title: Shakespeare and New Zealand: 1912-1916-1964

authors: Houlahan, Mark

abstract: My paper will work away from the approach in my contributions to Christine Jansohn’s 2015 Shakespeare Jubilees: 1769-2014 and the forthcoming Shakespeare and Antipodal Memory, eds. Philip Mead and Gordon MacMullan (Bloomsbury Arden, 2016). Those chapters use the extensive archive illustrating New Zealanders remembering Shakespeare in the tercentennial year, 1916. Here I will contrast that archive with surviving records for Shakespeare pageants in 1912 and celebrations in Stratford, New Zealand for the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. These years are linked by a concern for the performance or recreation of the idea of Shakespeare across a range of cultural forms. What kind of public memory do these activities serve? How can we contrast with, for example, the sacred rites of public memory that, in Australia and New Zealand, are entwined around Anzac day, April 25?

text: Shakespeare and New Zealand: 1912-1916-1964 My paper will work away from the approach in my contributions to Christine Jansohn’s 2015 Shakespeare Jubilees: 1769-2014 and the forthcoming Shakespeare and Antipodal Memory, eds. Philip Mead and Gordon MacMullan (Bloomsbury Arden, 2016). Those chapters use the extensive archive illustrating New Zealanders remembering Shakespeare in the tercentennial year, 1916. Here I will contrast that archive with surviving records for Shakespeare pageants in 1912 and celebrations in Stratford, New Zealand for the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. These years are linked by a concern for the performance or recreation of the idea of Shakespeare across a range of cultural forms. What kind of public memory do these activities serve? How can we contrast with, for example, the sacred rites of public memory that, in Australia and New Zealand, are entwined around Anzac day, April 25?

year: 2016

title: Development of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of the invasive clam, Corbula amurensis, in environmental samples

authors: Smith, Kirsty Fiona

subjects: environmental sampling

abstract: The detection of invasive species soon after an incursion, when the population is confined to a small area and at a low density, maximizes the probability of successful eradication. In response a number of sensitive molecular methods have been developed for identifying the larvae of marine invertebrate pests at extremely low concentrations. In this study we developed a highly sensitive real-time PCR assay targeting the 18S ribosomal DNA for the rapid and accurate identification of the Asian clam Corbula amurensis in environmental samples. Larvae of C. amurensis were spiked into commonly encountered sampling matrices including benthic assemblages, biofilms, sediment grabs and plankton net hauls, and the sensitivity of the assay was assessed. In this study the assay reliably detected one larva in up to 10 g of sediment, and five larvae in 10 g of benthic invertebrate and macro-algal assemblages. Seawater and benthic assemblage samples were collected from four major ports around New Zealand and all were negative for C. amurensis using the real-time PCR assay. This assay has the potential to enhance current surveillance methods, especially regarding morphologically difficult to identify early life-stages. Real-time PCR can be used with high through-put platforms and is extremely sensitive, increasing detection potential during initial stages of incursions.

text: Development of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of the invasive clam, Corbula amurensis, in environmental samples The detection of invasive species soon after an incursion, when the population is confined to a small area and at a low density, maximizes the probability of successful eradication. In response a number of sensitive molecular methods have been developed for identifying the larvae of marine invertebrate pests at extremely low concentrations. In this study we developed a highly sensitive real-time PCR assay targeting the 18S ribosomal DNA for the rapid and accurate identification of the Asian clam Corbula amurensis in environmental samples. Larvae of C. amurensis were spiked into commonly encountered sampling matrices including benthic assemblages, biofilms, sediment grabs and plankton net hauls, and the sensitivity of the assay was assessed. In this study the assay reliably detected one larva in up to 10 g of sediment, and five larvae in 10 g of benthic invertebrate and macro-algal assemblages. Seawater and benthic assemblage samples were collected from four major ports around New Zealand and all were negative for C. amurensis using the real-time PCR assay. This assay has the potential to enhance current surveillance methods, especially regarding morphologically difficult to identify early life-stages. Real-time PCR can be used with high through-put platforms and is extremely sensitive, increasing detection potential during initial stages of incursions.

year: 2011

title: Management of patients with early stage lung cancer - why do some patients not receive treatment with curative intent?

authors: Lawrenson, Ross

subjects: Lung cancer

abstract: BACKGROUNDS: This study aims to understand the factors that influence whether patients receive potentially curative treatment for early stage lung cancer. A key question was whether indigenous Māori patients were less likely to receive treatment. 
METHODS: Patients included those diagnosed with early stage lung cancer in 2011-2018 and resident in the New Zealand Midland Cancer Network region. Logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios of having curative surgery/ treatment. The Kaplan Meier method was used to examine the all-cause survival and Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio of death. 
RESULTS: In total 419/583 (71.9%) of patients with Stage I and II disease were treated with curative intent - 272 (46.7%) patients had curative surgery. Patients not receiving potentially curative treatment were older, were less likely to have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), had poorer lung function and were more likely to have an ECOG performance status of 2+. Current smokers were less likely to be treated with surgery and more likely to receive treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Those who were treated with surgery had a 2-year survival of 87.8% (95% CI: 83.8-91.8%) and 5-year survival of 69.6% (95% CI: 63.2-76.0%). Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) has equivalent effect on survival compared to curative surgery (hazard ratio: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.37-1.61). After adjustment we could find no difference in treatment and survival between Māori and non-Māori. 
CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with stage I and II lung cancer are managed with potentially curative treatment - mainly surgery and increasingly with SABR. The outcomes of those being diagnosed with stage I and II disease and receiving treatment is positive with 70% surviving 5 years.

text: Management of patients with early stage lung cancer - why do some patients not receive treatment with curative intent? BACKGROUNDS: This study aims to understand the factors that influence whether patients receive potentially curative treatment for early stage lung cancer. A key question was whether indigenous Māori patients were less likely to receive treatment. 
METHODS: Patients included those diagnosed with early stage lung cancer in 2011-2018 and resident in the New Zealand Midland Cancer Network region. Logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios of having curative surgery/ treatment. The Kaplan Meier method was used to examine the all-cause survival and Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio of death. 
RESULTS: In total 419/583 (71.9%) of patients with Stage I and II disease were treated with curative intent - 272 (46.7%) patients had curative surgery. Patients not receiving potentially curative treatment were older, were less likely to have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), had poorer lung function and were more likely to have an ECOG performance status of 2+. Current smokers were less likely to be treated with surgery and more likely to receive treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Those who were treated with surgery had a 2-year survival of 87.8% (95% CI: 83.8-91.8%) and 5-year survival of 69.6% (95% CI: 63.2-76.0%). Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) has equivalent effect on survival compared to curative surgery (hazard ratio: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.37-1.61). After adjustment we could find no difference in treatment and survival between Māori and non-Māori. 
CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients with stage I and II lung cancer are managed with potentially curative treatment - mainly surgery and increasingly with SABR. The outcomes of those being diagnosed with stage I and II disease and receiving treatment is positive with 70% surviving 5 years.

year: 2020