The Eimeria species affecting brown kiwi : host-parasite interactions and conservation implications : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

This thesis comprises published works. Due to copyright restriction they are not included here but can be accessed from the publisher: Taylor H. S, Morgan, K. J., Pomroy, W. E., McInnes, K., & Lopez-Villalobos, N. (2018, September 1). The circadian variation of oocyst shedding of Eimeria spp. affecting brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli). Parasitology Research, 117(9), 2997-3001. doi:10.1007/s00436-018-5945-0 Taylor H. S, Morgan, K. J., Pomroy, W. E., & McInnes, K. (2019, March 1). Apparent lack of efficacy of toltrazuril against Eimeria species affecting brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) at a captive rearing facility. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 67(2), 101-104. doi:10.1080/00480169.2018.1541425Brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) are a threatened flightless nocturnal ratite endemic to New Zealand. The conservation of this species currently utilises a recovery programme known as ‘Operation Nest Egg’ (ONE) to increase numbers of brown kiwi in the wild. However, ONE results in a high density of immunologically naïve kiwi being housed in semi-captive conditions with the potential to result in significant morbidity, and occasionally mortality, from coccidiosis caused by multiple species of Eimeria. The aim of this research was to describe any circadian variation in oocyst shedding occurring for the Eimeria spp. affecting brown kiwi. Dropping samples were collected from brown kiwi at an ONE site using video surveillance to determine the time of excrement. Oocyst counts were carried out on these droppings and analysed in relation to the time of excrement and the days since the most recent toltrazuril application. The results show that two of the Eimeria spp. affecting brown kiwi exhibit circadian variation in oocysts shedding. Oocyst counts for each of the one hour time slots starting at 3am, 4am, 5am and 6am were significantly (p<0.05) higher than each of the time slots starting at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm and 11pm. This indicates that peak oocyst shedding occurs between 3am and 7am, with few or no oocysts shed between 8pm and 12pm. The results also suggest high prevalence and abundance of Eimeria spp. oocysts in the droppings, with 91% of samples from during peak shedding being positive for Eimeria spp., despite recent toltrazuril administration. These findings have several important implications for the conservation of brown kiwi. The reported circadian variation may affect the accuracy of coccidia testing and provides insight into the evolution of this adaptive trait in coccidia. The apparent lack of efficacy of toltrazuril may have management implications and requires further research. The results of this research increase our understanding of the biology of the Eimeria spp. affecting brown kiwi. Continuing to improve our understanding of host-parasite interactions is vital to enable effective disease management in order to reduce the detrimental impact of coccidia on ONE and ensure the ongoing success and sustainability of this important conservation programme

Does Lidocaine-Prilocaine Cream (EMLA) Decrease the Pain of Neonatal Circumcision?

EMLA cream reduces the pain experienced by newborns during circumcision compared with placebo. [Strength of recommendation: A, based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)]. However, dorsal penile nerve block and ring block are more effective than EMLA cream or placebo in reducing the pain response during circumcision. [Strength of recommendation: A, based on a single RCT.

MILKY WAY MORPHOLOGY PROBED BY 6D ASTROMETRIC DATA FROM THE GAIA SPACE TELESCOPE

At varying height above and below the plane of the Milky Way, I have used astrometric methods to classify stars of different galactic components of the Milky Way - the thin disk, thick disk, and stellar halo. This work complements prior study of Milky Way sub-structure - notably involving number density and/or pairwise correlations - which demonstrate non-steady state effects in the galaxy, such as axial/north-south symmetry breaking or more complex phenomena like the Gaia snail. This has motivated my exploration of stellar population changes with height about the Milky Way mid-plane, and the study of symmetry in such changes above and below the galactic mid-plane. Drawing from the second data release (DR2) of the Gaia space telescope, I have chosen a stellar sample with notably small parallax error and a 6D astrometric phase space, totaling 707,772 stars. Prior work in Hinkel 2020 was used as a reference for optimal sampling parameters. Selection cuts have been taken to avoid saturation from the Magellanic Clouds and the mid-plane of the Milky Way, in addition to controlling for Gaia\u27s astrometric uncertainties and sampling biases. After a conversion of astrometric to galactocentric coordinates, I have employed a statistical method to distinguish the populations of stars by their likelihood of belonging to the Milky Way\u27s thin/thick disk and stellar halo components, using stellar kinematic data. Kinematic criteria for galactic populations were chosen to avoid galactic component contamination, where stars are attributed to the incorrect galactic components due to phase space overlap of the different components - a common issue in population separation routines. To assess confidence in this statistical method, I used the bootstrapping method to construct error estimates within sub-slices in galactocentric z. My methods have yielded a notable, novel result: at low galactic z, the population fraction variation is asymmetric North and South of the galactic mid-plane

Density Properties of Sets

Dr. H. L. Smith in a paper which has not been published as yet 3hows that by starting with a general function satisfying Caratheoacry\u27s first two postulates on an outer measure function, it is possible to construct a function which satisfies all four postulates. In this dissertation we have stuuied some of the characteristics o of this.function, principally those which are of use in deriving our‘theorems on density. We have set up three general density functions, and nave succeeded in showing- tnat for the most general of these, it is true thac the Smith measure of the set at which the upper density is less tnan 1, and the one at which the lower density is greater than 1, is zero. We have also established tnat under certain circumstances there is a definite relation between this function and the density function defined by Besicovitch. Considerable attention nas been devotee to certain fundamental geometric theorems, which have led us to a generalized form of tne Vitali tneorem. We have also uerived a set of sufficient conditions for the validity of this theorem, including the one for the Smith function

All-electron molecular Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations: The group 4 tetrahydrides CH4, SiH4, GeH4, SnH4 and PbH4

A basis-set-expansion Dirac-Hartree-Fock program for molecules is described. Bond lengths and harmonic frequencies are presented for the ground states of the group 4 tetrahydrides, CH4, SiH4, GeH4, SnH4, and PbH4. The results are compared with relativistic effective core potential (RECP) calculations, first-order perturbation theory (PT) calculations and with experimental data. The bond lengths are well predicted by first-order perturbation theory for all molecules, but non of the RECP's considered provides a consistent prediction. Perturbation theory overestimates the relativistic correction to the harmonic frequencies; the RECP calculations underestimate the correction