title: An investigation of a Mollicute-like organism inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract

authors: Care, Andrew Shane

subjects: Mollicute

abstract: The microflora inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract can be considered an essential 'metabolic organ', in a symbiotic relationship with its host. Due to the low cultivability and inappropriate sampling methodology the microflora is poorly explored and ill-defined. 

Preliminary, molecular-based research at the University of Waikato revealed the presence of 16S rRNA gene sequences originating from novel Mollicute-like species inhabiting the human GI tract. A ~830bp 'consensus' sequence representing these novel Mollicute-like sequences was classified within the Mollicute Genus Anaeroplasma the type species of which is Anaeroplasma abactoclasticum. It also displayed near exact matches with 16S rRNA sequences obtained from the human GI tract and matches of high similarity to those from the mouse GI tract in the NCBI database.

This thesis describes an attempt to design and create primers that would amplify and characterize full-length versions of these Mollicute-like sequences from samples obtained from the mucosal surface of the human gastrointestinal tract. Primers sets targeted extended 5' and 3' versions of these novel 'known' sequences and were designed from sequence matches found in the preliminary work and other related sequences from the NCBI database.

The attempt to amplify a full-length version of these novel Mollicute-like sequences was proven to be unsuccessful. No sequences were classified within the Genus Anaeroplasma, although 81% of amplicons from the 5' extending primer sets were classified within the same division as the Mollicutes, the Firmicutes, only 6% of the sequenced amplicons from the 3' extending primer set belonged to this division. Phylograms containing these 'relevant' sequences and the 'consensus' sequence grouped the 'consensus' sequence separately, indicating a lower relatedness than would have been seen if any of the amplicons contained the 'consensus' sequence.

text: An investigation of a Mollicute-like organism inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract The microflora inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract can be considered an essential 'metabolic organ', in a symbiotic relationship with its host. Due to the low cultivability and inappropriate sampling methodology the microflora is poorly explored and ill-defined. 

Preliminary, molecular-based research at the University of Waikato revealed the presence of 16S rRNA gene sequences originating from novel Mollicute-like species inhabiting the human GI tract. A ~830bp 'consensus' sequence representing these novel Mollicute-like sequences was classified within the Mollicute Genus Anaeroplasma the type species of which is Anaeroplasma abactoclasticum. It also displayed near exact matches with 16S rRNA sequences obtained from the human GI tract and matches of high similarity to those from the mouse GI tract in the NCBI database.

This thesis describes an attempt to design and create primers that would amplify and characterize full-length versions of these Mollicute-like sequences from samples obtained from the mucosal surface of the human gastrointestinal tract. Primers sets targeted extended 5' and 3' versions of these novel 'known' sequences and were designed from sequence matches found in the preliminary work and other related sequences from the NCBI database.

The attempt to amplify a full-length version of these novel Mollicute-like sequences was proven to be unsuccessful. No sequences were classified within the Genus Anaeroplasma, although 81% of amplicons from the 5' extending primer sets were classified within the same division as the Mollicutes, the Firmicutes, only 6% of the sequenced amplicons from the 3' extending primer set belonged to this division. Phylograms containing these 'relevant' sequences and the 'consensus' sequence grouped the 'consensus' sequence separately, indicating a lower relatedness than would have been seen if any of the amplicons contained the 'consensus' sequence.

year: 2009

title: Focus groups as sites of influential interaction: Building communicative self-efficacy and effecting attitudinal change in discussing controversial topics

authors: Zorn, Theodore E.

subjects: focus groups

abstract: Although most focus group theorists consider interaction to be a defining feature of focus groups, the influence that occurs through this interaction has been under-theorized. We argue that two important forms of influence may occur: influence on people's beliefs about the substantive issues under discussion and influence on self-efficacy beliefs. As a result of such influence, focus groups provide a learning context that may facilitate empowerment of participants through the development of communicative self-efficacy as they struggle over constructing and sharing understandings of controversial issues. As part of a larger research project on dialogues about science, we present a case study that puts qualitatively analyzed transcripts of interaction and quantitative self-report measures into empirical conversation. The case study demonstrated that focus group participants were influenced in two important ways: participation and interaction led to increased participant confidence and motivation towards participating in public dialogues and to the construction, modification, and contestation of attitudes toward science, scientists, and biotechnology. Findings suggest that scholars should rethink their rationales for and use of the focus group as just a method of data collection and reconsider and explore alternative ways of presenting focus group results.

text: Focus groups as sites of influential interaction: Building communicative self-efficacy and effecting attitudinal change in discussing controversial topics Although most focus group theorists consider interaction to be a defining feature of focus groups, the influence that occurs through this interaction has been under-theorized. We argue that two important forms of influence may occur: influence on people's beliefs about the substantive issues under discussion and influence on self-efficacy beliefs. As a result of such influence, focus groups provide a learning context that may facilitate empowerment of participants through the development of communicative self-efficacy as they struggle over constructing and sharing understandings of controversial issues. As part of a larger research project on dialogues about science, we present a case study that puts qualitatively analyzed transcripts of interaction and quantitative self-report measures into empirical conversation. The case study demonstrated that focus group participants were influenced in two important ways: participation and interaction led to increased participant confidence and motivation towards participating in public dialogues and to the construction, modification, and contestation of attitudes toward science, scientists, and biotechnology. Findings suggest that scholars should rethink their rationales for and use of the focus group as just a method of data collection and reconsider and explore alternative ways of presenting focus group results.

year: 2006

title: Maori syllabus and the curriculum documents: A critical analysis. Part 1: Tihe Mauri Ora

authors: Crombie, Winifred

subjects: Te reo Māori

abstract: This paper presents, within the context of ongoing debates on syllabus design, a critical analysis of Tihē Mauri Ora, a syllabus document produced by the New Zealand Ministry of Education to support the teaching and learning of the Māori language in schools in New Zealand. It includes a number of suggestions in relation to any future documents prepared with similar intent.

text: Maori syllabus and the curriculum documents: A critical analysis. Part 1: Tihe Mauri Ora This paper presents, within the context of ongoing debates on syllabus design, a critical analysis of Tihē Mauri Ora, a syllabus document produced by the New Zealand Ministry of Education to support the teaching and learning of the Māori language in schools in New Zealand. It includes a number of suggestions in relation to any future documents prepared with similar intent.

year: 2001