title: U-Pb Dating of Silicic Volcanic Rocks of the Eastern Coromandel Peninsula

authors: Vincent, Kirsty Anne

subjects: Coromandel Volcanic Zone

abstract: The eastern Coromandel Volcanic Zone (CVZ) is an area of predominantly andesite-dacite-rhyolite volcanism which was erupted and subsequently hydrothermally altered in parts during the Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene. Many of the andesitic host rocks and products of hydrothermal alteration have been dated, but there are few ages on the rhyolites. This study was undertaken to help better constrain the age of selected rhyolite lavas and ignimbrites of the onshore eastern CVZ. 21 units were sampled for U-Pb dating of zircon using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This method was chosen because most CVZ rhyolites are known to contain zircon. In this study, 18 of the 21 samples contained sufficient zircons for dating, and 18 new zircon U-Pb ages are presented. These ages are the age of crystallisation and therefore represent the maximum eruption age. This method has not previously been used in the CVZ, so was also chosen to assess if it is an appropriate method for dating CVZ rhyolites. This was determined by comparing the new ages generated in this study with any previous ages. They mostly agree, which supports the validity of the method, and also provides new age data of several units which had not previously been dated.

In order to set the new ages into a geological context, it was necessary to describe the units sampled. The petrography, mineralogy and petrochemistry were assessed by petrographic microscope, electron microprobe and whole rock X-ray diffraction and fluorescence. 21 new whole rock major and trace element XRF analyses are presented.

text: U-Pb Dating of Silicic Volcanic Rocks of the Eastern Coromandel Peninsula The eastern Coromandel Volcanic Zone (CVZ) is an area of predominantly andesite-dacite-rhyolite volcanism which was erupted and subsequently hydrothermally altered in parts during the Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene. Many of the andesitic host rocks and products of hydrothermal alteration have been dated, but there are few ages on the rhyolites. This study was undertaken to help better constrain the age of selected rhyolite lavas and ignimbrites of the onshore eastern CVZ. 21 units were sampled for U-Pb dating of zircon using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This method was chosen because most CVZ rhyolites are known to contain zircon. In this study, 18 of the 21 samples contained sufficient zircons for dating, and 18 new zircon U-Pb ages are presented. These ages are the age of crystallisation and therefore represent the maximum eruption age. This method has not previously been used in the CVZ, so was also chosen to assess if it is an appropriate method for dating CVZ rhyolites. This was determined by comparing the new ages generated in this study with any previous ages. They mostly agree, which supports the validity of the method, and also provides new age data of several units which had not previously been dated.

In order to set the new ages into a geological context, it was necessary to describe the units sampled. The petrography, mineralogy and petrochemistry were assessed by petrographic microscope, electron microprobe and whole rock X-ray diffraction and fluorescence. 21 new whole rock major and trace element XRF analyses are presented.

year: 2012

title: Immunogenic fusion proteins induce neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the serum and milk of sheep

authors: Jacobson, Gregory M.

subjects: Antigen design

abstract: Antigen-specific polyclonal immunoglobulins derived from the serum, colostrum, or milk of immunized ruminant animals have potential as scalable therapeutics for the control of viral diseases including COVID-19. Here we show that the immunization of sheep with fusions of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) to ovine IgG2a Fc domains promotes significantly higher levels of antigen-specific antibodies compared to native RBD or full-length spike antigens. This antibody population contained elevated levels of neutralizing antibodies that suppressed binding between the RBD and hACE2 receptors in vitro. A second immune-stimulating fusion candidate, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), induced high neutralizing responses in select animals but narrowly missed achieving significance. We further demonstrated that the antibodies induced by these fusion antigens were transferred into colostrum/milk and possessed cross-neutralizing activity against diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our findings highlight a new pathway for recombinant antigen design in ruminant animals with applications in immune milk production and animal health.

text: Immunogenic fusion proteins induce neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the serum and milk of sheep Antigen-specific polyclonal immunoglobulins derived from the serum, colostrum, or milk of immunized ruminant animals have potential as scalable therapeutics for the control of viral diseases including COVID-19. Here we show that the immunization of sheep with fusions of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) to ovine IgG2a Fc domains promotes significantly higher levels of antigen-specific antibodies compared to native RBD or full-length spike antigens. This antibody population contained elevated levels of neutralizing antibodies that suppressed binding between the RBD and hACE2 receptors in vitro. A second immune-stimulating fusion candidate, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), induced high neutralizing responses in select animals but narrowly missed achieving significance. We further demonstrated that the antibodies induced by these fusion antigens were transferred into colostrum/milk and possessed cross-neutralizing activity against diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our findings highlight a new pathway for recombinant antigen design in ruminant animals with applications in immune milk production and animal health.

year: 2023-06

title: Re-examining the best interests of child principle. Can this help tamariki and rangatahi Māori achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health?

authors: Karunaratne, Kalupathirannehelage Dona Thilini Prathiba

abstract: This thesis explores how a re-examination of the best interests of the child principle can assist tamariki and
rangatahi Māori to achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health. Although New Zealand has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, which enshrines the “best interests of the child” principle, significant disparities in mental health outcomes remain between tamariki and
rangatahi Māori and non-Māori children and young people. Drawing on international human rights law, domestic legislation, case law, and Māori concepts of health and wellbeing, this thesis develops a theoretical
and practical framework for reducing these mental health disparities. It explores whether New Zealand can utilise the best interests principle in a way that recognises and incorporates the unique cultural identity and
collective rights of tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The flexible nature of the best interests principle is leveraged to integrate collective cultural rights and Māori worldviews into mental health law and policies. By doing so, it aims to facilitate greater recognition of Māori collective rights and practices within NewZealand's legal and healthcare systems.
This research proposes that a culturally-informed interpretation of the best interests principle, aligned with Māori worldviews and values, is important for fulfilling New Zealand’s international obligations and the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health for tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The thesis contends that decisions concerning the best interests of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in mental health
should be guided by a “by Māori, for Māori” approach, which informs and shapes the broader application of the best interests principle. Through this analysis, the thesis seeks to contribute to the improvement of mental health outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori.

text: Re-examining the best interests of child principle. Can this help tamariki and rangatahi Māori achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health? This thesis explores how a re-examination of the best interests of the child principle can assist tamariki and
rangatahi Māori to achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health. Although New Zealand has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, which enshrines the “best interests of the child” principle, significant disparities in mental health outcomes remain between tamariki and
rangatahi Māori and non-Māori children and young people. Drawing on international human rights law, domestic legislation, case law, and Māori concepts of health and wellbeing, this thesis develops a theoretical
and practical framework for reducing these mental health disparities. It explores whether New Zealand can utilise the best interests principle in a way that recognises and incorporates the unique cultural identity and
collective rights of tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The flexible nature of the best interests principle is leveraged to integrate collective cultural rights and Māori worldviews into mental health law and policies. By doing so, it aims to facilitate greater recognition of Māori collective rights and practices within NewZealand's legal and healthcare systems.
This research proposes that a culturally-informed interpretation of the best interests principle, aligned with Māori worldviews and values, is important for fulfilling New Zealand’s international obligations and the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health for tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The thesis contends that decisions concerning the best interests of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in mental health
should be guided by a “by Māori, for Māori” approach, which informs and shapes the broader application of the best interests principle. Through this analysis, the thesis seeks to contribute to the improvement of mental health outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori.

year: 2026