title: Book review: The Revelations of St. Birgitta of Sweden, Vol. 2, Liber Caelestis, Books IV-V.

authors: Barratt, Alexandra

abstract: This article reviews the book “The Revelations of St. Birgitta of Sweden, vol 2, Liber Caelestis, Books IV-V”, translated by Denis Searby.

text: Book review: The Revelations of St. Birgitta of Sweden, Vol. 2, Liber Caelestis, Books IV-V. This article reviews the book “The Revelations of St. Birgitta of Sweden, vol 2, Liber Caelestis, Books IV-V”, translated by Denis Searby.

year: 2013

title: Toxin-antitoxin systems of mycobacterium smegmatis are essential for cell survival

authors: Frampton, Rebekah A.

subjects: Bacterial Metabolism

abstract: The role of chromosomal toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules in bacterial physiology remains enigmatic despite their abundance in the genomes of many bacteria. Mycobacterium smegmatis contains three putative TA systems, VapBC, MazEF, and Phd/Doc, and previous work from our group has shown VapBC to be a bona fide TA system. In this study, we show that MazEF and Phd/Doc are also TA systems that are constitutively expressed, transcribed as leaderless transcripts, and subject to autoregulation, and expression of the toxin component leads to growth inhibition that can be rescued by the cognate antitoxin. No phenotype was identified for deletions of the individual TA systems, but a triple deletion strain (ΔvapBC, mazEF, phd/doc), designated ΔTAtriple, exhibited a survival defect in complex growth medium demonstrating an essential role for these TA modules in mycobacterial survival. Transcriptomic analysis revealed no significant differences in gene expression between wild type and the ΔTAtriple mutant under these conditions suggesting that the growth defect was not at a transcriptional level. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that in response to starvation in complex medium, both the wild type and ΔTAtriple mutant consumed a wide range of amino acids from the external milieu. Analysis of intracellular metabolites revealed a significant difference in the levels of branched-chain amino acids between the wild type and ΔTAtriple mutant, which are proposed to play essential roles in monitoring the nutritional supply and physiological state of the cell and linking catabolic with anabolic reactions. Disruption of this balance in the ΔTAtriple mutant may explain the survival defect in complex growth medium.

text: Toxin-antitoxin systems of mycobacterium smegmatis are essential for cell survival The role of chromosomal toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules in bacterial physiology remains enigmatic despite their abundance in the genomes of many bacteria. Mycobacterium smegmatis contains three putative TA systems, VapBC, MazEF, and Phd/Doc, and previous work from our group has shown VapBC to be a bona fide TA system. In this study, we show that MazEF and Phd/Doc are also TA systems that are constitutively expressed, transcribed as leaderless transcripts, and subject to autoregulation, and expression of the toxin component leads to growth inhibition that can be rescued by the cognate antitoxin. No phenotype was identified for deletions of the individual TA systems, but a triple deletion strain (ΔvapBC, mazEF, phd/doc), designated ΔTAtriple, exhibited a survival defect in complex growth medium demonstrating an essential role for these TA modules in mycobacterial survival. Transcriptomic analysis revealed no significant differences in gene expression between wild type and the ΔTAtriple mutant under these conditions suggesting that the growth defect was not at a transcriptional level. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that in response to starvation in complex medium, both the wild type and ΔTAtriple mutant consumed a wide range of amino acids from the external milieu. Analysis of intracellular metabolites revealed a significant difference in the levels of branched-chain amino acids between the wild type and ΔTAtriple mutant, which are proposed to play essential roles in monitoring the nutritional supply and physiological state of the cell and linking catabolic with anabolic reactions. Disruption of this balance in the ΔTAtriple mutant may explain the survival defect in complex growth medium.

year: 2011

title: Youth Development Circles: A Report on a School Trial

authors: Hannah, Belinda Anne

subjects: Youth Development Circles

abstract: This research traces the development and trial of the Youth Development Circle (YDC) process in a low decile secondary school in a rural community in Aotearoa New Zealand. Youth Development Circles are an intervention based on restorative justice principles initially proposed by Braithwaite (2004). They were originally suggested as a strategy for use in an alternative education centre or “activity centre”.  Increasing use of restorative approaches has enabled many schools to make significant progress in reducing suspensions, but there remains a concern for students whose behaviour is at the more serious end of the spectrum - who are at risk of suspension, or exclusion, after multiple stand-downs from school.  The possibilities for the use of YDC were proposed to the school by the researcher, who is a Deputy Principal responsible for behaviour management and pastoral care.  This proposal was supported fully by the school’s staff and Board of Trustees.  The YDC process documented in this study was developed by the researcher, informed by a range of sources including Youth Development Circles, Judge McElrea’s proposed School Community Conference (1996), and Hui Whakatika, developed at the University of Waikato (2003).  Participation in the circles was a condition for the student to remain at the school. The school is a state school, with a roll of approximately 800. The ethnic breakdown of the students is 56% Māori and 39% NZ European with 5% of Pasifika, Asian and other.  

The YDC is a deliberate and careful process which aims to bring increased focus on the individual student and their educational outcomes, through engaging a community of care in supporting them. There were many anticipated benefits of the YDC for the student. Such benefits included an opportunity to establish and maintain healthy relationships of trust (within which negative experiences can be learned from), a re-establishment of trust, improved self-confidence and improved educational outcomes. The circles included members of the student’s whānau/family, a kaumātua/elder who cared about them, and representatives from local Police, Social Welfare, and the school.  The circles were studied over a period of one year.  Circles met regularly throughout this time, at increasing intervals.

A mixed method case study approach was used for this research which includes the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the YDCs by analysing student behaviour, attendance and achievement KAMAR data, minutes of each circle meeting, and interviews with circle participants.


Three student case studies are presented.  The stories have had details altered and pseudonyms used to protect the persons involved. All the students completed the academic year without receiving a further stand down or suspension.  The data showed an improvement in student attendance, achievement and engagement in all three case studies.  Other outcomes include reflections on the process used, strategies for implementation in the school, and factors that either hindered or supported student, family or community involvement in YDCs. 

This exploratory study suggests that the Youth Development Circle could offer a unique possibility for inter-sectorial collaboration in the field of restorative justice.

text: Youth Development Circles: A Report on a School Trial This research traces the development and trial of the Youth Development Circle (YDC) process in a low decile secondary school in a rural community in Aotearoa New Zealand. Youth Development Circles are an intervention based on restorative justice principles initially proposed by Braithwaite (2004). They were originally suggested as a strategy for use in an alternative education centre or “activity centre”.  Increasing use of restorative approaches has enabled many schools to make significant progress in reducing suspensions, but there remains a concern for students whose behaviour is at the more serious end of the spectrum - who are at risk of suspension, or exclusion, after multiple stand-downs from school.  The possibilities for the use of YDC were proposed to the school by the researcher, who is a Deputy Principal responsible for behaviour management and pastoral care.  This proposal was supported fully by the school’s staff and Board of Trustees.  The YDC process documented in this study was developed by the researcher, informed by a range of sources including Youth Development Circles, Judge McElrea’s proposed School Community Conference (1996), and Hui Whakatika, developed at the University of Waikato (2003).  Participation in the circles was a condition for the student to remain at the school. The school is a state school, with a roll of approximately 800. The ethnic breakdown of the students is 56% Māori and 39% NZ European with 5% of Pasifika, Asian and other.  

The YDC is a deliberate and careful process which aims to bring increased focus on the individual student and their educational outcomes, through engaging a community of care in supporting them. There were many anticipated benefits of the YDC for the student. Such benefits included an opportunity to establish and maintain healthy relationships of trust (within which negative experiences can be learned from), a re-establishment of trust, improved self-confidence and improved educational outcomes. The circles included members of the student’s whānau/family, a kaumātua/elder who cared about them, and representatives from local Police, Social Welfare, and the school.  The circles were studied over a period of one year.  Circles met regularly throughout this time, at increasing intervals.

A mixed method case study approach was used for this research which includes the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the YDCs by analysing student behaviour, attendance and achievement KAMAR data, minutes of each circle meeting, and interviews with circle participants.


Three student case studies are presented.  The stories have had details altered and pseudonyms used to protect the persons involved. All the students completed the academic year without receiving a further stand down or suspension.  The data showed an improvement in student attendance, achievement and engagement in all three case studies.  Other outcomes include reflections on the process used, strategies for implementation in the school, and factors that either hindered or supported student, family or community involvement in YDCs. 

This exploratory study suggests that the Youth Development Circle could offer a unique possibility for inter-sectorial collaboration in the field of restorative justice.

year: 2015