title: Extended residence times for foraminifera in a marine-influenced terrestrial archaeological deposit and implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

authors: Nagel, Texas

subjects: foraminifera

abstract: Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating and taphonomic grading was undertaken on foraminifera preserved in the archaeological shell matrix site of Thundiy, Bentinck Island, southern Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Foraminifera were assigned to one of six taphonomic grades ranging from pristine to severely abraded. AMS dating demonstrates a weak relationship between preservation status and age. Foraminifera ages are inconsistent with multiple ages on marine shell from the same deposit implying significant sediment transport system residence ages (the time between death of the organism and final deposition) for foraminifera in the deposit. Results demonstrate that foraminifera cannot be assumed to be contemporary with other components of the sedimentary context in which they occur, indicating that caution is required in interpreting chronologies and palaeoenvironmental records based on foraminifera recovered from highly dynamic depositional settings. Findings point to the potential of foraminifera AMS dating of coastal archaeological deposits to contribute to evaluations of site integrity and chrono-stratigraphic analyses.

text: Extended residence times for foraminifera in a marine-influenced terrestrial archaeological deposit and implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating and taphonomic grading was undertaken on foraminifera preserved in the archaeological shell matrix site of Thundiy, Bentinck Island, southern Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Foraminifera were assigned to one of six taphonomic grades ranging from pristine to severely abraded. AMS dating demonstrates a weak relationship between preservation status and age. Foraminifera ages are inconsistent with multiple ages on marine shell from the same deposit implying significant sediment transport system residence ages (the time between death of the organism and final deposition) for foraminifera in the deposit. Results demonstrate that foraminifera cannot be assumed to be contemporary with other components of the sedimentary context in which they occur, indicating that caution is required in interpreting chronologies and palaeoenvironmental records based on foraminifera recovered from highly dynamic depositional settings. Findings point to the potential of foraminifera AMS dating of coastal archaeological deposits to contribute to evaluations of site integrity and chrono-stratigraphic analyses.

year: 2016

title: Expression of innate resistance factors in mammary secretion from periparturient dairy heifers and their association with subsequent infection status

authors: Compton, Chris W.R.

subjects: bovine

abstract: Mastitis in dairy heifers in the peripartum period is a common and costly problem for producers, and mammary innate resistance is of key importance in defense of the gland from bacterial invasion. A prospective observational study was undertaken in 97 dairy heifers to measure associations between expression of eight innate resistance factors in mammary secretions collected from the same animals within 14 days prior to calving and at calving, and intramammary infection (IMI) status at calving, and to describe changes in expression of these factors over time. Relative expression (RE) of eight candidate resistance mediator genes from cells from intramammary secretion was measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. Glands which were IMI-free pre-calving and did not develop a new IMI had significantly higher RE of molecule possessing ankyrin-repeat (MAIL) and beta defensin (Bdef) genes compared to glands which subsequently did develop a new IMI. Also, Bdef RE increased up to the day of calving in glands that did not develop a new IMI, but was unresponsive in glands that did develop a new IMI. Relative expression of complement 5 alpha receptor, interleukin 1beta and interleukin 8 increased in glands that did develop a new IMI. Serum amyloid A3 and toll-like receptor 2 RE increased in all glands up to the day of calving. Transforming growth factor beta RE was not associated with new infection status or time relative to calving. These findings support further investigation of function and gene polymorphisms of MAIL and Bdef as potential markers of mastitis resistance in dairy heifers.

text: Expression of innate resistance factors in mammary secretion from periparturient dairy heifers and their association with subsequent infection status Mastitis in dairy heifers in the peripartum period is a common and costly problem for producers, and mammary innate resistance is of key importance in defense of the gland from bacterial invasion. A prospective observational study was undertaken in 97 dairy heifers to measure associations between expression of eight innate resistance factors in mammary secretions collected from the same animals within 14 days prior to calving and at calving, and intramammary infection (IMI) status at calving, and to describe changes in expression of these factors over time. Relative expression (RE) of eight candidate resistance mediator genes from cells from intramammary secretion was measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. Glands which were IMI-free pre-calving and did not develop a new IMI had significantly higher RE of molecule possessing ankyrin-repeat (MAIL) and beta defensin (Bdef) genes compared to glands which subsequently did develop a new IMI. Also, Bdef RE increased up to the day of calving in glands that did not develop a new IMI, but was unresponsive in glands that did develop a new IMI. Relative expression of complement 5 alpha receptor, interleukin 1beta and interleukin 8 increased in glands that did develop a new IMI. Serum amyloid A3 and toll-like receptor 2 RE increased in all glands up to the day of calving. Transforming growth factor beta RE was not associated with new infection status or time relative to calving. These findings support further investigation of function and gene polymorphisms of MAIL and Bdef as potential markers of mastitis resistance in dairy heifers.

year: 2008

title: Tū Te Turuturu Nō Hineteiwaiwa - Maintaining Cultural Integrity in the Teaching of Māori Weaving

authors: Turi-Tiakitai, John Reid

subjects: Māori

abstract: “He whatu kōrero mō te whatu
He whiriwhiri kōrero mō te whiri
He rangaranga kōrero mō te raranga”

Despite the development and teaching of an increasing number of Māori focused tertiary programmes, many kaumatua remain concerned that tikanga is being lost. The research reviews the developments that have impacted on the teaching of Māori weaving (raranga, whiri, and whatu) and appraises the current status from the perspective of the oral narratives of Edna Pahewa, Christina (Tina) Hurihia Wirihana and Matekino Lawless. Whilst they would not describe them as such, all three are expert weavers who teach this taonga.
These weavers concur that despite the increased numbers learning these arts and acquiring high capability in the technical skills, many often lack the wairua, tikanga and values and remain apprehensive for the state of the art. Therefore, they believe that mātauranga Māori, spiritual knowledge and Māori tikanga cultural practices must remain central, at the very core of the art form itself and not exist as an academic study or peripheral addendum.
As a result of this study, a model framework, ‘Te Kāwhatuwhatu’ is proposed that advocates for the incorporating of Māori tikanga cultural practices into classes and teaching pedagogy and thereby foster the wellbeing of this cultural legacy and the mana and integrity of Hineteiwaiwa, kia ea ai te kupu

“ka tū tonu te turuturu nō Hineteiwaiwa!”¹

text: Tū Te Turuturu Nō Hineteiwaiwa - Maintaining Cultural Integrity in the Teaching of Māori Weaving “He whatu kōrero mō te whatu
He whiriwhiri kōrero mō te whiri
He rangaranga kōrero mō te raranga”

Despite the development and teaching of an increasing number of Māori focused tertiary programmes, many kaumatua remain concerned that tikanga is being lost. The research reviews the developments that have impacted on the teaching of Māori weaving (raranga, whiri, and whatu) and appraises the current status from the perspective of the oral narratives of Edna Pahewa, Christina (Tina) Hurihia Wirihana and Matekino Lawless. Whilst they would not describe them as such, all three are expert weavers who teach this taonga.
These weavers concur that despite the increased numbers learning these arts and acquiring high capability in the technical skills, many often lack the wairua, tikanga and values and remain apprehensive for the state of the art. Therefore, they believe that mātauranga Māori, spiritual knowledge and Māori tikanga cultural practices must remain central, at the very core of the art form itself and not exist as an academic study or peripheral addendum.
As a result of this study, a model framework, ‘Te Kāwhatuwhatu’ is proposed that advocates for the incorporating of Māori tikanga cultural practices into classes and teaching pedagogy and thereby foster the wellbeing of this cultural legacy and the mana and integrity of Hineteiwaiwa, kia ea ai te kupu

“ka tū tonu te turuturu nō Hineteiwaiwa!”¹

year: 2015