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The attributes of leftovers and higher-order personal values
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the inter-relationships between peoples’ perceptions of the attributes of leftover food and how they lead to higher-order values in relation to food waste. The method involved an online, text-based, qualitative survey of 112 panel members from a market research firm. The data were examined using thematic analysis and framed using a means-end approach. Findings show that leftover foods take on both positive and negative attributes and benefits, as shown in four themes—tasty foods, dangerous foods, images of spoiling and used or second-hand—leading to consequences, identified as creating time, Time to binning and repurposing. Additionally, how individuals in a household speak of themselves based on their higher-order values, termed as states of being, can determine whether such foods are repurposed or consigned to the bin. These states of being are reflected in the three themes: the responsible ones, the virtuous ones and the blameless ones. This study provides more focussed insights on the interplay between the attributes and benefits of leftovers and how household members position themselves towards these foods, particularly in their transition to waste
A Modern Reinvestigation of the 1987 Moutere Depression Seismic Survey
No full textThe quality of seismic processing and interpretation in the past has always been shackled to the limitations of the acquisition equipment and analysis systems used. The variability of seismic processing between different projects has been due to the geophysicists own personal subjective preferences and interpretations. With the rapid development in computer processing power and technology, this project aims to refine the data processing of a regional data set collected in 1987 with modern methods, in a bid to better the geological understanding of the area and present it in a novel way.
The original 1987 Vibroseis seismic survey involved eight seismic lines encompassing the entire Moutere Depression in Nelson, New Zealand. The target area is an elongated, NNE trending sedimentary basin that is infilled with primarily mid-Miocene to Pleistocene sediments. The age and depositional environment is similar to that of the neighbouring, hydrocarbon bearing Taranaki Basin in the north; it was this similarity that prompted the initial study.
The data processing in this thesis was performed using the Globe ClaritasTM software package with the ultimate outputs being post-stack time migration. The project followed standard seismic practices and used conventional noise reduction methods such as frequency domain (FDFILT) and frequency-offset deconvolution (FXDECON) filters. New frequency-wavenumber and deconvolution filters native to Claritas such as QFK were also tested. Despite a range of filters being trialled, only one type of migration and gain compensator was applied, these were the Finite-Difference Migration and Automatic Gain Control respectively. After processing, the data was then imported into IHS KingdomTM to produce a 3D model of the basin. The six seismic horizons captured during interpretation were defined by their seismic facies. The upper layers were difficult to image due to ground roll and narrow frequency bandwidth sweeps. However, the lower horizons positioned between 500 ms – 2500 ms time depths were interpreted with higher confidence. The strongest reflection occurred with horizon three. The modelling showed a heavily folded and fractured formation with extensive reverse faulting and their corresponding antithetic splays, indicative of a compressive stress environment.
The seismic processing goals of the project was moderately successful. Minor improvements in noise reduction were made using a combination of post- and pre- migration noise filtering. However, due to the poor resolution in the data itself blended with a lack of borehole data in the area, it was difficult to constrain the horizons and interpret the shallow sections accurately. This was a similar issue experienced in the two previous studies of the area. Regardless, my project was able to successfully recreate a 3D interpolated model of the Moutere Depression capturing its significant geological structures such as the Ruby Bay-Moutere and Waimea-Flaxmore faults and as a result, provide a unique perspective of the basin
Habitat selection by feral cats (Felis catus) and three rat species (Rattus spp.) on Stewart Island (Rakiura) and their impacts on native birds
No full textPopulations of many native bird species on Stewart Island are in decline, despite the absence of mustelids, which are known bird predators on the mainland of New Zealand. Other bird predators, principally ship rats, possums, and feral cats, are therefore likely to be responsible for the extinction and reduction in numbers of native bird populations on Stewart Island. Feral cats, as efficient predators of ground nesting birds, are thought to be the principal reason for the steep decline in numbers of the endangered southern New Zealand dotterel, that nest in alpine heath on the mountain tops of Stewart Island.
Feral cats are being controlled to reduce predation and thus increase the numbers of dotterels. To improve the current control of cats, the habitat selection of feral cats on Stewart Island was investigated. Cats are known to select habitat depending on where their prey is located, so trapping of three rat species, which are cats' principal prey, was carried out in four forest types to examine rats' habitat selection and seasonal changes in relative abundance. Ship rats were found in all forest types, and were numerically dominant in two. Norway rats dominated in subalpine shrubland and Pacific rats dominated in Leptospermum scoparium shrubland. Overall, rat numbers
fluctuated seasonally, with a low in relative abundance occurring over the late summer and early autumn.
When rat abundance was reduced cats were more likely to leave established home ranges or die, probably through starvation. As rats became less abundant cats did not apparently 'prey-switch' to birds, as secondary prey, but cats did eat proportionally more birds by weight as rat abundance declined. Rats formed 81 % of cats' diet by weight and seasonal depressions in rat abundance every year were limiting cat numbers.
Cats were radio-collared and radio-tracked to investigate home range sizes and habitat selection. The home ranges of cats on Stewart Island, measured using the minimum convex polygon method, were the largest recorded for females and the second largest recorded for males. The large home range sizes were probably due to the seasonal depressions in primary prey abundance. Habitat selection by cats was measured using the kernel method. Cats used podocarp-broadleaf forest more than was expected by availability, and used subalpine shrubland significantly less than podocarp-broadleaf forest. Selection of the forest types by cats was influenced by the need for shelter from wet weather. Similarly, it appears that dotterel recruitment is adversely affected in dotterel breeding seasons with very wet weather, despite the apparent success of the current cat control programme in reducing predation of adult dotterels.
Habitat selection of the New Zealand robin was thought to be influenced by known nest predators, such as ship rats and possums, on Stewart Island, and was investigated using trapping records and artificial nest predation experiments in three forest types. Ship rats and possums were trapped significantly less in Leptospermum shrubland than in podocarp-broadleaf forest, and more artificial nests were successful in Leptospennum shrubland than the other forest types in spring, and more successful than artificial nests in podocarp-broadleaf forest in summer. These results support the theory that robins are restricted to Leptospermum shrubland by the habitat preferences of nest predators.
As a result of the conclusions from this thesis it is suggested that control of cats continue in the subalpine shrubland, until large-scale control of cats is possible. Any large-scale control would need to be done in concert with rat control due to the probable problems of mesa-predator release, of rats, for nesting birds. Large-scale cat control would also be more effective if it was carried out in lowland forest, and in the summer, when cats' prey abundance is low. Monitoring of dotterel recruitment, in relation to seasonal weather means, requires more investigation, as does the population dynamics of rats and cats during podocarp mast-seed years, the status of ground-nesting birds on Stewart Island, and the reasons for the observed distribution of robins
Fundamentally photographic : the art of Bill Culbert
No full textThis thesis applies photographic theory and approaches to the interpretation of Bill Culbert' s three-dimensional installations, elucidating the interdisciplinary nature of his oeuvre. It examines the writings of Roland Barthes, Rosalind Krauss and Susan Sontag, amongst others, and relates their discussions of photographic theory to the role that photography plays in Culbert' s work. Chapter one examines Culbert' s use of photography to explore themes further developed in his installations, investigates the role of the camera obscura in his break from painting, and identifies the continuous interaction between his three-dimensional work and his photographs. Chapter two explores Culbert's use of light and its interaction with space, relating the examination of light and space in his work to aspects of photography such as the index, time, movement, multiplicity and the photographic surface. It also identifies his site-specific practice as part of a broad challenge to Modernism's autonomy and the coded nature of the gallery that began in the 1960s. Chapter three examines Culbert's use of readymade objects and his manipulation of their original contexts, noting parallels to the photographic image's relationship with context. This chapter compares Culbert's use of found objects to Marcel Duchamp's readymades, the Surrealist found object, avantgarde photomontage and Minimalist sculpture. Chapter four investigates the binary states of reality and illusion - integral to photography - that inform Culbert's work. This chapter discusses Plato's allegory of the Cave and the indexical nature of photography, then goes on to explore Culbert' s use of shadow, reflection, metaphor,
metonymy, pun and inversion, arguing that these devices resonate with photography's mediation of our perception of reality. The thesis concludes by arguing that Culbert's rejection of Modernism's self-referentiality and his fusion of painting, photography and installation locates his work within Postmodernist practice
Quaternary deformation at the leading edge of the Otago reverse fault province
No full textThe southeast Otago region forms the present leading edge of the outboard zone of continental collision between the Pacific and Australian plates. This study focuses on Quaternary motion of two northeast-striking, steeply southeast-dipping, reverse faults, the Akatore and Titri Faults, and subsidence of the Taieri Basin to the west.
The Akatore Fault (~65km long) alternates between onshore and offshore segments; maximum throw along the central onshore segment is 130m. Holocene fault scarps are well preserved along the central onshore segment. Buried peat and wood horizons in blocked swamps along the fault trace, and two marine terraces preserved along the seaward edge of the block, together record two uplift events post-loess deposition. Radiocarbon dating constrains these events to ~1.15 and ~3.8ka. Uplift per event averages 3m, but increases to a maximum of 4m near the south end of the central onshore segment. Evidence for Pleistocene motion is predominantly from marine terraces; two terraces (35 and 65m) restricted to the Akatore block are interpreted to be 105 and 125ka in age, and indicate a period of Akatore Fault uplift between 80-125ka. From 80-3.8ka, however, the fault appears to have undergone a period of quiescence.
The Titri Fault System is also ~65km long, but is probably linked at depth to the reverse Castle Hill Fault to the southwest. Structure contours drawn on basement of the coastal range indicates the "Titri Fault" is segmented; segment lengths range from 13-25km. Maximum total throw is ~650m. The fault system consists of a master fault and several frontal strands; the latter locally deform loess-covered alluvial fans. There is no evidence for Holocene
motion. Alluvial fans can be divided into four sets; the oldest two are everywhere deformed, whereas the second-youngest is locally deformed near Moneymore. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating provides some control on fan ages, as well as loess stratigraphy. These ages indicate that the last widespread deformation along the Titri Fault System was ~150-70ka, with localised deformation (Moneymore) occurring between 60 and 25ka. Uplift
of a marine terrace interpreted to be 80ka in age further constrains the last period of widespread motion to ~80-70ka. Uplift of higher marine terraces indicates earlier fault motion between 125 and 400ka, with evidence from deformed alluvial fans for a major period of deformation and erosion during 01 stage 7 (245-186ka).
The Taieri Basin is a tectonic depression on the downthrown side of the northern Titri Fault System. It is also faulted on its north-western margins by the west-dipping, reverse, Maungatua and North Taieri Faults. The latter faults have deformed alluvial fans of interpreted penultimate glacial and antepenultimate age, but not last glacial age, indicating
middle and late Quaternary activity. Water bore logs, drillhole logs, a high resolution seismic survey and gravity surveys indicate the basin is asymmetric, with maximum depths of ~200- 300m occurring adjacent to the Titri Fault System (southeast side), suggesting the Titri Fault System is controlling subsidence.
Synthesising the above evidence for timing of fault movement leads to the interpretation that the Akatore Fault and Titri Fault System are moving episodically, on the time scale of tens of thousands of years. Furthermore, there is some evidence for switching between the two. Episodic behaviour is also recognised in central Otago, and supports the interpretation that the Otago reverse faults are linked by a sub-horizontal, mid-crustal ductile shear zone. Episodic behaviour has significant implications for seismic hazard analysis, both in Otago and worldwide
Reducing waste of food left on plates Interventions based on means-end chain analysis of customers in foodservice sector
No full textSocial marketing and other types of targeted behaviour change interventions should appeal to an individual’s personal values in order to improve their effectiveness. However, there is currently little understanding of what these values are in relation to food waste. The purpose of this paper is to identify the values underpinning the specific behaviour of plate waste created in a residential foodservice setting. In semi-structured interviews (n ¼ 50) laddering techniques were used to identify links from behaviours through individual’s rationalisation for that behaviour to their personal values. The aim of the questioning was to uncover underlying drivers that lead to plate waste as well as those barriers to reducing it. The values identified as being most important are hedonism and self-direction. The aspects of these values for plate waste reduction interventions are not compromising on the individual’s enjoyment of the meal and meeting their health goals. Effective interventions include pre-ordering meals, reducing food options provided, reducing plate size, removing food tray and finally, information campaigns to raise awareness. The study provides insights into the personal values that influence behaviours resulting in plate waste. The study is the first to determine the links between this behaviour, rationalisations for that behaviour and personal values
Taking science communication to school: Improving student engagement with science through mobile filmmaking
No full textOur lives are increasingly influenced by science. Global challenges like climate change, disease, and agriculture all rely on the public making informed decisions through engagement with scientific practice and information. Unfortunately, there is a growing disillusionment with science, which can be initiated early in life depending on the quality of school science experiences. Decades of international evidence has found that students become less engaged with science as they progress from primary to secondary schooling. Little has been done to examine or address these trends in the context of science education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Engagement in science has been related to positive student outcomes in learning and life, highlighting an urgent need to propose interventions to tackle the decline. Hooking students’ situational interest or switching on their established interests are credible strategies for establishing engagement. Student generated digital media offers a strategy to hook adolescent students’ existing technological and social interests in order to switch-on their engagement with science.
This doctoral research investigated the current state of student engagement with science and analyses the impact of student generated mobile filmmaking on science engagement in the middle years classrooms in New Zealand (Years 7-10, ages 11-15). A two-phase explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was taken to address the research questions. An initial quantitative survey (Phase I) informed the development, implementation, and qualitative analysis of a mobile filmmaking science class activity aimed at improving student engagement with science (Phase II). The research is presented in the style of a thesis with publications, spread across three manuscripts.
Survey results (Phase I, n=429 students) indicated that the characteristic ‘decline’ in science engagement over the early adolescent years was only evident when asked specifically asked about school science. When asked about science outside of school or in their future study or career, older students were more engaged with science than younger students. Interventions which are contextualised and relevant to students’ everyday lives and futures will be more effective in improving engagement with science.
The Science Video Project (Phase II, n=4 classes) aimed to appeal to students’ existing interests in technology and group-related activities relevant to everyday life such as video-production for social media as a way to improve their engagement in science. Case study data from teacher interviews, student group interviews, questionnaires, and observations found that mobile filmmaking greatly improved student engagement with science compared to typical class activities, especially improving students’ emotional engagement. Mobile filmmaking also gave teachers the opportunity to achieve cross- curricular learning in literacy, digital technologies, and personal developmental skills. Furthermore, the students’ high digital literacy with filmmaking on mobile devices allowed educators to overcome concerns about using devices in the science classroom.
Taken together, this research finds that making students the science communicators through mobile filmmaking is an effective and easy way to improve science engagement in middle years classrooms. With this established, future research is encouraged to measure (i) the associated learning outcomes for mobile filmmaking, and (ii) longitudinal effects of repeated opportunities to create mobile films
Community Pharmacists' Perception of their Roles in Primary Mental Health Care
No full textIntroduction: Mental illness is the leading contributor to disability, globally. The economic, social and individual cost of mental illness is high, being an indiscriminate health condition affecting all walks of life, gender, race and age. People with mild to moderate mental health conditions are generally cared for in primary health care with their drug treatment available from the community pharmacy. This gives the community pharmacist the ideal opportunity to interact with people with mild to moderate mental health conditions and play an important role in their care. To date, community pharmacists’ views on their roles and contribution to primary mental health care in New Zealand have not been investigated.
Aim: To explore community pharmacists’ perceptions of their role in primary mental health care.
Methodology: A qualitative study was undertaken. Fifteen face-to-face semi-structured interviews took place with registered community pharmacists from across New Zealand. Participants discussed current primary mental health services delivered by community pharmacists as well as facilitators and barriers to service provision. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data obtained were then coded and common themes were identified using a thematic analysis approach.
Results: Four main themes were identified. These themes showed that participants all believed they had an important role to play in primary mental health care. The level of interaction varied from the basic dispensing role, to dispensing plus patient counselling with provision of education and advice, through to broader patient centred primary mental health care. Community pharmacists could provide a continuum of primary mental health services which included multidisciplinary team care, patient support and patient advocacy. Factors identified that impacted on the ability to provide primary mental health care services included stigma, privacy and confidentiality issues, staffing levels, availability of time and funding, community pharmacists’ education and their perceptions of patient’s needs.
Conclusion: As part of the primary health care team, community pharmacists are increasing their contribution to the provision of primary mental health care. This coincides with an increased emphasis within policy and practice by government and pharmacy and medicine stakeholder organisations to support pharmacists to increase their face-to-face work in primary mental health care
Identifying Transition Capacity for Agri-food Regimes: Application of the Multi-level Perspective for Strategic Mapping
No full textIn this paper, agri-food systems are discussed in the context of a set of socio-technical transitions principles, with a focus on energy, materials and practice elements that have the potential to promote sustainable outcomes across the system. This paper aims to develop an integrated approach for regime analysis, informed by emerging knowledge on socio-technical transitions. The application of the multi-level perspective (MLP) as a heuristic framework to structure descriptions of the multi-dimensional transition contexts of contemporary agri-food regimes is explored. To do this, the paper aims to elaborate the MLP by proposing an integrated means through which complex transition dynamics can be mapped across: (a) energy and material flows and (b) social practices which shape, direct and determine these energy and material flows. This approach is labelled strategic regime mapping (SRM). The paper forwards insights from the development of SRM and discusses the role of strategic mapping of key points across the regime. By combining insight on the conceptualization of dynamic and globally interconnected socio-technical systems with specific observations on contemporary agri-food systems, the paper provides insight into the mapping of transition capacity across agri-food systems, as well as highlighting the significant challenges associated with such an undertaking
Effects of somatic training on turnout in competitive Irish dance landings
No full textBackground: Irish dance has evolved rapidly throughout the years in terms of its athleticism, technical skills and aesthetics. In terms of technique, dancers must land from large leaps onto a single leg, without flexing their knee or dropping their heel. In particular, turnout is a key element of this dance form which involves external rotation of the lower limb, and must be sustained during the high impact landings. Limited availability and use of external hip rotation means that most dancers use friction on the floor to hold their foot in an exaggerated turned out position. Turnout caused by floor friction in the absence of hip external rotation moments are likely to result in large internal rotation moments at the knee and ankle, therefore increasing the risk of injury. As a means to improve alignment and reduce injury risk, somatic practice was investigated; a field of study that focusses on reducing muscular tension, enhancing kinaesthetic awareness and improving musculoskeletal alignment. By investigating the application of somatic practice as a prospective training method, we aim to provide insight into potentially improving turnout mechanisms and reducing risk of injury.
Objectives: The primary objective was to establish the relationship between hip external rotation and the internal/external rotation moments of the a) ankle and b) knee. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a somatic practice intervention in bringing about increased hip external rotation, and therefore turnout.
Materials and Methods: Thirteen (12 female; 64.9 ± 10.3 kg; 22 ± 2 y) competitive and performance Irish dancers completed a six week Alexander technique and Ideokinesis training programme, comprising of six 2-hour sessions. These particular somatic methodologies were chosen due to their musculoskeletal premise. The programme was designed with the purpose to increase and utilise external rotation at the hip by releasing muscular tension and improving alignment of the whole body. Prior to the intervention, each participant performed a minimum of 10 flys (common Irish dance leap) onto a force plate whilst wearing reflective markers and while being recorded by a motion capture system. This data was analysed to evaluate hip rotation and knee and ankle internal/external rotation moments during an Irish dance landing. This procedure was repeated after completion of the programme.
Results and Discussion: Mean hip external rotation magnitude decreased as the landing of the fly reached maximum vertical force and was of a lower magnitude than reported from the literature (-10.9 degrees ± 2.4). A negligible correlation was found between hip rotation angle at maximum vertical force for both moments at the same time point. However, when comparing the difference between the hip rotation angle and the foot toe-out angle (foot progression) to the knee and ankle internal rotation moments at maximum vertical force, low positive correlations were found (r = .15 [knee], r = .20 [ankle], p = < .01). Following the somatic practice intervention, no statistical differences between sessions were found but a slight increase in hip external rotation was observed. There was a large range of differences in movement profiles between participants, as well as a variety of responses to the somatic practice sessions.
Conclusion: The aesthetic and technical demands of Irish dance are in contrast to safe mechanics, potentially increasing overuse injury risk. Maximising hip turnout during landing should decrease internal/external rotation moments, as long as hip turnout affords the dancer better alignment between the femur and the foot. Reducing angular deviation about the longitudinal axis in this manner could help to navigate the demands of the dance style without compromising the aesthetic quality of the dancer. Somatic practices have the potential to improve body alignment, as well as kinaesthetic awareness, but further study needs to be conducted in order to consolidate this