reproductive cycle of adult female R. leporina, from November 2015 – October 2017, and sexual differentiation in Rhombosolea spp. juveniles. It was found that R. leporina spawns over a protracted seven-month season, from June to December. Based on the histological observations it was apparent that R. leporina have multiple group synchronous ovarian development with the potential of batch spawning. The investigation into sexual differentiation in the Rhombosolea spp. juveniles revealed gonadal cavities in all individuals, making ovarian cavities an inadequate criterion of sex. Therefore, it was found that the juveniles display sexual differentiation at 47 mm TL and 57 mm TL, for females with meiotic oocytes and males with spermatocytes respectively. Furthermore, spermatozoa were present in testes of a 71 mm TL male. These results provide insights into the precise timing of reproductive development and the size at sexual differentiation. The results presented here may facilitate further investigations into the endocrine regulation or manipulation of the reproductive biology of R. leporina. The implication of the investigation into Rhombosolea spp. juveniles illustrate the necessity of more robust investigations into the timing of sexual differentiation and initial gonadal development alongside insights into gene expression. Nonetheless, these findings provide essential background knowledge on the reproductive biology of R. leporina and Rhombosolea spp. juveniles for the potential of aquaculture and management of wild stocks.

text: Reproductive biology of yellowbelly flounder Rhombosolea leporina (Günther, 1862) and Rhombosolea spp. Yellowbelly flounder Rhombosolea leporina is a culturally, recreationally, and commercially important flounder species in New Zealand. R. leporina contain high-quality flesh and sexually dimorphic growth, where females grow more rapid and reach an overall larger size than males. These biological characteristics make R. leporina an enticing opportunity for aquaculture. Aquaculture is becoming an increasingly important capability in global food security and an alternative to wild capture fisheries. Understanding and controlling the reproductive biology of an aquaculture species candidate is required to ensure successful production. The understanding of the reproductive biology also facilitates the effective management of wild stocks. Currently, there is a limited amount of literature on the reproductive cycle of R. leporina and no previous literature available on the sexual differentiation in Rhombosolea spp. This study provides a histological investigation into the reproductive cycle of adult female R. leporina, from November 2015 – October 2017, and sexual differentiation in Rhombosolea spp. juveniles. It was found that R. leporina spawns over a protracted seven-month season, from June to December. Based on the histological observations it was apparent that R. leporina have multiple group synchronous ovarian development with the potential of batch spawning. The investigation into sexual differentiation in the Rhombosolea spp. juveniles revealed gonadal cavities in all individuals, making ovarian cavities an inadequate criterion of sex. Therefore, it was found that the juveniles display sexual differentiation at 47 mm TL and 57 mm TL, for females with meiotic oocytes and males with spermatocytes respectively. Furthermore, spermatozoa were present in testes of a 71 mm TL male. These results provide insights into the precise timing of reproductive development and the size at sexual differentiation. The results presented here may facilitate further investigations into the endocrine regulation or manipulation of the reproductive biology of R. leporina. The implication of the investigation into Rhombosolea spp. juveniles illustrate the necessity of more robust investigations into the timing of sexual differentiation and initial gonadal development alongside insights into gene expression. Nonetheless, these findings provide essential background knowledge on the reproductive biology of R. leporina and Rhombosolea spp. juveniles for the potential of aquaculture and management of wild stocks.

year: 2018

title: Get out of your mind and into your life: Using a self-help book to improve wellbeing in adolescents

authors: Lisle, Nicole

abstract: Mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety are becoming increasing prevalent in an adolescent population. In New Zealand, public mental health services have long waitlists to access support from a clinician and private clinicians are often costly. This creates a barrier for many adolescents to receive support, particularly those who are experiencing subclinical concerns. There is also some evidence to suggest that many people do not benefit from traditional therapy approaches. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an alternate to traditionally used treatment approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and uses techniques such as values, acceptance and mindfulness to help improve wellbeing. Using ACT in a self-help format helps to reduce barriers for adolescents to access support. 
The overall purpose of this study was to address the question “Does the self-help book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens improve wellbeing in adolescents?”. In particular, the research sought to find out i) if the book was effective in improving well-being in adolescents, ii) if there were any gender differences in outcomes and iii) understanding if adolescents found the book useful by evaluating if it was easy to work through and relevant to them. Participants were between the ages of 16 and 18 years (N=16, average age= 16.6), with nine females and six males. A total of 14 participants completed the intervention. The study was conducted using a multiple baseline design. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires which focused on wellbeing and ACT techniques at 4 time points (before the baseline period, after a two week wait before they began the intervention, on completion of the intervention and at a two month follow up), specific areas assessed by the questionnaires were depression, anxiety, strengths and difficulties, thought control, acceptance and mindfulness. During the intervention period, participants worked through the book and engaged in weekly meetings. Participants also filled out a number of questionnaires specific to wellbeing and ACT at four time points. When the group data as well as individual change scores were analysed, statistically significant improvements were found for depression, thought control and acceptance. There were no gender differences in response to the intervention. The majority of participants felt that the intervention was relevant and useful. They also reported that they were able to use some of the skills from the intervention in their everyday lives. These findings indicate that this intervention was effective for improving general wellbeing with adolescents who are experiencing sub-clinical levels of distress. Furthermore, it demonstrates that adolescents were able to learn ACT based techniques from the self-help book and that they found the book useful and relevant. In conclusion, this study has shown that ACT based self-help interventions may be used as an alternative and cost-effective method of offering support to adolescents. It also shows that adolescents will engage in this type of intervention and can use the techniques they learn in their everyday lives. This information will hopefully be of use to professionals who work with adolescents who are experiencing mental health concerns.

text: Get out of your mind and into your life: Using a self-help book to improve wellbeing in adolescents Mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety are becoming increasing prevalent in an adolescent population. In New Zealand, public mental health services have long waitlists to access support from a clinician and private clinicians are often costly. This creates a barrier for many adolescents to receive support, particularly those who are experiencing subclinical concerns. There is also some evidence to suggest that many people do not benefit from traditional therapy approaches. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an alternate to traditionally used treatment approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and uses techniques such as values, acceptance and mindfulness to help improve wellbeing. Using ACT in a self-help format helps to reduce barriers for adolescents to access support. 
The overall purpose of this study was to address the question “Does the self-help book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens improve wellbeing in adolescents?”. In particular, the research sought to find out i) if the book was effective in improving well-being in adolescents, ii) if there were any gender differences in outcomes and iii) understanding if adolescents found the book useful by evaluating if it was easy to work through and relevant to them. Participants were between the ages of 16 and 18 years (N=16, average age= 16.6), with nine females and six males. A total of 14 participants completed the intervention. The study was conducted using a multiple baseline design. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires which focused on wellbeing and ACT techniques at 4 time points (before the baseline period, after a two week wait before they began the intervention, on completion of the intervention and at a two month follow up), specific areas assessed by the questionnaires were depression, anxiety, strengths and difficulties, thought control, acceptance and mindfulness. During the intervention period, participants worked through the book and engaged in weekly meetings. Participants also filled out a number of questionnaires specific to wellbeing and ACT at four time points. When the group data as well as individual change scores were analysed, statistically significant improvements were found for depression, thought control and acceptance. There were no gender differences in response to the intervention. The majority of participants felt that the intervention was relevant and useful. They also reported that they were able to use some of the skills from the intervention in their everyday lives. These findings indicate that this intervention was effective for improving general wellbeing with adolescents who are experiencing sub-clinical levels of distress. Furthermore, it demonstrates that adolescents were able to learn ACT based techniques from the self-help book and that they found the book useful and relevant. In conclusion, this study has shown that ACT based self-help interventions may be used as an alternative and cost-effective method of offering support to adolescents. It also shows that adolescents will engage in this type of intervention and can use the techniques they learn in their everyday lives. This information will hopefully be of use to professionals who work with adolescents who are experiencing mental health concerns.

year: 2019

title: Legal responses to mental health: Is therapeutic jurisprudence the answer – the experience in New Zealand

authors: Toki, Valmaine

abstract: The orthodox understanding of ‘ethics’ encompasses a system of moral principles that define good and bad behavior. When applied to mental health, various jurisdictions, including New Zealand, have codified these principles together with the obligations on health service providers to meet these codified principles and standards. Underpinning this relationship is one of mutual trust where the physician has a responsibility, for example, to secure informed consent prior to any treatment. The existence of this therapeutic relationship can be applied when an offender who presents with a mental illness is subject to the criminal justice system.

text: Legal responses to mental health: Is therapeutic jurisprudence the answer – the experience in New Zealand The orthodox understanding of ‘ethics’ encompasses a system of moral principles that define good and bad behavior. When applied to mental health, various jurisdictions, including New Zealand, have codified these principles together with the obligations on health service providers to meet these codified principles and standards. Underpinning this relationship is one of mutual trust where the physician has a responsibility, for example, to secure informed consent prior to any treatment. The existence of this therapeutic relationship can be applied when an offender who presents with a mental illness is subject to the criminal justice system.

year: 2017