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Encouraging circular waste economies for the New Zealand construction industry : opportunities and barriers
No full textAs our global population increases, the resulting waste mountain continues to rise. It has been identified that the Construction Industry contributes to a large proportion of the waste to landfill (and cleanfill) sites. Whilst there have been a multitude of commercial ventures and research-based activities targeted to challenge waste volumes, the ambitions of a truly circular economy for this industry remain far from realised. This article will discuss industry examples of waste minimisation initiatives which have been implemented successfully to support a less linear approach and encourage sustainable waste management for industrialised nations. We also identify limitations of this decentralised approach to resource management and suggest how the creation of resource markets, on both national and international scales, could connect the waste management loop for a vastly improved environmental outcome
Defining and measuring objective and subjective spinal stiffness : a scoping review
No full textOBJECTIVE:
To examine and identify the breadth of definitions and measures of objective and subjective spinal stiffness in the literature, with a focus on clinical implications and research opportunities.
DATA SOURCES:
Eligible peer-reviewed studies were identified using PubMed, Ebsco health, and Scopus electronic databases.
DATA EXTRACTION:
Following the 6-step framework by Arksey and O’Malley1 and based on the eligibility criteria, studies that reported definitions and measures of spinal stiffness were collected using a data abstraction form and classified into four themes; biomechanical, surgical, pathophysiological and segmental spinal assessment. Fifteen categories to identify similarities and differences between studies were generated.
DATA SYNTHESIS:
Among 2121 records that were identified, 333 met the eligibility criteria. There were 299 subjective and objective measures (124 subjective;175 objective measures) and 60 indicators of spinal stiffness. The majority of studies (n = 72%) did not define stiffness and there is no consensus regarding a standardised definition of stiffness in the reviewed literature.
CONCLUSION:
This review highlights the breadth of objective and subjective measures that are both clinically and methodologically diverse. There was marked variation in the definitions reported in studies. There were no definitions of stiffness provided alongside self-reported or patient-reported outcome measures. Stiffness is a clinically important symptom that may indicate the presence of underlying pathophysiology/disease which has implications for patients’ health outcomes. An important distinction should be made between the patient’s subjective reports of stiffness and this may differ from objective clinical assessments
The effective representation of midwifery care in documentation: A Delphi study
No full textThe documentation of midwifery care is widely accepted as a critical component of midwifery practice. This documentation serves a variety of purposes. At a minimum it represents the care provided to a woman, childbearing person and/or baby, by the midwife. It may enhance coordination of care provision, highlight the priorities and decision-making of the woman or childbearing person and the midwife, and promote communication between them, and with other health professionals. Effective health records will support audit and practice review processes and contribute to research and education. However, optimal practice in relation to the documentation of midwifery care is not clearly defined in Aotearoa New Zealand, or elsewhere in the world. Evidence is lacking to support midwives to understand the most effective approach to documenting the care they provide. Therefore, clarification of midwifery practice priorities for documentation is warranted.
The research question, developed from initial exploration of the existing pool of literature, was “What content should be included in midwifery documentation to effectively represent the care provided?” A modified Delphi methodology was used to explore the opinion of expert midwives in relation to this research question. Three survey rounds were completed, with the data from the first two surveys analysed to develop consensus-seeking statements which were presented to participants in the third, and final, survey. Consensus was achieved on 70 of these 93 individual consensus-seeking statements. The rich commentary contributed by the participants also developed understanding of the complex factors contributing to the practice of midwifery documentation. The opinions of these expert midwives emphasised that the impact of the context of care provision cannot be underestimated. Prioritisation of the provision of safe, individualised care, and autonomous midwifery decision-making to achieve this, was identified as a principal focus
Understanding the experiences of whānau caregivers of stroke survivors
No full textINTRODUCTION:
Access to support services for post-stroke care is essential for family/whānau to sustain their commitment to the long-term care of stroke survivors. Lack of, and inappropriate support along the post-stroke recovery spectrum can influence how care is provided to stroke survivors and can affect the wellbeing of whānau caregivers. Cultural factors have been found to influence how whānau use support services. Ethnocultural research that explores whānau caregivers’ experiences, especially for Māori is lacking.
AIM:
To explore the experiences of whānau caregivers caring for stroke survivors in New Zealand and find ways of improving accessibility of support services for whānau across the post-stroke caregiving spectrum.
METHODS:
Kaupapa Māori research and interpretive description provided the methodological framework for this study. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with three Māori whānau about their experiences caring for a stroke survivor. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed thematically within a qualitative framework using open coding.
FINDINGS:
Three general themes were identified: a) caregiver experiences, b) taha Māori: a cultural perspective and c) support services. The first theme captures whānau caregiving experiences across the stroke spectrum including their access to, and use of, support services and the 24-hour nature of caring for a stroke survivor, which for some was experienced as burdensome. The theme of taha Māori encapsulates a cultural perspective of participants’ caregiving experiences, including the importance of individual whānau and wider whānau members. The final theme identifies participants’ need for culturally specific support services, and the possible usefulness of technological solutions in extending support to caregivers.
CONCLUSION:
This study generated insights into the complexity of whānau caregiving experiences posthospital discharge, as whānau caregiver’s needs changed over the post-stroke care spectrum.
Providing care is magnified by several factors including health and socioeconomic factors, cultural norms and notions of whānau. Findings indicate the limitations with resource provision and gaps in the way support was offered by healthcare professionals and service providers. Whānau expressed a need for culturally specific information and resources that could better equip them to provide effective care. Strategies that comprise technological solutions could bridge the gap in improving support for whānau post-stroke
Dairy farm water quality trends at AB Lime
No full textAIM
The aim of this project is to conduct water quality analyses at AB Lime dairy farm by exploring the five years’ worth of water quality data along with the current data collected. The data will then be used to identify seasonal trends and discuss the impacts of current dairy farm practises to these trends. These finding will then be used to recommend strategies of sustainable dairy farm practices.
ABSTRACT
Water quality monitoring is an essential way to help sustain lands. This is particularly important in dairy farms where constant inputs of excess nutrients on the soil and water affects the aquatic environment. This research analyses five years’ worth of previously collected water quality data, along with current data from a recently converted cut-and-carry land to a dairy farm at AB Lime Ltd, located in Winton. AB Lime’s unique location gives a great opportunity to carry out water quality testing and analysing as all the surface water can be attributed to the dairy farm since it is situated at the very top of a catchment. The data comes from water samples that were taken from identified nine sites where surface water and tile drains exit the farm. AB Lime follows the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for monthly dairy farm water sampling to ensure water quality samples were taken and sent to the Hill Laboratories correctly. The researcher adhered to these guidelines throughout the data collection. Seasonal trends of water parameters and biological parameters have been identified: Winter to Spring will see concentration of nitrates increase in the water exiting the farm. E. coli concentrations tend to proliferate in dry summer periods associated with higher water temperatures, attributing to more favourable conditions for regrowth. Similarly, Total Ammoniacal Nitrogen (TAN) concentration tends to intensify when weather is dry with high temperatures. No general seasonal trend has been associated with DRP concentration; however, it was found that the lower the concentration the severe the effect in the aquatic environment, stimulating algal growth in the water which can be toxic for livestocks, while rainfall events contribute to level of turbidity. The knowledge gained from this study allows the AB Lime’s staff to help the farmers understand the importance of water quality monitoring in order to make decisions around dairy farm practices for better water quality as well as giving recommendations of strategies on the farm. It is important that the AB Lime farm continues to monitor long-term water quality in order to provide swift mitigations on factors that could be degrading the water. Following the lead of AB Lime, it would be advantageous for all farms to undergo consistent water quality monitoring, especially given that Farm Environmental Management Plans (an important part of the consenting process for farms) require that farms shows good management practices around the discharge of contaminants to surface water
Correcting the middle ground: Developing an architectural response to encourage the rehabilitation of individuals that have been recently released from prison
Get PDFRESEARCH QUESTION:
To what degree can the development of an architectural response encourage the rehabilitation of individuals who have recently been released from prison?
ABSTRACT:
Incarceration and architecture are fields that are inherently linked. Architecture provides the physical framework for incarceration to occur. Incarceration as a means of punishment is imbedded in the norms of today’s society, it is likely to be continually used as the most humane form of punishment. The implications of prison are often negative with the punishment going far beyond just a loss of freedom.
Although there are instances of corrective systems in other countries providing premises for positive change during a sentence period, the current state of prisons in New Zealand shows that this is not the case in this country. In the New Zealand context there is minimal implementation of reformatory prison ideas and as a result the nation’s recidivism rate is worryingly high. The high recidivism rate not only reflects poorly on the corrections systems it also causes issues as individuals are likely to be sentenced to prison on multiple occasions, compounding the issue of the current prison population.
Because of the shortfalls of the New Zealand system the period of transition that occurs immediately after a prison sentence has been identified as the best opportunity for intervention. Through the ideas gathered on reformatory prison design and designing for communities a facility can be developed that eases the transition from a harsh, rigid environment into the day to day lifestyle of the general population.
Site:Tram Valley Road, Swanson, Auckland
波恩东亚研究院所藏王光祈留德资料 及其研究价值 = Boen Dongya yanjiuyuan suo cang Wang Guangqi liu De ziliao jiqi yanjiu jiazhi (Archival Resources of Wang Guangqi at Ostasien-Institut, Bonn)
No full text早在 1968 年， 德国华欧学社（Arbeitsgemeinschaft China-Europa）社长欧乐思（Alois Osterwalder）就已注意到 王光祈在中德文化交流上所做出的贡献，并委托其成员斯 特曼（Klaus Stermann）收集有关王氏在柏林、波恩时期的生 活、学习、工作及交友的相关资料。 近期这些资料由旅德汉满 学家、 波恩东亚研究院现任院长黄淑娟博士 （Shu-Jyuan Deiwiks）将斯特曼的卡片资料按照内容誊写整理出来，由宫 宏宇整理成文，于 2019 年 9 月底在成都举办的“王光祈国际 学术研讨会”上，以“波恩东亚研究院收藏的王光祈旅德资 料”为题发表。 以下笔者将对这些资料中至今仍有参考作用 的部分予以分析介绍，并通过对比国内外已有的相关研究 来指出此资料对王光祈研究的历史意义及现实意义
A phenomenological investigation into the influences on the development of professional identity in novice osteopaths
No full textBACKGROUND:
Novice healthcare practitioners experience challenges to their understanding of their profession when entering the new environment of clinical practice. These challenges inevitably affect professional identity development. The literature demonstrated a connection between professional identity, job satisfaction and attrition which is why there is a need to understand how professional identity develops.
AIM:
To explore the lived experiences of novice osteopaths as it relates to the development and influences on their professional identity.
METHOD:
A descriptive phenomenological study of seven novice osteopaths currently practising in New Zealand. The novice osteopaths were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Recordings were then transcribed and transcripts were thematically analysed.
RESULTS:
Influences on professional identity development of the novice osteopaths in this study were classified as extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic influences included realities of practice, mentorship and support, and education. Intrinsic influences included self-identity and life experiences.
CONCLUSION:
The results from this study strengthen and confirm the knowledge in the literature surrounding professional identity development, that both intrinsic and extrinsic influences affect how professional identity develops. In this study, extrinsic influences emerged as the dominant influences. The participants in the study put great emphasis on the effect that extrinsic influences like education, experiences with other practitioners and mentorship had on professional identity construction. The findings of the study highlighted a need for greater awareness and understanding of osteopathy by the New Zealand public. Furthermore, it was apparent that new practitioner
Digital natives and digital technologies in construction education
No full textDigitalisation is changing both our personal and professional lives. Although the construction industry has been seen as the least digitalised industry sector, digitalisation is emerging also there in the form of Building Information Modelling (BIM), virtual reality, and cloud and mobile computing. Several reports discuss disappearing, changing and new emerging jobs as a result of digitalisation. These new and changing jobs need new competence sets. This research explores the concept of ‘digital natives’ in construction education context and investigates the potential benefits and challenges that the 'digital natives' have when it comes to using professional digital applications. Ultimately the aim is to support the students in the transition from simple applications to professional applications, so that by the end of the degree they are confident in learning and working on using new professional applications on their own. Two courses in the Bachelor of Construction degree, a level 5 first year course which uses online/freeware applications and a level 7 third year course which uses full industry applications, were used as a case study. Some of benefits recorded were increased student engagement with the course by creating an environment conducive to learning and encouraged collaboration among students for problem solving. Some of the challenges were some downtime to get to grips with the different technologies and apply them to class tasks and assignments, also some plagiarism issues were detected due to easy file sharing. When the ‘digital natives’ were quick and did not hesitate to use the online/freeware applications, they were much more insecure when approaching the full industry applications, and needed a considerable amount of more guidance and time to understand the application interface, basic functions and the process.
DELEGATE TAKEAWAY
Insights in the concept of 'digital natives' and how being a 'digital native' benefits the students when they use digital technology. On the other hand also understanding of the possible challenges that they still might face. This especially in construction context, but applicable to also many other disciplines
Auckland 2070 : AC_2070_SARS-COV-2
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION:
Can speculative design mitigate the effect of quarantine habitation in a dystopian future?
ABSTRACT:
The understanding of the origins of science fiction and dystopian worlds come from current-day anxieties of the world around us. Stemming, from Japano-American filmic futures that influenced Blade Runner (1982) and many other similar stories, to nuclear wastelands inspired from cold war nuclear threats, the ideas we see portray possible futures and explore how we might cope in these situations.
The pandemic coronavirus Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) took the world off guard, and the effects of the pandemic have been something that ‘Generation Z’ and Millennials have not had to deal with before. These ‘unprecedented times’ provoke ideas of dystopian futures amongst isolation and social distancing. The effects of lockdown and absence of work is a significant part of the sudden burst in violent and antisocial behaviour we see in America, with threats of social unrest, protests, and rioting.
This project aims to explore what a world might look like if the epidemic parameters of isolation, social distancing, and contract tracing, were a long-term reality. We can explore the effects these will have on social interactions and most importantly architecture. How will isolation architecture work, what are the defining differences, and how are these rules enforced with space and function? The setting is Auckland City, fifty years in the future (2070). The narrative follows the concept that Auckland is one of the last cities successfully fighting the virus throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand. Auckland 2070 has become walled off from the rest of the country, and it houses the remaining few medical people able to fight the virus and produce a cure. As speculated, autonomy is a significant part of the way the city functions.
Due to the epidemic ruleset of social distancing and contact tracing, unmanned workforces (drones) are crucial to distancing and isolation, temperature scanning drones, autonomous Uber’s, robotic manufacturing teams and 3D-printed buildings are all defining points of this speculated future