title: Evolution of documents - Information and Data objects

authors: Jose, Appu Mathew

subjects: Evolution

abstract: The vast amount of data leading to the digital data explosion highlights the fact that the current data definition needs a change as the current systems are unable to track the evolution in a document over time without manual intervention. The concepts of Information and Data objects are introduced in this thesis to track the evolution information in a document. We developed the requirements for such a system in which the evolution information is automatically tracked by tracking the user copy and paste action and then using the data to create the evolution information about a specified document. A case study is discussed to further analyse the information and data flow in a collaboration. We have used this knowledge to design the system and then to implement the system so that the user copy and paste actions can be tracked to create the evolution information. The implementation is then presented to a group of experts to identify the problems and to get the feedback to improve the system.

text: Evolution of documents - Information and Data objects The vast amount of data leading to the digital data explosion highlights the fact that the current data definition needs a change as the current systems are unable to track the evolution in a document over time without manual intervention. The concepts of Information and Data objects are introduced in this thesis to track the evolution information in a document. We developed the requirements for such a system in which the evolution information is automatically tracked by tracking the user copy and paste action and then using the data to create the evolution information about a specified document. A case study is discussed to further analyse the information and data flow in a collaboration. We have used this knowledge to design the system and then to implement the system so that the user copy and paste actions can be tracked to create the evolution information. The implementation is then presented to a group of experts to identify the problems and to get the feedback to improve the system.

year: 2012

title: Molecular Characterisation of Immune Genes in Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi)

authors: Broomfield, Grant Robert

subjects: seriola

abstract: The effective and efficient introduction of a new candidate species for aquaculture depends greatly on the understanding of the physiology of the organism and the ability to monitor a candidates’ response to changes in their environment. For any farmed fish in an aquaculture setting, there will be a number of bottlenecks that restrict optimal growth and production. Being able to monitor and maintain health is one of these, with stress and pathogenic invasion from microbial organisms leading to a reduction in farming efficiency. Due to the very nature of aquaculture, stress and transmission of pathogens are very common, as fish are contained in close quarters. Thus, characterising and understanding the immune system of these fish will allow for better monitoring of fish health. 
Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi) is a strong candidate for introduction into the New Zealand aquaculture industry. The selection of this fish as a candidate for aquaculture is based on its economically beneficial traits that have potential in both domestic and export markets, particularly in the sashimi market in Japan. Because of this, it is important to begin investigations into the immune response of this species, so aspects of its health can be monitored during farming. The focus of this investigation was to identify immune genes in this species and to begin profiling their expression during the development of the fish. 
Using bioinformatics approaches, the available gene databases and the implementation of a transcriptomic library prepared from the spleen tissue of S. lalandi, a number of immune genes were identified, which included, Immunoglobulin D (IgD), Recombination Activation Gene 1 (RAG1) and Interleukin-1β (IL-1b). Primers were designed for each gene, to enable confirmation of the gene sequences, by PCR and RACE-PCR. Using this approach, no confirmed sequence was obtained for IL-1b, however sequence was obtained for part of the RAG1 gene and a large part of the IgD gene, including the 3’end. 
	The availability of these immune gene sequences, allowed methods to be developed for looking at gene expression. Primers were designed using the confirmed sequences for RAG1 and IgD, as well as the unconfirmed sequence for IL-1b. These were used in qPCR to examine the expression of each gene during development, within larvae at hatch, 3 dph, 12 dph and 18 dph. Expression of each gene was found to increase by 12 dph, but then decrease at 18dph, with IL-1b showing the highest relative expression. However, no significant difference in expression was seen statistically between any of the time points.
Lastly, a protocol was developed for the histological sectioning of larval fish at different stages of development. A number of attempts were made to optimise an approach, with fish from 3 dph to 60 dph eventually being paraffin embedded, sectioned and stained with either toluidine blue or haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Developing structures within the larvae, including immune tissues, were identified. Future work will use prepared sections to stain for the immune genes, to gain a better understanding of their role. 
Discovery of immune genes from kingfish, such as the ones characterised in this investigation, will allow the development of invaluable tools. These tools can be used to monitor the health of fish during both the developmental and adult stages. This paves the way for informative studies that will benefit the future aquaculture of this species.

text: Molecular Characterisation of Immune Genes in Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi) The effective and efficient introduction of a new candidate species for aquaculture depends greatly on the understanding of the physiology of the organism and the ability to monitor a candidates’ response to changes in their environment. For any farmed fish in an aquaculture setting, there will be a number of bottlenecks that restrict optimal growth and production. Being able to monitor and maintain health is one of these, with stress and pathogenic invasion from microbial organisms leading to a reduction in farming efficiency. Due to the very nature of aquaculture, stress and transmission of pathogens are very common, as fish are contained in close quarters. Thus, characterising and understanding the immune system of these fish will allow for better monitoring of fish health. 
Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi) is a strong candidate for introduction into the New Zealand aquaculture industry. The selection of this fish as a candidate for aquaculture is based on its economically beneficial traits that have potential in both domestic and export markets, particularly in the sashimi market in Japan. Because of this, it is important to begin investigations into the immune response of this species, so aspects of its health can be monitored during farming. The focus of this investigation was to identify immune genes in this species and to begin profiling their expression during the development of the fish. 
Using bioinformatics approaches, the available gene databases and the implementation of a transcriptomic library prepared from the spleen tissue of S. lalandi, a number of immune genes were identified, which included, Immunoglobulin D (IgD), Recombination Activation Gene 1 (RAG1) and Interleukin-1β (IL-1b). Primers were designed for each gene, to enable confirmation of the gene sequences, by PCR and RACE-PCR. Using this approach, no confirmed sequence was obtained for IL-1b, however sequence was obtained for part of the RAG1 gene and a large part of the IgD gene, including the 3’end. 
	The availability of these immune gene sequences, allowed methods to be developed for looking at gene expression. Primers were designed using the confirmed sequences for RAG1 and IgD, as well as the unconfirmed sequence for IL-1b. These were used in qPCR to examine the expression of each gene during development, within larvae at hatch, 3 dph, 12 dph and 18 dph. Expression of each gene was found to increase by 12 dph, but then decrease at 18dph, with IL-1b showing the highest relative expression. However, no significant difference in expression was seen statistically between any of the time points.
Lastly, a protocol was developed for the histological sectioning of larval fish at different stages of development. A number of attempts were made to optimise an approach, with fish from 3 dph to 60 dph eventually being paraffin embedded, sectioned and stained with either toluidine blue or haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Developing structures within the larvae, including immune tissues, were identified. Future work will use prepared sections to stain for the immune genes, to gain a better understanding of their role. 
Discovery of immune genes from kingfish, such as the ones characterised in this investigation, will allow the development of invaluable tools. These tools can be used to monitor the health of fish during both the developmental and adult stages. This paves the way for informative studies that will benefit the future aquaculture of this species.

year: 2015

title: Indigenous challenges to enhance freshwater governance and management in Aotearoa New Zealand - the Waikato river settlement

authors: Te Aho, Linda

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Co-management of environmental resources is an idea that has been developing for some time in Aotearoa New Zealand as a strategy that recognises Indigenous interests in the environment, and the different ways that people view the world. The contest for control of New Zealand's rivers has generally arisen from successive governments purporting to secure rights based upon English common law. Precepts of that law were completely foreign to the Indigenous Maori who had their own conceptions of rivers. Through the eyes of the Maori, rivers have their own life force, their own spiritual energy and their own powerful identities. Rivers are inextricably linked to tribal identities. Over time a raft of policies was employed and legislation passed by parliament in the name of development and the national interest which did not take into account Maori understandings of the river and its ecosystems, nor their rights, interests, or authority. Excluded from decision-making processes, Maori have long brought matters to the attention of courts by using any basis to assert our rights and interests, and to have our concerns about the deteriorating health and wellbeing of our rivers taken seriously. The search for redress has been relentless. The Resource Management Act 1991 formalised a range of legal rights, but such rights can be meaningless if presented as just one of many other considerations that decision-makers have to take into account. This article explores the notion of collaborative management and the development of co-management models as a background to the emergent Waikato River settlement ± a legal solution embedded in the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 that generates a more robust opportunity to bring to an end a paradigm of exclusion and usher in a new era that promises enhanced governance and management of a significant waterway.

text: Indigenous challenges to enhance freshwater governance and management in Aotearoa New Zealand - the Waikato river settlement Co-management of environmental resources is an idea that has been developing for some time in Aotearoa New Zealand as a strategy that recognises Indigenous interests in the environment, and the different ways that people view the world. The contest for control of New Zealand's rivers has generally arisen from successive governments purporting to secure rights based upon English common law. Precepts of that law were completely foreign to the Indigenous Maori who had their own conceptions of rivers. Through the eyes of the Maori, rivers have their own life force, their own spiritual energy and their own powerful identities. Rivers are inextricably linked to tribal identities. Over time a raft of policies was employed and legislation passed by parliament in the name of development and the national interest which did not take into account Maori understandings of the river and its ecosystems, nor their rights, interests, or authority. Excluded from decision-making processes, Maori have long brought matters to the attention of courts by using any basis to assert our rights and interests, and to have our concerns about the deteriorating health and wellbeing of our rivers taken seriously. The search for redress has been relentless. The Resource Management Act 1991 formalised a range of legal rights, but such rights can be meaningless if presented as just one of many other considerations that decision-makers have to take into account. This article explores the notion of collaborative management and the development of co-management models as a background to the emergent Waikato River settlement ± a legal solution embedded in the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 that generates a more robust opportunity to bring to an end a paradigm of exclusion and usher in a new era that promises enhanced governance and management of a significant waterway.

year: 2010