Rangahau Aranga: AUT Graduate Review
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Does Working from Home Really Work? Self-Control in Work-From-Home Versus In-Person Employees
Get PDFWorking-from-home became a necessity for many companies during the COVID-19 lockdowns in New Zealand. The popularity of this workspace environment has continued following the pandemic, however research has failed to investigate its effects on psychological constructs related to wellbeing and productivity, such as self-control. This presentation will introduce a proposed study which aims to determine whether workspace environment affects a multidimensional view of self-control. By using an online survey, participants will be presented with three self-control tasks to investigate self-control through three psychological lenses: cognitive, behavioural, and personality. First, they will complete an attentional control task which aims to measure how effectively they can inhibit a conditioned response in favour of a goal-directed response. They will complete a delay discounting task which aims to determine whether an individual is more likely to choose a smaller, immediate reward or a larger, delayed reward. Finally, participants perceptions of their self-control abilities will be examined using a self-report questionnaire. Workspace environment will be assessed by asking participants to describe their primary working environment: for example, hot desks, a private office dining table, or a dedicated home office space? Past research has indicated that working from home often results in a decline in employee motivation through increased distractibility (Aiswarya & Perwez, 2023). Furthermore, 95% of IT professionals working from home during the pandemic were experiencing burnout, a chronic stress induced syndrome which leads to fatigue, lack of motivation and decreased productivity (Khader, 2024). Based on past research such as this, it is hypothesised that working-from-home will result in decreased self-control in employees. But what specific workspace environment affects self-control the most? And are all types of self-control equally affected? The proposed study aims to determine: Does working-from-home really work
Establishment of SHON Gene Knockout Breast Cancer Cell Line using CRISPR-Cas9 Technology
Get PDFAnthracycline-based chemotherapy is important for the clinical treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and is currently considered the gold standard of treatment. Expression of Secreted hominoid-specific oncogene (SHON) has been able to predict response to anthracycline-based combination chemotherapy in patients with TNBC but the mechanism of action of SHON in TNBC remains largely unclear. The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of the SHON gene mechanism and its correlation to TNBC. As well as also investigating the effects of deleting this oncogenic gene in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell lines. In the present study, SHON knockout cell model was established by using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell line. In this presentation, I plan to show initial results generated via a colony formation assay and ultimately show the difference between breast cancer cells with the oncogenic SHON gene present and breast cancer cells without the oncogenic SHON gene. A colony formation assay is a common in vitro cell survival assay and is measured based on the ability of a single cell to grow a colony, and thus, can be used to compare cancer cell growth rates. In the study, the assay itself was repeated in duplicate and revealed that there were significant differences between the two different cell lines. Results showed that in the breast cancer cell lines with the oncogenic SHON gene present, significantly more cancer cell colonies were produced, which were not only more frequent in number but also much larger in size, in contrast to the breast cancer cell lines without the SHON gene present. This initial experiment demonstrates that while the mechanism of the gene itself is quite limited, the SHON gene does play a big role in the development and formation of triple negative breast cancer
Innovative Depression Management through IoT Technologies
Get PDFDepression is a prevalent mental health condition resulting from a complex interplay of social, psychological, and biological factors (Remes et al., 2021). Current approaches in depression healthcare have primarily focused on detection, often neglecting the technological aspects of management. This research aims to develop an efficient and effective solution for managing depression through Internet of Things (IoT).IoT devices in smart homes can gather data to optimise living conditions for individuals with depression. Wearable devices collect physiological data, providing insights into patients' emotional states (Teixeira et al., 2021). Cameras can capture and analyse facial images using emotion detection algorithms to assess emotional states.Implementing IoT-based depression management is expected to result in a highly effective and scalable system. Continuous monitoring of indicators will provide real-time insights and personalised recommendations, significantly improving support for adults with depressive disorders (Hardy et al., 2023). This approach aims to enhance mental health outcomes, reduce the severity of depressive episodes, and improve overall quality of life.This research addresses the urgent need for innovative solutions to manage depression. Integrating IoT devices for continuous monitoring and advanced emotion detection algorithms represents a breakthrough in mental health. The system aims to enhance patient monitoring and provide real-time, actionable insights to improve the quality of life for individuals with depression. Additionally, this research contributes to digital health and smart home technologies, showcasing interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex health issues.In this presentation, I will cover the development of our IoT-based depression management system, highlighting the integration of wearables, smart home sensors, and emotion detection algorithms. I will discuss our challenges in creating a real-time monitoring system and the innovative solutions we implemented. Additionally, I will share insights into applications of IoT in mental health, highlight potential improvements in patient outcomes, and explore future implications for digital health
Cultural transposition: Adapting an Appreciative Inquiry to support organisational change in a non-Western context
Get PDFThis doctoral research study employed an Appreciative Inquiry as a culturally adjusted method for enabling six university educators to develop critical thinking (ijtihad) in Yemeni graphic design education.[1] Emanating from a constructivist paradigm, the study recognised the role of sociocultural contexts in knowledge formation. The Appreciative Inquiry was divided into four stages (Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny) based on Cooperrider and Whitney’s (2005) model. The study utilised Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP)[2] based on a traditional cultural construct known as Halakat Elm (حلقات علم, knowledge circles). These circles were shaped by three cultural principles: wa’adeuk fa’ajbuh (واذا دعاك فأجبه); Husn al-Dhann (حسن الظن); and sadakat al elm (صدقة العلم). Key themes were identified through a Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). The outcomes demonstrated that an Appreciative Inquiry developed inside the culturally specific construct of the Halakat Elm can serve as an effective, culturally responsive approach for developing co-creative approaches to organisational and pedagogical reform.
[1] The project was granted ethics approval (21/129) on July 8, 2021.
[2] A Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) operates online. Here, individuals engage in instruction-based learning or group discussions within a specific domain, forming social structures to facilitate knowledge sharing and creation (Wenger-Trayner, 2015)
Te reo hoahoanga: ngā tukanga rangahau
Get PDFKa whakatakoto tēnei tuhinga i ngā tukanga rangahau o tēnei kaupapa rangahau ki te hanga i tētahi papakupu hoahoanga. Ka whakamatau te rangahau ki te whakawhiri i ngā mea e rua – ngā tohutohu o ngā mātanga reo e pā ana ki te mahi hanga papakupu me te mahi hanga kupu hou, me ngā herenga o ngā kaiwhakamahi o tēnei rangahau i te ao hoahoanga. Ka whakatakotohia e tēnei tuhinga ngā tukanga rangahau ki te mahi i ēnei mea – i te tuatahi, te mahi ki te mārama, ki te whakamātautau i te hātepe hanga kupu me te hātepe hanga papakupu. I te tuarua, te mahi ki te kohikohi, ki te mārama i ngā whakaaro o ngā kaiwhakamahi o te papakupu. Ko te tirohanga tauanga tētahi tukanga. I te tuatoru, te mahi ki te hanga i te putunga kupu. I te tuawhā, te mahi ki te whakamātautau i ngā kupu hou. Ko te uiuinga me te wānanga ētahi tukanga. Ko te tūmanako ka tū tēnei tuhinga hei tauira mō ētahi atu e mahi ai ki te hanga i tētahi papakupu whāiti
Investigating the Effects of Acoustic Therapy on the Nasal Microbiome and Well-being
Get PDFThis study aims to investigate the effects of acoustic therapy on the nasal microbiome, immune responses, and overall well-being in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Utilizing the Goodair® NoseBuds, a low-cost acoustic device developed by the AUT BioDesign Lab, this research explores the potential of nasal mechanostimulation to increase endogenous nitric oxide production, improve nasal health, and alleviate AR and CRS symptoms. Participants will use the device twice daily over a four-week period, and the study will assess changes in nasal microbiome composition, inflammation markers, and patient-reported outcomes, such as symptom severity and quality of life. Data will be analysed through bioinformatics and statistical methods to identify correlations between acoustic therapy and immune or microbial changes. This research offers an innovative, non-pharmaceutical alternative for managing AR and CRS, with the potential to reduce reliance on traditional medications and improve patient outcomes
AI-Enabled Dental Imaging for Oral Disease Detection
Get PDFThis study aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of dental diagnostics using deep learning models to automatically detect and classify oral disease and dental structures on panoramic radiographs. By employing a quantitative research methodology, the study evaluates key performance metrics. The model's ability to accurately detect dental anomalies, such as caries, periodontal conditions, restorations, and implants, shows significant promise for real-time clinical applications (Arsiwala-Scheppach et al., 2023). In parallel, the study explores the broader potential of AI in dental imaging, addressing current limitations such as the adaptability of models trained on narrow datasets. It emphasizes the importance of expanding datasets to capture a wider range of patient demographics and imaging modalities and highlights the need to validate AI models in real-world clinical settings (Putra et al., 2022). Together, this research underscores the transformative role of AI in modernizing dental diagnostics, moving from traditional methods to advanced AI-enhanced techniques (Patil et al., 2022)
Consquidering Populations: Genetic Markers to Inform Sustainable Harvest of Arrow Squid
Get PDFTwo species of arrow squid (Nototodarus gouldi and N. sloanii) comprise the largest commercial squid fishery in Aotearoa, New Zealand. This trawl fishery spans nearly the entirety of Aotearoa’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It is of substantial economic and sustenance value for people, with an average total annual value of 140 million dollars and a catch of ~30,500 tonnes (Statistics New Zealand, 2020). In addition to economic value, Aotearoa’s arrow squids are also of high ecological importance as prey items, being consumed by many species including the endangered pakake, New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) (Meynier et al., 2010). Although these two species are generally found in distinct geographic areas, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) manages both species under a shared Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) limit.By looking at both single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) as genetic markers, this study will be the first to investigate population structure in Aotearoa’s arrow squids. SNPs and SSRs will be sequenced from specimens of both species throughout their range. This data will be used to generate haplotype maps, calculate observed and expected heterozygosity, analyse genetic clustering, and determine population differentiation. These tools will be used to investigate diversity and the presence or absence of sub and meta-population dynamics. These findings will be communicated to inform sustainable fisheries management of arrow squids. Comparisons will also be made between the utility of SNPs and SSRs as population genetic markers for arrow squids, another first in cephalopod research
Enhancing Understandability of Deep Learning Models for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis using Explainable AI
Get PDFIn recent decades, cancer has emerged as one of the primary causes of death globally. Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a serious form of cancer with high incidence and mortality rates in developed nations. Deep Neural Networks (DNN) have shown remarkable performance in classification of CRC polyps from endoscopy images. However, some clinicians have reservations about automated cancer diagnosis as the decision-making process is not easily understandable. Because of the black-box nature of DNN, it is impossible to find out which features are contributing to the model predictions. Therefore, this paper aims to illustrate how deep learning models make a prediction and build the trust of practitioners by offering an understanding of the inner working of the model.This study used endoscopy datasets from various public and private sources. Synthetic endoscopic images were produced using the Conditional Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Network (CDCGAN), and Grad-CAM (Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping) was implemented to visualize the image regions, contributing to the final decision of the DNN.The high-quality diverse images generated by CDCGAN were found to help in making the decision more understandable. Moreover, the proposed model distinguished between polyp types even though they have complex structural differences. The presented model maintained a high accuracy while improving the trust of clinicians in computer-aided diagnosis by offering insights into the decision-making process.In this presentation, there will be an introduction of the proposed model that improves the explainability of DNN models by providing visual explanations which highlight the areas of CRC polyp images contributing to the decision-making process. It will be demonstrated that this approach could enhance the use of synthetic images for better visualization, and that clinical adaptation of automated tools could enhance the collaboration of human and AI in virtual biopsies
Exploring Aotearoa Queer History through X Museum Objects
Get PDFHow might taonga held by Aotearoa museums be used to construct historical narratives of Rainbow Communities (in Aotearoa) to recognise the legacy and stories of Queer people for future generations? This practice-led thesis uses taonga in Aotearoa museums to construct historical narratives of Aotearoa Rainbow Communities, recognizing Queer legacies and stories for future generations. The twentieth century saw significant milestones for Rainbow Communities globally and in Aotearoa, including the removal of the death penalty, protests for rights, homosexual law reform, the AIDS epidemic, and partial recognition under the Human Rights Act. Queer and Aotearoa histories have been understudied, leading to a perceived loss of Queer communities and elders, and a fear of losing their stories. This research, situated within queer museums and Aotearoa histories, aims to preserve these histories for future generations. It serves Queer researchers and Rainbow Communities, helping to tell our stories. The research utilizes post-positivist theories (Contextual, Feminist, Queer, and Social Identity) and explores these histories through museum objects, employing curatorial, queer, object history, and chronological practices. This is a multi-year project which several phases. As a practice-based project within design and history, it will also cover artefact writing, critical writing, and making practices. This presentation will introduce the project, discuss limitations and practical boundaries, researcher safety, and working with vulnerable communities. It will then cover the project phase and introduce a network of community practice