title: The molecular identification of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi strains isolated within New Zealand

authors: Patty, Olivia Anne

subjects: Streptococcus equi

abstract: AIMS: To identify Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) by PCR analysis and obtain isolates by culture, in order to investigate the strains of S. equi infecting horses within New Zealand.
METHODS: A diagnostic PCR, based on the amplification of the seeI gene for S. equi, was used on 168 samples submitted from horses with and without clinical signs of strangles. Samples were also processed and cultured on selective media for the isolation of β-haemolytic colonies. In addition, the hypervariable region of the seM gene of S. equi was amplified and then sequenced for strain typing purposes.
RESULTS: Of the 168 samples, 35 tested positive for S. equi using PCR. Thirty-two confirmed samples were from horses with a clinical diagnosis of strangles and three were from horses where clinical information was unavailable. Only 22/35 (63%) confirmed S. equi samples were successfully isolated following culture. Strain typing demonstrated that two novel seM alleles of S. equi were found in New Zealand with SeM-99 strains being restricted to the North Island while SeM-100 strains were found in both North and South Islands.
CONCLUSIONS: The application of PCR for the laboratory confirmation of strangles allowed for a rapid and sensitive identification of S. equi. Moreover, seM typing revealed that within the samples examined two strains of S. equi co-circulated within the North Island of New Zealand but only one strain in the South Island.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: PCR reduces the time required to obtain laboratory confirmation of strangles compared with culture methods. It also has greater sensitivity in detecting S. equi infections, which is of particular importance in the detection of carrier animals which normally shed low numbers of bacteria. Additionally, seM molecular typing can differentiate between bacterial strains, assisting in the monitoring of local strains of S. equi subsp. equi causing disease.

text: The molecular identification of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi strains isolated within New Zealand AIMS: To identify Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) by PCR analysis and obtain isolates by culture, in order to investigate the strains of S. equi infecting horses within New Zealand.
METHODS: A diagnostic PCR, based on the amplification of the seeI gene for S. equi, was used on 168 samples submitted from horses with and without clinical signs of strangles. Samples were also processed and cultured on selective media for the isolation of β-haemolytic colonies. In addition, the hypervariable region of the seM gene of S. equi was amplified and then sequenced for strain typing purposes.
RESULTS: Of the 168 samples, 35 tested positive for S. equi using PCR. Thirty-two confirmed samples were from horses with a clinical diagnosis of strangles and three were from horses where clinical information was unavailable. Only 22/35 (63%) confirmed S. equi samples were successfully isolated following culture. Strain typing demonstrated that two novel seM alleles of S. equi were found in New Zealand with SeM-99 strains being restricted to the North Island while SeM-100 strains were found in both North and South Islands.
CONCLUSIONS: The application of PCR for the laboratory confirmation of strangles allowed for a rapid and sensitive identification of S. equi. Moreover, seM typing revealed that within the samples examined two strains of S. equi co-circulated within the North Island of New Zealand but only one strain in the South Island.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: PCR reduces the time required to obtain laboratory confirmation of strangles compared with culture methods. It also has greater sensitivity in detecting S. equi infections, which is of particular importance in the detection of carrier animals which normally shed low numbers of bacteria. Additionally, seM molecular typing can differentiate between bacterial strains, assisting in the monitoring of local strains of S. equi subsp. equi causing disease.

year: 2013

title: Surrogate modeling a computational fluid dynamics-based wind turbine wake simulation using machine learning

authors: Wilson, Brett

subjects: computer science

abstract: The Wind Farm Layout Optimization problem involves finding the optimal positions for wind turbines on a wind farm site. Current Metahueristic based methods make use of a combination of turbine specifications and parameters, mathematical models and empirically produced power production equations to estimate the energy output of a real wind farm [15]. The overarching variable in any optimisation function is wind speed - this is what used to determine the power generated. Therefore, accurate predictions of wind speeds at specific points across the volume of the site are needed. In this paper, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate a full scale rotating wind turbine blade with fluid (air) at various wind speeds flowing past the turbine. The wake effect can be observed and leads to decrease in wind speeds, as expected. Wind speed at specific x,y and z (3D) coordinates were sampled and used as input to common Machine Learning regression algorithms to create different surrogate models. This was needed as each individual CFD experiment takes approximately 8 hours to complete, so it is not feasible to continuously repeat these simulations inside a metaheuristic optimiser.

text: Surrogate modeling a computational fluid dynamics-based wind turbine wake simulation using machine learning The Wind Farm Layout Optimization problem involves finding the optimal positions for wind turbines on a wind farm site. Current Metahueristic based methods make use of a combination of turbine specifications and parameters, mathematical models and empirically produced power production equations to estimate the energy output of a real wind farm [15]. The overarching variable in any optimisation function is wind speed - this is what used to determine the power generated. Therefore, accurate predictions of wind speeds at specific points across the volume of the site are needed. In this paper, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate a full scale rotating wind turbine blade with fluid (air) at various wind speeds flowing past the turbine. The wake effect can be observed and leads to decrease in wind speeds, as expected. Wind speed at specific x,y and z (3D) coordinates were sampled and used as input to common Machine Learning regression algorithms to create different surrogate models. This was needed as each individual CFD experiment takes approximately 8 hours to complete, so it is not feasible to continuously repeat these simulations inside a metaheuristic optimiser.

year: 2017

title: Interpreting & practicing kaupapa Māori research in a community setting: The in’s and out’s

authors: Thompson, Keri

subjects: Māori

abstract: Pou Tuia Rangahau is a unique community based research unit based within a kaupapa Māori organisation. Kaupapa Māori methodologies are utilised, with the importance of these methodologies being that Māori are defining the process, doing the research for and about Māori, with the eventual outcome being meaningful to Māori. This paper is placed within this wider context of Kaupapa Māori and how it applies to the practice of research in particular. We discuss how we interpret and practice Kaupapa Māori Research (KMR) within an urban community based organisation by highlighting a particular piece of research that was undertaken by Pou Tuia Rangahau, the Research Unit of Te Runanga O Kirikiriroa Trust Inc.

text: Interpreting & practicing kaupapa Māori research in a community setting: The in’s and out’s Pou Tuia Rangahau is a unique community based research unit based within a kaupapa Māori organisation. Kaupapa Māori methodologies are utilised, with the importance of these methodologies being that Māori are defining the process, doing the research for and about Māori, with the eventual outcome being meaningful to Māori. This paper is placed within this wider context of Kaupapa Māori and how it applies to the practice of research in particular. We discuss how we interpret and practice Kaupapa Māori Research (KMR) within an urban community based organisation by highlighting a particular piece of research that was undertaken by Pou Tuia Rangahau, the Research Unit of Te Runanga O Kirikiriroa Trust Inc.

year: 2008