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: Everyone everywhere: A distributed and embedded paradigm for usability

authors: Twidale, Michael B.

abstract: We present a new paradigm to address the persistence of difficulties that people have in accessing and using information. Our idea consists of two main aspects: engaging wider society with usability and distributing the topic across disciplines. We claim that bad usability is a social justice issue. Primarily, we propose that usability should become the subject of widespread activism across society, enabling more people to realize that their usability problems are not due to inadequacies in themselves but in current designs. People should be encouraged and enabled to complain about their experiences with an expectation of improvements. We also propose that the current restriction of this topic to certain disciplinary units is overly narrow and that instead there should be radical embedding of usability concepts across many different fields and settings. We believe that the usability of information systems is core to information science and that information scientists should resume their historic role as heralds and pioneers of human–computer interaction.

text: Everyone everywhere: A distributed and embedded paradigm for usability We present a new paradigm to address the persistence of difficulties that people have in accessing and using information. Our idea consists of two main aspects: engaging wider society with usability and distributing the topic across disciplines. We claim that bad usability is a social justice issue. Primarily, we propose that usability should become the subject of widespread activism across society, enabling more people to realize that their usability problems are not due to inadequacies in themselves but in current designs. People should be encouraged and enabled to complain about their experiences with an expectation of improvements. We also propose that the current restriction of this topic to certain disciplinary units is overly narrow and that instead there should be radical embedding of usability concepts across many different fields and settings. We believe that the usability of information systems is core to information science and that information scientists should resume their historic role as heralds and pioneers of human–computer interaction.

year: 2021

title: End-user informed demographic projections for Hamilton up to 2041

authors: Cameron, Michael Patrick

subjects: cohort component model

abstract: This report provides a set of projections of the population of Hamilton City and the larger Hamilton Zone. The projections have been calculated by means of the cohort component model. The projections can be considered alongside official Statistics New Zealand projections, but differ from the latter in terms of assumptions made about net migration. These assumptions constitute a number of scenarios that were informed by the Hamilton City Council and local consultations. These scenarios are linked to the potential impact of a number of economic development activities. The report also contains projections of the number of households, the labour force and two ethnic groups: Māori and New Zealand Europeans. In addition, a dwellings-based methodology is used to produce small area (Census Area Unit) projections. Across the scenarios, Hamilton City’s projected population growth over the next two decades ranges from 13.8 percent to 36.0 percent. This is between 1.5 to 12.2 percentage points higher than the corresponding projected national growth.

text: End-user informed demographic projections for Hamilton up to 2041 This report provides a set of projections of the population of Hamilton City and the larger Hamilton Zone. The projections have been calculated by means of the cohort component model. The projections can be considered alongside official Statistics New Zealand projections, but differ from the latter in terms of assumptions made about net migration. These assumptions constitute a number of scenarios that were informed by the Hamilton City Council and local consultations. These scenarios are linked to the potential impact of a number of economic development activities. The report also contains projections of the number of households, the labour force and two ethnic groups: Māori and New Zealand Europeans. In addition, a dwellings-based methodology is used to produce small area (Census Area Unit) projections. Across the scenarios, Hamilton City’s projected population growth over the next two decades ranges from 13.8 percent to 36.0 percent. This is between 1.5 to 12.2 percentage points higher than the corresponding projected national growth.

year: 2007-12