title: Business managers in children’s playground : Exploring a problematic (or not!) identity construction of early childhood teachers in New Zealand.

authors: Kamenarac, Olivera

subjects: Discourses

abstract: The impacts of neo-liberal education reforms on the early childhood education sector have been a focal point of scholarly critiques in New Zealand. Interestingly, only a few studies have addressed how teacher professional identities and professionalism have changed in response to the neo-liberal context of New Zealand early childhood education. It has been, however, recognised that understanding the complexity of teacher professional identities within the rapidly transforming landscape of early childhood education is a key consideration in implementing and sustaining a change agenda in education policies and practices. In this article, the author draws on data from her research study about how teachers’ professional identities have been reconstructed in response to the shifting discourses in New Zealand early childhood education policies and practices. Specifically, the author explores the construction of teachers as business managers, which has emerged through an interplay of discourses of marketisation and privatisation driving some of the country’s early childhood education policies and practices. It is argued that the construction of teachers as business managers has altered core professional ethical values underpinning the teaching profession, professionalism and the purpose of early childhood education in New Zealand, which were traditionally embedded in discourses of collective democracy, equity and social justice.

text: Business managers in children’s playground : Exploring a problematic (or not!) identity construction of early childhood teachers in New Zealand. The impacts of neo-liberal education reforms on the early childhood education sector have been a focal point of scholarly critiques in New Zealand. Interestingly, only a few studies have addressed how teacher professional identities and professionalism have changed in response to the neo-liberal context of New Zealand early childhood education. It has been, however, recognised that understanding the complexity of teacher professional identities within the rapidly transforming landscape of early childhood education is a key consideration in implementing and sustaining a change agenda in education policies and practices. In this article, the author draws on data from her research study about how teachers’ professional identities have been reconstructed in response to the shifting discourses in New Zealand early childhood education policies and practices. Specifically, the author explores the construction of teachers as business managers, which has emerged through an interplay of discourses of marketisation and privatisation driving some of the country’s early childhood education policies and practices. It is argued that the construction of teachers as business managers has altered core professional ethical values underpinning the teaching profession, professionalism and the purpose of early childhood education in New Zealand, which were traditionally embedded in discourses of collective democracy, equity and social justice.

year: 2021

title: Platinum(II) phosphonate complexes derived from endo-8-camphanylphosphonic acid

authors: Leach, Meto T.

subjects: platinum

abstract: The reactions of cis-[PtCl₂L₂] [L = PPh₃, PMe₂Ph or L₂ = Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂ (dppe)] with endo-8-camphanylphosphonic acid (CamPO₃H₂) and Ag₂O in refluxing dichloromethane gave platinum(II) phosphonate complexes [Pt(O₃PCam)L₂]. The X-ray crystal structure of [Pt(O₃PCam)(PPh₃)₂]•₂CHCl₃ shows that the bulky camphanyl group, rather than being directed away from the platinum, is instead directed into a pocket formed by the Pt and the two PPh₃ ligands. This allows the O₃P–CH₂ group to have a preferred staggered conformation. The complexes were studied in detail by NMR spectroscopy, which demonstrates non-fluxional behaviour for the sterically bulky PPh₃ and dppe derivatives, which contain inequivalent phosphine ligands in their ³¹P NMR spectra. These findings are backed up by theoretical calculations on the PPh₃ and PPhMe₂ derivatives, which show, respectively, high and low energy barriers to rotation of the camphanyl group in the PPh₃ and PPhMe₂ complexes. The X-ray crystal structure of CamPO₃H₂ is also reported, and consists of hydrogen-bonded hexameric aggregates, which assemble to form a columnar structure containing hydrophilic phosphonic acid channels surrounded by a sheath of bulky, hydrophobic camphanyl groups.

text: Platinum(II) phosphonate complexes derived from endo-8-camphanylphosphonic acid The reactions of cis-[PtCl₂L₂] [L = PPh₃, PMe₂Ph or L₂ = Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂ (dppe)] with endo-8-camphanylphosphonic acid (CamPO₃H₂) and Ag₂O in refluxing dichloromethane gave platinum(II) phosphonate complexes [Pt(O₃PCam)L₂]. The X-ray crystal structure of [Pt(O₃PCam)(PPh₃)₂]•₂CHCl₃ shows that the bulky camphanyl group, rather than being directed away from the platinum, is instead directed into a pocket formed by the Pt and the two PPh₃ ligands. This allows the O₃P–CH₂ group to have a preferred staggered conformation. The complexes were studied in detail by NMR spectroscopy, which demonstrates non-fluxional behaviour for the sterically bulky PPh₃ and dppe derivatives, which contain inequivalent phosphine ligands in their ³¹P NMR spectra. These findings are backed up by theoretical calculations on the PPh₃ and PPhMe₂ derivatives, which show, respectively, high and low energy barriers to rotation of the camphanyl group in the PPh₃ and PPhMe₂ complexes. The X-ray crystal structure of CamPO₃H₂ is also reported, and consists of hydrogen-bonded hexameric aggregates, which assemble to form a columnar structure containing hydrophilic phosphonic acid channels surrounded by a sheath of bulky, hydrophobic camphanyl groups.

year: 2011

title: eDNA-based detection of New Zealand freshwater mussel (kākahi) populations using digital PCR

authors: Ferris, Kelsey

subjects: eDNA

abstract: Globally, freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered taxa due to pollution, nutrient loading, habitat fragmentation, and species introduction attributable to anthropogenic activities. New Zealand freshwater mussels (kākahi) are ecological engineers and integral species in freshwater ecosystems. However, kākahi populations are expected to decline 70% by 2024 in part due to their unique reproductive cycle involving an obligatory phoretic relationship with declining native fish. Kākahi distribution and abundance throughout New Zealand is poorly understood due to time-consuming surveying techniques of concealed and morphologically cryptic species. A rapid and reliable method is required for the detection and identification of these ‘Threatened’ kākahi populations for conservation and management. Therefore, this study aimed to i) validate an environmental DNA (eDNA) based detection method for New Zealand freshwater mussels using digital PCR (dPCR); ii) determine the most appropriate sampling season for kākahi eDNA; and iii) determine whether eDNA could be used to detect effects of fish barriers on kākahi distribution.
In vivo trials determined that filtration of field samples within 24 hours of collection minimised eDNA degradation and that prefiltration effectively removed inhibitory detritus and glochidia. The lowest concentration of eDNA which could accurately be detected to infer abundance (≥3.2 copies/µL) or presence (0.32-3.19 copies/µL) of kākahi eDNA was determined.  Duplicate field samples were collected from the Waingaro River and Kahuhuru Stream at sites downstream of fish barriers and upstream of low-flow or all-flow barriers in December, May, and August to investigate spatial and temporal variation in eDNA concentrations. As hypothesised, December was the most effective month to sample, yielding the highest eDNA concentrations due to reduced dilution and heightened water temperatures. Based on eDNA, kākahi species distribution did not appear correlated with fish barriers, but all-flow barriers likely impeded fish host movement to significantly reduce the total kākahi eDNA concentrations found upstream. 
eDNA detection can be used by regional councils to effectively infer presence/absence of kākahi populations and direct further conventional surveying efforts to the most impactful locations. This method allows rapid determination of distribution and densities at a national scale to aid conservation management of this taonga (treasured) species.

text: eDNA-based detection of New Zealand freshwater mussel (kākahi) populations using digital PCR Globally, freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered taxa due to pollution, nutrient loading, habitat fragmentation, and species introduction attributable to anthropogenic activities. New Zealand freshwater mussels (kākahi) are ecological engineers and integral species in freshwater ecosystems. However, kākahi populations are expected to decline 70% by 2024 in part due to their unique reproductive cycle involving an obligatory phoretic relationship with declining native fish. Kākahi distribution and abundance throughout New Zealand is poorly understood due to time-consuming surveying techniques of concealed and morphologically cryptic species. A rapid and reliable method is required for the detection and identification of these ‘Threatened’ kākahi populations for conservation and management. Therefore, this study aimed to i) validate an environmental DNA (eDNA) based detection method for New Zealand freshwater mussels using digital PCR (dPCR); ii) determine the most appropriate sampling season for kākahi eDNA; and iii) determine whether eDNA could be used to detect effects of fish barriers on kākahi distribution.
In vivo trials determined that filtration of field samples within 24 hours of collection minimised eDNA degradation and that prefiltration effectively removed inhibitory detritus and glochidia. The lowest concentration of eDNA which could accurately be detected to infer abundance (≥3.2 copies/µL) or presence (0.32-3.19 copies/µL) of kākahi eDNA was determined.  Duplicate field samples were collected from the Waingaro River and Kahuhuru Stream at sites downstream of fish barriers and upstream of low-flow or all-flow barriers in December, May, and August to investigate spatial and temporal variation in eDNA concentrations. As hypothesised, December was the most effective month to sample, yielding the highest eDNA concentrations due to reduced dilution and heightened water temperatures. Based on eDNA, kākahi species distribution did not appear correlated with fish barriers, but all-flow barriers likely impeded fish host movement to significantly reduce the total kākahi eDNA concentrations found upstream. 
eDNA detection can be used by regional councils to effectively infer presence/absence of kākahi populations and direct further conventional surveying efforts to the most impactful locations. This method allows rapid determination of distribution and densities at a national scale to aid conservation management of this taonga (treasured) species.

year: 2020