title: Impact of the Ruakura Inland Port on the Golden Triangle - a system dynamics simulation study

authors: Kuo, Kuan-Yu (Jessica)

abstract: The Ruakura Inland Port, a project developed in anticipation of the increasing freight flows in the future, is an inland port that is expected to add an additional one million TEUs per annum to the Golden Triangle’s freight capacities. Such a change to the system will result in impacts to the other members within it, but traditional research methods cannot fully capture the complexities of a freight system that involves so many variables, hence the need for simulation modelling.

This pragmatic study presents a pilot simulation model using a system dynamics approach so that the relationships within the complex freight system could be better understood. Constructed using the iThink software, not only does this evolvable model show how the addition of the Ruakura Inland Port is going to affect the current freight flows with the Golden Triangle, it was also designed with the aim of helping practitioners identify drivers and enablers within the system so that informed decisions can be made. The results from the simulation showed that the in the first 20 years it is unlikely that the Ruakura Inland Port will have significant impacts on the system until much higher utilisation rates can be achieved. It was also found that the addition of the Third Main and the Waikato Expressway will have relatively small to none impacts.

text: Impact of the Ruakura Inland Port on the Golden Triangle - a system dynamics simulation study The Ruakura Inland Port, a project developed in anticipation of the increasing freight flows in the future, is an inland port that is expected to add an additional one million TEUs per annum to the Golden Triangle’s freight capacities. Such a change to the system will result in impacts to the other members within it, but traditional research methods cannot fully capture the complexities of a freight system that involves so many variables, hence the need for simulation modelling.

This pragmatic study presents a pilot simulation model using a system dynamics approach so that the relationships within the complex freight system could be better understood. Constructed using the iThink software, not only does this evolvable model show how the addition of the Ruakura Inland Port is going to affect the current freight flows with the Golden Triangle, it was also designed with the aim of helping practitioners identify drivers and enablers within the system so that informed decisions can be made. The results from the simulation showed that the in the first 20 years it is unlikely that the Ruakura Inland Port will have significant impacts on the system until much higher utilisation rates can be achieved. It was also found that the addition of the Third Main and the Waikato Expressway will have relatively small to none impacts.

year: 2019

title: Gene expression profiles of 3D gene-edited bioprinted cells

authors: Turnbull, Catherine

subjects: Bioprinting

abstract: Cancer is the biggest cause of death in New Zealand each year and places a large economic strain on the health system. Previously, two-dimensional (2D) cell models have provided insight into the development of cancer but now, three-dimensional (3D) models provided more accurate information on how cell-cell interactions in the body affect the efficacy of different drug therapies. This research aims to investigate the gene expression profiles of 3D gene-edited bioprinted lung cancer cells to understand how mutations and the vital trace element Selenium (Se) affects gene expression. The human A549 lung cancer cell line was bioprinted into a set dome shape made of sodium alginate, gelatine, and cell media. The cells were then cultured for 21 days before a six-hour drug exposure with 2μM and 10μM Methylselenic Acid (MSA).
RNA was also extracted from 18 bioprints and the spectrophotometer data suggested high quality with a total RNA concentration range of 9 – 671μg/μL, respectively. The RNA integrity was further examined using the RNA tape station. The solvent control (n=2) and the 2μM MSA treatment (n=3) from the second independent experiment resulted in intact ribosomal bands. The protein concentration was determined using a Bradford assay and ranged from 0.1 – 3.42mg/mL. The electrophoresed protein showed a molecular weight size range from 120kDa – 10kDa. The protein was then transferred onto a western blot membrane and detected by two primary antibodies; (1) HSP70 - correctly fold proteins that are under cellular stress and (2) GAPDH – a loading control reference antibody. The HSP70 protein expression was measured for the drug-treated bioprints for three bioprinting experiment. We hypothesised an upregulation in HSP70 expression based on previous studies. However, the data set could not be replicated to conclusively downregulation in response to 2 and 10μM MSA. Thus, further optimisation into drug accessibility, cell and protein loading concentration is required.
Gene-editing using lipofectamine and CRISPR-Cas9 was attempted using A549 cells but no conclusive evidence that a mutation had been introduced into the Cyclin Dependent Kinase 4 (CDK4) gene was observed (n=5). Three research optimisations have been recommended for gene-editing and establishing a stable gene-edited cell line for future use in 3D bioprinting and gene expression analysis.

text: Gene expression profiles of 3D gene-edited bioprinted cells Cancer is the biggest cause of death in New Zealand each year and places a large economic strain on the health system. Previously, two-dimensional (2D) cell models have provided insight into the development of cancer but now, three-dimensional (3D) models provided more accurate information on how cell-cell interactions in the body affect the efficacy of different drug therapies. This research aims to investigate the gene expression profiles of 3D gene-edited bioprinted lung cancer cells to understand how mutations and the vital trace element Selenium (Se) affects gene expression. The human A549 lung cancer cell line was bioprinted into a set dome shape made of sodium alginate, gelatine, and cell media. The cells were then cultured for 21 days before a six-hour drug exposure with 2μM and 10μM Methylselenic Acid (MSA).
RNA was also extracted from 18 bioprints and the spectrophotometer data suggested high quality with a total RNA concentration range of 9 – 671μg/μL, respectively. The RNA integrity was further examined using the RNA tape station. The solvent control (n=2) and the 2μM MSA treatment (n=3) from the second independent experiment resulted in intact ribosomal bands. The protein concentration was determined using a Bradford assay and ranged from 0.1 – 3.42mg/mL. The electrophoresed protein showed a molecular weight size range from 120kDa – 10kDa. The protein was then transferred onto a western blot membrane and detected by two primary antibodies; (1) HSP70 - correctly fold proteins that are under cellular stress and (2) GAPDH – a loading control reference antibody. The HSP70 protein expression was measured for the drug-treated bioprints for three bioprinting experiment. We hypothesised an upregulation in HSP70 expression based on previous studies. However, the data set could not be replicated to conclusively downregulation in response to 2 and 10μM MSA. Thus, further optimisation into drug accessibility, cell and protein loading concentration is required.
Gene-editing using lipofectamine and CRISPR-Cas9 was attempted using A549 cells but no conclusive evidence that a mutation had been introduced into the Cyclin Dependent Kinase 4 (CDK4) gene was observed (n=5). Three research optimisations have been recommended for gene-editing and establishing a stable gene-edited cell line for future use in 3D bioprinting and gene expression analysis.

year: 2023

title: Inspiring national indigenous legal education for Aotearoa New Zealand's Bachelor of Laws Degree: Phase One

authors: Ruru, Jacinta

subjects: tikanga Maori, LLB law degree, legal education in New Zealand, bilculturalism, bilinguaiism, bijuralism

abstract: This Issues Paper is the result of the first stage of a multi-year, three-phase national project. In it we review the literature and consider some of the preliminary opportunities relevant for the teaching
of Māori law as a foundation source of the Aotearoa New Zealand Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree for the benefit of the legal profession and Aotearoa New Zealand society. We present ten key messages
as integral to this Issues Paper.

text: Inspiring national indigenous legal education for Aotearoa New Zealand's Bachelor of Laws Degree: Phase One This Issues Paper is the result of the first stage of a multi-year, three-phase national project. In it we review the literature and consider some of the preliminary opportunities relevant for the teaching
of Māori law as a foundation source of the Aotearoa New Zealand Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree for the benefit of the legal profession and Aotearoa New Zealand society. We present ten key messages
as integral to this Issues Paper.

year: 2020-09-01