Browsing by Author "Edwards M"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Factors influencing online learning in an organisational context
    (1/01/2016) Montgomerie K; Edwards M; Thorn K
    Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors perceived to influence successful online learning in organisations. Design/methodology/approach: Utilising an exploratory, qualitative approach, 20 participants were involved in semi-structured interviews before, during and after their involvement in an online development programme. Findings: Key factors perceived to influence participants’ learning, in order of their perceived influence, are online considerations (such as time allocation and discipline), peer support and technical delivery. Organisational culture was also found to have some influence, however further research is required to establish the extent this influence. The compounding or mitigating effect of the interplays of these factors was highlighted. Research limitations/implications: Although the study is limited by its small sample, it provides a basis for the further exploration of online learning in an organisational context and draws attention to the effect of the interplay of factors affecting learning. Research into the longitudinal influence of online learning in organisations, and particularly research which enables breakdown by learning style may assist in the development of programmes suitable for most participants. Originality/value: Online learning is becoming a common tool for employee development in the workplace and yet little is known about the factors that influence learning in this environment. This paper offers new insights into that gap through a progressive evaluation of factors facilitating or inhibiting online learning.
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    Identification of pathogenic Leptospira species and serovars in New Zealand using metabarcoding.
    (2021) Wilkinson DA; Edwards M; Benschop J; Nisa S
    Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance. The breadth of Leptospira diversity associated with both human and animal disease poses major logistical challenges to the use of classical diagnostic techniques, and increasingly molecular diagnostic tools are used for their detection. In New Zealand, this has resulted in an increase in positive cases reported nationally that have not been attributed to the infecting serovar or genomospecies. In this study, we used data from all pathogenic Leptospira genomes to identify a partial region of the glmU gene as a suitable locus for the discrimination of the infecting species and serovars of New Zealand-endemic Leptospira. This method can be used in culture and culture-independent scenarios making it flexible for diagnostics in humans, animals, and environmental samples. We explored the use of this locus as a molecular barcoding tool via the Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) sequencing platform MinION. Sequences obtained by this method allowed specific identification of Leptospira species in mixed and enriched environmental cultures, however read error inherent in the MinION sequencing system reduced the accuracy of strain/variant identification. Using this approach to characterise Leptospira in enriched environmental cultures, we detected the likely presence of Leptospira genomospecies that have not been reported in New Zealand to date. This included a strain of L. borgpetersenii that has recently been identified in dairy cattle and sequences similar to those of L. mayottensis. L. tipperaryensis, L. dzianensis and L. alstonii.
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    Molecular typing of Leptospira spp. in farmed and wild mammals reveals new host-serovar associations in New Zealand.
    (Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-01-01) Wilkinson DA; Edwards M; Shum C; Moinet M; Anderson NE; Benschop J; Nisa S
    AIMS: To apply molecular typing to DNA isolated from historical samples to determine Leptospira spp. infecting farmed and wild mammals in New Zealand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA samples used in this study were extracted from urine, serum or kidney samples (or Leptospira spp. cultures isolated from them) collected between 2007 and 2017 from a range of domestic and wildlife mammalian species as part of different research projects at Massey University. Samples were included in the study if they met one of three criteria: samples that tested positive with a lipL32 PCR for pathogenic Leptospira; samples that tested negative by lipL32 PCR but were recorded as positive to PCR for pathogenic Leptospira in the previous studies; or samples that were PCR-negative in all studies but were from animals with positive agglutination titres against serogroup Tarassovi. DNA samples were typed using PCR that targeted either the glmU or gyrB genetic loci. The resulting amplicons were sequenced and typed relative to reference sequences. RESULTS: We identified several associations between mammalian hosts and Leptospira strains/serovars that had not been previously reported in New Zealand. Leptospira borgpetersenii strain Pacifica was found in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) samples, L. borgpetersenii serovars Balcanica and Ballum were found in wild red deer samples, Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni was found in stoats (Mustela erminea) and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), and L. borgpetersenii was found in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo). Furthermore, we reconfirmed previously described associations including dairy cattle with L. interrogans serovars Copenhageni and Pomona and L. borgpetersenii serovars Ballum, Hardjo type bovis and strain Pacifica, sheep with L. interrogans serovar Pomona and L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo type bovis, brushtail possum with L. borgpetersenii serovar Balcanica, farmed deer with L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo type bovis and hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) with L. borgpetersenii serovar Ballum. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an updated summary of host-Leptospira associations in New Zealand and highlights the importance of molecular typing. Furthermore, strain Pacifica, which was first identified as Tarassovi using serological methods in dairy cattle in 2016, has circulated in animal communities since at least 2007 but remained undetected as serology is unable to distinguish the different genotypes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To date, leptospirosis in New Zealand has been diagnosed with serological typing, which is deficient in typing all strains in circulation. Molecular methods are necessary to accurately type strains of Leptospira spp. infecting mammals in New Zealand.