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Bullivant Among the Greatest Places to Work in Oregon and SW Washington, Makes The Oregonian's List of Top Workplaces 2022
09.21.22 | NEWS
By Sheri Lagassé
Director of Operations, 503.499.4467
Bullivant Houser has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2022 honor in The Oregonian/OregonLive's annual Top Workplaces competition for the second straight year—making the list along with 134 other large, midsize, or small companies. This means a lot to the firm because it's exclusively based on feedback from our people.
Bullivant Houser proudly employs a diverse group of attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and support staff—all of which bring unique backgrounds, experience, and expertise to bear when providing the best and most cost-effective representation to our clients.
Survey feedback from employees is the sole basis for determining Top Workplaces. The rankings are based on the results of a 24-question employee engagement survey sent to thousands in Oregon and southwestern Washington. The employee engagement survey gathers responses regarding issues relating to workplace culture:
Alignment: where the company is headed, its values, cooperation, effective meetings
Coaching: managers care about concerns, are helpful, encourage employee development
Connection: employees feel appreciated, work is meaningful, working at full potential, feel informed
Engagement: productivity, retention, recruiting
Leadership: confidence in company leaders
Performance: execution, open-mindedness, innovation, clued-in leadership
Basics: pay, benefits, work/life flexibility, training, expectations
Employers that score high enough are recognized as Top Workplaces. Employers are ranked within size groups to accurately compare results.


Robbert van de Corput, also known as DJ Hardwell is a world famous DJ who produces Dance and House music. In 2013 and 2014 Hardwell was crowned number 1 DJ in the world by DJ MAG's Top 100 DJs Poll.
In 2015, Hardwell stepped into the world of Charity. Utilising his global appeal for social change, Hardwell launched the United We Are Foundation; a charity project that has global ambitions to educate young children in different communities around the world.
United We Are was Created to "give something back" to the children of the world. Resulting in this charity project with a globally ambitious endeavour to educate young underprivileged children in different communities around the globe.


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Florence Reuter
Born in Malmédy on December 20th, 1969, Florence Reuter is married and mother of three children.
Graduated in journalism and communication from the Free University of Brussels, she made her debut at Antenne Center Télévision. After a brief stint at RTBF, she joined the private channel RTL-TVI, first as a reporter for the television news program from 1997 to 1998, before going on to present the newscast from 1998 to 2007.
In May 2007, she left the journalism to join the politics within the Reform Movement and ran in the 2007 federal elections. She was 4th on the MR list in the district of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde and was elected Member of Parliament.
In 2009, Florence chooses to join the Walloon Parliament and presents herself in her district of Walloon Brabant (district of Nivelles) in the regional elections. She was eighth on the MR list and won the 4th seat with 14,299 votes. She has since been sitting in the Walloon Parliament and in the Parliament of the French Community, where she deals mainly with matters relating to early childhood, assistance to youth, school transport, housing and energy.
Florence Reuter does not hide her ambitions at the local level and her desire to invest in her municipality of Waterloo. She is on the MR list led by Serge Kubla in the communal elections of October 2012 and becomes first alderman of the municipality.
In 2014, she advanced the vote in the Walloon Parliament the partial prohibition of symbols of religious affiliation in the Walloon Public Service.
On March 6, 2015, she took an oath and became mayor of Waterloo, following the resignation of Serge Kubla.
On October 14, 2018, she led the MR list in local elections and was re-elected Burgomaster of Waterloo after winning 5691 votes.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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FCC Follies - Macleans.ca
FCC Follies
by Jaime Weinman
Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in FCC v. Fox, with Fox challenging the FCC fines of "fleeting expletives" in live broadcasting. This blog has a good summary of the questioning and a link to a PDF of the transcript.
Based on the questioning, it seems very unlikely that the Supreme Court will go anywhere near the First Amendment issue of whether the government has the right to censor TV and radio; it will probably be decided on the procedural issue of whether the FCC's guidelines are too arbitrary and whether the fines were levied arbitrarily.
At least two of the Justices — Chief Justice Roberts and Antonin Scalia — seemed sympathetic to the idea that the FCC needs to have plenty of leeway to decide when naughty words are deserving of a fine. Roberts in particular seemed to take a shine to the government's argument that in an era where there are so many naughty words in all the media where the FCC doesn't apply, there is more of an imperative to keep broadcast TV "clean." (For the uninitiated, Roberts is what you'd get if you crossed Scalia with Mr. Rogers. That actually sounds somewhat better than it is.)
As Broadcasting and Cable notes, five of the justices who ruled against the FCC in a previous case (dealing with cable and V-chips) are still on the court, though one of those five is Clarence Thomas and you can never tell what he's going to do: sometimes he's more of a libertarian type than Scalia, sometimes he isn't. I'd like to think that the FCC will lose, because while I'm not hard-core against the idea of broadcast standards, the current situation is as bad as can be: the networks have no idea what they'll be fined for or what they won't be fined for, so they just censor everything. Having strict but clear censorship guidelines is actually a lot less bad than this situation; when producers know what they can't do, they can work around it, but this…? Anyway, the court will decide sometime next year, and we'll see.
Supreme Court to rule on mandatory sentences for gun crimes
Top court strikes down mandatory minimums for gun crimes
Five stories in Canada we're watching
Four stories we're watching in Canada
What we're talking about when we talk about 'judicial activism'


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A summary of the relative abundance and size-class distribution of large-bodied fish in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River in the period 2002-10
Recreational Fishing Grant Program – Research report
Author - Todd Wallace
A report prepared by the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre, funded by the Victorian Government to improve recreational fishing in Victoria through revenue from Recreational Fishing Licences.
This research report was prepared and published by the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre following a grant provided by the Department of Primary Industries through the Recreational Fishing Grants Program.
This publication is copyright. No part may be produced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
Preferred way to cite this publication:
Wallace, T. (2010). A summary of the relative abundance and size-class distribution of large-bodied fish in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River in the period 2002-10. Recreational Fishing Grant Program Final Report. Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre.
For more information about Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre visit the website at http://www.mdfrc.org.au/.
Within the Mallee region of the lower Murray-Darling catchment area, 20 species of native freshwater fish are considered to have naturally occurred prior to European settlement. Nine of these are locally extinct, and are either listed, or regarded as threatened species under state or federal legislation. Since European settlement, seven species of non-native fish have also been recorded in the lower Murray-Darling catchment. Omitting the vagrant and potentially locally extinct native species, the current fish fauna of the lower Murray-Darling catchment area typically consists of 11 native and 5 non-native fish species. The purpose of this report is to summarise the trend in abundance and composition of commonly encountered large-bodied fish, particularly those with high socio-economic value to recreational fishers, within the Mallee region of the lower Murray River between Lock and Weir 9 and the South Australia-Victoria Border for the period 2002-10. The study area includes a number of anabranch habitats that form permanent creeks within Victoria.
The data is presented in the context of the relative abundance and size class structure of Murray cod, Golden perch, Silver perch, Common carp and European perch. Freshwater catfish, although anecdotally captured by recreational fishers, have not been recorded during the surveys reported on here. River blackfish, Trout cod, Two-spined blackfish, Murray River Galaxid and Macquarie perch have not been recorded in the region in the past two decades. This assessment of the fish community has shown that the composition of the large bodied species assemblage within the lower Murray River within the section between Lock and Weir 9 and the South Australia-Victoria Border has remained stable during the period 2002-10; i.e. there has been no new large-bodied species detected, and all species that were present in early surveys were detected in subsequent surveys.
The 2002-2010 period during which these surveys were undertaken covers a period of extended low flows, during which large-scale overbank flooding did not occur due to a combination of drought and river regulation. This period of extended low flows is likely to have directly or indirectly affected the abundance of some, if not all species; particularly those that are considered to be dependent of periods of high flows for spawning. It is typically considered that a robust population structure requires all life-history stages to be well represented in order for populations to be self-sustaining. The survival of young fish must at least match the mortality of mature fish if a population is to remain viable. Based on this benchmark and the data presented here, populations of native species Murray cod, Golden perch, Silver perch and the introduced species, European perch would be considered suppressed. For each of the native species, young-of year fish (YOY; less than one year old) were only detected in 2 out of 8 survey years. YOY European perch were detected in 4 out of 8 survey years. The introduced Common carp was the only species for which each life-history stage (YOY, sub-adult and adult) was detected in every sampling year.
The impact of recreational angling upon Murray cod and Golden perch populations needs to be taken into account. Other authors have demonstrated that in populations where angling pressure is low, strong numbers of YOY, sub-adult and adult fish are present. However, there is evidence in the data presented here to indicate a substantial contraction in the relative abundance of Murray cod between 600-800 mm within the study region, and little evidence of YOY recruitment to the population. Consequently, it is likely that angling pressure poses a considerable risk to Murray cod; a threatened species, and that the local population may need an increased level of protection to remain viable. Angler pressure may also be a considerable risk for Golden perch in this region. A rapid appraisal of angler effort within the same study region as that reported on here, demonstrated that 93% of golden perch captured above the legal size limit were kept by anglers. Given (i) there is currently no closed season for this species (ii) the minimum legal size is less than the known size at maturity for females, and (iii) the dependence of this species on periods of high flows/floods to induce spawning, this level of take may not be sustainable for Golden perch, particularly during extended periods of low flow.
Sampling of the fish community within this section of the lower Murray River has been undertaken by The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC) on an annual basis since 2002-03 to the current year (2009-10). The data was collected as a key component of successive projects. The research program Lindsay Island Fish and Water Quality (2002-07) was funded by the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (2002-03); and the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (2003-07). The annual surveys undertaken as part of The Living Murray (TLM) condition monitoring program (2004-10) at Victorian components of the Chowilla Floodplain including Lindsay-Mulcra-Wallpolla Islands Icon Site (http://www.mdba.gov.au/) were funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (formally the Murray-Darling Basin Commission). The production of this report was funded by the Victorian Government using Recreational Fishing Licence fees.
The funding agencies listed above, and the logistical support MDFRC has received from the respective staff of these agencies is gratefully acknowledged. The author would also like to specifically thank the many MDFRC staff members who have been involved in the development of the monitoring programs, and the collection and subsequent management of the field data that has generated a very valuable data set.
Project Scope and Objectives
The purpose of this report is to summarise the trend in abundance and composition of commonly encountered large-bodied fish, particularly those with high socio-economic value to recreational fishers, within the Mallee region of the lower Murray River between Lock and Weir 9 and the South Australia-Victoria Border. This includes a number of anabranch habitats that form permanently flowing creeks within Victoria. The data is presented in the context of the relative abundance and size class structure of Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii), Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua), Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus), Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Redfin (Perca fluviatilis).
Sampling of the fish community within this section of the lower Murray River has been undertaken by The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC) on an annual basis since 2002-03 to the current year (2009-10). The data was collected as a key component of the research program Lindsay Island Fish and Water Quality (2002-07) and annual surveys undertaken as part of The Living Murray (TLM) condition monitoring program (2004-10) at Victorian components of the Chowilla Floodplain including Lindsay-Mulcra-Wallpolla Islands Icon Site (http://www.mdba.gov.au/).
Native Fish Communities within the lower Murray-Darling Rivers
Drainage and catchment divisions, together with latitude, dictate the fish fauna found within rivers. Anthropogenic impacts, most notably the establishment of barriers to fish movement, over-fishing, habitat fragmentation, and flow regulation have drastically influenced the distribution of native fish within the lower Murray- Darling catchment. Twenty-two native fish taxa (21 species and one species complex of up to four carp-gudgeon Hypseleotris spp.) are considered to have existed in the lower Murray- Darling catchment at the time of European settlement. However, the congolli (Pseudaphritis urvillii ) is catadromous and would rarely have migrated upstream from the Murray estuary into the lower Murray- Darling catchment (Gilligan 2005), and the study region lies outside the southern range limit of Hyrtl's tandan (Neosilurus hyrtlii) (Lintermans 2007). Of the 20 remaining species expected to regularly exist within the catchment, three species; Trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis), Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica), and Dwarf flat-headed gudgeon (Philypnodon macrostomus) are only known from the Murray River and have not been recorded in the Darling River. Spangled perch (Leiopotherapon unicolour) is only regularly captured in the Darling River above Menindee, and would be considered a vagrant in the lower Murray. Therefore, 19 species are expected in the lower Murray and 17 species are expected in the lower-Darling components of the lower Murray-Darling catchment (Table 1) (Gilligan 2005).
Within the Mallee region of the lower Murray-Darling catchment a total of nine of the 20 (45%) native freshwater fish species are either listed, or regarded as threatened species; eight species are listed as threatened under state or federal legislation. Flat-headed galaxias, although not listed as threatened under any jurisdiction, are considered likely to be locally extinct in the lower Murray-Darling catchment (Table 1). The entire ecological community of the lower Murray- Darling catchment has been declared endangered as part of the lower Murray and lower Darling endangered Ecological Communities under the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994. These ecological communities include all main channels, tributaries, anabranches, lagoons, wetlands and lakes of the entire catchment. Since European settlement, an additional seven species of non-native fish have been recorded in the lower Murray-Darling catchment (Table 2).
There have been no reports of the native Southern pygmy perch, Flat-headed galaxias, Olive perchlet, Southern purple spotted gudgeon, Trout cod, or Macquarie perch in the lower Murray-Darling catchment for several decades. After a prolonged period without being recorded in the region, Short-headed lamprey, have recently been recorded at the fishway installed at Lock and Weir 7. Murray hardyhead have only been recorded in isolated saline wetlands in Victoria in recent years, and not in the Murray or Darling River channels. A number of the exotic species have not been recently recorded in the last decade, including Brown trout and Tench. Omitting the vagrant and potentially locally extinct species, the current fish fauna of the lower Murray-Darling catchment typically consists of 11 native and 5 non-native fish species.
Table 1 - Native Fish species previously recorded in the lower Murray-Darling catchment
Australian smelt
Retropinna semoni
Bony herring
Nematalosa erebi
Carp gudgeon
Hypseleotris spp.
Dwarf flat-headed gudgeon
Philypnodon macrostomus
Freshwater catfish
Tandanus tandanus
Flat-headed gudgeon
Philypnodon grandiceps
Fly-specked hardyhead
Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum fulvus
Golden perch
Macquaria ambigua
Flat-headed galaxias
Galaxias rostratus
Murray-cod
Maccullochella peelii peelii
Murray hardyhead
Craterocephalus fluviatilis
Olive perchlet
Ambassis agassizii
Short-headed lamprey
Mordacia mordax
Silver perch
Bidyanus bidyanus
Southern purple-spotted gudgeon
Mogurnda adspersa
Southern pygmy perch
Nannoperca australis
Murray-Darling rainbow fish
Melanotaenia fluviatilis
Table 2 - Exotic fish species previously recorded in the lower-Murray-Darling Catchment
Gambusia(Mosquito fish)
Gambusia holbrooki
Oriental weatherloach
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Tench
Tinca tinca
Sampling of the fish community within the lower Murray River in the section between Lock and Weir 9 and the South Australia-Victoria Border (see Figure 1) has been undertaken on an annual basis since 2002-03 to the current year (2009-10). Surveys were undertaken in spring between 2002-03 and 2008-09. The survey timing was shifted to autumn in 2009-10 to align with the timing of surveys undertaken at other Icon Sites in the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's The Living Murray (http://www.mdba.gov.au/) program.
A nested sampling design consisting of sites within reaches within macrohabitats was used to assess the condition of fish assemblages. At the highest level of sampling, macrohabitats were defined as (i) Riverine (i.e. the Murray River), (ii) No/Slow Flow Anabranches, and (iii) Fast Flowing Anabranches. Four Riverine (e.g. within the weir pools of Lock and Weir 6, 7, 8 and 9) reaches were established, with reaches established in five No/Slow Flow Anabranch and two Fast Flowing Anabranch creeks within Victoria. Three sampling sites were established in all reaches except one of the fast flowing anabranches, in which only two sites were used due to its short length.
Click the image to view a larger version
Figure 1: Location of study sites on the Murray River between Wentworth and the South Australia-Victoria border. Map from Murray-Darling Basin Commission.
Sampling involved 12 × 90 second boat-mounted electrofishing shots (Pulsed DC 4800–5000 Watt, 60–120 Hz) at each of site, covering approximately 300–400m of channel length. This was consistent with Sustainable Rivers Audit (SRA) fish assessment methods (Davies et al. 2008) and with the TLM consistent monitoring framework for fish (MDBA 2009). Each fish collected was measured for standard length (SL) to the nearest 1 mm whenever possible/feasible. Fish identifications followed McDowall (1996) and Lintermans (2007).
Data for all sites was pooled to provide a regional (lower Murray River and associated anabranch creeks within the section between Lock and Weir 9 and Lock and Weir 6) rather than macrohabitat or reach specific summary assessment of the status of large-bodied fish communities. This approach reflects an expectation that management of a diversity of habitats within bioregions is important for maintenance of sustainable fish communities, and reduces the tendency to focus on specific sites containing particularly strong or depleted fish communities.
Analysis of size structure was undertaken by plotting of length-frequency distributions for each monitoring period. When only total length (TL) was available, this was converted into standard length (SL) using conversion factors from both www.fishbase.org and available data. The maximum size (= length) for the young-of-year (YOY or 0+) fish of each species also was determined from literature data (Table 3) and displayed in the corresponding length-frequency histogram as an indicator for surrogate for recruitment. The latter was defined as the survival of a cohort to the end of the first year of life, that is either towards the end of age 0+ (just before their first birthday) or into age 1+ (after first birthday).
Table 3 - Indicative maximum size and SL from TL conversion factor for the young-of-year (YOY) of the fish species sampled at Lindsay-Mulcra-Wallpolla Islands from 2006 to 2010. SL = Standard Length; FL = Fork Length; TL = Total Length.
Max YOY size
Species name
SL ¬ TL
Mallen-Cooper and Stuart (2003)
Murray cod
Anderson et al. (1992)
Non-native
Vilizzi and Walker (1999)
Morgan et al. (2002)
The relative abundances of Murray cod throughout the period 2002 to 2010 are presented in Figure 2. During these surveys, a total of 381 Murray cod were recorded in the study area. This comprised 189 adults, 177 sub-adults and 15 YOY fish. Peak abundances of Murray cod were observed in 2006-07 (n=81) and 2007-08 (n =107) surveys. Minimum abundances were recorded in 2003-04 (n = 14), 2009-10 (n = 15) and 2004-05 (n = 19). The detection of YOY fish (<100mm) in 2002-03 and 2005-06 indicates some level of larval survival during the respective spawning period. The observation that YOY fish were only detected in 2 out of 8 survey years may indicate a suppressed population, as all life history stages are not well represented. However, the failure to detect fish smaller than <100mm in the remaining surveys must be interpreted with caution; Murray cod of this size are cryptic and often difficult to sample. Early sub-adult (100-200mm, age 1+) fish were detected in low numbers (n = ≤2) in 5 out of 8 survey years, and in relatively strong numbers (n = 29) in 2002-03 (see Figure 7). Representation of individuals within the sub-adult size class (see Figure 7) indicates that some level of spawning and survival has continued on a regular basis within the study region. It is of note that there is an apparent reduction in abundance of Murray cod in the size class 500-800mm over the sampling period, and the distribution of fish across size classes is fragmented.
Figure 2: Relative abundance (CPUE transformed data) of Murray cod recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected Victorian anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
The relative abundances of Golden perch throughout the period 2002 to 2010 are presented in Figure 3. During these surveys, a total of 973 Golden perch were recorded. This comprised 520 adults, 411 sub-adults and 42 YOY fish. Peak abundances of Golden perch were observed in 2006-07 (n=216) and 2007-08 (n =164) surveys. Minimum abundances were recorded in 2008-09 (n = 46) and 2004-05 (n = 69). There was a strong presence of sub-adult fish in each year (Figure 8). The detection of a small number of YOY fish in 2005-06 and a large cohort of YOY fish in 2009 - 10 indicates some spawning and larval survival during the respective spawning periods. The detection of a small number of sub-adult individuals between 100-200 mm (likely to be 1+) within most years suggests that some, albeit small, level of recruitment has occurred within the region (Figure 8) in most years. However, this observation must be interpreted with caution, as it is not possible to readily distinguish between (i) fish derived from regional spawning success; and (ii) hatchery bred fish released into the river during stocking programs.
Figure 3: Relative abundance (CPUE transformed data) of Golden perch recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected Victorian anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
The relative abundances of Silver perch throughout the period 2002 to 2010 are presented in Figure 4. During these surveys, a total of 66 Silver perch were recorded. This comprised 45 adults, 16 sub-adults and 5 YOY fish. Peak abundances were observed in 2006-07 (n=23) and 2007-08 (n =17) surveys. Minimum abundances were recorded in 2002-03 (n =1) with low abundances (n =<4) in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. The detection of a small number of YOY fish in 2005-06 and a relatively large cohort of YOY fish in 2009-10 indicates that spawning and episodic larval survival occured during the respective spawning periods (Figure 9). The patchy distribution of individuals across size classes (see Figure 9) indicates the suppressed status of the regional population.
Figure 4: Relative abundance (CPUE transformed data) of Silver perch recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected Victorian anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
The relative abundances of Common carp throughout the period 2002 to 2010 are presented in Figure 5. During these surveys, a total of 2,143 Common carp were recorded. This comprised 1,748 adults, 175 sub-adults and 220 YOY fish. Peak abundances were observed in 2006-07 (n=557) and 2007-08 (n=375) surveys. Minimum abundances were recorded in 2008-09 (n = 152) and 2003-04 (n =165). There was a strong presence of adult fish in each year. The detection of a small number of YOY and sub-adult fish in every year and a large cohort of YOY fish in 2009-10 indicates regular spawning and larval survival of this introduced species in the study region. The bell-shaped distribution evident in the size class distribution data (Figure 10) indicates that this species retains a strong and robust presence within the region.
Figure 5: Relative abundance (CPUE transformed data) of Common carp recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected Victorian anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
The relative abundances of European perch throughout the period 2002 to 2010 are presented in Figure 6. During these surveys, a total of 249 European perch were recorded. This comprised 92 adults, 48 sub-adults and 109 YOY fish. Peak abundance was observed in 2006-07 (n=165). Low abundances (n = <4) were recorded in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05. The presence of YOY fish in each year since 2006-07 combined with the bell-shaped distribution evident in the 2009-10 size class distribution data (Figure 11) indicates that the abundance of this introduced species may be increasing within the region.
Figure 6: Relative abundance (CPUE transformed data) of European perch recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected Victorian anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
Figure 7: Length-frequency distributions (SL = standard length, mm) for Murray cod recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
Figure 8: Length-frequency distributions (SL = standard length, mm) for Golden perch recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
Figure 9: Length-frequency distributions (SL = standard length, mm) for Silver perch recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected anabranches over the 2002-10 study period
Figure 10: Length-frequency distributions (SL = standard length, mm) for Common carp recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
Figure 11: Length-frequency distributions (SL = standard length, mm) for European perch recorded in the Mallee region of the lower Murray River and selected anabranches over the 2002-10 study period.
Flows in the lower Murray River during the study period
The 2002-2010 timeframe during which these surveys were undertaken covers a period of extended low flows, during which large-scale overbank flooding did not occur due to a combination of drought and river regulation. The daily flow hydrograph from 1995 to August 2010 (as measured at Lock and Weir 6 and Lock and Weir 7) is presented in Figure 12 (data from http://livedata.mdba.gov.au/system-view). This period of extended low flows is likely to have directly or indirectly affected the abundance of some if not all fish species examined here, particularly those that are considered to be dependent on periods of high flows for spawning (see following sections).
Figure 12: Daily flow hydrograph (MLday-1) recorded downstream of Lock and Weir 6 (MDBA gauging site A4260511) and Lock and Weir 7 (MDBA gauging site A4260505) during the period 1995-2010. Data from http://livedata.mdba.gov.au/system-view
Murray cod are listed as a threatened species at the Federal (EPBC 2004) and State level (Victorian FFG Act 1988); due to general declines in abundance and distribution across the natural range. This study observed that the size class distribution for this species is fractured within the study region, with patchy and inconsistent distribution of fish across size classes evident in each survey. There is an apparent contraction in the abundance of fish in the 600-800 mm size class in the population structure. The average relative abundance of fish in this size class in the 2001-10 period is 4.4, with a maximum (n = 13) recorded in 2002-03. The minimum was recorded in 2005-06 and 2009-10 (n = 0), with lows (n ≤ 3) recorded in 2003-4, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09 and 2009-10. This is represented graphically in Figure 13, which suggests a linear decline (y = 9.68 – 1.18x, r2 = 0.423, F = 4.401, P = 0.081) in the relative abundance of fish in the 600-800 mm size range over the study period.
The apparent contraction in the relative abundance of fish in the 600-800 mm size class may reflect the level of angling pressure in the region, as the lower end of the range (600 mm) coincides with the minimal legal size limit for recreational anglers to take Murray cod in both NSW and Victoria. For the local population to remain self-sustaining, research into the factors affecting population structure and recruitment to the adult population is warranted. This may include a robust examination of the factors affecting spawning effort and subsequent recruitment success through the respective life stages, and an in-depth examination of recreational angling effort in the study region.
Figure 13: Relative abundance (CPUE transformed data) of Murray cod in the 600-800 mm size range recorded in the Mallee region of the lower-Murray River and selected Victorian anabranches over the 2002-10 study period. The fitted line represents the linear decline in relative abundance (y = 9.68 – 1.18x, r2 = 0.423, F = 4.401, P = 0.081).
The relative abundance of adult Golden perch was low in 2008-09 and 2009-10, but equivalent to abundances recorded in 2003-04. Within the study region, the period 2002-10 was characterised by low flows (see Figure 12). Within the Murray River, Golden perch have exhibited a flow dependant spawning strategy, with larvae and eggs only being recorded in conjunction with discrete spring/summer flow events (Vilizzi et al. 2007; King et al. 2009). In the present study, YOY golden perch were only recorded in those years which corresponded with the occurrence of a spring/summer flow pulse (2005-06 and 2009-10). It is likely that the extended period of low-flow and the absence of spring/summer flow pulses has restricted spawning effort and subsequent recruitment success of this species. Consequently, the large cohort of YOY fish observed in 2009-10 are considered to represent an important component of the population, as survival of this cohort into sub-adult and adult classes in subsequent years could be expected to sustain or improve the abundance of this species within the region. Accepting that substantial recruitment requires a flow pulse and that these flow pulses have been rare occurrences in the last ten years, constant mortality pressure from anglers in this region (there is no closed season and minimum legal size is less than the known size at maturity for females) may contribute to a suppressed or declining population.
Relatively high abundances of Silver perch were observed in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09. Similar to the pattern observed for Golden perch, YOY Silver perch were only recorded in years coinciding with a spring/summer flow pulse. Extended periods of low flows are likely to have a negative effect on spawning and recruitment of Silver perch. The detection of low numbers of YOY fish in 2009-10 demonstrates that larval survival has recently occurred within the region. Survival of this cohort into sub-adult and adult classes in subsequent years could be expected to increase the relative abundance of this species. Unlike Golden perch, Silver perch are considered likely to be subject to limited mortality from angling pressure due to their current status as a protected species. Due to the overall fractured population structure and low relative abundance of silver perch in the study region, it is recommended that this status as a protected species be upheld to ensure the rehabilitation of the regional population.
Common carp continue to numerically dominate the large bodied fish community within the study region. The presence of sub-adult and YOY fish in every year demonstrate that this introduced species retains a strong presence.
European perch were recorded in every survey between 2002 and 2010. However, the abundance of this introduced species was relatively low compared to that of other large bodied species, indicating a suppressed population within the region. The relatively high abundance of YOY fish in 2006-07 does not appear to have progressed to larger size classes. This may indicate that other factors facilitating strong recruitment of European perch did not occur during the study period.
Captures of the Freshwater catfish (Tandanus tandanus) are anecdotally reported by recreational anglers, hence its presence within the region is noted. However, this species was not recorded during the surveys undertaken during 2002-10. Consequently, it is considered that the local population of this threatened native species is heavily suppressed.
Other native species
River blackfish, Trout cod, Two-spined blackfish, Murray River Galaxid and Macquarie perch have not been recorded in the region in the past two decades (Gilligan 2005).
A key feature of the species examined here (see figures 2-6) is a marked increase in relative abundance in 2006-07 and 2007-08 relative to both preceding and following years. The cause for this is not clear and warrants further investigation. However, the influence of prevailing water turbidity should be taken into account as turbidity in the lower Murray was relatively low in 2006-07 and 2007-08 when the majority of water was being delivered to the lower Murray via headwater storages. In contrast, the 2009-10 surveys coincided with a period of relatively high turbidity associated with water entering the lower Murray via the Darling River. It is considered that turbidity is likely to be a key factor in the efficiency of active fishing techniques such as electrofishing which rely on netters being able to visually observe, react to and subsequently capture (net) electro-fished individuals.
The impact of recreational angling upon Murray cod populations has been demonstrated by other researchers, who have shown that up to 32% of the population between the legal minimum take size of 500-1000 mm can been removed (Nicol et al. 2005), leading to some populations being severely fragmented. For populations where angling pressure is low however, the numbers of fish within size classes above 500 mm increase steadily up to the 1000 mm size class with each of the three life history stages (YOY, sub-adult, adult) present in strong numbers (Wallace et al. 2008). There is evidence in the data presented in this current report to indicate a substantial contraction in abundance of Murray cod between 600-800 mm within the study region. Consequently, it is likely that angling pressure poses a considerable risk to Murray cod, a threatened species, and that the local population may require an increased level of protection to remain viable. Angler pressure may also be a considerable risk for Golden perch in this region. A rapid appraisal of angler effort within the same study region as that reported on here, demonstrated that 93% of golden perch captured above the legal size limit were kept by those anglers surveyed (McGuffie et al. 2007). Given (i) there is currently no closed season for this species (ii) the minimum legal size is less than the known size at maturity for females, and (iii) the dependence of this species on periods of high flows/floods to induce spawning, this level of take may not be sustainable, particularly during extended periods of low flow.
The purpose of this report was to summarise the trend in abundance and composition of commonly encountered large-bodied fish, particularly those with high socio-economic value to recreational fishers, within the Mallee region of the lower Murray River between Lock and Weir 9 and the South Australia-Victoria Border. The data demonstrates that each of the respective species (Murray cod (Macquaria ambigua), Golden perch (Maccullochella peelii peelii), Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus), Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Redfin (Perca fluviatilis)) occur within the region. It is typically considered that a robust population structure requires all life-history stages to be well represented in order for populations to be self-sustaining. The survival of young fish must at least match the mortality of mature fish if a population is to remain viable. Based on the data presented here, the native species Murray cod, Golden perch, Silver perch and the introduced species, European perch would be considered suppressed. For each of the native species, YOY were only detected in 2 out of 8 survey years. YOY European perch were detected in 4 out of 8 survey years. The introduced Common carp was the only species for which each life-history stage assessed (YOY, sub-adult and adult) was detected in each sampling year. Given the socio-economic and ecological values of these species, detailed investigation of the factors affecting spawning effort, and the factors required for successful recruitment, is warranted in order to ensure a robust native fish community into the future.
Anderson, J. R., A. K. Morison and D. J. Ray (1992). "Age and growth of Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii (Perciformes : Percichthyidae) in the lower Murray-Darling Basin, Australia, from thin-sectioned otoliths."Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43: 983–1013.
Davies, P. E., J. H. Harris, T. J. Hillman and K. F. Walker (2008). SRA Report 1: A report on the Ecological Health of Rivers in the Murray-Darlin Basin, 2004-2007, Independent Sustainable Rivers Audit Group for the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council.
DPI (1988). The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/FID/-0488335CD48EC1424A2567C10006BF6D?OpenDocument.
EPBC Act. (2004). Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Updated 2004). Department of the Environment and Heritage. http://www.deh.gov.au/epbc/index.html.
Gilligan, D. (2005). Fish Communities of the Lower Murray-Darling Catchment: Status and trends. Final Report Series Number 83, NSW Dept. of Primary Industries - Fisheries.
Lintermans, M. (2007). Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin: An Introductory Guide., Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.
Mallen-Cooper, M. and I. G. Stuart (2003). "Age, growth and non-flood recruitment of two potamodromous fishes in a large semi-arid/temperate river system." River Research and Applications 19: 697-719.
McDowall, R. (1996). Freshwater fishes of South-Eastern Australia, Reed Books, NSW.
McGuffie, P. Fraser, I. Ellis and T. Wallace (2007). Native Fish Protection at Lindsay Island –Development of Fishing Diaries and Creel Surveys. A report produced for the Mallee CMA by the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre.
MDBA (2009). Draft standardised methodology: TLM Fish Condition Monitoring Approach (Af). July 2009: 20.
Morgan DL, Hambleton SJ, Gill HS, Beatty SJ. 2002: Distribution, biology and impacts of the introduced redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) (Percidae) in Western Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 53: 1211–1221.doi: 0028–8330/04/3803–0511.
Nicol, S., C. Todd, J. Koehn and J. Lieschke (2005). How can recreational angling regulations help meet the multiple objectives of Murray Cod populations? Management of Murray Cod in the Murray–Darling Basin Statement, Recommendations and Supporting Papers., ACT, 3–4 June 2004.
Vilizzi, L. and K. F. Walker (1999). "Age and growth of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. (Cyprinidae), in the River Murray, Australia: validation, consistency of age interpretation and growth models. "Environmental Biology of Fishes 54: 77–106.
Wallace, T. A., C. S. Sharpe, P. Fraser, R. Rehwinkel and L. Vilizzi (2008). The impact of drought on water quality and fish communities within refuge pools on the lower Darling River. A technical report prepared for the Lower Murray Darling Catchment Management Authority The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre.


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David Murphy of Tighe & Bond joins the EBC C&D Committee Leadership Team.
David Murphy is a civil engineer with 28 years of senior project management experience. He has managed major infrastructure project in the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami, led an Environmental Engineering firm, and managed major and complex projects for the Commissioner's office of the Massachusetts DEP helping to manage the environmental oversight of the $14.5 Billion Big Dig, Quincy's Granite Links project, the Boston Harbor dredge project, and numerous other Mega projects. For six years he has served at Tighe & Bond as Vice President managing over 120 projects including all aspects of Solid Waste Management, Materials Management, Real Estate Development, Coastal Infrastructure, Renewable Energy and FERC Permitting.


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-Author-
J. M. Richardson
Get carried away to another place with a book by J. M. Richardson. His acclaimed suspense and action fiction will allow you to travel the world and even across history for the price of a paperback. Get sucked into a new adventure that will have you riveted from the first page to the last.
The Twenty-Nine
America is in turmoil. The states are no longer united, and the path of their division may be leading us all to annihilation. When young Derek joined the Marine Corps his intentions were simply to provide himself with a better life. He never dreamed he would be facing combat against fellow Americans, or staring down a mushroom cloud on his own home soil. Americans are beginning to wonder if our differences will be the end of our great nation, or if we will find a way to unite our people and reclaim our freedom.
A Line in the Sand
In the aftermath of a nuclear attack, there is an uneasy peace in war-torn America. With an opportunity for mutual revenge half way around the globe, will the once united states move along the path of mending our broken country, or is there more destruction on the horizon?
The Apocalypse Mechanism
Brilliant New Orleans Professor James Beauregard's life is spiraling into complete despair when a startling discovery is made halfway across the globe that requires his expertise. Is there really an ancient machine that could push civilization into the throes of oblivion? As he attempts to unlock the secrets of this waiting apocalypse, Professor Beauregard is hunted by an archaic fundamentalist cult determined to bring about humanity's end-of-days. Will he find the key to stopping the world's oldest weapon of mass destruction, or will the Cult's wish to purge all evil be the Earth's demise?
The Barataria Key
It lurks in the shadowy recesses of the French Quarter, among the flickering gas lanterns and Creole courtyards. In the humid, teeming swamps of Barataria. A dark secret. An ancient force. The will to remake one's history. James Beauregard finds himself at the center of an insidious conspiracy, two hundred years in the making. From the backstreets of New Orleans to the once pirate-infested waters of the Gulf Coast, the race begins to unravel the mystery of The Barataria Key.
The Keepers
Some tales are timeless. As timeless as the waters of the Thames; as the stones in the White Tower. Tales of love. Hate. Betrayal. Murder. Dr. James Beauregard, hunted across London by a hidden enemy, must grapple with a new and deadly tale—his own. He must make sense of his past. Battle for his future. And perhaps the only ones that can help him are The Keepers.
© 2018 by J. M. Richardson. Proudly created with Wix.com


Origins of imperial Ottoman architecture in Istanbul : a cross-cultural interpretation on the development of a new Classical tradition.
Following the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by the Ottomans, a new trend in architecture developed that achieved a balance between the traditional Ottoman building practices of Bursa and Edirne with the styles found in Byzantium and the West. This thesis uncovers what led to the creation of a new Classical Ottoman architecture through an examination of the architectural resources available to the Ottoman sultans and their architects. The goal of this thesis is to discover what, if anything, is Ottoman about Ottoman imperial architecture in Istanbul. Was this new architecture the result of a logical progression of a traditional style or was it influenced by the new availability of Byzantine and Western resources? Sinan, chief architect under Sultan Süleyman, attained a mastery of material and visual harmony in his Süleymaniye Mosque Complex. Through a chronological study of his earlier mosques and the mosques of his predecessors, I intend to show the mosques of Sinan were responses to cross-cultural influences. Since mosque architecture is not restricted by plan requirements, almost any structure regardless of form may be converted to mosque use. This means that mosque construction is not limited to a particular style and therefore may be adapted to exist as a composite of building traditions. I consulted historical accounts and recent scholarship regarding Ottoman architectural history, along with associated myths and legends concerning the appropriation of the Byzantine Church of Hagia Sophia for Ottoman worship. I also compiled comparison data and statistics on the physical characteristics and dimensions of the mosques including plans and layout, and construction and decoration techniques.
Carneal, Shannon P., "Origins of imperial Ottoman architecture in Istanbul : a cross-cultural interpretation on the development of a new Classical tradition." (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 211.


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On-Set Review of Angénieux Optimo Primes with DP Zhao Longlong
With the introduction of advanced cinematic tools, cinematographers are finding more creative ways to deliver their stories. The Angénieux Optimo Prime lenses are particularly built to elevate the look of demanding, full-frame productions, supporting cinematographers to take their creativity a step further.
Director of Photography Zhao Longlong tells us about his experience using the Angénieux Optimo Prime lenses for the box-office film "Stay With Me", including how the compact lenses enabled him and his team to accurately portray the story's developing characters and period transformations over a span of ten years.
The film characters' skin tone appears very pleasant. In terms of shooting style and lens selection, what were your considerations?
The film tells from the leading actress' perspective, a couple's love story spanning about ten years, starting from their high school years to adulthood. After reading the screenplay, I felt that it had a soft and restrained story, without dramatic life and death events. As such, I decided to set a relatively warmer tone for the film using the right camera settings and lighting. That was when I came across JCineCast's promotional video for Angénieux Optimo Primes. As I looked up more information, I learned that cinematographer Ming Chao used this lens for shooting "The Clouds and the Rain". I asked him about it, and he patiently explained to me the lens characteristics.
At this point, I have already gained some perceptual knowledge of the Angénieux Optimo Primes, but have never actually used the lenses. When I learned that our partner KO Film Rental purchased the lenses, I arranged for a test run. I have been using Angénieux's zoom lenses since the beginning of my career, so I am very familiar with its tonality. The test made it clear to me that the Optimo Primes produce sharper images than the Angénieux zoom lens, but is also able to retain the softness of the latter. It delivers a subtle charm, especially with its ability to perfectly reproduce skin tones with a rich and warm effect.
As for the screenplay, because it is told from a female perspective, I expected a low but not overly soft contrast, and a not-too-strong style. The Angénieux Optimo Prime lens has a characteristic right level of contrast and a translucent softness. I thought this would be more suitable for such a film, especially since the student period takes up a relatively large part of the story.
Many reviews noted that the film's female characters were particularly well-shot and filled with texture. How much of that can be attributed to your choice of using the Angénieux Optimo Prime?
In "Stay With Me", female characters were involved in many of the scenes. After two months of using the Angénieux Optimo Primes, my biggest takeaway was its excellent rendering of skin texture. Many of the film's actresses already had great skin, and with the help of lighting and lenses, the images created became extremely fine, which was helpful in presenting the changes in the female character.
How did you use cinematography to distinguish the different periods across the decade?
I primarily used a warm tone for the whole film, first laying the warm light base, with the lens indicators, colours, and contrasts all set accordingly. In order to make a distinction between the ten years, a lot of hard lighting was used in portraying the earlier stage, which we gradually lessened as the narrative progressed. A lot of hard light was used for the high school years to render a more pleasant scene, while soft light was enhanced to make the images more realistic for the college phase. For the post-graduation part, we used cooler lighting but still laid it with a warm light base to capture the promising mood of this period.
How do you think Angénieux Optimo Prime's (Integrated Optical Palette) IOP technology impacts creativity?
Angénieux's IOP technology enables cinematographers to change the iris blade and internal filter to achieve different imaging effects. If the occasion arises, I would love to try this unique IOP function, which would be very helpful in enhancing the narrative when applied under the right conditions. The changeable iris brings a very intuitive visual experience, and a triangular bokeh can be very dreamy. This technology is deeply integrated into the lens, making the picture quality very different compared to manually added front or rear lenses.
Based on your experience using the Angénieux Optimo Prime, what do you think of its feel, image quality, performance, and compatibility with other Angénieux zoom lenses?
My strongest feeling while testing was that its size fits my hand very well during the test run. It was convenient regardless of frequent lens changes or handheld shooting. As I used it more, I can only describe its performance as "stunning". In terms of its compatibility with the Angénieux zoom lens, although it doesn't feel the same way as the zoom lens, it is able to retain the unique integrity of the zoom's cinematic tones. If only Angénieux came out with this lens earlier! Having used the Angénieux zoom lens for so long, I feel that the Optimo Prime definitely offers a new lens option for cinematographers. It's an altogether different lens that can be used for high-precision optical work across various scenes—such flexibility is very important.
Movie trailer of "Stay With Me":


Life insurance policies are designed to give policyholders peace of mind that unforeseen circumstances won't place their family in financial difficulty.
These products can encompass a number of different areas, including cover for total and permanent disabilities (TPDs), critical illnesses, income protection and death.
Unfortunately, recent research from insurer NobleOak found some professionals who are most at risk of injury in their jobs are neglecting to take out sufficient coverage.
Only 43 per cent of labourers and tradesmen have life insurance, according to the data, which was published by News Limited. This was notably lower than the 55 per cent national average and significantly below doctors and lawyers (68 per cent).
Office workers (60 per cent) and stay-at-home parents (55 per cent) were also more likely to purchase life insurance policies.
"It's surprising that life insurance or income protection insurance isn't part of a tradie's toolkit, especially when they are working with power tools and up ladders on a daily basis," said NobleOak CEO Anthony Brown.
The construction industry is responsible for a significant proportion of injuries and deaths in the country. Ten per cent of workers compensation claims and 12 per cent of employment-related fatalities occur in the sector, according to Safe Work Australia data.
Overall, construction employees are responsible for approximately 12,600 workers compensation claims every year for serious injuries or illnesses that require more than a week off work. Most workers hurt themselves due to body stressing (37 per cent), while the majority of deaths are falls from height (28 per cent).
Are higher premiums turning labourers away?
One reason tradies and labourers may avoid life insurance is because they must pay higher premiums. News Limited claimed workers often pay between 20 and 200 per cent more than other professionals.
But Wotherspoon Wealth Director Simon Wotherspoon said this trend merely highlights how important life insurance is to this demographic. The premiums are higher because construction workers are more likely to claim.
"People insure their tools and their cars, and when their biggest asset is their ability to earn an income, they should make sure they're covered," he added.
However, a previous NobleOak survey found that more than one-quarter of people who purchased life insurance weren't even aware of what their policies covered. Of these, 35.5 per cent admitted they had never read the necessary documents.
This could place policyholders in a precarious position when the time comes to claim, as they may not be aware of exclusions that could prevent a payout.
Contact Gerard Malouf & Partners Superannuation Lawyers for more information on how to challenge a rejected insurance claim.


Every patient comes to Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists with a unique combination of medical condition, severity, health, age, and other such factors. This means that we need to create treatment plans that take all of those factors into consideration. Our hope is to use conservative care methods whenever possible, but sometimes we need to use cortisone or other steroid shots to relieve painful symptoms and restore mobility.
In the same way that postoperative instructions are important for optimal healing, so too are post-injection instructions. Understanding what to expect if you are about to undergo this procedure, or having a reminder if you have already had an injection, will help you make smart decisions for your own health.
Put simply, cortisone and other steroid injections can provide relief for pain and inflammation caused by a variety of medical issues. Some of the more common conditions include osteoarthritis, bursitis, gout, Morton's neuroma, plantar fasciitis, and tendinitis.
These shots are often used in joints and may include a local anesthetic to go with the corticosteroid being administered. We perform this simple procedure right here in our Austin, TX office. It is important to note that the number of corticosteroid injections a patient can receive in a year may be limited.
Some numbness, weakness or tenderness in the foot or ankle. This is normal and caused by the anesthetic. It should improve within a few hours.
Local tenderness at the injection site. This is also normal. Apply ice to the area for 20 minutes 3-4 times per day and rest. Tylenol (Acetaminophen), Ibuprofen (Advil) or Naprosyn (Aleve) can be used to relieve any minor discomfort.
Local swelling or redness at the site of the injection can be expected, but if there are raised, red, or significantly tender areas, call us.
If steroid (Dexamethasone, Kenalog) was used, it may take several days for effects to be felt. Occasionally, the steroid causes pain to increase for 1-2 days before it improves your symptoms.
Occasionally, the steroid can cause a temporary adverse reaction. This typically includes flushing or redness of the face and/or sleeplessness. Benadryl can be taken to relieve these symptoms, which usually only last a couple of days.
Restrictions include not submerging the procedure site in standing water such as a hot tub, bathtub, or swimming pool for 24 hours, as these can slightly increase the risk of infection.
If you are diabetic, the injection may cause your blood sugars to elevate. Please check your blood sugar frequently for the next 2-3 days after the injection. Make adjustments as necessary. You may have to notify the doctor who treats your diabetes if you have elevated blood sugars so you can be treated appropriately.
As we noted earlier, our goal is to treat the issue that is causing you pain or restricting your ability to perform favorite activities with nonsurgical methods. This might include a cortisone or other steroid shot, so feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your post-injection instructions.
Don't let foot pain interrupt your life! Instead, visit our doctors at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists and see for yourself how we continually raise and exceed the bar for patient expectations. Call us at (512) 328-8900 for more information, or use our online form and schedule your appointment today.


I live in the state of Kentucky and had an accident recently. I was found 10% at fault for the accident and my vehicle was totaled.
My insurance had lapsed unknowingly due to a payment situation so I did not have coverage the day of the accident.
So my question is since I live in the state of Kentucky how do I get the at fault drivers insurance company to pay for my medical bills since I was injured in the accident and it was their customers fault?


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An Undeniable Hope Part 2: An Accumulation of Steps Led To Orkambi
by Stephen Shannon
In Stephen's Weekly CF Column.
This past Saturday, Fedex brought a small unassuming box to the porch of my home. It didn't take me long to open it and find Vertex's newest drug, Orkambi, wrapped in its white and lime green colored box. Inside lay foil wrapped pills neatly labelled Sunday through Monday to be taken each morning and night.
Although the drug was only recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 2, I have been waiting for its arrival well over two years when I first learned of its progress through clinical trials. The drug represents a shift in the treatment of nearly half of those with CF, who for the first time can take a drug that takes the disease head on by beginning to correct the function of the defective protein, rather than only extinguishing flaring symptoms of the disease.
This new approach has brought an undeniable hope to the CF community and as Orkambi sits fresh on my counter I wait to see what benefits it may bring to my health, not just in the coming weeks, but over an unknown number of years. I have long held onto the words 'dum spiro spero' — while I breathe I hope — and I can only hope that my breathe will continue to grow stronger with Orkambi.
This drug is a victory of science and advocacy, but it was not achieved spontaneously in a vacuum. It is the crescendo of an accumulation of steps that churned slowly over the past century in science and medicine that led to its inception.
The cornerstone of this achievement came in 1938 when cystic fibrosis was first described and documented by Dorothy Anderson, M.D., a graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Anderson was a pioneer and maverick in the medical field and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Celebrating America's Women Physician's tell how, "Dr. Anderson considered herself a rugged individualist, a pediatric clinician, a research chemist, and a roofer and carpenter happy to make her own home improvements."
Anderson happened upon the disease during an autopsy of a child with celiac disease in which she "noticed a lesion in the pancreas." Further investigation led her to identify the disease and even develop a diagnostic test which is still in use today. Her initial discovery was seminal in identifying the disease that was and still is responsible for taking far too many number of lives, particularly those of children. It was in her description of cystic fibrosis that gave a name and a face to the antagonist that researchers and doctors then set out to conquer.
RELATED: FDA Approves ORKAMBI, New Cystic Fibrosis Combination Drug
In the middle of the twentieth century, CF was largely uncontrollable, with physicians and families helpless to intervene as the disease followed its fatal course. In the 1950s, children often died early in childhood even before beginning primary school.
It wasn't until 1989 that the mystery of the disease began to unravel as Lap-Chee Tsui, at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues identified the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene responsible for the disease. This discovery opened the field of CF research to allow scientists to begin to look at the disease at a cellular level to understand what steps needed to be taken to develop drugs that could effectively counter-act the disease.
Only four years later in 1993, Pulmozyme (dornase alfa) developed by Genentech was approved by the FDA. The median age of survival at that time had risen to 29 years of age and Pulmozyme, a mucolytic used to cut DNA in the sputum, had shown improvements in patient's symptoms and lung function in clinical testing.
Then in 1997 Tobi was reformulated and approved by the FDA for inhalation to help with chronic infection against the devastating bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This allowed patients to combat chronic pseudomonal infections, which until that time could be treated only through IVs. Trials had demonstrated that use of the inhaled Tobi helped to improve lung function as well as decrease levels of the bacteria in sputum.
A third medication came in 2004 called hypertonic saline and was quickly added to the core regime of CF treatment. The drug was developed from an Australian study in which doctors noticed better lung function in those with CF who surfed and were consistently exposed to the misty salt water. The drug helps ion balance outside cells to draw water out to increase the level of the airway surface liquid used by cells to clear mucous from the lungs.
In 2012 a paradigm shift was brought to the treatment of CF with the approval Kayldeco by Vertex. The drugs approved before this time although beneficial to patients only mitigated symptoms of the disease without addressing its cause. Kayldeco, initially approved for those with the G551D mutation, was the first drug to directly interact with the defective protein in CF to restore its normal function. The success of Kayldeco then paved the way for continued development of other CFTR modulators such as VX-809 and VX-661.
The year following the release of Kayldeco in 2013 the CF Foundation patient registry report noted that the median age of survival of someone with CF had increased to 40.7 years, a gain of 11.7 years since 1993. The number 40.7 is powerful to consider. It did not come spontaneously, or even quickly, but those years were gained with an ever growing accumulation of steps as drugs such as pulmozyme, tobi, hypertonic saline and kalydeco were moved into the hands of patients. Their success, through the work of researchers, families and those in the CF Foundation provided an avenue through which we can now celebrate our newest success in the approval of Orkambi.
The number, 40.7, is the new beginning of the story as the white and lime-green colored box of Orkambi sits on the counter in my kitchen. I am at the age of 26 as the result of pulmozyme, tobi, and hypertonic saline before it and now I begin the next step as I close my eyes and slip the two pink pills into my mouth watching the number climb from 40.7 to wherever it may land next. Today the words 'Dum Spiro Spero' sit well — while I breathe I hope.
Stephen Shannon
Stephen Shannon is working on a PhD In biomedical sciences at the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. He performed extensive research in a neuroendocrinology lab as an undergraduate, studying the effects of brain injury on the development of post-traumatic stress disorder. Upon completion of his BS at Wheaton College, he worked as a high school science teacher before entering his current PhD program. Stephen also has cystic fibrosis.
Tagged Orkambi, Pulmozyme, TOBI.
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Excellent article, Stephen. Thank you for this quick history of CF care.
-an says:
this gave me chills. All the best
Lori Twomey says:
Very well written article. Extremely informative and comprehensive yet easy to understand.
My 13 year old daughter has CF and is thriving thanks to all the amazing people and developments up to this point. I didn't know that CF was first discovered by a female Dr.
My daughter will probably start ORKAMBI within a year if all goes well with insurance funding. She is with Dr. Nelson from UCSF Pediatric Pulminary.
Thanks for the great article. Would love to read more
Andrew Molder says:
I also have cf and get trested by the good doctors at KU medical. My orkambi package is due in tomorrow. Any thoughts on CNS effect of orkambi? I hope that perhaps the increase of CFTR expression may aleivate some of the anxiety and depression associated with CF. I have read that the cftr is heavily expressed in the hypothalamus. Interestingly, I also have been diagnosed with narcolepsy…
Steven Jones says:
My wife started Orkambi on the morning of Friday, August 14th. By Saturday, August 15th she was on a ventilator with roughly 150 ml of sputum suctioned out of her lungs and her CO2 through the roof. It appears to have been an adverse reaction to the drug; aggressive treatment with steroids to stop the drug action led to her being removed from the vent on August 17th. She is now on supplemental O2. We are very disappointed of course..
John Wallenburg says:
Great story Stephen, I just wish national pride didn't get in the way of accuracy. While I appreciate that Francis Collins developed the technique of chromosome jumping and collaborated with the scientists at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto who were already chromosome walking toward it, it's disingenuous to state that he, and not Lap-Chee Tsui and colleagues, discovered the gene. (http://www.science.ca/scientists/scientistprofile.php?pID=19). That's a myth that really should be put to bed.
Stephen Shannon says:
John, I appreciate your comment and you are absolutely right about Lap-Chee Tsui given credit for uncovering the mystery of the CFTR gene. I was a bit hasty in writing Francis Collins and colleagues over Tsui. My apologies and please find the revision in the text of the article. For anyone interested you can follow this link to the original paper by Tsui et al. (1985) in Science in which their discovery of the CFTR gene can be found http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2997931?dopt=Abstract&holding=npg
Thank you for sharing history of CF and personal experience. I am a grandmother of 9 children 14 years to 9 months-three have CF. My hope is a for a cure in our lifetime. I remember a childhood friend that lost his life at 6 years old-and now hope that 40.7 becomes much higher. My husband & daughter just walked the Xtreme Hike for CF & we will continue to help with spreading the word about this condition. -while they breathe we hope!
Creative Bioarray says:
That's a great post to share. The drug at least bring hope. Hope more news on the drug can be shared from you.
How a Blood Donor Saved My Life
CFF Awards Up to $2M to Advance Eloxx's Therapy ELX-02


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Andy Bull is an Australian alt-pop singer-songwriter and producer, based in Sydney. He is best known for his singles "Dog", "Keep on Running" and "Baby I Am Nobody Now"; as well as his prolific Australian touring.

Bull also provides the singing voice to animated character, Jay, in the Netflix original cartoon series Beat Bugs.

Career

2004–2009: Early years and We're Too Young
Bull began performing in and around Sydney in the early 2000s. He signed to Island Records, a part of Universal Music Australia, in 2007. He supported Joss Stone on her Australian tour later that year. Bull release a 7" single of "We're Too Young", followed by "Small Town Girl," was released in August 2008. It was also released as a part of a four-track self-titled EP; which featured three original songs and a cover of "A Man Needs a Maid" by Neil Young.

Bull's debut album, We're Too Young, was released in August 2009. A music video was made for "Young Man," the third single from the album. Bull toured extensively in support of the album throughout the rest of 2008 and 2009, notably joining Tim Finn's national tour as an opening act, performing solo. He also opened for a MySpace secret show in Sydney featuring Duffy that same year.

In May 2009, Bull toured in support of Lisa Mitchell's Australian tour, prior to the July release of her debut album Wonder, fomenting Bull and Mitchell's friendship, which would lead to their collaboration on Bull's song "Dog" the following year.

2010–11: Phantom Pains
In 2010, Bull began writing new material after relocating to Surry Hills. He was inspired to record a duet with Lisa Mitchell after performing a cover of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" with her and Lanie Lane at Sydney's Enmore Theatre during Mitchell's headlining performance at the venue. The resulting song was "Dog". Its popularity resulted in being featured in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010, charting at number 68.

"Dog," along with five other new songs, featured on Bull's Phantom Pains EP. He played piano, guitar and drums on the EP. He was also joined by former Red Riders guitarist Adrian Deutsh and Deep Sea Arcade/Tim Finn drummer Carlos Adura, as well as Deep Sea Arcade bassist Nick Weaver. Along with Mitchell, the EP also featured special guests Little Red and Hungry Kids of Hungary as Bull's backing band on the songs "Nothing to Lose" and "Last Waltz," respectively. A music video was made for the EP's title track, in which a man cuts off his thumb in order to get workplace compensation. The EP artwork was painted by Bull, and features a depiction of his left hand with a severed thumb.

In October 2010, Bull joined Clare Bowditch's national tour for a series of stops as her opening act, joining Augie March frontman Glenn Richards. For these dates, he was joined by Slow Down Honey guitarist Alex Bennison. Bull and Bennison did a small headlining tour in the following weeks, and later joined Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Mangan on the New South Wales leg of his national tour in January 2011. He also headed out on a headlining tour of the east coast with Melbourne singer Owl Eyes, titled the Bulls Eye Tour, in February.

Shortly after this, the second and final single from Phantom Pains was announced as "Last Waltz". Bull, Bennison and new drummer Dave Jenkins, Jr. (also of Slow Down Honey, Young Romantics, Reece Mastin and Kirin J Callinan) visited the Triple J studios on 24 March 2011, to perform the song acoustically as a part of the station's "Like a Version" segment. The trio also performed a cover of Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." The segment and rendition were popularly received, and were later voted by a Triple J listener poll into the top five 'Like a Version' segments for 2011.

On 28 February 2011, Bull was a special guest on Channel 10 comedy panel show Good News Week. As one of the clues in deciphering a news story from the week, he performed a piano-based version of the Sex Pistols song "God Save the Queen." In early March 2011, Bull was also a part of a campaign for Australian tourism called "Making Tracks," in which he was paired with Taiwanese classical musician Irene Chan, from the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. The pair travelled to South Australia and the Northern Territory, in particular Kangaroo Island and Kings Canyon. The campaign involved a musical experiment, in which the two collaborated on a piece of music that reflected their journey. The video documentation of this has had over 100 thousand hits on YouTube.

Following this tour, Bull was asked to join his friends Hungry Kids of Hungary on their final Australian tour in support of their debut album, Escapades. Each night of the tour would see Bull performing with his band, as well as performing "Last Waltz" with Hungry Kids of Hungary during their headlining sets.

In June 2011, Bull played solo in support of Joshua Radin's Australian tour. In August/September 2011, Bull and his band headlined the official Phantom Pains tour of Australia, twelve months after The Phantom Pains EP was released.. The tour included sold out shows at Good God in Sydney; the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne and The Spiegltent in Brisbane (as part of the 2011 Brisbane Festival).

In December 2011, Bull, Bennison and Jenkins performed at Your Festival in Newcastle, New South Wales, as well as three shows at the Woodford Folk Festival in Woodford, Queensland. At these shows, the trio performed a mix of new material and songs taken from Phantom Pains.

2013–2019: Sea of Approval
In February 2013, "Keep On Running" premiered on Richard Kingsmill's music show. Bull is credited with production, and all instruments but drums. A video was also released for the single, directed by Nelson Alves. In June 2013, Bull signed to US Record Label Republic Records.

In July 2013, "Baby I Am Nobody Now," was released. Bull is credited with production and all instruments. A video was also released for the single, again directed by Nelson Alves. It features cameos from A Rational Fear creator Dan Ilic and Bluejuice frontman Jake Stone. The singles were toured throughout Australia. Bull's backing bands for these tours featured Bennison, Adura, Jenkins, Dappled Cities keyboardist Ned Cooke and former Hungry Kids of Hungary drummer Ryan Strathie.

Both "Keep on Running" and "Baby I am Nobody Now" featured in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2013 at number 57 and number 81, respectively. "Keep on Running" was also featured in the 2CD compilation CD from the countdown.

In May 2014, Bull confirmed details of his second studio album. The album, entitled Sea of Approval, was released on 11 July 2014. The album features both "Keep on Running", "Baby I Am Nobody Now" and a third single, "Talk Too Much". The track was posted to SoundCloud later that day. A music video for the song was released on 3 July 2014. It featured TV presenter John Mangos and Australian singer-songwriter Megan Washington. The song was voted in at number 61 in the Hottest 100. Sea Of Approval was released on vinyl in 2020.

2020–present: People You Love
In November 2020, Bull released the single "It's All Connected". In October 2022, Bull released "Something I've Been Thinking" as the third single from this forthcoming third studio album, People You Love, scheduled for release on 2 December 2022.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Awards and nominations

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition
The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009.

|-
| 2014
| "Baby I Am Nobody Now"
| Encouragement Award
|
|-

Backing band members
Current members
 Alex Bennison – guitar, vocals (2010–present)
 Ryan Strathie – drums (2013, 2015–present)
 Luke Hodgson – bass, vocals (2015–present)

Former members
 Carlos Adura – drums (2009–2010, 2013–2014)
 Nick Weaver – bass (2010)
 Dave Jenkins Jr. – drums, percussion (2011–2013), bass (2013, 2014)
 Ned Cooke – keyboards, synthesizers, sequencer, vocals (2013–2015)

References

External links

Interview with Australian Music Online
Vibewire Gig Review
3D World Article
Andy Bull - IMDb

Australian rock singers
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Island Records artists

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