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Solving Climate Change Requires Changing Our Food Systems
No full textHumanity is facing an important existential threat—irreversible climate change caused by human activity. Until recently, most of the proposals to address climate change have downplayed or ignored the adverse impact of food systems, especially intensive animal agriculture. This is in spite of the fact that up to a third of global greenhouse gas production to date can be attributed to animal agriculture. Recent developments at COP28 have signaled that the tide is turning, however, and that food systems are becoming part of global discussions on climate change solutions. The pressing nature of irreversible climate change requires rethinking our food systems. To solve the climate change crisis, we propose transitioning to a predominantly plant-based diet, and phasing out intensive animal agriculture as diets shift, without increasing pastoral farming. We suggest that such transformations in global food systems can be accomplished largely through education and large-scale public information campaigns, removal of subsidies, taxation to account for externalized costs of animal agriculture, improved labelling of products, and various investment/divestment drivers. Better metrics and industry benchmarks involving food and agriculture-specific performance indicators that reflect food system sustainability will be important. Increased global awareness of these issues and a change in mindset (which will drive political will) also are needed. Our current trajectory is untenable, and we must begin to turn the ship now towards sustainable food systems and diets
Unravelling Regenerative Agriculture’s Sustainability Benefits and Outcomes: A Scoping Review
No full textRegenerative Agriculture (RA) has emerged as an environment-centric agriculture that prioritises reducing synthetic inputs, emphasising holistic management focussed on sustainability. However, evidence linking RA practices to desired sustainable outcomes remains inconclusive, and today’s modern conventional agriculture (MCA) prioritises similar aspects. This scoping review explores RA’s origins and how its proponents perceive sustainable outcomes. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses—extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, our review searched peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and Web of Science, along with a Google Scholar snowball search, up to July 2024. Of the 71 articles reviewed in detail, 46 explicitly discussed RA, and 25 addressed sustainability or holistic management relevant to RA. Key research gaps identified include: (1) Despite varying definitions and uncertain outcomes, growing interest in RA warrants further research into farmers’ preferences for RA over MCA. (2) There is insufficient evidence on how farmers balance the interconnected elements in the economic, social, and environmental domains for sustainable outcomes. (3) RA practices are often unclear and overlap with other production methods, necessitating clearer definitions of input systems and strategies used to comprehend RA’s biophysical and economic outcomes. A conceptual framework is proposed to guide future research and inform agricultural sustainability programmes
Rethinking Clinical Placements: A Response to Changing Healthcare Demands
No full textClinical placements allow students the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and become workforce ready. Demand for clinical placements from education providers already exceeds supply. As healthcare workforce shortages continue, the need for increasing numbers of graduates will generate additional strain, and policymakers targeting health workforce shortages must be cognisant of their impact on the education and health sectors. At the same time, clinical placements must be fit for purpose and meet the learning needs of students. The diverse array of placement models has been compounded by rapid developments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges and considerations include labour intensity, need for capacity building, importance of engagement at institutional and local supervisor levels, cost (including that to students), planetary impact, availability and equity. The future of high-quality clinical placements needs to be secured and built on a sustainable framework to support future clinical placement capacity
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Nursing and Midwifery Academic Workforce Across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textBackground: Promoting a representative and supportive industry for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori nursing and midwifery academic staff is a key tenet of Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand universities, and fundamental to strengthening the health workforce. Surprisingly, information about this workforce is unknown.
Aim: The aim of the study was to gain an understanding of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori nursing and midwifery academic workforce.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey of organisations that provide accredited nursing and midwifery education within Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Demographic, academic and employment information relating to Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori nursing and midwifery staff was collected.
Findings: Thirty-three organisations responded, reporting a total of 55 staff. Aotearoa New Zealand universities (n = 6) had between one and four Māori or Aboriginal staff members. Australian universities (n = 27) reported between one and nine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, with 10 universities reporting that they had none. Most staff held a PhD or Master’s degree and were employed at lecturer level in a full- time continuing position. There were 10 appointed into a professoriate level position. Workload was predominantly allocated to teaching and research.
Discussion: Neither country has reached parity with the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori overall population. Substantial efforts are required to grow this workforce. In addition, as most staff hold lower-level academic positions, greater succession planning through increased mentorship and professional development is urgently needed
Moving Towns: 4 Stories of Communities Facing Relocation Show the Complex Realities of Managed Retreat
No full textWith large parts of New Zealand having recently been pummelled by ex-tropical Cyclone Tam and ongoing bouts of heavy rain, it is important to remember that natural hazards have long shaped our cities. Two townships in particular – Westport and Kumeū – have featured in national stories about floods since the 19th century. They are now among a growing number of places where flooding infrastructure is losing effectiveness and drastic actions have to be considered, including managed retreat. This raises understandable concerns about anticipated drops in land value and loss of social connection to a place. But managed or planned retreat is not a new concept nationally or globally. International examples can serve as useful references. These stories from four communities in three countries show how connection to culture and place can be either challenged or sustained when relocation becomes necessary
The Role of Chatbots in Enquiry-Based Learning for Oral Health Students - An Exploratory Study
No full textOBJECTIVE: This study explores the reliability of four Chatbots in enquiry-based learning. Four Chatbots, namely Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, ChatGPT 3.5 and Perplexity, were used to answer and generate questions in four specific subject areas. METHODS: The four Chatbots were subjected to questions at three cognitive levels and to generate questions based on specific contexts. The responses generated were assessed by two oral health academics for accuracy and appropriateness. RESULTS: The findings indicated that ChatGPT3.5 generated the best self-assessment questions while Microsoft Copilot generated the best answers to questions. The performance of the Chatbots varied based on the subject on which the question was based and on the cognitive level of the question. While the questions at cognitive level one were answered most appropriately, the overall depth of responses to periodontology questions at cognitive level two was lower than for questions on dental materials, restorative dentistry and oral biology. CONCLUSION: The potential role of Chatbots in enquiry-based learning is evident to some extent, but they currently do not have the proficiency that a human teacher has
Navigating Organisational Challenges in the Journey of BI-Driven Digital Transformations
No full textBusiness Intelligence-driven Digital Transformation (BI-driven DT) has proven to enhance performance and drive operational excellence across industries. However, despite its clear benefits, organisations encounter numerous challenges in implementing and sustaining these initiatives effectively. Earlier research highlighted that organisational factors often outweigh technological aspects in determining successful outcomes. Recent research continues to reinforce this perspective, emphasising that the challenges faced in BI-driven DT are deeply influenced by organisational dynamics. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how organisational factors contribute to these challenges and proposes a framework integrating theoretical and empirical findings to guide successful BI-driven DT.
Drawing on a systematic literature review (SLR) and a case study of a real-world BI-driven DT project, the research identifies the organisational factors and challenges related to BI-driven DT. Top Management Support, Clear Vision & Strategy, Data-Driven Innovation & Agility, and Roles & Skills are identified as the key organisational factors that impact BI-driven DT. These factors demonstrate interrelationships with recurring challenges like Resistance to Change, Strategic Misalignment, and Skill Gaps & Training Deficiencies. Also, the research highlights Interdepartmental Collaboration as a significant applied construct that is often underexplored in academic writing and appears less prominent in the literature. These insights reveal variations between theoretical constructs and real-world contexts, underscoring the importance of tailoring strategies to specific organisational environments.
The study proposes a framework that identifies key organisational factors and maps their relationships to recurring challenges, which serves as a diagnostic tool for identifying organisational weaknesses and a strategic guide for addressing challenges. This framework enhances theoretical understanding and offers actionable guidance for practitioners. It is particularly useful for organisational leaders, project managers, and decision-makers seeking applicable strategies for BI-driven DT. Furthermore, insights derived from single-industry, such as finance and SME-specific perspectives, enable the development of targeted strategies, addressing the unique challenges within different organisational contexts. By integrating theoretical and empirical data, the study contributes to academic literature while equipping organisations with practical tools to navigate the complexities of BI-driven DT effectively
Silent Resistance to Organisational Change -An Australian Perspective
No full textPurpose
The paper draws on Van Dyne et al.’s (2003) conceptual framework of silence to resistance and investigates academics’ response to performance management.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting a case study of an Australian university that underwent significant strategic changes between 2004 and 2008, a thematic analysis is undertaken based on data collected via in-depth interviews with staff at different levels of management and academics across all ranks. A semi-structured questionnaire is also administered to all academics to understand their perceptions to changes within the university.
Findings
The findings reveal that academics chose to play the game of silent resistance – concentrating their efforts on acquiescent silence and defensive silence in response to organizational changes. The results also reveal that one of the main reasons academics adopted this form of resistance is due to their fear of being made redundant.Research limitations/implications
Despite its contributions, our study has several limitations. First, it is based on a single case study of a large Australian university, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Second, the study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias.
Practical implications
The study highlights the importance of comprehending the various forms of employee resistance, with a focus on performance management, which bridges the behavioural research gap in this field and facilitates an improved understanding of academics’ views on performance management and their behaviour towards the same.
Originality/value
The originality of the paper lies in its two-fold contribution: First, it links Van Dyne et al.’s (2003) conceptual framework of silence and voice to resistance in academic environments, which to our knowledge, has not been explored so far. Second, it highlights the development of a silent resistance strategy by academics through “silent treatment”, an idea of “social ostracism” within the context of business schools in Australian universities
The Effects of Wearable Resistance on Shoulder Strength and Throwing Velocity in Baseball Pitchers
No full textThrowing velocity is a key attribute for baseball pitchers. Accordingly, substantial effort has been dedicated to enhancing throwing velocity and its underlying characteristics. Wearable resistance (WR) for throwing athletes is a relatively new training method where micro-loads are attached to the throwing arm, allowing for load placement variation and deceleration phase overload, with the primary aim of sport specific strengthening of the throwing arm musculature. However, currently there is no research investigating WR utilisation to improve pitching performance. The overarching question of this thesis was what are the effects of throwing arm WR loading and training on shoulder strength and throwing velocity in pitchers?
This thesis encompassed a series of acute studies and a training study to address the research question. Two studies quantified peak force (Fmax) and rate of force development (RFD) reliability during shoulder internal (IR) and external rotation (ER) with strain gauge technology. First, swimmers (n = 18) were evaluated in three testing positions, with acceptable Fmax reliability observed in all positions (coefficient of variation, CV = 5.2-8.8%, intraclass correlation coefficient 95% confidence intervals, ICC 95% CI = .69-.98), however, RFD reliability was questionable (CV = 11.5-18.1%, ICC 95% CI = .34-.96). Subsequently, college and high school (HS) pitchers (n=15) were assessed in the supine 90o position, which provided the least variability. IR Fmax reliability was found acceptable (CV = 5.8%, ICC 95% CI = .56-.95), ER Fmax reliability was mixed (CV = 4.3%, ICC 95% CI = .39-.93) and RFD reliability unacceptable (CV = 16-29%, ICC 95% CI = .41-.97).
Relationships between shoulder rotator strength (Fmax and RFD during shoulder IR and ER) and throwing velocity was then explored. College and HS pitchers (n = 26) were assessed, the highest shared variance (adjusted R2 = .12-.13, p < .05) was between Fmax and throwing velocity. An acute WR throwing analysis with college and HS pitchers (n = 10) was used to quantify the effects of above and below elbow placement of WR (100-g, 150-g and 200-g) on throwing velocity, arm speed and temporal phase mechanics compared to unloaded trials. The effect of load on throwing velocity differed by placement with small to moderate reductions in throwing velocity (-1.8 to -2.7%, p < .01) detected with below elbow loads. Large decreases in arm speed (-5.1 to -6.5%, p < .05) with 150-g and 200-g below elbow were observed and the effects on temporal phase timing not clearly affected.
College pitchers (n = 17) were randomly assigned to a control or upper-arm WR group using a matched-volume design, implemented two times per week over six weeks of training. Pre- and post-test training of shoulder rotator strength, range of motion (ROM) and throwing performance unveiled no clear changes (p > .05) in throwing performance or shoulder rotator strength in either group. ER ROM increased over time (p < .05), predominantly attributed to changes in the control group (+15.8%). There is not sufficient evidence to support the use of WR for improving shoulder strength or throwing velocity in pitchers, within the protocols employed in this research. Despite unclear results, practical findings regarding shoulder strength assessment and suggestions for training pitchers were included in an opinion piece, which provides direction for practitioners and future researchers
T2DM Diabetes Care in the Inpatient Setting: New Graduate Nurse Experiences, Knowledge and Cultural Safety Knowledge
No full textIntroduction: Diabetes affects 537 million adults worldwide, with many requiring hospital care. New graduate (NG) nurses are required to have adequate diabetes-related knowledge and skills to effectively care for these patients, who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. This study explores the experiences, diabetes knowledge, and diabetes-related cultural safety knowledge of NG nurses providing diabetes care in the inpatient setting.
Methods: Underpinned by Dewey’s pragmatic paradigm, this mixed methods study used qualitative interviews and an adapted version of Daly et al.’s (2019) telephone interview questionnaire to explore the diabetes care experiences and knowledge of NG nurses in a South Auckland hospital. Part A was added to the telephone interview questionnaire to assess NG nurses’ diabetes-related cultural safety knowledge. This section consisted of questions developed from literature with input from an expert panel, including cultural advisors. Both Part A and Part B (Daly et al.’s (2019) adapted diabetes knowledge questionnaire) were assessed for content validity using content validity index (CVI) scores. The questionnaire was refined based on the feedback received, resulting in a scale-CVI universal agreement score of >0.9 across all categories. The qualitative data from the study were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2012) six phases of thematic analysis, and the SPSS statistical package alongside Microsoft Excel for quantitative analysis.
Results: The study included 22 NG nurses, with 10 participating in qualitative interviews and 12 completing the telephone interview questionnaire. Six main themes emerged: Confidence and Preparation; Diabetes Training; Diabetes Management in the Clinical Area; Challenges in the Provision of Diabetes Care; Guidelines and Protocols for Diabetes Management; and Cultural Safety Related to Diabetes Care. Part A of the telephone interview questionnaire highlighted cultural safety aspects involved in diabetes care, including cultural initiatives and policies, impacts of cultural food on diabetes management, impacts of cultural traditions/beliefs on diabetes management, socioeconomic impacts on diabetes management, whānau inclusion in diabetes care, and health literacy and diabetes management. Part B revealed varying levels of knowledge with gaps apparent in routine diabetes assessment, monitoring and interpreting laboratory results, diabetes pathology, diabetes management, diabetes complications, and diabetes guidelines indicating a need for further diabetes training in these areas.
Conclusion: The study highlights the complexities of diabetes care for NG nurses in New Zealand, especially regarding diverse cultural aspects. The findings emphasise the need for enhanced diabetes training in cultural safety and clinical competence at both preregistration and postgraduate levels. Addressing challenges such as diabetes knowledge gaps, limited training opportunities, and organisational barriers is important for improving clinical readiness and culturally inclusive practices among NG nurses; ultimately fostering patient-centred care and equitable health outcomes for patients within the inpatient setting