"All We Got to See Were Factories.": Scoping Maori Transitions from Secondary School

The primary purpose of this research is to scope the reflexive journey of a selected group of Maori as they recall their experiences of secondary school transitions. The already complex nature of this transition from school is further exacerbated by the identification of these people as Maori. The treatment of Maori students, particularly in relation to their secondary school experiences and its impact on transition, is a major concern for this research. The research methodology privileged by my thesis is kaupapa Maori theory. Secondary school transitions for rangatahi Maori is tenuous. By framing this thesis within kaupapa Maori methodology, the intention is to recognise the impact of dominant ideology on the schooling experiences of Maori and how it ultimately determines school transitions. This scoping study is based on the interviews of research participants as they reflect on their experiences as rangatahi Maori transitioning from school. In particular, these interviews highlight how rangatahi Maori work through the complexities they are confronted with whilst in the transitory phase between completion of secondary schooling and post-school opportunities. Information gathered from the interviews constitutes the findings of this thesis. The findings reveal that schooling experiences and more specifically, treatment of Maori students by teachers, play a significant role in transitioning for young Maori. Negotiating the already complex pathway out of school is doubly problematic for rangatahi Maori who also have to come to terms with a culture of failure, perpetuated at secondary school and reinforced by out of school experiences. This research contends that marginalisation of rangatahi Maori in New Zealand secondary schools creates an alternate experience, whereby actions of resistance and agency are employed as they look to position themselves into post-school opportunities. Of significance, is the human quality of determination that allows rangatahi Maori to stand firm, despite the entrenchment of low self-confidence and motivation through indifferent school and transition systems. Such pathways create choice for rangatahi Maori due to a lack of support from these systems, not because of it

Fourteen Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers for the Widespread Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum)

PREMISE: Microsatellite markers were developed for Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum, Ericaceae) to facilitate downstream genetic investigation of this species and the extremely closely related, circumboreal Rhododendron subsect. Ledum. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-eight primer pairs were designed using Illumina data and screened for excellent amplification. Sixteen successful pairs were developed as microsatellite markers using fluorescently labeled amplification to generate chromatogram data. These data were evaluated for intrapopulation and interpopulation variability in three populations from Alaska and Maine, USA, and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Fourteen polymorphic markers genotyped reliably, each with one to eight alleles. Cluster analysis indicates that across the range, populations can be easily discriminated. Cross-amplification in other Rhododendron subsect. Ledum species shows broad application of the developed markers within this small, well-supported clade. CONCLUSIONS: These microsatellite markers exhibit significant variability and will be useful in population genetics within R. groenlandicum and for investigation of species boundaries across Rhododendron subsect. Ledu

Emergence and growth of cabbage seedlings in plastic, peat, paper, and newspaper containers

Abstract: Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) seeds were germinated and grown for 35 days in an organic standard substrate contained in either plastic, peat, paper, or newspaper containers to determine whether the container material might affect growth. Days to emergence, days to first leaf, and developmental morphological traits and physiological characteristics were monitored. Differences in evaporation and pH of water in contact with the containers were measured in separate experiments. Evaporation was lowest from plastic and highest from peat containers, while pH was lowest with water in contact with peat containers. Plant growth was fastest and most robust in plastic containers as demonstrated by their shoot height, stem diameter, and root and shoot dry weights. Seedlings grown in newspaper containers presented exceedingly poor growth and showed signs of stress

Viral evasion of innate immune defense: The case of resistance of pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus to human mannose-binding proteins

Mannose-binding lectins effectively inhibit most seasonal strains of influenza A virus and contribute to the innate host defense vs. these viruses. In contrast, pandemic IAV strains are largely resistant to these lectins, likely contributing to increased spread and worse outcomes. In this paper, we evaluated the inhibition of IAV by mannose-binding lectins of human, bacterial, and fungal origin to understand and possibly increase activity vs. the pandemic IAV. A modified version of the human surfactant protein D (SP-D) neck and carbohydrate recognition domain (NCRD) with combinatorial substitutions at the 325 and 343 positions, previously shown to inhibit pandemic H3N2 IA

LOWER EXTREMITY LEAN MASS ASYMMETRY CORRELATED WITH FORCE AND POWER ASYMMETRY DURING JUMPING IN ADULTS

The purpose of the current study was to quantify the relationships between lower extremity lean mass asymmetry and force and power asymmetry during jumping in adults aged 18-75 years old. Forty younger adults (18-35 years of age), 28 middle-aged adults (36-55 years of age), and 34 older adult (56-75 years of age) participated in the study. Subjects underwent Dual Energy Xray Absorptiometry to assess lower extremity bilateral lean mass asymmetry. Subjects performed 3 trials of a counter movement jump on two force plates to measure lower extremity bilateral force and power asymmetry. Lower extremity lean mass asymmetry was significantly correlated with force and power asymmetry in younger and middle-aged adults, but not in older adults. Improving lean mass asymmetry might assist in correcting force asymmetry in younger and middle-aged adults

TOTAL AND LOWER EXTREMITY LEAN MASS PERCENTAGE POSITIVELY CORRELATES WITH JUMP PERFORMANCE

The current study investigated the relationship between the lower extremity and total body lean mass percentages and the peak vertical ground reaction force (VGRF), peak power, and jump height (JH) in a countermovement jump (CMJ). One hundred and two subjects diverse in age and fitness level underwent Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry to determine mass composition and then performed three countermovement jumps which were used to calculate peak VGRF, peak power, and JH; the first two normalized to subject bodyweight. Pearson correlation tests between lean mass percentage and jump performance indicated significant positive correlations (r > 0.56), which were consistent with previous literature. However, as not all variance in CMJ measures was accounted for by lean mass percentage, other variables should be taken into account

Cutting Edge: TRAIL Deficiency Accelerates Hematological Malignancies

Abstract TNF apoptosis-inducing ligand is attracting considerable interest as a potential extrinsic tumor suppressor mechanism, although previous reports have conveyed somewhat contrasting views regarding the likely importance of this pathway. In this study, we provide the first evaluation of spontaneous tumor formation over the life span of TRAIL-deficient mice. Interestingly, >25% of these mice do develop lymphoid malignancies after 500 days of life. TRAIL suppressed the initiation and development of both tumors of lymphoid and stromal origin in the context of the loss of at least one p53 allele. Specific examination of the role of TRAIL in Her2/neu oncogene-driven mammary epithelial cancer revealed no critical role for TRAIL despite the inherent TRAIL sensitivity of such mammary carcinomas. Overall, the data indicate an important function of TRAIL in controlling carcinogenesis, but suggest that further examination of this pathway in epithelial malignancies is warranted