title: The value of native biodiversity enhancement in New Zealand: A case study of the greater Wellington area

authors: Kaval, Pamela

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: New Zealand’s biodiversity consists of over 80,000 native plants, animals and fungi, many of which are indigenous and located on private property. To enhance native biodiversity and discourage activities that may deplete it, policies can be introduced that can encourage individual self-interest to coincide with social interest. Economic values for biodiversity can help to determine the best policy tools to use. In this project, we surveyed Greater Wellington Region households to determine their biodiversity enhancement values using the contingent valuation approach. Greater Wellington respondents placed a significant value on both private land biodiversity as well as public land biodiversity.

text: The value of native biodiversity enhancement in New Zealand: A case study of the greater Wellington area New Zealand’s biodiversity consists of over 80,000 native plants, animals and fungi, many of which are indigenous and located on private property. To enhance native biodiversity and discourage activities that may deplete it, policies can be introduced that can encourage individual self-interest to coincide with social interest. Economic values for biodiversity can help to determine the best policy tools to use. In this project, we surveyed Greater Wellington Region households to determine their biodiversity enhancement values using the contingent valuation approach. Greater Wellington respondents placed a significant value on both private land biodiversity as well as public land biodiversity.

year: 2007-11

title: The Association of Outer Ear Commensal Bacteria with Otitis Media in Children

authors: White, Rebecca Katharine

subjects: Otitis media

abstract: Background:
Middle ear infections (otitis media) are a significant burden on children’s health. They are one of the more common childhood ailments and are responsible for about a third of children’s general practitioner visits. Three bacteria of the nasopharynx have been well documented as true pathogens of otitis media. These are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. A newer bacterium, Alloiococcus otitidis, which is more difficult to culture than the initial three pathogens, was discovered in 1989 by Faden & Dryja. 
The pathogenicity of A. otitidis in otitis media is controversial, as is the association of two other bacteria, Turicella otitidis and Corynebacterium auris. These three bacteria are regarded as commensals of the outer ear canal, and how they move into the middle ear is subject to much debate. My hypothesis is that during a primary middle ear infection, commensal bacteria of the external ear canal may be able to move through the inflamed tympanic membrane and into the middle ear where they act as opportunistic pathogens. This may create a more persistent bacterial infection, with greater resistance to antibiotic therapies. 
Methods:
DNA was extracted directly from swabs of the outer ear canal and nasopharynx of children with otitis media and otitis-free controls, and from the middle ear exudates of the otitis media study group. This DNA was then amplified using primers specific for each of the organisms of interest. The presence of a specific PCR product, confirmed by DNA sequencing, indicated a positive result.
Swabs from each of the sites of interest were also grown on 10% Columbia blood agar, 10% Columbia chocolate agar and in BHI broth supplemented with foetal calf serum. These results gave further information on bacterial presence in New Zealand children beyond the six studied. 
Sau-PCR microbial community profiling was used to demonstrate the diversity of species present in the polymicrobial samples. DNA was restriction digested and the resulting banding patterns were compared between study sites, and study groups.
Results and Conclusions:
Moraxella species colonised the outer ear canal of control participants more regularly than the outer ear canal of otitis media patients (58% vs. 33%). This difference was found to be statistically significant (p= 0.0023). Differences between the colonisation of the outer ear canal and nasopharyngeal body sites were found at a statistically significant level in control participants with A. otitidis (p=0.0433), C. auris (p=0.0000), T. otitidis (p=0.0050) and Moraxella spp. (p=0.0005). Of the same body sites in otitis media patients, only the colonisation of C. auris (p=0.0002) and T. otitidis (p=0.0004) were found to be statistically significant. This shows that four of the six studied bacteria colonise both anatomical sites in otitis media patients in a similar manner (without statistical significance), as opposed to only two in the control participants.
Of the six bacterial species analysed using non-culture techniques, S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and C. auris failed to be cultured. This may show that storage prior to analysis made samples less suitable for culture based research. A number of other species were cultured, with subsequent sequencing identifying them. This included species thought to be associated with a decreased risk of developing otitis media, found in both of the control participant nasopharynxes that were studied, and in only one nasopharynx from the otitis media group. A. otitidis was cultured regularly in outer ear samples, and one middle ear effusion.
Sau-PCR microbial profiling was an effective but crude indication of microbial diversity. Otitis media patient nasopharyngeal profiles resembled each other, with resemblance extending to the middle ear effusion profile. Control participant banding patterns within sites were similar, but this resemblance did not extend to the otitis media group profiles. Comparisons between the banding patterns from known bacterial species to those of unknown polymicrobial species were useful if the identifying species had a unique banding pattern, as with A. otitidis. Sau-PCR therefore proved useful in analysing the complexities that are polymicrobial samples, however identifications of these species by cloning proved unsuccessful.
Further research using all the techniques above with increased numbers of participants is necessary to substantiate results of this study. Information on antibiotic resistance, viral presence, and biofilm status could prove useful information in helping treat infection.

text: The Association of Outer Ear Commensal Bacteria with Otitis Media in Children Background:
Middle ear infections (otitis media) are a significant burden on children’s health. They are one of the more common childhood ailments and are responsible for about a third of children’s general practitioner visits. Three bacteria of the nasopharynx have been well documented as true pathogens of otitis media. These are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. A newer bacterium, Alloiococcus otitidis, which is more difficult to culture than the initial three pathogens, was discovered in 1989 by Faden & Dryja. 
The pathogenicity of A. otitidis in otitis media is controversial, as is the association of two other bacteria, Turicella otitidis and Corynebacterium auris. These three bacteria are regarded as commensals of the outer ear canal, and how they move into the middle ear is subject to much debate. My hypothesis is that during a primary middle ear infection, commensal bacteria of the external ear canal may be able to move through the inflamed tympanic membrane and into the middle ear where they act as opportunistic pathogens. This may create a more persistent bacterial infection, with greater resistance to antibiotic therapies. 
Methods:
DNA was extracted directly from swabs of the outer ear canal and nasopharynx of children with otitis media and otitis-free controls, and from the middle ear exudates of the otitis media study group. This DNA was then amplified using primers specific for each of the organisms of interest. The presence of a specific PCR product, confirmed by DNA sequencing, indicated a positive result.
Swabs from each of the sites of interest were also grown on 10% Columbia blood agar, 10% Columbia chocolate agar and in BHI broth supplemented with foetal calf serum. These results gave further information on bacterial presence in New Zealand children beyond the six studied. 
Sau-PCR microbial community profiling was used to demonstrate the diversity of species present in the polymicrobial samples. DNA was restriction digested and the resulting banding patterns were compared between study sites, and study groups.
Results and Conclusions:
Moraxella species colonised the outer ear canal of control participants more regularly than the outer ear canal of otitis media patients (58% vs. 33%). This difference was found to be statistically significant (p= 0.0023). Differences between the colonisation of the outer ear canal and nasopharyngeal body sites were found at a statistically significant level in control participants with A. otitidis (p=0.0433), C. auris (p=0.0000), T. otitidis (p=0.0050) and Moraxella spp. (p=0.0005). Of the same body sites in otitis media patients, only the colonisation of C. auris (p=0.0002) and T. otitidis (p=0.0004) were found to be statistically significant. This shows that four of the six studied bacteria colonise both anatomical sites in otitis media patients in a similar manner (without statistical significance), as opposed to only two in the control participants.
Of the six bacterial species analysed using non-culture techniques, S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and C. auris failed to be cultured. This may show that storage prior to analysis made samples less suitable for culture based research. A number of other species were cultured, with subsequent sequencing identifying them. This included species thought to be associated with a decreased risk of developing otitis media, found in both of the control participant nasopharynxes that were studied, and in only one nasopharynx from the otitis media group. A. otitidis was cultured regularly in outer ear samples, and one middle ear effusion.
Sau-PCR microbial profiling was an effective but crude indication of microbial diversity. Otitis media patient nasopharyngeal profiles resembled each other, with resemblance extending to the middle ear effusion profile. Control participant banding patterns within sites were similar, but this resemblance did not extend to the otitis media group profiles. Comparisons between the banding patterns from known bacterial species to those of unknown polymicrobial species were useful if the identifying species had a unique banding pattern, as with A. otitidis. Sau-PCR therefore proved useful in analysing the complexities that are polymicrobial samples, however identifications of these species by cloning proved unsuccessful.
Further research using all the techniques above with increased numbers of participants is necessary to substantiate results of this study. Information on antibiotic resistance, viral presence, and biofilm status could prove useful information in helping treat infection.

year: 2012

title: How Māori precariate families navigate social services

authors: King, Delta

abstract: We are living in a period in which the increasingly precarious nature of employment and welfare support systems has dramatically amplified the hardships faced by many people.¹ Correspondingly, much still needs to be written about the rise of the precariat. ² International literature asserts that post World War II paid employment was commonly full-time and secure up until the 1970s, when the rise of more insecure work increased as neoliberal policies and globalisation began dominating public deliberations regarding work and social life. ³ Subsequent recessions across many OECD countries contributed to labour market transformations back towards increased 'flexibility' and- the casualisation of employment. These labour market shifts have resulted in insecure work and income situations for many households, which for some means frequent cycles of paid employment and welfare dependency. People experiencing such insecure employment face insecure and unliveable incomes while grappling with inadequate state support - these are the people increasingly known as 'the precariat'.

text: How Māori precariate families navigate social services We are living in a period in which the increasingly precarious nature of employment and welfare support systems has dramatically amplified the hardships faced by many people.¹ Correspondingly, much still needs to be written about the rise of the precariat. ² International literature asserts that post World War II paid employment was commonly full-time and secure up until the 1970s, when the rise of more insecure work increased as neoliberal policies and globalisation began dominating public deliberations regarding work and social life. ³ Subsequent recessions across many OECD countries contributed to labour market transformations back towards increased 'flexibility' and- the casualisation of employment. These labour market shifts have resulted in insecure work and income situations for many households, which for some means frequent cycles of paid employment and welfare dependency. People experiencing such insecure employment face insecure and unliveable incomes while grappling with inadequate state support - these are the people increasingly known as 'the precariat'.

year: 2017