Research Bank
Not a member yet
5195 research outputs found
Sort by
Occupants’ health and their living conditions of remote indigenous communities in New Zealand
No full textThe New Zealand Ministry of Health reported that respiratory disease affects 700,000 people, annually costs New Zealand NZ$7.05 billion, and is the third-highest cause of death. The hospitalisation rate for asthma of Maori communities is 2.0 higher than that of other ethnic groups, and hospitalisation rates for deprived homes are 2.3 times higher than those of the least deprived homes. Based on physical data and evidence, which were drawn from a mixed methodology that includes field studies of the indoor microclimate, dust-mite allergens, mould growth, and occupants’ Respiratory Health Survey of a number of sample houses of Maori communities in Minginui, Te Whaiti, Murupara, and Rotorua of New Zealand, the study identifies unhealthy indoor thermal conditions, thresholds or ranges of indoor micro-climate related to different levels of dust-mite allergen and mould growth, the most common type of indoor mould, and correlations between dust-mite and mould and correlations. The study not only identified that the poor health of occupants is closely related to their inadequate living conditions, but also identifies the threshold of indoor micro-climates to maintain indoor allergens at the acceptable level, which can be used as a guideline to maintain or improve indoor health conditions for future housing development or retrofitted old housing
Playcentre leadership: A learning story
No full textResearch into leadership in early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand is in its infancy. At this early stage, distributed leadership has been identified as the most common style of leadership used in teacher-led early childhood education and care services. However, as a parent-led early childhood service in Aotearoa New Zealand, Playcentre uses emergent leadership. While some Playcentres have session facilitators, these positional leaders do not distribute leadership roles; the leadership is shared rather than distributed. This sharing of leadership removes power from roles therefore, those that come through Playcentre often don’t see themselves in leadership roles and downplay the knowledge, skills, and experience they are gaining. This enquiry sets out to develop a leadership framework for reflecting on leadership skills gained through Playcentre, and to gain an understanding of which are transferable to a range of other leadership roles, for example leadership in tertiary education. Action research is used to develop the Playcentre Leadership Framework. To examine the viability of this framework along with my leadership skills, an autoethnographic case study method was employed. The enquiry found the leadership framework evolved into a matrix for examining leadership practice along with giving insight into personal leadership practices. The leadership matrix provides scope for Playcentre Leaders and other early childhood education leaders to gain insight into their leadership, and develop a leadership framework of practic
Visualising vein pattern based on sparse auto-encoder algorithm
No full textRESEARCH QUESTIONS:
Q1: How is it possible to apply deep learning algorithms such as Autoencoder (AE) instead of current simple neural networks with limited capabilities for uncovering vein pattern?
Q2: Can deep learning algorithms such as AE be utilised for the preprocessing enhancement of input colour images for vein visualisation?
Q3: Does the new proposed algorithm work on random internet images with different qualities?
ABSTRACT:
Criminal and victim identification is extremely critical in forensic investigations such as child exploitation, which is considered to be one of the fastestgrowing crimes. Child exploitation is linked to a chain of other serious crimes from human trafficking to under-age sex and sexual abuse. Significant research effort has been expended to develop biometric traits including face, palmprint, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), fingerprint and dental identification systems. Even though these authentication systems are among the most common biometric traits employed, and well-established enough to be reliably considered for personal identification purposes, these traits are not applicable to child pornographic images, where criminals usually cover their faces and only non-facial skin is partially observable.
Recent investigations have revealed that organisations of pedophiles routinely exchange child pornography for sexual gratification and exploitation of children. Pedophiles are usually careful not to show their faces in images for fear of identification. The problem of child exploitation is increasing due to the proliferation of such material electronically and the lack of effective identification technology. Development of effective methods to identify pedophiles based on partial images of skin is an essential measure to stop child sexual exploitation.
Traditionally, it was impossible to use vein patterns for forensic investigation, because they were almost invisible to the naked eye in colour images taken by consumer cameras. Recently, a new research area, based on nonfacial skin features such as vein patterns, has been developed. However, these methods suffer from several weaknesses across different cases, ranging from skin diversity and hairy bodies to subjects with a high volume of dermis fat in which the vein pattern cannot be uncovered. In addition, most of the previous methods are highly dependent on the quality of pictures and how the image enhancement has been processed. With current limitations in enhancement and diversity of skin types, it might still be practically impossible to use vein patterns for forensic investigation.
To use vein patterns in forensic investigation, the author proposed a new method to uncover hidden patterns by using the auto-encoder algorithm and image contrast and quality enhancement by using denoising auto-encoder algorithm to enhance the robustness of vein visualisation and feature extraction. A pair of synchronised colour and near-infrared (NIR) images are used to generate the skeletonised vein patterns for verifying the outcome of the proposed method and measure the length of veins by using mean vein diameter. The experimental results on 605 colour images and 605 infrared images showed that the feature extraction performance of the vein patterns from the colour images is comparable with that from the infrared images. Furthermore, the proposed method was also applied on the random internet images such as hands, arms, thighs, chests from men, women, and children samples. Though these images were taken in uncontrolled environments and the subjects had different poses, the proposed method can uncover veins. These results indicate that the potential of using vein patterns in forensic analysis might be practical for forensic investigations
Using mobile GIS to estimate the free-roaming dog population in the island of Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga
No full textBackground
TRIP 1:
Planning: determine study sites
Planning: population density
Planning: selection of study sites
Villages surveyed
Urban area surveyed
Main roads
Walk around survey
Results
TRIP 2::
Kolovai side
Survey interface – Collector for ArcGIS
iPad with Collector for ArcGIS
Variety of neighbourhoods
Results
Results in ArcGIS OnlineCredits
Comparison with other studies
Credit
How will the children play? A participatory design response to Auckland's intensification & green space provision
Get PDFThis paper discusses the process followed and the design outcomes from applying data gathered from a performance art-based urban design project (‘Lookout’) shared between children and adults, to the design of a small public park in suburban Auckland. The rationale for the project is that while children have both acknowledged legal rights & developmental capability to participate in decisions about their environment, they are most often left out, so there is a need for improved methods. Meanwhile, Auckland city is currently undergoing widespread densification due to housing demand and this is leading to a decrease in private green space (the ‘kiwi backyard’) for children’s unstructured play and exploration. Set against this is diminishing children’s independent mobility (IM) as fearful parents/caregivers act as gatekeepers in children’s lives. As a result, areas close to home for play and greater passive surveillance by the community are increasingly important factors within urban design. The research found that even though the ‘Lookout’ production was broadly-focused and CBDlocated, it generated information that was valuable and relevant for the park design, especially since it enabled the voice of both children and adults to be captured. Although the success of ‘Lookout’ and the richness of the findings we obtained are largely attributable to its writer, Andy Field, we propose the process warrants further research as a possible method of participation for children in design due to its innovative & engaging approach that could double as a learning tool. Children’s concern for their city and their vision for its future as a more equitable and inclusive place was a strong design driver and a poignant prompt that we need to be frequently reminded of. Adults’ nostalgia-leaning interest was also a cue of the importance of making design connections to the past
Nexus between creative industries and the built environment : creative place making in inner Auckland
No full textA significant body of literature has examined the location decision-making of creative industry firms. However, research on the nexus between design creative industries and the built environment remains limited. The key finding of this qualitative research is that design creative industries are mostly the users of the inner city’s former industrial buildings that are occupied on leases from property owners who are responsible for the initial physical upgrading. This condition is largely due to the low level of property ownership among this group and the lack of incentive to invest additional capital to their business properties. Therefore, design creative industries cannot be conceptualized as leading actors in urban redevelopment or initiators of urban transformation on a large scale. Instead, they represent a latent demand for physical space and a rich source of inspiration and creative potential. In this regard, design creative industries play a key role as enablers of postindustrial real estate development driven by proactive property developers who transform former industrial buildings into a new form of revenue-generating urban commodities
I create, therefore I am
No full text• Participants: 6 female artists of Māori and/or Pacific descent
• Video ethnography: Audio-visual technology used to record participants engaging in their creative practice
• Multimodal (Inter)action Analysis (MIA): Transcription and analysis of video data.
• Discourse analysis: semi-structured life story interview
Urban resolutions : Auckland and Vancouver comparisons
No full textThe topic of Urban Resolutions is a research piece on Auckland’s urban plan, with the inclusion of heritage builds for reuse or repurpose. An international comparative analysis with Vancouver’s EcoDensity initiative was conducted, to establish whether that model or a similar one, might work for Auckland city; bearing in mind Auckland’s unique landscape and culture.
The key Research Question was - ‘How does Auckland Supercity intend to integrate a feasible and well-structured urban plan, that includes its heritage buildings?’ This question was derived from a sense that there is a general lack of knowledge, regarding the continuous development of Auckland. In addition, there are the complications which occur in communities, when large cities such as Auckland become disconnected. By including the historic buildings in the research, this highlights the opportunities of restoration, to create new uses for heritage to suit today’s lifestyles within society. This research was conducted by undertaking qualitative semi-structured interviews with design and urban planning professionals within the construction industry, that were based in Auckland and Vancouver. This enabled access to experience and knowledge within their individual fields and their unique case studies in which they have been involved. Auckland is large and growing rapidly, and this research gives an overview into the city’s current status and attempts to highlight the obstacles that Auckland faces. Overall, undertaking this research, into ‘urban resolutions’, has provided an opportunity to open up discussion and review – of what makes a city liveable, and how communities can be created by developing usable integrated spaces, which in turn help form relationships
Retrospective analysis of National Bowel Screening Programme outcomes in Hawke’s Bay: The need to achieve equity
No full textBACKGROUND
Bowel cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed and also one of the deadliest cancers in the world. New Zealand’s bowel cancer rates are one of the highest in the world, particularly for females. Both Māori and Pasifika populations are more likely to have a more unfortunate health outcome following a diagnosis of bowel cancer compared with other ethnicities in New Zealand.
AIMS
This research had four goals. Firstly, to quantify the number and types of patients currently using Hawke’s Bay bowel screening services. Secondly, to analyse the collated data for evidence of gender and ethnicity equity. Thirdly, to identify trends to predict future demand for labour-intensive colonoscopy services. And finally, to provide recommendations for Hawke’s Bay bowel screening based on the evidence from the first three aims.
METHOD
Data was collected from the medical records of bowel screening participants from 9 October 2018 to 9 April 2019. Gender and ethnicity of participants who returned a negative, positive or spoilt faecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit were compared. Regression models were to identify current and future trends for colonoscopy services. The number of histology samples taken were analysed by gender and ethnicity. Findings: Pasifika returned a more significant proportion of spoilt FIT kits than Europeans (P<0.0001, Chi-square=50.51) or Māori (P<0.0001, Chi-square=38.83). For colonoscopy, while Māori are not currently under-represented (p=0.7954), they are likely to be under-represented in the next six months (p=0.0001) from the study end date. Males had a more significant (p=0.0060) number of histology specimens sent to the laboratory than females.
CONCLUSION
For FIT kit participation, Pasifika may be disadvantaged compared to other ethnicities. Although colonoscopy participant rates are increasing overall, the current service may not be benefiting Māori compared to other ethnicities. Recommendations are suggested to facilitate a more equitable Hawke’s Bay bowel screening programme
Microcredentials : now and in the future
No full textMicrocredentials recognise smaller packages of learning than traditional educational qualifications. There are a number of potential benefits that may be offered by using these small packages of learning before, during and/or after the delivery of traditional courses. However, there are also some concerns about the approach. This presentation will look at what microcredentials are, their potential benefits and issues, how they are used and how they could be used in the NZDE and BEngTech programmes