title: Functional Analysis of  Vitelline Membrane Outer Layer 1 (VMO1)

authors: Sagvekar, Pranjali

abstract: Hearing loss is an auditory impairment affecting millions of people world-wide. It has considerable impact psychologically, socially, and physically in adults; with the affected numbers increasing with age, and those with learning disabilities are at a particular risk. With the current advancements in audiological technologies and research related to regeneration of inner ear cells, it is important to understand hearing loss at a molecular level and the proteins involved in the mechanism.
Because of the many complications involved in isolating genes from the actual human ear, the use of animal/bacterial models and commercial mammalian cell lines have become important and informative. In addition, bioinformatics analysis makes it possible to converge the similarities between the human genome and genes from other species in real time. This aids in screening the genetic causes which underlie hearing loss and improve our understanding to unravel diagnostic strategies. 
The Vitelline Membrane Outer Layer 1 homolog (Vmo1) gene is of particular interest as it was uniquely and highly expressed in the inner ear of mouse. The function of this gene is currently unknown. The aim of this research is to induce recombinant human VMO1 protein in a prokaryotic system (E. coli) and ascertain its expression using a range of molecular and cellular assays. To do so, this research focuses on four objectives.

text: Functional Analysis of  Vitelline Membrane Outer Layer 1 (VMO1) Hearing loss is an auditory impairment affecting millions of people world-wide. It has considerable impact psychologically, socially, and physically in adults; with the affected numbers increasing with age, and those with learning disabilities are at a particular risk. With the current advancements in audiological technologies and research related to regeneration of inner ear cells, it is important to understand hearing loss at a molecular level and the proteins involved in the mechanism.
Because of the many complications involved in isolating genes from the actual human ear, the use of animal/bacterial models and commercial mammalian cell lines have become important and informative. In addition, bioinformatics analysis makes it possible to converge the similarities between the human genome and genes from other species in real time. This aids in screening the genetic causes which underlie hearing loss and improve our understanding to unravel diagnostic strategies. 
The Vitelline Membrane Outer Layer 1 homolog (Vmo1) gene is of particular interest as it was uniquely and highly expressed in the inner ear of mouse. The function of this gene is currently unknown. The aim of this research is to induce recombinant human VMO1 protein in a prokaryotic system (E. coli) and ascertain its expression using a range of molecular and cellular assays. To do so, this research focuses on four objectives.

year: 2018

title: The Indigeneity of Archaeological Research in Fiji: Issues and Opportunities

authors: Vunidilo, Tarisi Sorovi

subjects: Fiji

abstract: A literature review showed that there are substantial materials written on Fiji with regards to the search to identify the origin of Fijians. Archaeologists, in particular, began their work in the early 1900s (see Chapter 5). They use cultural material, either from the earth surface or excavated from below, as evidence to reconstruct ancient societies. They also use materials written by early explorers to attempt to map out the pre-contact period. Parry (1981), used air photography to assess landscapes in his work in the Navua delta. Through this form of assessment, he was able to identify hill-forts, ring-ditches and old village settlements. He was also able to utilise oral history, collected from local residents, to identify stories of war, which were then substantiated by archaeological sites and place names (Parry, 1981:30). This thesis aims to build further on the work of Parry (1981) in terms of his work with both archaeology and oral history. The aim is to discuss this relationship between the two research methods and identify factors that can clearly state what indigenous Fijians know and believe as their place of origin. Nabobo-Baba (2006) has highlighted the importance of an indigenous perspective approach to research. This is an area that I have personally experienced in my work in the field of archaeology at the Fiji Museum. This collaboration included the proactive involvement and recognition of local staff in the research, in most cases through co-authorship, and in other cases they were acknowledged in academic reports and relevant writings. I believe that traditional knowledge should be just as highly regarded as western and scientific knowledge.

text: The Indigeneity of Archaeological Research in Fiji: Issues and Opportunities A literature review showed that there are substantial materials written on Fiji with regards to the search to identify the origin of Fijians. Archaeologists, in particular, began their work in the early 1900s (see Chapter 5). They use cultural material, either from the earth surface or excavated from below, as evidence to reconstruct ancient societies. They also use materials written by early explorers to attempt to map out the pre-contact period. Parry (1981), used air photography to assess landscapes in his work in the Navua delta. Through this form of assessment, he was able to identify hill-forts, ring-ditches and old village settlements. He was also able to utilise oral history, collected from local residents, to identify stories of war, which were then substantiated by archaeological sites and place names (Parry, 1981:30). This thesis aims to build further on the work of Parry (1981) in terms of his work with both archaeology and oral history. The aim is to discuss this relationship between the two research methods and identify factors that can clearly state what indigenous Fijians know and believe as their place of origin. Nabobo-Baba (2006) has highlighted the importance of an indigenous perspective approach to research. This is an area that I have personally experienced in my work in the field of archaeology at the Fiji Museum. This collaboration included the proactive involvement and recognition of local staff in the research, in most cases through co-authorship, and in other cases they were acknowledged in academic reports and relevant writings. I believe that traditional knowledge should be just as highly regarded as western and scientific knowledge.

year: 2010

title: Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Report on the thirteenth session (12-23 May 2014)

authors: Toki, Valmaine

abstract: The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decisions:
Draft decision I
International expert group meeting on the theme “Dialogue on an optional protocol to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”
Draft decision II 
Venue and dates of the fourteenth session of the Permanent Forum 
Draft decision III
Report of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on its thirteenth session and provisional agenda for its fourteenth session 
Draft decision IV
Change of name of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 
Draft decision V
Additional one-day meeting

text: Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Report on the thirteenth session (12-23 May 2014) The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decisions:
Draft decision I
International expert group meeting on the theme “Dialogue on an optional protocol to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”
Draft decision II 
Venue and dates of the fourteenth session of the Permanent Forum 
Draft decision III
Report of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on its thirteenth session and provisional agenda for its fourteenth session 
Draft decision IV
Change of name of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 
Draft decision V
Additional one-day meeting

year: 2014