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The Druids, a Celtic study
No full textMy concern is with a select group of religious leaders known as "the Druids" who were affiliated to "the Celtic" peoples. I am particularly interested in the parallels that can be drawn with other religious leaders of Indo-European heritage. I will show how this description of the Druids as religious leaders is altered with a changing mythological context, with my emphasis on religion as a process involving both content and context. [Foreword
Molecular basis for antimalarial resistance and erythrocyte invasion in Plasmodim vivax using Plasmodium cynomolgi as a model.
No full textMalaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites. Although Plasmodium falciparum is the deadliest form of malaria, Plasmodium vivax is the most globally widespread, with 40 % of the world’s population at risk of infection. P. vivax is particularly difficult to diagnose and treat, an issue that is confounded by a lack of a continuous in vitro culture method. Without the ability to culture P. vivax, our knowledge of this important parasite has lagged behind P. falciparum (which has had a well-established in vitro culture method available since the 1970s).
The recent re-establishment and optimisation of a continuous in vitro culture method for P. vivax’s sister taxon, Plasmodium cynomolgi (a vivax-like parasite found in old world monkeys) however, has for the first time allowed the mechanistic investigation of key biological processes, such as P. vivax biology (as it shares many of its distinct phenotypic characteristics), and the molecular basis for drug-resistant P. vivax (as it has a high degree of genetic similarity). Without a continuous culture method, previous studies in these areas have had to rely on ex vivo and clinical drug susceptibility studies to investigate P. vivax drug resistance. Reverse genetic studies in P. cynomolgi will for the first time provide the ability to validate putative drug resistance markers in P. vivax, a crucial early step in mitigating the further emergence and spread of drug resistance through South-East Asia.
To date the only published report on P. cynomolgi transfection involved episomal plasmids in an in vivo model (monkey infection). Our laboratory has focused on the establishment and optimisation of an in vitro integrative transfection protocol for P. cynomolgi; using a ‘one plasmid’ CRISPR-Cas9 system adapted from the Fiddock Lab (University of Columbia, USA). This system was used to investigate validated molecular markers of P. falciparum drug resistance (the Y268S mutation in pfcytb, and the K76T mutation in pfcrt) and whether they would confer drug resistance in P. cynomolgi, as a model for P. vivax. We have been able to develop CRISPR plasmids for the Y268S mutation in cytochrome b (cytb) which is suspected to confer atovaquone resistance to parasites. The isolation of the P. cynomolgi crt gene was difficult however, and this, combined with the challenge of understanding transfection efficiency, led to a decision to try a second approach to the transfection of the crt gene. A plasmid containing cas9 and the gRNA was produced and was transfected into P. cynomolgi parasites alongside a single stranded oligodeoxynucleotide repair template.
For the transfection of P. cynomolgi to be successful, there needs to be optimal culture conditions for parasites, to encourage growth and prevent contamination. Throughout our study, P. cynomolgi has proven to be an excellent model for P. vivax, however there are still obstacles associated with P. cynomolgi in vitro culture that need to be overcome in order to allow more efficient, ethical, and cheaper culturing of these parasites. To reduce costs and increase culture volumes, we investigated several serum combinations as alternatives to non-human primate serum. We also investigated antibiotic combinations to prevent bacterial contamination of cultures and sought to optimise the synchronisation of parasites (a key component of the transfection procedure).
Finally, we sought to investigate the roles of the dbp1 and dbp2 genes in P. vivax invasion of RBCs by tagging these proteins with GFP to visualise them under electron microscopy. We were able to successfully construct a plasmid to tag the dbp2 gene in P. cynomolgi.
Our laboratory has been able to show that P. cynomolgi is a tractable P. vivax model, receptive to genetic manipulation by CRISPR-Cas9. This work is the first of its kind for P. cynomolgi, but still requires further optimisation before it is available as a toolbox for further research into the neglected area of vivax malaria molecular biology
Learning by watching others learn: the use of videoed tutorials in undergraduate business education
No full textThe Fourth Industrial Age (4IA) is likely to be accompanied simultaneously by an increase in technology-mediated learning and an urgent need for people to learn rapidly, effectively and collaboratively. This study investigates the potential of vicarious learning from videoed tutorials as a pedagogical tool suitable for the challenges of 4IA. Undergraduate Business students observed videos of student tutees responding to tutor prompts as they tackled open-ended and conceptually challenging problems. The results revealed that student observers self-reported: gains in their conceptual understanding from watching videoed tutorials; preferences for watching tutorial dialogues over alternative learning methods; and that watching videoed tutorials had positive impacts on their affect and access to additional learning-related information. The study concludes that vicarious learning from videoed tutorials is an accessible technology-mediated pedagogy that is achievable by mainstream educators and is effective in developing conceptual understanding, engaging students and providing access to additional learning-related information.Peer Reviewe
Understanding Processes of Rural Change in New Zealand: The Case of Maniototo
No full textRural places are extremely diverse and represent far more than the agricultural activity often associated with them. They provide lifestyles to people and communities and are celebrated as places of symbolic importance (Cloke, 2006; Woods, 2011). However, the recent development of rural areas have largely been dictated by the trajectory of the agricultural industry. This is exacerbated by external forces and non-agricultural demands. This is due to complex links between national-level policy and the reflection of this on-farm (Cloke & Goodwin, 1992; Wilson, 2007).
Recent rural geography identifies how ‘rurality’ is a social construct, constantly being (re)shaped by forces within rural places (Halfacree, 2006). A range of national and local stakeholders interact across scales to produce the ‘reality’ of life for rural communities. Within rural research, this ‘reality’ has been framed within concepts such as productivism and post- productivism (Ilbery & Bowler, 1998; Walford, 1999; McCarthy, 2005). Literature on the post- productive transition and multifunctionality have been used to explain how rural places have changed over time. However, these are often taken from the perspective of Britain and the European Union. Adding to this literature, this research investigation aims to explore rural and agricultural change in the context of New Zealand.
Rural changes within New Zealand have been inherently linked with the British productivist regime. The drive to become the ‘farm of Britain’ within New Zealand saw investments and interventions into the industry to enhance the intensification and commercialisation of agriculture. Subsequently, the withdrawal of state assistance in the 1980s led to a period of decline. In response, rural areas are now diversifying their on-farm and off-farm economies to improve local economic sustainability and rural social and cultural capital. Within the literature, these changes have been theorised as the ‘post-productive transition’ (Cloke & Goodwin, 1992; Halfacree, 1993; 2006; Woods, 2011). However, most important to this thesis is the application of these ideas in a local context. The chosen case study of Maniototo largely mirrored the development trajectories of other rural New Zealand areas and provided a means to understand local place-specific dynamics.
Using a combination of key informant interviews and historical information, this thesis identifies to identify how rural actions and agendas at a national level (New Zealand) were reflected through a wide-range of local impacts in Maniototo. The findings of this research demonstrate that, while ideas of productivism are applicable in the national and local context, there was insufficient evidence in Maniototo to suggest a shift to post-productivism that the concept of a ‘transition’ implies. As a result, the concept of multifunctionality serves as a better lens to understand the reality of diverse rural change in New Zealand and Maniototo. Further, if research is to continue to frame change within the transition, it must give substantially more focus to the era of ‘pre-productivism’
NZDep2018 analysis of census 2018 variables - DHB06: Lakes
No full textFor further information about data sources, interpretation of the graphs, and cautions, please see the separate Introduction Chapter
All data relating to the 2018 census is provided by Stats NZ, https://www.stats.govt.nz/
NZDep2018 analysis of census 2018 variables - DHB10: Hawke's Bay
No full textFor further information about data sources, interpretation of the graphs, and cautions, please see the separate Introduction Chapter
All data relating to the 2018 census is provided by Stats NZ, https://www.stats.govt.nz/
NZDep2018 analysis of census 2018 variables - DHB15: Wairarapa
No full textFor further information about data sources, interpretation of the graphs, and cautions, please see the separate Introduction Chapter
All data relating to the 2018 census is provided by Stats NZ, https://www.stats.govt.nz/
NZDep2018 analysis of census 2018 variables - DHB19: South Canterbury
No full textFor further information about data sources, interpretation of the graphs, and cautions, please see the separate Introduction Chapter
All data relating to the 2018 census is provided by Stats NZ, https://www.stats.govt.nz/
Improving the Evidence Base for Primary Dental Care
No full textPrimary Dental Care, where the majority of dentistry is provided, is an area that frequently lacks robust evidence to support clinical practice. Surveys of primary dental care practitioners (general dentists) were used to identify the clinical challenges they face and to focus research on the "gaps" in evidence to support best clinical practice. Using this information multiple, suitably powered, clinical trials were conducted, in partnership with primary dental care practitioners. The results of these trials were then used to develop clinical guidelines for practitioners so that a more evidenced based approach to providing dental care could be incorporated into clinical practice
Excess maternal fructose intake and the developmental programming of mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism in adult offspring
No full textExcess dietary fructose is a major public health concern. Evidence shows increased fructose intake can cause insulin resistance, hepatic de novo lipogenesis, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, little is known about the effects of fructose during pregnancy and its influence on offspring development and predisposition to later-life disease. To determine whether moderately increased maternal fructose intake could have health future consequences on offspring, we have investigated the effects of 10% w/v fructose water intake during preconception and pregnancy in guinea pigs. Female Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were fed a control diet (CD) or fructose diet (FD; 10% kcal from fructose) ad-libitum 60 days prior to mating and throughout gestation. Weanling Offspring were culled at weaning, day 21 (d21) and adolescent offspring at 4-months (4M). Compared to CD dams, FD dams had altered glucose metabolism and increased milk free fatty acid content. Matsuda-DeFronzo insulin sensitivity index (M-ISI) from OGTT plasma showed no significant difference in whole-body insulin sensitivity between FD and CD dams 60 days post-dietary intervention and during mid-gestation. Fetal exposure to increased maternal fructose resulted in offspring with significantly altered serum free fatty acids at day 0, 7, 14 and 21 (including pentadecanoic acid (15:0), dma16:0, margaric acid (17:0) palmitoleic acid, total omega-7 and total saturates), increased levels of uric acid and triglycerides were also observed at d21. In male and female fructose offspring, proteomic analysis revealed that key markers of mitochondria function, oxidative phosphorylation, NRF-2 pathways were significantly altered. Western blot analysis confirmed these findings by increased protein abundance in complex II & IV and key enzymes involved in hepatic de novo lipogenesis (FAS, SREBP-1C). In adult male and female fructose offspring (4 month) were observed to also have very similar changes in pathways involved in fatty acid B-oxidation, oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial function. Similar to d21 fructose offspring, adults also displayed programmed increases in key enzymes of de novo lipogenesis (FAS and SREBP-1c), mitochondrial function (Complex II & IV) and consistently increased palmitoleic acid at all time-points (day 0 to 4 month of age). We have demonstrated that excess maternal fructose intake during pregnancy and not lactation can cause significant changes in maternal metabolic function and milk composition, which programmes weanling and adult offspring hepatic mitochondrial function, de novo lipogenesis and metabolism. Taken together, these changes in pregnancy outcomes and feto-maternal condition may underlie their offspring’s predisposition to metabolic dysfunction during later-life