title: Characterisation of Antarctic cyanobacteria and comparison with New Zealand strains

authors: Martineau, Edouard

subjects: 16S rRNA gene

abstract: Cyanobacterial mats are common in Antarctic lakes, ponds and on moist soils. The species comprising these mats have adapted to tolerate extreme conditions (e.g. high salinities and UV radiation, freezing and extended periods of darkness). In this study, cyanobacterial mats were collected from shallow melt-water ponds in Pyramid Trough in Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Eight strains were isolated and characterised by morphological and molecular (16S rRNA gene sequences) techniques and their fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and lipid class profiles determined. These data were compared to parallel information obtained from cyanobacterial cultures isolated from New Zealand. In general, the morphological and molecular characterisation complemented each other, and the Antarctic strains identified belonged to the orders: Oscillatoriales (six), Nostocales (one) and Chroococcales (one). Two of the Antarctic strains (CYN67 and CYN68) showed low similarity (<96% 16S rRNA gene sequence) when compared to other cultured cyanobacteria. The fatty acid (FA) profiles from the Antarctic and New Zealand strains shared many similarities with palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0) and oleic acid (C18:1n-9) most abundant. In contrast, the lipid class analysis differed among geographic locations with Antarctic strains containing higher amounts of hydrocarbons and eicosapentaenoic and hexadecatrienoic acids.

text: Characterisation of Antarctic cyanobacteria and comparison with New Zealand strains Cyanobacterial mats are common in Antarctic lakes, ponds and on moist soils. The species comprising these mats have adapted to tolerate extreme conditions (e.g. high salinities and UV radiation, freezing and extended periods of darkness). In this study, cyanobacterial mats were collected from shallow melt-water ponds in Pyramid Trough in Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Eight strains were isolated and characterised by morphological and molecular (16S rRNA gene sequences) techniques and their fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and lipid class profiles determined. These data were compared to parallel information obtained from cyanobacterial cultures isolated from New Zealand. In general, the morphological and molecular characterisation complemented each other, and the Antarctic strains identified belonged to the orders: Oscillatoriales (six), Nostocales (one) and Chroococcales (one). Two of the Antarctic strains (CYN67 and CYN68) showed low similarity (<96% 16S rRNA gene sequence) when compared to other cultured cyanobacteria. The fatty acid (FA) profiles from the Antarctic and New Zealand strains shared many similarities with palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0) and oleic acid (C18:1n-9) most abundant. In contrast, the lipid class analysis differed among geographic locations with Antarctic strains containing higher amounts of hydrocarbons and eicosapentaenoic and hexadecatrienoic acids.

year: 2013

title: Sorption of sulfamethoxazole, sulfachloropyridazine and sulfamethazine onto six New Zealand dairy farm soils

authors: Srinivasan, Prakash

subjects: partitioning coefficient

abstract: We have investigated the sorption potential of three sulfonamides (SAs) in six New Zealand dairy farming soils using a modified batch equilibrium method employing 0.005 M CaCl₂ as background solution. Both liquid and solid phases were extracted to analyse for the antibiotic concentrations in order to avoid underestimation that may arise a result of photolysis or biotic degradation. The experimental data were later used to construct Freundlich isotherms to determine the effective distribution coefficients. Low log Koc value for all SAs suggests considerable leaching potential for SAs under conditions that are conducive for leaching. The sorption affinity for all soils followed the trend SCP>SMZ>SMO.

text: Sorption of sulfamethoxazole, sulfachloropyridazine and sulfamethazine onto six New Zealand dairy farm soils We have investigated the sorption potential of three sulfonamides (SAs) in six New Zealand dairy farming soils using a modified batch equilibrium method employing 0.005 M CaCl₂ as background solution. Both liquid and solid phases were extracted to analyse for the antibiotic concentrations in order to avoid underestimation that may arise a result of photolysis or biotic degradation. The experimental data were later used to construct Freundlich isotherms to determine the effective distribution coefficients. Low log Koc value for all SAs suggests considerable leaching potential for SAs under conditions that are conducive for leaching. The sorption affinity for all soils followed the trend SCP>SMZ>SMO.

year: 2010

title: lnteragency collaboration in youth justice: Creating change through action research

authors: Atkinson, Melanie

abstract: This thesis describes a community psychology intervention in the Hamilton youth justice sector from September 2001 through to August 2004. I initiated the project with a Maori social service provider, Maatua Whangai, to address poor communication, gaps in service provision, and a lack of coordination and leadership in the sector. Drawing on an action research methodology the purpose of the project was to create better outcomes for youth offenders and their families by using an interagency approach to increase collaboration, coordination and the effectiveness of service delivery.
 My role became one of project manager and researcher. Representatives from the key agencies in the wider youth justice sector became participants and together we embarked on a journey of transformation. The group we formed, initially known as the 'Hamilton Youth Justice Collaboration', became the Hamilton Youth Offending Team (YOT), following the establishment of YOTs nationally by the Ministry of Justice in 2002. 
This thesis details the development of the Hamilton YOT, focusing on its purposes, methods, process, relationships and outcomes. The ten initiatives planned and implemented by the YOT are also discussed. Some of these initiatives addressed system-wide issues. Others targeted the way services were delivered by the statutory youth justice agencies. The final group of initiatives aimed to improve the knowledge of services for young people and also established services or programme to fill gaps in services. 
Collaborative initiatives tend to generate multiple purposes and goals aimed at multiple levels of the situation. Thus an ecological and systems approach was used to analyse the impact of the YOT's activities. This allowed for larger units of analysis at the instrumental, structural, relational and cultural dimensions of the environment. 
In the first instance this project created a group of agencies to provide oversight and leadership for the sector. This growth in capacity for analysing problems, devising solutions, and mobilising the required resources, allowed for the various initiatives to be implemented. YOT members spoke positively about the changes that had been made and there was a perception that the quality of service delivery had increased. The outcome evaluation that was conducted confirmed the assumption that improving communication and coordination of services, aligning service delivery with good practice, and increasing the capacity of services would equate to improved outcomes. In addition to the positive impacts on 'clients', the introduction of norms and practices that focused on cooperation and the increased opportunities for joint work, connectedness and mutual support, produced positive changes in the relational environment. 
While the extent to which interagency collaboration improved is considered, there is a strong focus on what was learned about the process of collaboration. The roles of the researcher and the participation by YOT members are also examined. The thesis ends with a reflection on the project as a whole, considering the major findings the study has made in the areas of action research, evaluation and collaboration.

text: lnteragency collaboration in youth justice: Creating change through action research This thesis describes a community psychology intervention in the Hamilton youth justice sector from September 2001 through to August 2004. I initiated the project with a Maori social service provider, Maatua Whangai, to address poor communication, gaps in service provision, and a lack of coordination and leadership in the sector. Drawing on an action research methodology the purpose of the project was to create better outcomes for youth offenders and their families by using an interagency approach to increase collaboration, coordination and the effectiveness of service delivery.
 My role became one of project manager and researcher. Representatives from the key agencies in the wider youth justice sector became participants and together we embarked on a journey of transformation. The group we formed, initially known as the 'Hamilton Youth Justice Collaboration', became the Hamilton Youth Offending Team (YOT), following the establishment of YOTs nationally by the Ministry of Justice in 2002. 
This thesis details the development of the Hamilton YOT, focusing on its purposes, methods, process, relationships and outcomes. The ten initiatives planned and implemented by the YOT are also discussed. Some of these initiatives addressed system-wide issues. Others targeted the way services were delivered by the statutory youth justice agencies. The final group of initiatives aimed to improve the knowledge of services for young people and also established services or programme to fill gaps in services. 
Collaborative initiatives tend to generate multiple purposes and goals aimed at multiple levels of the situation. Thus an ecological and systems approach was used to analyse the impact of the YOT's activities. This allowed for larger units of analysis at the instrumental, structural, relational and cultural dimensions of the environment. 
In the first instance this project created a group of agencies to provide oversight and leadership for the sector. This growth in capacity for analysing problems, devising solutions, and mobilising the required resources, allowed for the various initiatives to be implemented. YOT members spoke positively about the changes that had been made and there was a perception that the quality of service delivery had increased. The outcome evaluation that was conducted confirmed the assumption that improving communication and coordination of services, aligning service delivery with good practice, and increasing the capacity of services would equate to improved outcomes. In addition to the positive impacts on 'clients', the introduction of norms and practices that focused on cooperation and the increased opportunities for joint work, connectedness and mutual support, produced positive changes in the relational environment. 
While the extent to which interagency collaboration improved is considered, there is a strong focus on what was learned about the process of collaboration. The roles of the researcher and the participation by YOT members are also examined. The thesis ends with a reflection on the project as a whole, considering the major findings the study has made in the areas of action research, evaluation and collaboration.

year: 2006