Rangahau Aranga: AUT Graduate Review
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Finite element modelling (FEM) of the asymmetric friction connection (AFC)
Get PDFEarthquakes occur frequently in New Zealand as the country is situated in the collision zone between the Indo-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, where many earthquakes and volcanic activities occur. The consequences of severe earthquakes are injury and loss of life of people, the costs of repair for the damage of the structures and contents, and the costs of disruption of business and other activities. In average, 10 000 people are killed in earthquakes every year. Moreover, the damage and disruption caused by earthquakes throughout the world can be considerable. To avoid these undesirable economic effects of earthquakes, the global tendency has been moving towards the development and implementation of low-damage seismic resisting systems. The low damage design philosophy aims to satisfy the well-accepted “life safety” mandate, and minimize the economic losses due to post-earthquake damage repair as well as the downtime. The Sliding Hinge Joint (SHJ) is a low-damage beam-column connection used in steel moment-resisting frames. It allows large beam-column rotation with minimal damage through sliding in asymmetric friction components (AFCs) that are located at the web bottom bolt and bottom flange levels. AFC is friction seismic energy dissipating component of the SHJ. Following a set of experiments and different analytical research carried out on the AFC, there are proposed modifications to improve the performance of the AFC, and in general the SHJ (Clifton et. al., 2007 & Ramhormozian, 2017). One of the key objectives of this project is to provide a complete literature review and background of the friction energy dissipators for seismic applications including the SHJ developments, and to create numerical models to be validated by the previous and ongoing experimental results of the AFC as well as the SHJ. This includes creating finite element model (FEM) of different sizes, capacities, and configurations of the AFC and those of the SHJ, using ABAQUS software.
Film practitioners’ perspectives on Australasia-China co-production
Get PDFFilm as a medium has become a tool to carry out the mission to serve the purposes of both economic gain and cultural communication in China (China Film Association, 2020). In addition, the “14th Five Year Plan” on China’s film development report highlighted that Chinese films will serve diplomatic outreach, promote co-productions and strengthen the international influence of Chinese cinema while demonstrating Chinese values (China Film Administration, 2021). The academic scholarship on Sino-foreign co-production has focused primarily on the textual analysis of co-produced films and China’s soft power (for example, Peng, 2015). In the existing scholarship, what has not been significantly researched and rarely addressed are the practitioners’ insights and practical experiences in Sino-foreign film co-production. Filling the gaps in this area, this PhD research project examines Sino-foreign co-production in the Australasian region to provide a comprehensive understanding of the practitioners’ perspectives, ideas, experiences, and strategies. Looking briefly at the critical review of related studies, in this presentation, I focus on an in-depth qualitative analysis of interview data with film practitioners and industry personnel who have worked in co-production film projects with China in the Australasian region. I explore and analyse the practitioners’ strategies and negotiations that have taken place in a few examples
A case series on the effectiveness of the ReAktiv PDE Orthosis following high-energy ankle trauma
Get PDFIn this presentation I aim to highlight the effectiveness of the ReAktiv PDE orthosis to improve physical function in people who have sustained lower extremity injuries during high-energy trauma (HET). These injuries often require complex surgery and extensive rehabilitation, resulting in long-term problems such as pain, loss of function and limitations in physical activity. There is limited evidence in the literature on the success of passive-dynamic ankle-foot-orthosis being used for unloading traumatic ankle injuries and improving physical function in general populations as previous studies have predominantly been conducted on military personnel. For this study, a case series was used to evaluate the effect the ReAktiv PDE Orthosis and a six-week rehabilitation program had on physical function in people with a HET injury. Measures of physical function were recorded pre- and post-fitting of the orthosis in three people who had sustained a HET injury to the lower limb. Physical function was assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Score (LEFS), Two-minute walk test (2MWT), Single-Leg Balance (SLB), Timed stair ascent (TSA), and the Four-square step test (FSST). Following wearing of the orthosis and the completion of the rehabilitation programme, lower limb function improved in two of the participants. These improvements in physical function were seen as indicated by the change in scores seen in the 2MWT, FSST, TSA and the SLB test at the commencement and conclusion of the rehabilitation programme. The ReAktiv PDE orthosis shows potential as a treatment option to improve walking performance in people who have sustained a lower extremity HET injury. In addition to the use of the orthosis, the use of a six-week physiotherapy-led rehabilitation programme, recorded further improvements in physical function specifically walking performance, physical mobility, and balance
A sustainable method of soil stabilization using waste glass in road construction
Get PDFConcerns about the production of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) are increasing dramatically. The climate is changing considerably and affecting people and their well-being adversely. Most human-caused GHG emissions come from burning fossil fuels in industry, buildings and the transport sector. In the construction industry, concrete is known as the most consumed man-made material on the planet [1]. Cement, which is the key constituent of concrete, has a massive carbon footprint with a contribution of about 8% of the world’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions [2]. One of the potential replacements for cement is alkali-activated binders (AABs). In this method glass waste is utilized in an environmentally friendly, sustainable manner for stabilisation of volcanic soil in road construction. The waste glass could be a great candidate as aggregate, precursor and activator in the alkali activation process. To avoid using cement due to environmental concerns, AABs could be employed to stabilize volcanic soils in a sustainable method in road construction. This technology is relatively recent and numerous ongoing research is investigating the behavior of such binders. Using AABs not only decreases CO2 emissions and air pollutants, but also due to incorporating waste in their composition, has a tremendous environmental impact. Life cycle studies quoted 30% to 80% CO2 saving by substituting Alkali activated material for Portland cement [3]. This study aims to deepen the knowledge about the usage of AABs in road construction by performing an extensive literature review. This review will summarize recent progress in the field of sustainable roads, and review plans to evaluate the feasibility of using glass waste in road construction in New Zealand. This could stabilise the soil and sustainably capture CO2 in a step toward New Zealand’s Net-Zero goal
Experiences of Workplace Bullying in Church Workplaces: The case of South-Eastern Nigeria
Get PDFWorkplace bullying as a growing social phenomenon has been intensively studied from various perspectives in the past two decades. What is known about bullying is that it is a complex phenomenon constantly encountered wherever there are social inequities, oppressive policies and power imbalances (Johnson, 2009). While much of what we know in literature on workplace bullying comes from the experiences of workers in non-religious organizations, little is known about the practice, nature, prevalence, and impact of bullying in Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs). The focus on Southeastern Nigeria (SEN) and church FBOs is predicated on the fact that Nigerian culture is steeped in religion and tradition. More importantly, SEN is chosen because Christianity is the dominant religion there. Through the establishment of schools and hospitals with employment opportunities, Churches have demonstrated the capacity to integrate social and economic values. Therefore, investigating cases of bullying in such a setting is aimed at expanding the frontiers of knowledge on what constitutes bullying, and what its impact is, in the experiences of church workers from Igbo population. This research will create awareness and develop a policy framework on workplace bullying for a safe work environment. This study is a qualitative design with semi-structured interviews and a purposive sample of 30 participants recruited from 11 FBOs. The first research question focused on church workers’ lived experiences and understanding of workplace bullying. Relying on a hermeneutic phenomenological approach as the philosophical underpinning of this study, and using thematic analysis, three significant findings emerged from the first research question. Workplace bullying is associated with labour exploitations through poor remuneration, work overload, and miscarriage of justice, which are symbols of slavery within Igbo culture. In this presentation, I will discuss poor remuneration from the perspective of Ubuntu which considers workplace bullying as a moral infraction
Oral health practitioners’ knowledge and attitudes about child abuse and neglect
Get PDFChild abuse and neglect (CAN) is a significant issue for New Zealand – evidence suggests at least one in five children have had statutory child protection reports, with approximately 10% substantiated (Rouland & Vaithianathan, 2018). Given that the government provides free dental care to tamariki, and oral manifestations of CAN are commonly evident (Sarkar et al., 2021), oral health practitioners (OHP) are in a critical position to detect signs and symptoms of CAN and report to child protection agencies. The government’s guidelines and legislation support OHP’ roles in child protection, yet there is a gap between policy and practice. Oral Health Therapists (OHTs) and Dental Therapists (DTs) provide dental care to children and adolescents aged under 18 years old in public and private dental sectors. Descriptive exploratory survey research was conducted to understand the knowledge and attitudes of OHTs and DTs in detecting and reporting CAN in a dental setting. Findings of the anonymous survey (n = 92, response rate = 15.8%) indicated 77% of participants had suspected CAN during their careers; however, only 21% have ever reported a suspected case. OHTs and DTs have encountered an average of 6.8 potential CAN cases during their careers. Still, only 1.8 potential cases were reported to child protection agencies. Participants identified fear of false reporting (70%) and further violence (57%), and a lack of knowledge to detect (48%) and report (56%) as potential barriers. Findings confirmed knowledge and attitude gaps of OHTs and DTs towards CAN. Inadequate knowledge of reporting processes and ethical dilemmas were common barriers to taking action. Such an effort to enhance the knowledge and attitudes of OHTs and DTs will be necessary to promote child safety and wellbeing. In this presentation, I will discuss potential areas to focus to improve OHP’s responsiveness in child protection
Digital Financial Services for Achieving Life Goals: Analysing Experiences of Rural Individuals in India
Get PDFA well-developed financial system facilitates the financial inclusion and development of people. Digital financial technologies have the potential to reach disadvantaged communities by providing secure, affordable, and stable financial services. The extant research on digital financial services concentrates mainly on the adoption of mobile money applications. Although investigating adoption provides an analytical lens to understand the individual’s intention to use technology, this line of investigation does not scrutinise the actual use of digital financial services and how they contribute to people’s goals in life. This empirical study examines the mechanisms by which individuals use digital financial services to achieve their diverse goals. This research adopts a qualitative approach to analyse experiences, views and feelings of rural individuals living in the villages of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The preliminary findings from the ongoing fieldwork suggest that rural individuals use different digital financial services to meet their personal and professional objectives. While younger rural residents (i.e. 20-45 age group) believe that digital financial services can enhance their economic participation, senior rural community members perceive them as ‘messy’, ‘inconvenient’, and ‘tricky’. My presentation will include an overview of my research project, its significance, research methodology, analysis technique, preliminary findings, and pictures taken during my visits to the target villages
Why us? Men, masculinity, and the search for meaning
Get PDFThis oral presentation reflects work to date on a research project exploring the career experiences of tertiary qualified South Asian men who are new to Aotearoa. Literature suggests that professional South Asian men struggle when seeking employment in their chosen field in Western contexts, and often must settle for low skill / entry level work. This has been suggested in my own informal conversations with men in these contexts. In my research, I aim to learn about participant experiences of emigrating and gaining employment in Aotearoa, through using narrative inquiry as a methodology. This presentation will use autoethnographic techniques to explore and analyse my own experiences as a South Asian migrant growing up in England and Aotearoa. This process will in turn help me to understand and situate participant cultural experiences (Ellis et al., 2011). It will outline key theoretical frameworks and intertwine personal vignettes to bring these to life. Literature surrounding career, racism, and cultural ideals of masculinity will be drawn on and woven into my preliminary theoretical framing. Career theory will be used to help explain participant career decisions, and potential avenues for re-training. Critical theory will be applied to understand the intersectional nature of discrimination and some of the existing mitigations. Masculinities and their construction will be central to understanding the men’s and my own experiences, in particular the inclusionary and exclusionary effects of the ’kiwi bloke’ (Phillips, 1987) to sense making. This preliminary thinking will inform the rest of the project, with semi-structured interviews (planned for March – April 2023) and reflexive thematic analysis used to construct themes (Terry & Hayfield, 2021). Self-reflection grounded in theory will guide the co-construction (with participants) of themes from participant stories. 
Parents’ and counsellors’ understanding of stress among youth of Indian descent in New Zealand
Get PDFIn New Zealand, youth of Indian descent are regarded as highly vulnerable to mental health issues and have, for example, reported a high prevalence of depression (Fortune et al., 2010). Experiences of stress/coping can be viewed as intertwined with the social, cultural, and familial contexts which shape them. Parents are one of the most important influences on youth in the Indian culture. Furthermore, there is a high degree of stigma against seeking professional help in Asian communities in New Zealand (Te Pou, 2010). There is little research investigating parents’ and counsellors’ experiences and understanding of stressors faced by youth. This study adopted a social constructionism theoretical framework, narrative methodology, and mediated dialogue method to explore the parents’ and counsellors’ understandings of the stress/coping experienced by the youth of Indian descent. Seven parents (3 pairs and 4 single) and three school-based counsellors were purposefully sampled. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted (via face-to-face and/or Zoom), audiotaped, and transcribed verbatim. This presentation will discuss various stressors faced by youth of Indian descent expressed by the participants included navigating cultural differences, identity crisis, peer pressure, social media, parental expectations, academic pressure, and stereotypes. The coping strategies adopted by the youth will be discussed according to the understanding of both parents and counsellors, such as aggression, sharing concerns with peers, and extra-curricular activities. Furthermore, the perspective of parents’ and counsellors’ regarding their role in helping the youth cope with stress will be discussed. Although there is a basic understanding of the stress faced by youth among the participants, more open communication and a collaborative approach are required to enhance the wellbeing of youth of Indian descent
“The most important thing when we arrive in New Zealand": Experiences of refugee women of reproductive age with interpreters
Get PDFThis study provides insight into the experiences of refugee women of reproductive age, who use interpreters while resettling in New Zealand. Understanding their experiences of using interpreters allows a deeper understanding for interpreting services and health professionals. It also enables more mindful and comprehensive language assistance approaches to migrant communities. Finally, refugee women will have the opportunity to voice their experiences. This research is the first of its kind in New Zealand. Women refugees are shown to be the most vulnerable refugee group, as they face many risks during their resettlement to their host country (UN Women Organisation, 2020). Refugee women often face family separation, psychosocial stress, trauma, violence, reproductive and sexual health complications while migrating (UN Women, 2020). Due to low literacy rates, they are less likely to understand or speak English, and therefore more likely to rely on interpreters to assist them with communication during the process of resettling in New Zealand. When women refugees arrive in New Zealand, they stay at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre (MRRC). During their stay in the Centre, and after their resettlement to their new home, interpreters are hired to facilitate communication between refugees with numerous New Zealand services and health professionals (Ministry of Health, 2012). As this study focuses on human lived experience, it will use a qualitative approach and a methodology based on Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology, to explore the lived experiences of refugee women and uncover their meaning through an interpretive analysis (Van Manen, 2016). 15-20 participants will be recruited during the first one to five years of resettlement in New Zealand and interviewed face to face or via Zoom when Covid-19 restrictions apply. Ultimately the intention of this study is to improve the experiences of refugee women as they settle into New Zealand life and into their new homes