title: Isolation and Characterisation of Aeruginosin and Microviridin variants from Microcystis species CAWBG11

authors: Kaufononga, Sangata Ana Fiealu

abstract: The cyanobacterial strain Microcystis species CAWBG11 was investigated in order to isolate and characterise bioactive oligopeptides such as aeruginosins and microviridins.

Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Analysis of a methanol extract of a Microcystis CAWBG11 identified four known aeruginosin variants and four putatively new aeruginosin congeners as aeruginosins 618, 656A, 656B and 602B. Planar structures for these new congeners were proposed based on the MS/MS data, in conjunction with the sequence of the known aeruginosins.

Amongst the aeruginosins detected there were three pairs, each with the same molecular masses but exhibiting different retention times. Each pair was assigned as stereoisomers since they yielded identical tandem mass fragment ions.

The previously reported aeruginosin 602A was further characterised using the Advanced Marfey’s Method of amino acid analysis and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Four new congeners of the cyclic microviridins; 1778A, 1778B, 1760 and 1764 were detected from a methanol extract of Microcystis CAWBG11. The sample was subsequently purified, enabling a planar structure for each congener to be proposed based on MS/MS data and amino acid analysis. The structure for microviridin 1778A was further investigated by NMR spectroscopy but was not fully elucidated due to time constraints.

The presence of the new aeruginosin and microviridin congeners indicated the diversity of the bioactive oligopeptides in the Microcystis strain.

text: Isolation and Characterisation of Aeruginosin and Microviridin variants from Microcystis species CAWBG11 The cyanobacterial strain Microcystis species CAWBG11 was investigated in order to isolate and characterise bioactive oligopeptides such as aeruginosins and microviridins.

Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Analysis of a methanol extract of a Microcystis CAWBG11 identified four known aeruginosin variants and four putatively new aeruginosin congeners as aeruginosins 618, 656A, 656B and 602B. Planar structures for these new congeners were proposed based on the MS/MS data, in conjunction with the sequence of the known aeruginosins.

Amongst the aeruginosins detected there were three pairs, each with the same molecular masses but exhibiting different retention times. Each pair was assigned as stereoisomers since they yielded identical tandem mass fragment ions.

The previously reported aeruginosin 602A was further characterised using the Advanced Marfey’s Method of amino acid analysis and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Four new congeners of the cyclic microviridins; 1778A, 1778B, 1760 and 1764 were detected from a methanol extract of Microcystis CAWBG11. The sample was subsequently purified, enabling a planar structure for each congener to be proposed based on MS/MS data and amino acid analysis. The structure for microviridin 1778A was further investigated by NMR spectroscopy but was not fully elucidated due to time constraints.

The presence of the new aeruginosin and microviridin congeners indicated the diversity of the bioactive oligopeptides in the Microcystis strain.

year: 2014

title: Effect of Stimulus and Response Separation on Brushtail Possum Behaviour in a MTS task

authors: Cameron, Kristie Elizabeth

subjects: possum

abstract: Brushtail possums, Trichosurus vulpecula, were presented with five rows of blue and yellow stimuli (levels one-five) arranged vertically 20 mm apart, above the response levers. For each level each possum was trained to complete a Matching to Sample task at zero seconds delay. Generally, possums showed peak performance at the level presently being trained across all levels. There was also a decrease in performance at levels further from the trained level, suggesting performance generalised to similar levels. The findings from this experiment provide evidence for placing stimuli and response manipulanda close together to improve acquisition of a task, and increase the responding accuracy in DMTS experiments. This suggests that the relative position of stimuli and response manipulanda is critical to possums performing a MTS task. These findings also have implications for experiments other than MTS and could be applied to study involving other marsupials.

text: Effect of Stimulus and Response Separation on Brushtail Possum Behaviour in a MTS task Brushtail possums, Trichosurus vulpecula, were presented with five rows of blue and yellow stimuli (levels one-five) arranged vertically 20 mm apart, above the response levers. For each level each possum was trained to complete a Matching to Sample task at zero seconds delay. Generally, possums showed peak performance at the level presently being trained across all levels. There was also a decrease in performance at levels further from the trained level, suggesting performance generalised to similar levels. The findings from this experiment provide evidence for placing stimuli and response manipulanda close together to improve acquisition of a task, and increase the responding accuracy in DMTS experiments. This suggests that the relative position of stimuli and response manipulanda is critical to possums performing a MTS task. These findings also have implications for experiments other than MTS and could be applied to study involving other marsupials.

year: 2009

title: Ngā Tuakiri o te Tangata: Being Māori in Early Childhood Education

authors: Rameka, Lesley Kay

abstract: Before the arrival of Europeans in Aotearoa, New Zealand and their subsequent settlement in the 1800s, there was no concept of a Māori identity. Over time, however, as a result of rapid colonisation, Māori became a minority population in New Zealand. Consequently, the term Māori as normal or usual, began to lose its meaning (Webber, 2008), and another meaning began to emerge based on contrasts with the Pākehā settler population. This paper explores the complex and increasingly diverse nature of Māori identities in contemporary Aotearoa/New Zealand, including contemporary early childhood contexts. It discusses the importance of negotiating the terrains of cultural knowledge, values and understandings in order to define what ‘being Māori’ means for teachers and children in an increasingly diverse and complex settings.

text: Ngā Tuakiri o te Tangata: Being Māori in Early Childhood Education Before the arrival of Europeans in Aotearoa, New Zealand and their subsequent settlement in the 1800s, there was no concept of a Māori identity. Over time, however, as a result of rapid colonisation, Māori became a minority population in New Zealand. Consequently, the term Māori as normal or usual, began to lose its meaning (Webber, 2008), and another meaning began to emerge based on contrasts with the Pākehā settler population. This paper explores the complex and increasingly diverse nature of Māori identities in contemporary Aotearoa/New Zealand, including contemporary early childhood contexts. It discusses the importance of negotiating the terrains of cultural knowledge, values and understandings in order to define what ‘being Māori’ means for teachers and children in an increasingly diverse and complex settings.

year: 2016