title: Thermotolerant purple nonsulfur bacteria from New Zealand geothermal areas

authors: Charlton, Peter John

abstract: Purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) are a metabolically and nutritionally diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that have been isolated from many environments. Three thermotolerant or mildly thermophilic strains are known from thermal areas in the United States and Japan. Only mesophilic isolates have been obtained from Russian hot springs. 

Enrichment cultures selective for PNSB were set up on samples taken from a range of New Zealand geothermal areas. Photosynthetic purple bacteria could readily be isolated from Waimangu and Orakei Korako samples, but could not be isolated from Tokaanu mats. In total, 35 isolates belonging to the genera Rhodopseudomonas, Rhodoplanes, Blastochloris, Rubrivivax, Rhodomicrobium, Rhodospirillum and Phaeospirillum were obtained from 18 positive sample sites. The majority of isolates grew optimally around 40°C and had temperature maxima ranging from 43 to 47°C. Other isolates had lower optima and were thermotolerant. Many Rhodoplanes and Blastochloris isolates represented novel genospecies, though some could not be unambiguously distinguished by their phenotypic properties. The novel species Rhodoplanes venustus sp. nov., Rhodoplanes segnis sp. nov., and Phaeospirillum tepidarium sp. nov. are proposed. 

Molecular methods were used to specifically detect photosynthetic purple bacteria. A clone library of photosynthetic reaction centre pufL genes amplified from an Orakei Korako mat sample was constructed and screened. No clone sequences were identical to those of organisms isolated previously or in the current study. The clone library was dominated by sequences attributable to aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. Four novel pufL sequences attributable to purple nonsulfur bacteria were obtained.

Rhodoplanes strains possessed the ability to use nicotinic acid as sole source of carbon and nitrogen, via a pathway that includes 6-hydroxynicotinate and glutarate as intermediates, as are in the Azorhizobium caulinodans pathway. Unlike other nicotinic-acid degrading organisms, growth of Rhodoplanes on nicotinate was not inhibited by addition of tungstate.

text: Thermotolerant purple nonsulfur bacteria from New Zealand geothermal areas Purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) are a metabolically and nutritionally diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that have been isolated from many environments. Three thermotolerant or mildly thermophilic strains are known from thermal areas in the United States and Japan. Only mesophilic isolates have been obtained from Russian hot springs. 

Enrichment cultures selective for PNSB were set up on samples taken from a range of New Zealand geothermal areas. Photosynthetic purple bacteria could readily be isolated from Waimangu and Orakei Korako samples, but could not be isolated from Tokaanu mats. In total, 35 isolates belonging to the genera Rhodopseudomonas, Rhodoplanes, Blastochloris, Rubrivivax, Rhodomicrobium, Rhodospirillum and Phaeospirillum were obtained from 18 positive sample sites. The majority of isolates grew optimally around 40°C and had temperature maxima ranging from 43 to 47°C. Other isolates had lower optima and were thermotolerant. Many Rhodoplanes and Blastochloris isolates represented novel genospecies, though some could not be unambiguously distinguished by their phenotypic properties. The novel species Rhodoplanes venustus sp. nov., Rhodoplanes segnis sp. nov., and Phaeospirillum tepidarium sp. nov. are proposed. 

Molecular methods were used to specifically detect photosynthetic purple bacteria. A clone library of photosynthetic reaction centre pufL genes amplified from an Orakei Korako mat sample was constructed and screened. No clone sequences were identical to those of organisms isolated previously or in the current study. The clone library was dominated by sequences attributable to aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. Four novel pufL sequences attributable to purple nonsulfur bacteria were obtained.

Rhodoplanes strains possessed the ability to use nicotinic acid as sole source of carbon and nitrogen, via a pathway that includes 6-hydroxynicotinate and glutarate as intermediates, as are in the Azorhizobium caulinodans pathway. Unlike other nicotinic-acid degrading organisms, growth of Rhodoplanes on nicotinate was not inhibited by addition of tungstate.

year: 2002

title: Islam in China: From Silk Road to separatism

authors: Jones-Leaning, Melanie

subjects: Islam

abstract: Islam came to China via the Silk Road, the great trading route beginning in the ancient Chinese capital of Xian. Islam flourished during the brutal but religiously tolerant Mongol Yuan dynasty. Harsh repressive measures were employed against the rebellious Muslims of the Qing dynasty. Islam has survived the tumultuous 20th century and has experienced a revival in the new millennium. Following a brief historical overview, including some of China's relevant history of insurrection, rebellion and reforms, the nature of the Muslim community in China, along with pressing contemporary issues, will be outlined and discussed

text: Islam in China: From Silk Road to separatism Islam came to China via the Silk Road, the great trading route beginning in the ancient Chinese capital of Xian. Islam flourished during the brutal but religiously tolerant Mongol Yuan dynasty. Harsh repressive measures were employed against the rebellious Muslims of the Qing dynasty. Islam has survived the tumultuous 20th century and has experienced a revival in the new millennium. Following a brief historical overview, including some of China's relevant history of insurrection, rebellion and reforms, the nature of the Muslim community in China, along with pressing contemporary issues, will be outlined and discussed

year: 2012

title: Manaaki whenua. Manaaki tangata: Care for the land, care for the people: Leading critical school reform with mana whenua and whānau Māori

authors: Ford, Therese

subjects: Critical school reform

abstract: Education disparities between Māori and Pākehā students in Aotearoa, have their origins in colonial education policies and practices which considerably advantaged Pākehā students and compromised the ability of Māori students to engage with learning and succeed.  Despite the promises of equality inherent in the Treaty of Waitangi,  this historical foundation has, for over 150 years, perpetuated intergenerational cycles of education failure for Māori resulting in high levels of endemic social and economic disadvantage in many Māori communities.
This thesis examines the leadership praxis of two Pākehā principals, to understand how, with more respectful connections with Māori communities, they were able to address education disparities and facilitate success for Māori students as Māori. Culturally responsive research methodologies guided two, in-depth case studies which employed mixed methods.
Two collaborative stories, with the voices of mana whenua and whānau Māori, identified the importance of school leaders developing critical levels of consciousness, through authentic, bidirectional relationships with Māori communities.  These relationships enabled the principals to understand the authentic local, pre-colonial iwi histories of the land. This in turn fostered connections between the schools and local Māori communities that enabled them to collaboratively respond to the implications of colonisation.  
The thesis challenges the monocultural, monolingual, unidirectional policies and practices that characterise the current model of colonial education.  It presents instead a decolonising model of critical school reform and a framework for implementation and evaluation.  It contends that honouring the Treaty of Waitangi requires an equity focused response with power sharing relationships, critically led by principals alongside Māori communities.

text: Manaaki whenua. Manaaki tangata: Care for the land, care for the people: Leading critical school reform with mana whenua and whānau Māori Education disparities between Māori and Pākehā students in Aotearoa, have their origins in colonial education policies and practices which considerably advantaged Pākehā students and compromised the ability of Māori students to engage with learning and succeed.  Despite the promises of equality inherent in the Treaty of Waitangi,  this historical foundation has, for over 150 years, perpetuated intergenerational cycles of education failure for Māori resulting in high levels of endemic social and economic disadvantage in many Māori communities.
This thesis examines the leadership praxis of two Pākehā principals, to understand how, with more respectful connections with Māori communities, they were able to address education disparities and facilitate success for Māori students as Māori. Culturally responsive research methodologies guided two, in-depth case studies which employed mixed methods.
Two collaborative stories, with the voices of mana whenua and whānau Māori, identified the importance of school leaders developing critical levels of consciousness, through authentic, bidirectional relationships with Māori communities.  These relationships enabled the principals to understand the authentic local, pre-colonial iwi histories of the land. This in turn fostered connections between the schools and local Māori communities that enabled them to collaboratively respond to the implications of colonisation.  
The thesis challenges the monocultural, monolingual, unidirectional policies and practices that characterise the current model of colonial education.  It presents instead a decolonising model of critical school reform and a framework for implementation and evaluation.  It contends that honouring the Treaty of Waitangi requires an equity focused response with power sharing relationships, critically led by principals alongside Māori communities.

year: 2020