title: Population genetic structure of New Zealand's endemic corophiid amphipods: evidence for allopatric speciation

authors: Stevens, Mark I.

subjects: allozyme

abstract: Allozyme electrophoresis was used to examine population genetic structure at inter- and intraspecific levels for the New Zealand endemic corophiid amphipods, Paracorophium lucasi and P. excavatum. Individuals were collected from estuarine and freshwater habitats from North, South and Chatham Islands. Analyses of genetic structure among interspecific populations indicated clear allelic differentiation between the two Paracorophium species (Nei's genetic distance, D = 1.62), as well as considerable intraspecific substructuring (D = 0.15–0.65). These levels of divergence are similar to interspecific levels for other amphipods and it is proposed that at least two groups from the P. lucasi complex and three from the P. excavatum complex correspond to sibling species. In most cases allopatry can account for the differentiation among the putative sibling species. For populations that share a common coastline we found low levels of differentiation and little or no correlation with geographical distance, suggesting that gene flow is adequate to maintain homogeneous population genetic structure. By contrast, populations on separate coastlines (i.e. isolated by land) showed moderate levels of geographical differentiation indicating restricted gene flow. The juxtaposition of population genetic and biogeographical data for Paracorophium in conjunction with the geological record infers past histories of glacial extirpation, and possible isolating effects of sea-level and landmass changes that have occurred throughout the Plio-Pleistocene.

text: Population genetic structure of New Zealand's endemic corophiid amphipods: evidence for allopatric speciation Allozyme electrophoresis was used to examine population genetic structure at inter- and intraspecific levels for the New Zealand endemic corophiid amphipods, Paracorophium lucasi and P. excavatum. Individuals were collected from estuarine and freshwater habitats from North, South and Chatham Islands. Analyses of genetic structure among interspecific populations indicated clear allelic differentiation between the two Paracorophium species (Nei's genetic distance, D = 1.62), as well as considerable intraspecific substructuring (D = 0.15–0.65). These levels of divergence are similar to interspecific levels for other amphipods and it is proposed that at least two groups from the P. lucasi complex and three from the P. excavatum complex correspond to sibling species. In most cases allopatry can account for the differentiation among the putative sibling species. For populations that share a common coastline we found low levels of differentiation and little or no correlation with geographical distance, suggesting that gene flow is adequate to maintain homogeneous population genetic structure. By contrast, populations on separate coastlines (i.e. isolated by land) showed moderate levels of geographical differentiation indicating restricted gene flow. The juxtaposition of population genetic and biogeographical data for Paracorophium in conjunction with the geological record infers past histories of glacial extirpation, and possible isolating effects of sea-level and landmass changes that have occurred throughout the Plio-Pleistocene.

year: 2004

title: Patient-reported quality of life for cataract surgery: prospective validation of the ‘Impact on Life’ and Catquest-9SF questionnaires in New Zealand

authors: Li, Sunny S.

subjects: Statistics

abstract: AIMS: The 'Impact on Life' (IoL) questionnaire is used to prioritise publicly funded cataract surgery in New Zealand, however, it has not been formally validated for ophthalmic use. The Catquest-9SF questionnaire is widely used to assess vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) but has not been validated in New Zealand. This study evaluates the validity of the IoL and Catquest-9SF questionnaires for measuring VRQoL in New Zealand. 
METHOD: Formal ethics approval was obtained. Participants completed the IoL and Catquest-9SF questionnaires before and three months after routine cataract surgery. Rasch analysis was used to investigate all qualitative questionnaire responses. Results were correlated with the change in patient visual acuity. 
RESULTS: There was a 100% response rate at follow-up (41 participants). Disordered probability thresholds were observed for all IoL questions but no Catquest-9SF questions. All IoL questions demonstrated unsatisfactory mean-square fit statistics. Differences in visual acuity following surgery correlated with the change in total F-score for the Catquest-9SF (P=0.04), but not IoL responses (P=0.17). 
CONCLUSIONS: Disordered probability thresholds, poor question-model fit and correlation with visual acuity changes indicate the current IoL questionnaire is poorly suited for assessment of VRQoL. In contrast, the Catquest-9SF demonstrated credible results for assessment of VRQoL in New Zealand.

text: Patient-reported quality of life for cataract surgery: prospective validation of the ‘Impact on Life’ and Catquest-9SF questionnaires in New Zealand AIMS: The 'Impact on Life' (IoL) questionnaire is used to prioritise publicly funded cataract surgery in New Zealand, however, it has not been formally validated for ophthalmic use. The Catquest-9SF questionnaire is widely used to assess vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) but has not been validated in New Zealand. This study evaluates the validity of the IoL and Catquest-9SF questionnaires for measuring VRQoL in New Zealand. 
METHOD: Formal ethics approval was obtained. Participants completed the IoL and Catquest-9SF questionnaires before and three months after routine cataract surgery. Rasch analysis was used to investigate all qualitative questionnaire responses. Results were correlated with the change in patient visual acuity. 
RESULTS: There was a 100% response rate at follow-up (41 participants). Disordered probability thresholds were observed for all IoL questions but no Catquest-9SF questions. All IoL questions demonstrated unsatisfactory mean-square fit statistics. Differences in visual acuity following surgery correlated with the change in total F-score for the Catquest-9SF (P=0.04), but not IoL responses (P=0.17). 
CONCLUSIONS: Disordered probability thresholds, poor question-model fit and correlation with visual acuity changes indicate the current IoL questionnaire is poorly suited for assessment of VRQoL. In contrast, the Catquest-9SF demonstrated credible results for assessment of VRQoL in New Zealand.

year: 2019

title: Responding to the message: Responsive written feedback in a Maori to English transition context

authors: Glynn, Ted

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: This paper reports on the writing component of a community and
school Maori to English literacy transition programme implemented in a kura
kaupapa Maori (Maori language immersion school. 21 Year 6, 7 and 8
students received responsive written feedback for their writing in English,
over a ten-week period, during their weekly independent writing time.
Students’ stories were mailed to a young Maori woman (the third author) in a
provincial city 100 kilometres from the kura . She was not known to any of the
students prior to the study, but she acted as an interested audience, and
responded in writing by focussing on the content or messages in students’
stories. She did not provide any corrective feedback on students’ writing.
The study employed an intra-subject multiple-baseline research design across
four school terms, with the responsive written feedback being introduced
sequentially to each of three student Year groups. Measures were taken of
total words written, adventurous words written, as well as holistic ratings of
audience impact and language quality. Data demonstrate positive gains in
both the quantity and quality of students’ writing, as well as maintenance of
high levels of writing accuracy for all Year groups.

text: Responding to the message: Responsive written feedback in a Maori to English transition context This paper reports on the writing component of a community and
school Maori to English literacy transition programme implemented in a kura
kaupapa Maori (Maori language immersion school. 21 Year 6, 7 and 8
students received responsive written feedback for their writing in English,
over a ten-week period, during their weekly independent writing time.
Students’ stories were mailed to a young Maori woman (the third author) in a
provincial city 100 kilometres from the kura . She was not known to any of the
students prior to the study, but she acted as an interested audience, and
responded in writing by focussing on the content or messages in students’
stories. She did not provide any corrective feedback on students’ writing.
The study employed an intra-subject multiple-baseline research design across
four school terms, with the responsive written feedback being introduced
sequentially to each of three student Year groups. Measures were taken of
total words written, adventurous words written, as well as holistic ratings of
audience impact and language quality. Data demonstrate positive gains in
both the quantity and quality of students’ writing, as well as maintenance of
high levels of writing accuracy for all Year groups.

year: 2005