title: Pedological and some other soil-related activities within the Earth sciences discipline at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand − the first 50 years (1969-2018)

authors: Lowe, David J.

subjects: pedology

abstract: We outline teaching and research activities relating to pedology and soil survey, and some other soil-related work involving geomechanics, both in New Zealand and Antarctica, carried out by staff and students in the Earth Sciences discipline at the University of Waikato for the 50-year period from 1969 to 2018. Key features include: (i) the insightful multi-disciplinary approach using a new Earth sciences’ framework that was enacted at the outset by founding professor John D. McCraw and colleagues Michael J. Selby and Harry S. Gibbs in particular; (ii) the development of teaching and research strengths in pedology, especially involving tephra-derived soils and soil stratigraphy in the central North Island, and the concomitant advancement of prowessness in Quaternary tephrostratigraphy and tephrochronology; (iii) the development of expertise in slope studies and rock and soil mechanics (geomechanics, engineering geology), with specialist advancements regarding pyroclastic and associated reworked deposits and altered products; (iv) pathfinding research involving classical soil surveying and the subsequent growth of the use of GIS and geostatistical tools, which aided the eventual development of digital soil mapping beyond the university, and their application to a wide range of disciplines including geomorphology, sustainable plantation forestry, agriculture, and horticulture; (v) growth of expertise in multiple aspects of studies on wetlands (peatlands, lakes), and in environmental and carbon- and nitrogen-flux based research; (vi) pioneering and enduring research in Antarctica including soil surveying and studies on human impacts; and (vii) the successful development of an effective postgraduate school encompassing pedology, soil science, and geomechanics (amongst other disciplines). Waikato students have received around one half of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science annual awards for ‘best masterate thesis’, and around one third for ‘best doctoral thesis’ since 1976. In addition, staff and students in the department have led or contributed to many regional, national, and international conferences and associated field trips involving soils or Earth sciences, to the development of the “New Zealand Soil Classification”, and to the discipline of pedology in many other ways including serving as editors and in professional societies.

text: Pedological and some other soil-related activities within the Earth sciences discipline at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand − the first 50 years (1969-2018) We outline teaching and research activities relating to pedology and soil survey, and some other soil-related work involving geomechanics, both in New Zealand and Antarctica, carried out by staff and students in the Earth Sciences discipline at the University of Waikato for the 50-year period from 1969 to 2018. Key features include: (i) the insightful multi-disciplinary approach using a new Earth sciences’ framework that was enacted at the outset by founding professor John D. McCraw and colleagues Michael J. Selby and Harry S. Gibbs in particular; (ii) the development of teaching and research strengths in pedology, especially involving tephra-derived soils and soil stratigraphy in the central North Island, and the concomitant advancement of prowessness in Quaternary tephrostratigraphy and tephrochronology; (iii) the development of expertise in slope studies and rock and soil mechanics (geomechanics, engineering geology), with specialist advancements regarding pyroclastic and associated reworked deposits and altered products; (iv) pathfinding research involving classical soil surveying and the subsequent growth of the use of GIS and geostatistical tools, which aided the eventual development of digital soil mapping beyond the university, and their application to a wide range of disciplines including geomorphology, sustainable plantation forestry, agriculture, and horticulture; (v) growth of expertise in multiple aspects of studies on wetlands (peatlands, lakes), and in environmental and carbon- and nitrogen-flux based research; (vi) pioneering and enduring research in Antarctica including soil surveying and studies on human impacts; and (vii) the successful development of an effective postgraduate school encompassing pedology, soil science, and geomechanics (amongst other disciplines). Waikato students have received around one half of the New Zealand Society of Soil Science annual awards for ‘best masterate thesis’, and around one third for ‘best doctoral thesis’ since 1976. In addition, staff and students in the department have led or contributed to many regional, national, and international conferences and associated field trips involving soils or Earth sciences, to the development of the “New Zealand Soil Classification”, and to the discipline of pedology in many other ways including serving as editors and in professional societies.

year: 2018

title: Oceanographic and morphodynamic monitoring of a multi-purpose reef at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand

authors: Weppe, Simon Bastien

subjects: multi-purpose reef

abstract: The innovative concept of an offshore submerged multi-purpose reef combining a
coastal protection function with recreational benefits including improved surfing,
diving, or fishing conditions provides an appealing solution for the management
of beaches. However, since the technology is relatively recent, there is still a lack
of empirical knowledge about its performance in the field. The present research
monitored the effect of the prototype  research  reef constructed at Mount
Maunganui in New Zealand on the local beach morphodynamics and
oceanographic conditions, being primarily concerned with implications on the
coastal protection function of the technology.
The beach morphodynamic response to the reef was investigated from a set of
already available high resolution bathymetric surveys imaging the foreshore and
surfzone morphology prior to, and throughout reef construction, and a new postconstruction
survey collected as a part of this research. The reef implementation
was found to disturb the pre-existing beach state functioning including the
onshore/offshore migration of the underlying long shore bar, rather than cause a
persistent salient response. A possible additional beach width of ~ 20 m,
extending ~ 150 m alongshore was identified in the lee of the reef from shoreline
analysis, but the pattern was transient throughout the monitoring period since it
was superimposed on comparatively large pre-existing fluctuations. In addition,
the reef structure provided a control point on the offshore morphology able to trap
sediment updrift and erode sediment downdrift.
Both field measurements and numerical modelling of waves and currents were
used to monitor the effect of the reef on the oceanographic conditions. Wave
propagation over the reef without breaking (H less than 0.5 m) resulted in transmitted
heights larger than incident by up to a factor of 2. When the reef triggered
breaking, transmitted heights were reduced by up to ~40 %. A concurrent process
was the shift of the wave energy spectra towards higher frequencies landward of
the reef that resulted in reduced transmitted wave periods. Wave modelling
showed that the wave shadowing was associated with significant wave rotation
around the reef that induced two zones of divergent wave angles near the
shoreline in the lee of the reef. The hydrodynamic response to the wave energy
dissipation was the development of stronger onshore directed currents landward of
the reef. Hydrodynamic modelling indicated that the reef-induced flow forced a
cellular circulation in the lee side under shore normal waves, and an onshore
deviation of the ambient (unidirectional) long-shore currents under oblique waves.
The research provided a rare empirical test to the theoretical design concepts, and
potential supplements or refinements. To obtain the required beach protection, the
reef impact on the beach morphodynamic coupling including wave
transformation, nearshore hydrodynamics, and small/large scale beach state
response needs to be carefully assessed.

text: Oceanographic and morphodynamic monitoring of a multi-purpose reef at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand The innovative concept of an offshore submerged multi-purpose reef combining a
coastal protection function with recreational benefits including improved surfing,
diving, or fishing conditions provides an appealing solution for the management
of beaches. However, since the technology is relatively recent, there is still a lack
of empirical knowledge about its performance in the field. The present research
monitored the effect of the prototype  research  reef constructed at Mount
Maunganui in New Zealand on the local beach morphodynamics and
oceanographic conditions, being primarily concerned with implications on the
coastal protection function of the technology.
The beach morphodynamic response to the reef was investigated from a set of
already available high resolution bathymetric surveys imaging the foreshore and
surfzone morphology prior to, and throughout reef construction, and a new postconstruction
survey collected as a part of this research. The reef implementation
was found to disturb the pre-existing beach state functioning including the
onshore/offshore migration of the underlying long shore bar, rather than cause a
persistent salient response. A possible additional beach width of ~ 20 m,
extending ~ 150 m alongshore was identified in the lee of the reef from shoreline
analysis, but the pattern was transient throughout the monitoring period since it
was superimposed on comparatively large pre-existing fluctuations. In addition,
the reef structure provided a control point on the offshore morphology able to trap
sediment updrift and erode sediment downdrift.
Both field measurements and numerical modelling of waves and currents were
used to monitor the effect of the reef on the oceanographic conditions. Wave
propagation over the reef without breaking (H less than 0.5 m) resulted in transmitted
heights larger than incident by up to a factor of 2. When the reef triggered
breaking, transmitted heights were reduced by up to ~40 %. A concurrent process
was the shift of the wave energy spectra towards higher frequencies landward of
the reef that resulted in reduced transmitted wave periods. Wave modelling
showed that the wave shadowing was associated with significant wave rotation
around the reef that induced two zones of divergent wave angles near the
shoreline in the lee of the reef. The hydrodynamic response to the wave energy
dissipation was the development of stronger onshore directed currents landward of
the reef. Hydrodynamic modelling indicated that the reef-induced flow forced a
cellular circulation in the lee side under shore normal waves, and an onshore
deviation of the ambient (unidirectional) long-shore currents under oblique waves.
The research provided a rare empirical test to the theoretical design concepts, and
potential supplements or refinements. To obtain the required beach protection, the
reef impact on the beach morphodynamic coupling including wave
transformation, nearshore hydrodynamics, and small/large scale beach state
response needs to be carefully assessed.

year: 2010

title: Investigation of in vitro diabetic inflammation and  treatment with Piper excelsum tea extract

authors: Harvey, Savannah

subjects: Piper excelsum

abstract: Induction of inflammation through hyperglycaemia and adiposity has been shown to contribute to the pathogenicity of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was the first cytokine found to bridge the connection between the immune system and T2D. This was found due to its increased production in the disease state. TNF-α has specifically been linked to the onset of insulin resistance in T2D models. Evidence has shown that heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) may also play a role as a danger signal for the immune system as it can result in the induction of inflammation. Currently, there are no pharmaceutical options for T2D patients which target inflammation. Tea made from the leaves of kawakawa (Piper excelsum) has been used for many generations by Māori as a traditional rākau rongoā (traditional medicine) to treat a range of ailments including inflammation. The aim of this project was to investigate the modulation of inflammation using a commercially available kawakawa tea in human cancer cells in vitro. 

This project involved measuring the growth rate, cytotoxicity, TNF-α production and HSP60 expression upon exposure to three treatments: high glucose, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or kawakawa tea extract (KTE).

This study showed that a high concentration of KTE (1000 µg/mL) inhibited cell growth in both HEPG2 and HeLa cell lines. Cells treated with this concentration also showed typical morphological signs of apoptosis. Cytotoxicity testing confirmed that there was a significant (p <0.05) decrease in mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity for this treatment which confirmed the cells were likely dying through apoptosis. Over a course of 24-hours three LPS treatments were found to be cytotoxic. These were the 10 ng/mL, 10 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL concentrations of LPS. After 48-hours all treatments apart from 100 µg/mL KTE treatment were also found to be cytotoxic. The cytotoxicity for these treatments was either due to a reduction in mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity (infers mitochondrial stress) or increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release from cells (infers necrotic cell death). These cytotoxicity experiments allowed for identification of which concentrations should be selected or removed for future experiments. 

Cytotoxicity levels were taken into consideration and experiments were run investigating the induction of TNF-α using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Issues regarding negative readings from samples arose which resulted in protocol changes and extensive trouble shooting. It was found that extended exposure times were required to attenuate a positive result from the positive control, LPS. 

HSP60 expression was also measured for human cells exposed to high glucose and KTE treatments. No change in HSP60 expression was detected. However, 24-hour LPS exposure resulted in a significant increase in HSP60 expression compared to the control for the 100 ng/mL LPS treatment. Two concentrations were investigated; 100 ng/mL LPS and 100 µg/mL LPS which resulted in 1.4- and 2.1-fold increases compared to the control, respectively.

Overall, no conclusion could be drawn regarding the modulation of inflammation by KTE. However, this study was able to identify the effect the tea has on human cancer cell growth and the nature of cytotoxicity the tea poses to the cells. It is recommended to continue this research exploring different kawakawa tea blends and using alternative in vitro cell lines and whole animal models.

text: Investigation of in vitro diabetic inflammation and  treatment with Piper excelsum tea extract Induction of inflammation through hyperglycaemia and adiposity has been shown to contribute to the pathogenicity of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was the first cytokine found to bridge the connection between the immune system and T2D. This was found due to its increased production in the disease state. TNF-α has specifically been linked to the onset of insulin resistance in T2D models. Evidence has shown that heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) may also play a role as a danger signal for the immune system as it can result in the induction of inflammation. Currently, there are no pharmaceutical options for T2D patients which target inflammation. Tea made from the leaves of kawakawa (Piper excelsum) has been used for many generations by Māori as a traditional rākau rongoā (traditional medicine) to treat a range of ailments including inflammation. The aim of this project was to investigate the modulation of inflammation using a commercially available kawakawa tea in human cancer cells in vitro. 

This project involved measuring the growth rate, cytotoxicity, TNF-α production and HSP60 expression upon exposure to three treatments: high glucose, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or kawakawa tea extract (KTE).

This study showed that a high concentration of KTE (1000 µg/mL) inhibited cell growth in both HEPG2 and HeLa cell lines. Cells treated with this concentration also showed typical morphological signs of apoptosis. Cytotoxicity testing confirmed that there was a significant (p <0.05) decrease in mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity for this treatment which confirmed the cells were likely dying through apoptosis. Over a course of 24-hours three LPS treatments were found to be cytotoxic. These were the 10 ng/mL, 10 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL concentrations of LPS. After 48-hours all treatments apart from 100 µg/mL KTE treatment were also found to be cytotoxic. The cytotoxicity for these treatments was either due to a reduction in mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity (infers mitochondrial stress) or increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release from cells (infers necrotic cell death). These cytotoxicity experiments allowed for identification of which concentrations should be selected or removed for future experiments. 

Cytotoxicity levels were taken into consideration and experiments were run investigating the induction of TNF-α using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Issues regarding negative readings from samples arose which resulted in protocol changes and extensive trouble shooting. It was found that extended exposure times were required to attenuate a positive result from the positive control, LPS. 

HSP60 expression was also measured for human cells exposed to high glucose and KTE treatments. No change in HSP60 expression was detected. However, 24-hour LPS exposure resulted in a significant increase in HSP60 expression compared to the control for the 100 ng/mL LPS treatment. Two concentrations were investigated; 100 ng/mL LPS and 100 µg/mL LPS which resulted in 1.4- and 2.1-fold increases compared to the control, respectively.

Overall, no conclusion could be drawn regarding the modulation of inflammation by KTE. However, this study was able to identify the effect the tea has on human cancer cell growth and the nature of cytotoxicity the tea poses to the cells. It is recommended to continue this research exploring different kawakawa tea blends and using alternative in vitro cell lines and whole animal models.

year: 2021