title: Evaluating detection limits of next-generation sequencing for the surveillance and monitoring of international marine pests

authors: Pochon, Xavier

abstract: Most surveillance programmes for marine invasive species (MIS) require considerable taxonomic expertise, are laborious, and are unable to identify species at larval or juvenile stages. Therefore, marine pests may go undetected at the initial stages of incursions when population densities are low. In this study, we evaluated the ability of the benchtop GS Junior™ 454 pyrosequencing system to detect the presence of MIS in complex sample matrices. An initial in-silico evaluation of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU) genes, found that multiple primer sets (targeting a ca. 400 base pair region) would be required to obtain species level identification within the COI gene. In contrast a single universal primer set was designed to target the V1–V3 region of SSU, allowing simultaneous PCR amplification of a wide taxonomic range of MIS. To evaluate the limits of detection of this method, artificial contrived communities (10 species from 5 taxonomic groups) were created using varying concentrations of known DNA samples and PCR products. Environmental samples (water and sediment) spiked with one or five 160 hr old Asterias amurensis larvae were also examined. Pyrosequencing was able to recover DNA/PCR products of individual species present at greater than 0.64% abundance from all tested contrived communities. Additionally, single A. amurensis larvae were detected from both water and sediment samples despite the co-occurrence of a large array of environmental eukaryotes, indicating an equivalent sensitivity to quantitative PCR. NGS technology has tremendous potential for the early detection of marine invasive species worldwide.

text: Evaluating detection limits of next-generation sequencing for the surveillance and monitoring of international marine pests Most surveillance programmes for marine invasive species (MIS) require considerable taxonomic expertise, are laborious, and are unable to identify species at larval or juvenile stages. Therefore, marine pests may go undetected at the initial stages of incursions when population densities are low. In this study, we evaluated the ability of the benchtop GS Junior™ 454 pyrosequencing system to detect the presence of MIS in complex sample matrices. An initial in-silico evaluation of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU) genes, found that multiple primer sets (targeting a ca. 400 base pair region) would be required to obtain species level identification within the COI gene. In contrast a single universal primer set was designed to target the V1–V3 region of SSU, allowing simultaneous PCR amplification of a wide taxonomic range of MIS. To evaluate the limits of detection of this method, artificial contrived communities (10 species from 5 taxonomic groups) were created using varying concentrations of known DNA samples and PCR products. Environmental samples (water and sediment) spiked with one or five 160 hr old Asterias amurensis larvae were also examined. Pyrosequencing was able to recover DNA/PCR products of individual species present at greater than 0.64% abundance from all tested contrived communities. Additionally, single A. amurensis larvae were detected from both water and sediment samples despite the co-occurrence of a large array of environmental eukaryotes, indicating an equivalent sensitivity to quantitative PCR. NGS technology has tremendous potential for the early detection of marine invasive species worldwide.

year: 2013

title: Teacher understanding and management of students with anxiety in New Zealand primary schools

authors: Margon, Carla Lee

subjects: Psychology

abstract: New Zealand has increasing rates of anxiety with 1 in 5 young people meeting the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 19 (Ministry of Health, 2018). As of June 2023, over 666,000 children aged between 5 and 14 years old were diagnosed with anxiety, equating to 12.8% of the total population of New Zealand (Stats NZ, 2022). As these children are likely to be engaged in formal education, this study investigated teachers understanding and management of students with anxiety in New Zealand primary schools. Twenty-three teachers from three primary schools completed a questionnaire exploring their definitions of anxiety, the training and support they received, and their identification of the manifestations of anxiety in primary school students. Teachers were also asked about their perceptions of the impacts of COVID-19 on student anxiety. Results revealed that while teachers had a general understanding of anxiety and could identify mild and severe anxiety symptoms, they reported a lack of training and confidence in the area and could not consistently distinguish normal anxiety from excessive anxiety, often defining all anxiety to be a generally negative experience. This study provides a first look into teachers understanding of anxiety in New Zealand primary school students.

text: Teacher understanding and management of students with anxiety in New Zealand primary schools New Zealand has increasing rates of anxiety with 1 in 5 young people meeting the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 19 (Ministry of Health, 2018). As of June 2023, over 666,000 children aged between 5 and 14 years old were diagnosed with anxiety, equating to 12.8% of the total population of New Zealand (Stats NZ, 2022). As these children are likely to be engaged in formal education, this study investigated teachers understanding and management of students with anxiety in New Zealand primary schools. Twenty-three teachers from three primary schools completed a questionnaire exploring their definitions of anxiety, the training and support they received, and their identification of the manifestations of anxiety in primary school students. Teachers were also asked about their perceptions of the impacts of COVID-19 on student anxiety. Results revealed that while teachers had a general understanding of anxiety and could identify mild and severe anxiety symptoms, they reported a lack of training and confidence in the area and could not consistently distinguish normal anxiety from excessive anxiety, often defining all anxiety to be a generally negative experience. This study provides a first look into teachers understanding of anxiety in New Zealand primary school students.

year: 2023

title: Ki te kapu o taku ringa - In the palm of my hand

authors: Hill, Rodrigo

subjects: Mātauranga Māori

abstract: This publication accompanies the launching of our exhibition 'Ki te Kapu o Taku Ringa - In the Palm of My Hand' at the Ōtorohanga Museum in June 2024.
The title is taken from a line of King Tāwhiao's song-poem 'Maioha mō Waikato'. Ejected from their homelands he and his Waikato brethren took refuge with their Maniapoto relations in Te Nehenehenui; parts of which are mentioned in the song-poem. Teh 'maioha' was composed expressing King Tāwhiao's love for his homelands, and his solastagic holding fast to those lands '...in the palm of his hand.'

text: Ki te kapu o taku ringa - In the palm of my hand This publication accompanies the launching of our exhibition 'Ki te Kapu o Taku Ringa - In the Palm of My Hand' at the Ōtorohanga Museum in June 2024.
The title is taken from a line of King Tāwhiao's song-poem 'Maioha mō Waikato'. Ejected from their homelands he and his Waikato brethren took refuge with their Maniapoto relations in Te Nehenehenui; parts of which are mentioned in the song-poem. Teh 'maioha' was composed expressing King Tāwhiao's love for his homelands, and his solastagic holding fast to those lands '...in the palm of his hand.'

year: 2024