title: A microbial community description of a heavy metal contaminated soil site

authors: Tan, Lin

subjects: heavy metal

abstract: Tui mine area, with extremely low pH (2.9-3.3) values and high-metal concentrations, is one of the most contaminated sites in NZ. The structure of the microbial community in different soil layers (Top, Middle and Bottom) of the Tui mine tailing was investigated using culture-based and molecular approaches. The zinc resistance of an Acidocella strain, isolated previously, was determined by culturing methods. Growth curves of Acidocella indicated that it could grow at up to 250mM ZnSO₄, and in the presence of 250mM MgSO₄, both growth and Zn²⁺ resistance were greatly enhanced with tolerance up to 750mM Zn²⁺. Acidophilic bacteria were isolated and enumerated on solid media, and were found to be related to Actinobacteridae and Gammaproteobacteria. By contrast, cloning and pyrosequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA genes revealed that Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were the most common strains that occurred in the soil environment in all layers. From a clone library of the Top layer DNA, 69 out of 118 clone sequences were phylogenetically affiliated with the iron-oxidizing Leptospirillum ferrooxidans within the Nitrospira and 16 with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans within the Proteobacteria. A broadly similar result was obtained from pyrosequencing analysis. The most abundant OTU (21.9%) was affiliated with Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and the second most abundant (8.4%) affiliated with Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans. With the Bottom layer soil, 61.5% of the amplicons sequences in the pyrosequencing run had the closest match with Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and the second most abundant OTU (27.2% of sequences) were affiliated with Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans SS3. Both molecular approaches indicate that a diverse population of bacterial species (128 different species from pyrosequencing) exist in the Top layer soil with the Bottom layer soil having a lower in diversity (49 different species from pyrosequencing).

text: A microbial community description of a heavy metal contaminated soil site Tui mine area, with extremely low pH (2.9-3.3) values and high-metal concentrations, is one of the most contaminated sites in NZ. The structure of the microbial community in different soil layers (Top, Middle and Bottom) of the Tui mine tailing was investigated using culture-based and molecular approaches. The zinc resistance of an Acidocella strain, isolated previously, was determined by culturing methods. Growth curves of Acidocella indicated that it could grow at up to 250mM ZnSO₄, and in the presence of 250mM MgSO₄, both growth and Zn²⁺ resistance were greatly enhanced with tolerance up to 750mM Zn²⁺. Acidophilic bacteria were isolated and enumerated on solid media, and were found to be related to Actinobacteridae and Gammaproteobacteria. By contrast, cloning and pyrosequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA genes revealed that Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were the most common strains that occurred in the soil environment in all layers. From a clone library of the Top layer DNA, 69 out of 118 clone sequences were phylogenetically affiliated with the iron-oxidizing Leptospirillum ferrooxidans within the Nitrospira and 16 with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans within the Proteobacteria. A broadly similar result was obtained from pyrosequencing analysis. The most abundant OTU (21.9%) was affiliated with Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and the second most abundant (8.4%) affiliated with Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans. With the Bottom layer soil, 61.5% of the amplicons sequences in the pyrosequencing run had the closest match with Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and the second most abundant OTU (27.2% of sequences) were affiliated with Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans SS3. Both molecular approaches indicate that a diverse population of bacterial species (128 different species from pyrosequencing) exist in the Top layer soil with the Bottom layer soil having a lower in diversity (49 different species from pyrosequencing).

year: 2012

title: Aspects of organisational decline and crisis: the multi-dimensional crisis in the United Kibbutz Movement

authors: Sheaffer, Zachary

abstract: The thesis refers to the occurrence, evolution and analysis of a multi-dimensional crisis in the kibbutzim affiliated with Israel’s largest Kibbutz Federation, the United Kibbutz Movement. Concurrent with and preceding the all-encompassing crisis, a latent if persistent organisational decline is known to have affected most of the kibbutzim. The thesis, therefore, simultaneously addresses aspects of organisational decline and organisational crisis. None of the aforementioned phenomenon have as yet been appropriately researched within the framework of the kibbutz.

It is generally argued that the kibbutz developed a large measure of organisational inertia, was shielded by a favouring task-environment, hence numbed its boundary spanning capacity. Adverse environmental jolts triggered a major crisis which exposed a wide variety of structural-organisational dysfunctions. This study encompasses a relatively large number of aspects consanguine with theories of both organisational decline and crisis.

A number of reasons highlight the scholarly requisite in attending to these topics. On the one hand, the literature on organisational decline and crisis from different disciplines, posits often contradictory directions for both the synthesis of a coherent body of knowledge and prescriptions for crisis management. On the other hand, negative organisational trends within the kibbutz system have been very passably addressed. Since both decline and crisis digress from normative organisational conduct that underscores growth, they present somewhat more challenging research topics.

Growing awareness as to the accelerated pace of organisational retrenchments and business failures alike have invoked academic as well as managerial interest. The rarity of either cross-sectional and specifically longitudinal data reflecting the dynamics of crisis and decline have resulted in proliferous theoretical treatises that, almost invariably lacked a comprehensive empirical substantiation.

This thesis encompasses a population of crisis-ridden organisations based upon a longitudinal data-base. The study investigates antecedents, causes and responses to the crisis, employing statistical methodologies (Multiple Correspondence Analysis, Multiple Discriminant Analysis and Pooled Regression Analysis), hitherto not applied in the emerging discipline of organisational decline, crisis and demise. The findings support important theoretical propositions relevant to the roots of organisational response and organisational mobilisation towards a turnaround or organisational change.

Essentially, many of the theoretical presumptions are akin with the normative dichotomy between not-for-profit and business organisations. To a large extent, these theories have been found to adequately mirror the situation in the kibbutz despite the structural co-existence of business and public domains under one organisational framework. The study points to three major types of crises; an economic, demographic and a crisis of meaninglessness. These may not be viewed singularly but should be conceptualised as a multi-dimensional or multi-facetted crisis. Indications abound as to the existence of vicious circles entailing the organisational, economic and demographic facets of the kibbutz. Empirical findings lend support mainly to theories ranging from brain-drain, prediction of organisational crisis, organisational goals and resistance to change. The thesis systematises a modest basis for further research as well as advances robust methodologies to facilitate future analyses of declining and demising organisations.

text: Aspects of organisational decline and crisis: the multi-dimensional crisis in the United Kibbutz Movement The thesis refers to the occurrence, evolution and analysis of a multi-dimensional crisis in the kibbutzim affiliated with Israel’s largest Kibbutz Federation, the United Kibbutz Movement. Concurrent with and preceding the all-encompassing crisis, a latent if persistent organisational decline is known to have affected most of the kibbutzim. The thesis, therefore, simultaneously addresses aspects of organisational decline and organisational crisis. None of the aforementioned phenomenon have as yet been appropriately researched within the framework of the kibbutz.

It is generally argued that the kibbutz developed a large measure of organisational inertia, was shielded by a favouring task-environment, hence numbed its boundary spanning capacity. Adverse environmental jolts triggered a major crisis which exposed a wide variety of structural-organisational dysfunctions. This study encompasses a relatively large number of aspects consanguine with theories of both organisational decline and crisis.

A number of reasons highlight the scholarly requisite in attending to these topics. On the one hand, the literature on organisational decline and crisis from different disciplines, posits often contradictory directions for both the synthesis of a coherent body of knowledge and prescriptions for crisis management. On the other hand, negative organisational trends within the kibbutz system have been very passably addressed. Since both decline and crisis digress from normative organisational conduct that underscores growth, they present somewhat more challenging research topics.

Growing awareness as to the accelerated pace of organisational retrenchments and business failures alike have invoked academic as well as managerial interest. The rarity of either cross-sectional and specifically longitudinal data reflecting the dynamics of crisis and decline have resulted in proliferous theoretical treatises that, almost invariably lacked a comprehensive empirical substantiation.

This thesis encompasses a population of crisis-ridden organisations based upon a longitudinal data-base. The study investigates antecedents, causes and responses to the crisis, employing statistical methodologies (Multiple Correspondence Analysis, Multiple Discriminant Analysis and Pooled Regression Analysis), hitherto not applied in the emerging discipline of organisational decline, crisis and demise. The findings support important theoretical propositions relevant to the roots of organisational response and organisational mobilisation towards a turnaround or organisational change.

Essentially, many of the theoretical presumptions are akin with the normative dichotomy between not-for-profit and business organisations. To a large extent, these theories have been found to adequately mirror the situation in the kibbutz despite the structural co-existence of business and public domains under one organisational framework. The study points to three major types of crises; an economic, demographic and a crisis of meaninglessness. These may not be viewed singularly but should be conceptualised as a multi-dimensional or multi-facetted crisis. Indications abound as to the existence of vicious circles entailing the organisational, economic and demographic facets of the kibbutz. Empirical findings lend support mainly to theories ranging from brain-drain, prediction of organisational crisis, organisational goals and resistance to change. The thesis systematises a modest basis for further research as well as advances robust methodologies to facilitate future analyses of declining and demising organisations.

year: 1992

title: Accommodating multiculturalism and biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand: implication for language education.

authors: May, Stephen

subjects: bilingual education

abstract: The field of language education in Aotearoa New Zealand, as elsewhere, has developed significantly since its early and almost exclusive focus on the acquisition of English literacy in schools. As the field has expanded, so too has the range of language education sectors addressed and the theoretical approaches and understandings employed in relation to language and literacy education. Both developments have resulted in a more coordinated literacy education policy - exemplified to date most clearly in the New Zealand Literacy Taskforce - and a more situated, less monolithic understanding of the widely different literacies available to learners. Despite these developments, however, one area still remains noticeably under-theorised and marginalized in relation to the ongoing development of language and literacy education policy in Aotearoa New Zealand - the place of second language learners within it. This paper explores this lacuna and the potential policy implications of addressing and integrating first and second language educational concerns within an evolving national literacy education policy. This has particular implications for the further development of bilingual education - both for Maori and, possibly, other minority groups - and for the related possibilities of multicultural education. It also requires a wider and clearer recognition of minority language education rights, as developed within both international law and political theory, in order to apply these rights appropriately to an Aotearoa New Zealand context which is currently witnessing rapid and extensive demographic (and linguistic) change.

text: Accommodating multiculturalism and biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand: implication for language education. The field of language education in Aotearoa New Zealand, as elsewhere, has developed significantly since its early and almost exclusive focus on the acquisition of English literacy in schools. As the field has expanded, so too has the range of language education sectors addressed and the theoretical approaches and understandings employed in relation to language and literacy education. Both developments have resulted in a more coordinated literacy education policy - exemplified to date most clearly in the New Zealand Literacy Taskforce - and a more situated, less monolithic understanding of the widely different literacies available to learners. Despite these developments, however, one area still remains noticeably under-theorised and marginalized in relation to the ongoing development of language and literacy education policy in Aotearoa New Zealand - the place of second language learners within it. This paper explores this lacuna and the potential policy implications of addressing and integrating first and second language educational concerns within an evolving national literacy education policy. This has particular implications for the further development of bilingual education - both for Maori and, possibly, other minority groups - and for the related possibilities of multicultural education. It also requires a wider and clearer recognition of minority language education rights, as developed within both international law and political theory, in order to apply these rights appropriately to an Aotearoa New Zealand context which is currently witnessing rapid and extensive demographic (and linguistic) change.

year: 2002