Does renal GCDH expression contribute to the explanation of the two excretor types in glutaric aciduria type I?

This Master Thesis was carried out at the University of Lausanne and is part of the master's curriculum in the School of Medicine(1). All manipulations have been done at the laboratory of the "Centre des Maladies Moléculaires" (CMM) which is part of the "Département Médico-Chirurgical de Pédiatrie" (DMCP) at the "Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois" (CHUV) (2). One of the research groups of the CMM works on fundamental and translational research on organic acidurias, mainly on glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA-1) and methylmalonic aciduria with a special focus on the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms leading to brain damage in these diseases (2-5). The research exposed below is part of a subproject of the research on GA-1 which aims to understand the physiological role of GCDH in proximal tubular cells of the kidney and to elucidate whether its presence in these specific cells might be the explanation for the existence of two excretor types (low and high excretors) in GA-I patients (6)

A molecular and isotopic assessment of farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to improve aquaculture in Papua New Guinea

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing sector worldwide, with much of the recent and ongoing growth attributed to freshwater fish farming. Freshwater fish farming is considered a solution to many global food security and health issues because it has the capacity to provide urban, remote, and rural populations with a regular source of fresh food. Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has shown promise in its ability to improve developing nation food security. However, for its full potential to be realised, there is a need to improve yields and increase efficiency, particularly through lower cost farming practices. My thesis aimed to enhance our understanding of GIFT farming and assess the potential for low-cost, locally-available resources to improve fish farm productivity and profitability in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Using a combination of molecular methods, including 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, environmental metabarcoding (eDNA) and stable isotope analysis (SIA) this thesis evaluated how different diets, farming strategies and aquaculture systems influence GIFT performance. Overall, I found that whilst the relationship between the composition of the GIFT gut microbiota and its condition varied based on the type of aquaculture system used (i.e., earthen pond or cage-culture), differences in the microbiota composition always correspond with distinct isotopic signatures (i.e., δ13C and δ15N values) and diets (e.g., pellet or vegetable based, eDNA analysis). Specifically, I found that in earthen pond culture, commercial feed pellets significantly improve fish condition, with profit and productivity further enhanced via the addition of inorganic fertiliser (NPK). In an assessment of cage-culture, I revealed that floating cages affect the composition of naturally occurring foods obtained, digested, and assimilated by GIFT; however, no impacts on fish condition were identified. Overall, my thesis demonstrated that low-cost resources (e.g., NPK) can improve the success of small-scale GIFT farming in PNG. This research provides a foundation to evaluate small scale fish farming in developing nations, with the potential for the multidisciplinary approaches used in this study to improve the food and income security of remote, and rural populations in other developing nations

Our side of the fence : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Creative Writing (MCW), Massey University

To write, for me at least, has been a calling. I set out to communicate a story that creates empathy, understanding, reflects cultural diversity, and demonstrates Indigenous stigmatisation. Not as a way to be controversial, or political, or to create an intensified sense of pity for the underdog that in this case is a Maori family; but instead to write about two absolutely ordinary families, nothing extraordinary, yet both entirely human. To do this, I chose to pen a play that uses an episodic structure and polyvocal writing techniques. Through these methods, in which there is no single protagonist facing a single antagonist - no hero or villain, no right or wrong - but a circle of episodes that gradually enlarge our view, I hoped to tell a story of diverse human beings, each facing their challenges. It is in our humanness that differences are celebrated.--Te P

PEMANFAATAN MULTIMEDIA INTERAKTIF PEMBELAJARAN IPA-BIOLOGI TERHADAP MOTIVASI DAN KEMAMPUAN KOGNITIF SISWA SMP NEGERI 14 KOTA PALEMBANG

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh multimedia interaktive terhadap prestasi belajar dan aktivitas belajar siswa. Penelitian ini diadakan di SMP Negeri 14 palembang dengan sampel penelitian adalah siswa kelas VII-8 dan VII-9 sebagai kelas eksperimen dan siswa kelas VII-10 dan VII-11 sebagai kelas kontrol. Skema yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Skim Kuasi Eksperimental dengan desain penelitian pretest-postest non equivalenten group design. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ada motivasi belajar yang berbeda yang tidak signifikan antara siswa yang menggunakan multimedia interaktif dengan mereka yang mendapat pembelajaran melalui strategi konvensional. Hasil lain menunjukkan bahwa terdapat hasil studi kognitif yang berbeda yang signifikan antara siswa yang menggunakan multimedia interaktif dengan mereka yang mendapat pembelajaran melalui strategi konvensional. Diharapkan multimedia interaktif dapat digunakan sebagai alternatif pembelajaran biologi di samping pembelajaran media lainnya.Kata Kunci: Multimedia Interaktif, Motivasi, Kemampuan kogniti

"Te kōwhiringa pōti Māori: Me rārangi Māori, me rārangi auraki rānei?" Exploring rangatahi Māori experiences of the Māori electoral option process: A mixed-method approach

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori voters have the option to sign up for one of two electoral rolls: the Māori roll or the general roll. This function of Indigenous political choice and representation occupies a unique place in Aotearoa New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements. While the Māori electorates have been around for over 150 years, the number of seats have grown from only four to seven in the New Zealand House of Parliament. Electoral roll populations determine the number of seats in Parliament, and provide a sole line of accountability to Māori communities for elected representatives. The Māori Electoral Option, which provides voters the opportunity to change rolls, is only presented once every five years. In this thesis I identify three pervasive systemic barriers, as well as a number of other issues, present in the electoral roll option process. This research contributes to the growing literature looking at rangatahi Māori experiences intersecting with identity, place, space and time. Through a Kaupapa Māori lens, this thesis uses interview findings and quantitative analysis to discuss the experiences of rangatahi navigating the Māori electoral roll choice. Here I explore the various influences and complexities which impact rangatahi Māori interaction with the electoral rolls as well as the broader socio-political landscape.</p

Beauty in the eye of the Indigenous

This thesis seeks to understand the virtues of Beauty through the complex systems of MātaurangaMāori. It investigates the potential of Māori philosophy and Art to rethink the way we design, givingvisual form and shape to the cultural belief systems and their spiritual ideas. This thesis exploresBeauty through a speculative outcome of a Cultural Centre in Turanganui-a-Kiwa /Gisborne(Tūranga). The aim is to shift our current understanding of Beauty away from the egocentrism of western cultureto one that is transformative and understands the multifaceted systems of people, place, and culture. The purpose is to keep exploring boundaries and work from new perspectives, enabling us to createarchitecture with more meaning, understanding and depth.</p

Opportunities for microbiome research to enhance farmed freshwater fish quality and production

Freshwater fish farming is the largest sub-sector of the global aquaculture industry, with its continued success dependent on the industry’s ability to be productive and sustainable. In recent years, microorganisms have been increasingly recognised for their role in the health and overall performance of aquatic organisms, providing the aquaculture industry with a promising avenue for further success. Here, we review the literature on freshwater fish microbiology to evaluate the potential for microbial research to enhance freshwater aquaculture. A systematic review revealed that the existing freshwater fish microbiology literature incorporates <1% of freshwater fish species, with most studies focussed on Cyprinidae, Salmonidae and to a lesser extent Cichlidae. Using social network analyses, this review identified 25 key research areas commonly addressed in the existing literature highlighting the narrow focus of existing studies. Microbial community structure was the most frequently researched area, followed by environment and diet. These studies often evaluated microbiota changes associated with diadromous migrations, new technologies and advancements in feed formulations. However, research areas, such as the role of microorganisms in fish fecundity, omega-3 content, sustainability and palatability, were underrepresented in the literature despite their influence on aquaculture success. These underrepresented research areas are examples of where additional investments in microbial research are needed to ensure the continued expansion and success of freshwater aquaculture