title: Investigations of Natural Products from Bryozoa Inhabiting Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Andersen, Aaron John Christian

subjects: natural products

abstract: Two species of bryozoa, Pterocella vesiculosa and Plumatella repens, were investigated in an endeavour to isolate and characterise novel secondary metabolites.

Analysis of fractions derived from chromatography of a dichloromethane extract of Pterocella vesiculosa, indicated the probable presence of β-carboline and pterocellin alkaloids. Continued separation led to further purification of some pterocellin alkaloids, however the characteristic ultraviolet chromatogram that is produced by pterocellins could not be found in any of the fractions analysed. Despite this, further investigations by thin layer chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry and high resolution mass spectrometry suggested structural similarities between metabolites from polar fractions and known pterocellin alkaloids. In the process of isolating these polar, pterocellin like alkaloids, a new thin layer chromatography solvent system was developed, which better differentiates the more polar metabolites in extracts compared to previously utilised solvent schemes.

LCMS analysis of chromatographic fractions resulted in the detection of eight β carboline alkaloids, as well as the identification of the previously published 5 bromo-8-methoxy-1-methyl-β-carboline. Further purification of the alkaloid containing fractions by size exclusion chromatography was achieved but individual alkaloids were unable to be isolated due to time constraints associated with the project. Molecular formulae for the eight alkaloids were obtained by the use of high resolution mass spectrometry. Tandem mass spectrometry helped to confirm these formulae and also suggested the types of functional groups attached to the β-carboline skeleton.
A biologically active extract of the freshwater species, Plumatella repens was investigated chemically as a continuation of a pilot study. A series of fractions from the pilot study were separated by size exclusion chromatography, with monitoring of activity against the murine P388 lymphocytic leukaemia cell line. Results of the assay indicated the presence of a highly active metabolite/s, however isolation of the metabolite/s responsible for the activity was not achieved. This was a result of delays in finding facilities to undertake the biological assays and varying degrees of P388 activity, which may suggest metabolite instability.

As part of this project, tissue culture was undertaken at AgResearch, at the Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton. A method for assay of Plumatella repens samples was developed for bioassay guided fractionation.

The sterol composition of Plumatella repens was also investigated. Three sterols were identified and an additional two sterols were present, the structures of which could not be confirmed. The relative concentration of each of the sterols was also determined.

text: Investigations of Natural Products from Bryozoa Inhabiting Aotearoa New Zealand Two species of bryozoa, Pterocella vesiculosa and Plumatella repens, were investigated in an endeavour to isolate and characterise novel secondary metabolites.

Analysis of fractions derived from chromatography of a dichloromethane extract of Pterocella vesiculosa, indicated the probable presence of β-carboline and pterocellin alkaloids. Continued separation led to further purification of some pterocellin alkaloids, however the characteristic ultraviolet chromatogram that is produced by pterocellins could not be found in any of the fractions analysed. Despite this, further investigations by thin layer chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry and high resolution mass spectrometry suggested structural similarities between metabolites from polar fractions and known pterocellin alkaloids. In the process of isolating these polar, pterocellin like alkaloids, a new thin layer chromatography solvent system was developed, which better differentiates the more polar metabolites in extracts compared to previously utilised solvent schemes.

LCMS analysis of chromatographic fractions resulted in the detection of eight β carboline alkaloids, as well as the identification of the previously published 5 bromo-8-methoxy-1-methyl-β-carboline. Further purification of the alkaloid containing fractions by size exclusion chromatography was achieved but individual alkaloids were unable to be isolated due to time constraints associated with the project. Molecular formulae for the eight alkaloids were obtained by the use of high resolution mass spectrometry. Tandem mass spectrometry helped to confirm these formulae and also suggested the types of functional groups attached to the β-carboline skeleton.
A biologically active extract of the freshwater species, Plumatella repens was investigated chemically as a continuation of a pilot study. A series of fractions from the pilot study were separated by size exclusion chromatography, with monitoring of activity against the murine P388 lymphocytic leukaemia cell line. Results of the assay indicated the presence of a highly active metabolite/s, however isolation of the metabolite/s responsible for the activity was not achieved. This was a result of delays in finding facilities to undertake the biological assays and varying degrees of P388 activity, which may suggest metabolite instability.

As part of this project, tissue culture was undertaken at AgResearch, at the Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton. A method for assay of Plumatella repens samples was developed for bioassay guided fractionation.

The sterol composition of Plumatella repens was also investigated. Three sterols were identified and an additional two sterols were present, the structures of which could not be confirmed. The relative concentration of each of the sterols was also determined.

year: 2012

title: Quiet Activists - Environmental Values and Value Adjustment in Environmental Policy Advisors

authors: Grübmeyer, Sonja Felicitas

subjects: Environment

abstract: In this thesis, I investigate the influence of environmental values on the work of environmental policy advisors in a regional council in New Zealand and the influence on the institutional values of their work environment on their personal environmental values.

Values are relatively stable concepts of socially acquired beliefs and norms that influence the perception and behaviour of humans and are organised in interdependent and dynamic structures that can be changed through social experiences. Environmental values are partly responsible for environmentally friendly behaviour, which encompasses a variety of activities and even lifestyle choices. 

People, who have chosen to work in the environmental sector are exposed to environmental values through working for institutions that represent environmentally friendly principles. By working in an environmental context, environmental values can get changed by social interaction, which can lead to an adjustment or approximation to the dominant notion of environmental values within the workplace (Finegan, 2000) 

Although policy advice is expected to be a neutral and objective task, statements are still written by persons with an individual opinion that, although suppressed, represents the values of the writer (Heineman, Bluhm, Peterson,  Keary, 2002). It is therefore likely that the whole process of evaluating information and preparing a policy recommendation is influenced by the values of the policy advisor.

My findings indicate that environmental values of employees get adjusted to the institution's environmental values through their work. This happens through a merging of their private environmental values into their professional values, through  processes of adjustment. This change not only results in identification with the job but also presents a way to circumvent possible value conflicts in the work environment. 

The policy process involves a number of stages where information is re-evaluated and discussed to fit the formal and structural requirements of policy making under the  Resource Management Act, which is done in collaboration with others. This leads to a social construction of values that are represented in collaboratively developed policy recommendation. 

In my conclusion, I show that policy advisors at regional government level use. in New Zealand have environmental values, use them for environmental protection, and adjust them to work more efficiently for the environment within a public service organisation. The use of their environmental values by the participants show that they are environmentalists and do what environmentalists do, but in a quiet, unobtrusive way.

text: Quiet Activists - Environmental Values and Value Adjustment in Environmental Policy Advisors In this thesis, I investigate the influence of environmental values on the work of environmental policy advisors in a regional council in New Zealand and the influence on the institutional values of their work environment on their personal environmental values.

Values are relatively stable concepts of socially acquired beliefs and norms that influence the perception and behaviour of humans and are organised in interdependent and dynamic structures that can be changed through social experiences. Environmental values are partly responsible for environmentally friendly behaviour, which encompasses a variety of activities and even lifestyle choices. 

People, who have chosen to work in the environmental sector are exposed to environmental values through working for institutions that represent environmentally friendly principles. By working in an environmental context, environmental values can get changed by social interaction, which can lead to an adjustment or approximation to the dominant notion of environmental values within the workplace (Finegan, 2000) 

Although policy advice is expected to be a neutral and objective task, statements are still written by persons with an individual opinion that, although suppressed, represents the values of the writer (Heineman, Bluhm, Peterson,  Keary, 2002). It is therefore likely that the whole process of evaluating information and preparing a policy recommendation is influenced by the values of the policy advisor.

My findings indicate that environmental values of employees get adjusted to the institution's environmental values through their work. This happens through a merging of their private environmental values into their professional values, through  processes of adjustment. This change not only results in identification with the job but also presents a way to circumvent possible value conflicts in the work environment. 

The policy process involves a number of stages where information is re-evaluated and discussed to fit the formal and structural requirements of policy making under the  Resource Management Act, which is done in collaboration with others. This leads to a social construction of values that are represented in collaboratively developed policy recommendation. 

In my conclusion, I show that policy advisors at regional government level use. in New Zealand have environmental values, use them for environmental protection, and adjust them to work more efficiently for the environment within a public service organisation. The use of their environmental values by the participants show that they are environmentalists and do what environmentalists do, but in a quiet, unobtrusive way.

year: 2007

title: Maumahara Papahou: A mobile augmented reality memory treasure box based on Māori mnemonic aids

authors: Taia, Ivy

subjects: computer science

abstract: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide “silent epidemic” causing a variety of memory issues for those affected. Although several software approaches aim to aid memory recollection, they are inadequate for many TBI survivors and none address aspects of cultural awareness in New Zealand. We explored design concepts of traditional Mäori cultural artefacts and techniques and how they helped Mäori people recall past information. This paper describes our research and development of Maumahara Papahou, a mobile app that uses augmented reality features to create a digital memory treasure box based on the concepts of Mäori mnemonic aids.

text: Maumahara Papahou: A mobile augmented reality memory treasure box based on Māori mnemonic aids He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide “silent epidemic” causing a variety of memory issues for those affected. Although several software approaches aim to aid memory recollection, they are inadequate for many TBI survivors and none address aspects of cultural awareness in New Zealand. We explored design concepts of traditional Mäori cultural artefacts and techniques and how they helped Mäori people recall past information. This paper describes our research and development of Maumahara Papahou, a mobile app that uses augmented reality features to create a digital memory treasure box based on the concepts of Mäori mnemonic aids.

year: 2019