21436 research outputs found
Sort by
Mitochondrial diversity of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Mountain Gorillas
No full textBackground: Mitochondrial DNA is a key marker for assessing genetic diversity, critical for the conservation of endangered species. This study investigates the mitochondrial diversity of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) mountain gorilla population (Gorilla beringei beringei), one of the most endangered primate subspecies.
Results: Using pooled sequencing of 200 faecal samples collected from both habituated and wild gorillas, we identify ten mtDNA variants exceeding a 20% threshold across the population mitogenome. Comparisons with previously sequenced individual BINP gorilla mitogenomes corroborates these findings and reveals additional putative haplotypes, potential heteroplasmy and nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments. Our approach overcomes challenges associated with pooled samples, distinguishing sequencing noise from biological variation. The observed diversity suggests that mitochondrial variability in mountain gorillas is comparable to the higher levels reported in the closely related Grauer’s gorilla (G. beringei graueri).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the utility of non-invasive faecal sampling and pooled sequencing for assessing genetic diversity in challenging field conditions, highlighting its potential for population-level genetic monitoring of non-human primates. Our findings provide valuable insights into the genetic makeup of this critically endangered population, contributing to future conservation efforts, and supporting the recovery of mountain gorillas.fals
Menstrual blood loss as an initial trigger for adaptation of iron metabolism in eumenorrheic female athletes—An exploratory study
No full textIron deficiency is a risk factor for impaired performance and recovery. While exercise-related iron losses are well-documented, the role of menstrual blood loss (MBL) as a physiological trigger of iron regulation remains underexplored. This study examined whether MBL in eumenorrheic female athletes induces measurable hematological and iron-related responses, accounting for sex hormone fluctuations. Ten regional-level football players underwent menstrual cycle tracking and venous blood sampling in both the early follicular and mid-luteal phases. Hematological parameters, iron markers (ferritin and hepcidin), erythropoietic markers (erythropoietin and reticulocytes), and inflammatory markers (myeloperoxidase [MPO] and C-reactive protein [CRP]) were measured. MBL was assessed using the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC). Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation, and linear mixed modeling. MBL was significantly associated with ferritin (β = −0.289, p = 0.001), reticulocyte counts (β = 0.004, p = 0.019), and reticulocyte production index (β = 0.004, p = 0.027). MPO and CRP showed inverse correlations with MBL, suggesting potential immunomodulatory effects. No interaction between MBL and cycle phase was found. MBL appears to stimulate compensatory erythropoiesis in female athletes, largely independent of hormonal phase. Incorporating MBL assessment into athlete monitoring may support individualized strategies to maintain iron balance and optimize performance.fals
Taking interest in versus disregarding sleep information : Qualitative study exploring the adolescent perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Health Science in College of Health at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
No full textAdolescents in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) face unique biological, societal, and environmental challenges in obtaining sufficient sleep, which is essential for their overall health and well-being. Within AoNZ there is limited qualitative research exploring adolescent perspectives on sleep and their sleep behaviours. This study explored how adolescents engage with sleep-related messaging, aiming to understand their access to, interpretation of, and the impact of such information on their sleep practices. Using a qualitative design, three semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 19 adolescents (13 females, 6 males) from two schools in AoNZ. The analysis constructed two key themes: Taking interest in sleep information and Disregarding sleep information, which reflect the dynamic and individualised relationship adolescents have with sleep-related messaging. Participants reported engaging with information from both digital and real-world sources, with personal relevance and source types influencing their engagement with and acceptance of advice. Advice that resonated with their lived realities, particularly around academic and athletic commitments, as well as messaging on formats such as social media platforms were more likely to capture their interest. However, adolescents frequently dismissed messages perceived as impractical, irrelevant, or contradictory. This scepticism usually stemmed from conflicting advice or a lack of actionable strategies. While some participants demonstrated curiosity and trialled sleep advice, these efforts were generally short-lived due to perceived ineffectiveness and barriers such as school schedules, societal norms, and competing priorities. This study emphasises the interplay between personal agency, societal expectations, and environmental constraints, providing critical insights into the factors that may shape adolescent engagement with sleep health messaging. The small sample size limits the diversity of perspectives captured however this study offers initial insights on the context of adolescent sleep in AoNZ. It lays a foundation for future work exploring the nuances of engagement across different adolescent sub-groups. The findings have broader implications for the development of targeted, contextually relevant health promotion interventions to better align with adolescents' complex realities. These interventions have the potential to support adolescents navigate the challenges of maintaining healthy sleep practices while addressing structural and systemic barriers, ultimately contributing to improved adolescent sleep health outcomes
Overcoming barriers to delivering active travel infrastructure: inter-agency collaboration in a state-led neighbourhood redevelopment
No full textThis research investigates the challenges to collaboration government agencies face in delivering active travel infrastructure as part of neighbourhood regeneration projects. Through a sociotechnical systems lens, we examine the influence of governance structures, decision-making processes, and institutional norms on inter-agency collaboration. Drawing on document analysis and key informant interviews, we identify opportunities and challenges faced by housing and transport agencies in coordinating the design and delivery of active travel infrastructure. Challenges include a disconnect between strategic objectives and funding mechanisms, bureaucratic inertia and complexity, and a reliance on informal networks within a complex regulatory structure. Despite these challenges, the research highlights the value of forums for knowledge exchange and relational approaches to collaboration, as well as the potential for pragmatic solutions such as collaborative working groups to overcome structural barriers within sociotechnical regimes. Achieving mode shift towards healthier and more sustainable forms of transport requires formalised effective mechanisms for integration of land use and transport planning. Our findings have implications for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders involved in shaping urban environments and promoting active mobility as a viable transportation option.fals
N-terminal oligomerization drives HDAC4 nuclear condensation and neurodevelopmental dysfunction in Drosophila
No full textHistone deacetylase four (HDAC4) undergoes dynamic nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, a process critical for regulating its activity. However, aberrant nuclear accumulation of HDAC4 is associated with both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease, and in our Drosophila model, impairs normal neuronal development. Upon nuclear accumulation, HDAC4 forms biomolecular condensates, previously termed aggregates, that correlate with the severity of defects in development of the Drosophila mushroom body and adult eye. Here we determined that nuclear condensation of HDAC4 is dependent on self-oligomerization, and that impairing oligomerization reduces condensation and the severity of neurodevelopmental phenotypes in Drosophila. HDAC4 condensates are highly dynamic and are stabilized by the presence of MEF2, which promotes their formation, ultimately exacerbating phenotypic severity. These data provide insight into the role of HDAC4 condensates in normal neuronal function and suggest that their dysregulation may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. Consequently, targeting oligomerization of HDAC4 and its interaction with MEF2 present potential therapeutic strategies for diseases associated with HDAC4 nuclear accumulation.fals
Resonance : a site-specific immersive installation for the vanishing Yellow River Stone Forest : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master in Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
No full textThe Yellow River Stone Forest (‘YRSF’) is a unique geological landscape in Jingtai County, Gansu Province, China. It records the Yellow River Basin's geological evolution and cultural memories. However, due to the construction plan of the Heishanxia Dam on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, a large part of the Yellow River Stone Forest is at risk of being permanently submerged, and its natural landscape and cultural value may disappear. Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province, is an important cultural town shaped by the Yellow River. Over time, Lanzhou City has relied on the river for its economic and social developments, and the local community holds deep cultural and emotional ties to this landscape. Thus, the challenge faced by the YRSF also impacts the cultural memory shared by the residents. This makes it particularly important to create an artwork about the Yellow River Stone Forest in Lanzhou’s public space. Choosing the Yellow River Stone Forest as a source of inspiration, and the Longyuan Park in Lanzhou as the installation location, this research investigates how site-specific intermedia installations can effectively encourage a deeper emotional and cultural connection of the Lanzhou Community to the YRSF before its submersion by offering collective reflection and interaction opportunities. Using Leyla Acaroglu’s Disruptive Design Method (DDM), this study investigates how intermedia—projection, spatial composition, and sensory experience can create a unique visitor experience beyond traditional narratives such as documentaries, static photography, or museum-style exhibitions. By integrating with its surroundings, the installation transforms the YRSF into a perceptible and interactive presence, prompting the Lanzhou community to reflect on its connection with this changing landscape
Enabling Lean Construction 4.0 through human-centric digital transformation: organisational leadership insights
No full textPurpose
This study investigates the challenges construction organisation leaders face when implementing human-centric digital transformation to enable Lean Construction 4.0. It aims to provide insights into how organisations can effectively manage the human aspects of digital transformation while addressing industry-specific barriers to lean implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employed a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with senior organisation leaders from construction organisations across New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Denmark. Data analysis followed a systematic thematic analysis approach to identify key challenges and patterns.
Findings
The study revealed ten key challenge areas in implementing human-centric digital transformation for Lean Construction 4.0: strategic vision communication, organisational competencies assessment, training development, resource allocation, employee involvement, value integration, technological adoption, performance monitoring, well-being support and cultural reinforcement. Critical barriers include the industry’s traditionally low-profit margins limiting investment capacity, high staff turnover rates complicating training initiatives and resistance from long-tenured employees transitioning from memorised to documented processes. The findings highlight how the construction industry’s unique characteristics create distinct challenges in terms of implementing Lean Construction 4.0 that extend beyond general digital transformation barriers.
Originality/value
This study is among the first to specifically examine human-centric digital transformation challenges in implementing Lean Construction 4.0 in construction organisations from a leadership perspective. It contributes to both theory and practice by providing a comprehensive understanding of the barriers that leaders face when implementing digital transformation while maintaining a human-centric focus. The findings bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical implementation of Lean Construction 4.0, offering insights for construction organisations seeking to balance technological advancement with human factors.fals
Do foreign experienced managers influence employee compensation? Evidence from labor investment in China
No full textPurpose
This study aims to investigate whether and how foreign experienced managers influence employee compensation in Chinese firms. While prior research has examined the impact of such managers on corporate governance, innovation and performance, little is known about their effect on labor investment, particularly “rank-and-file” employee compensation. The authors argue that foreign experienced managers are more likely to pursue complex value-added strategies requiring skilled labor, thus increasing compensation levels.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of Chinese A-share listed firms, the authors identify foreign experienced managers as CEOs or chairpersons with prior work or study experience outside mainland China. The analysis uses panel regressions, as well as instrumental variable estimation, difference-in-difference (DID) tests and propensity score matching (PSM), to address endogeneity. The authors further examine mechanisms and heterogeneity analysis.
Findings
Firms with foreign experienced managers pay significantly higher employee compensation. This relationship is more pronounced where firms have excess cash or lower operating leverage. Mechanism tests support the efficiency wage theory where managers increase the proportion of skilled employees. In private firms, foreign experienced managers appear to increase compensation to improve total factor productivity and firm value. In contrast, foreign experienced managers in state-owned enterprises appear more motivated by political or social goals through enhanced employee treatment. In addition, the authors also find that foreign experienced managers are associated with higher labor cost stickiness, especially in private firms.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to link managerial foreign experience with employee compensation. The results are particularly relevant for firms and policymakers aiming to balance employee welfare, productivity and strategic human capital investment in the context of global managerial mobility.fals
Effects of alertness on perceptual detection and discrimination
No full textThe level of alertness fluctuates throughout the day, exerting modulatory effects on human cognitive processes at any moment. However, our knowledge of how alertness level interacts with specific cognitive demands and perceptual rules of a task is still limited. Here we used perceptual decision-making paradigms to explore this issue. We analysed data from four different experiments involving a total of 113 participants: 1) auditory masking detection, 2) sensorimotor detection, 3) auditory spatial discrimination, and 4) auditory phoneme discrimination. We examined participant performance during the natural transition from awake (high alertness) to drowsy (low alertness). First, we fitted psychometric functions to the performance in EEG-defined high and low alertness metastable states. Second, we modelled slope and threshold from the fitted sigmoidal curves as well as signal detection theory measures, including perceptual sensitivity (d’) and response bias (criterion). We found lower detection and discrimination sensitivity to stimuli as alertness level decreases, signalled by a shallower slope and a lower d’, while the threshold increases slightly and equivalently across experiments. We observed no change in criterion during the transition. Zooming in, we observed that the decrease in sensitivity measured by slope was stronger for discrimination than for detection decisions, indicating that lower alertness impairs the precision of decisions in discriminating alternatives more than in identifying the presence of a stimulus around the threshold. Taken together, these results suggest that alertness has a common effect on perceptual decision-making and differentially modulates detection and discrimination decisions.fals
AfterImage : family folklore and the plurality of memory : an exegesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
No full textFigures are reproduced with permission.AfterImage - Family Folklore and the Plurality of Memory is a site-responsive, archivally motivated investigation of memory and its permeability. It draws upon the narrative legacies of the Moleta family and the Rangitoto ki te Tonga | D’Urville Island property they inhabited throughout the twentieth century. This exegesis examines the complexity of making work that responds to acts of personal and collective remembering. Passing time, discrete perspectives and their influence on memory, and the fickle kinship of memory and truth are discussed. I attend to the uncomfortable history of my colonial settler ancestry, and in conjunction with this, consider female domestic experience through critical analysis of experimental test works that engage with photography and moving image, including Matrilineal Residue and A Family Folklore. The use and manipulation of archival sources is discussed in relation to the work of artist Emily Parr, including my exploitation of biographical objects as indexes of the transmission of intergenerational knowledge. A Lonely Place Facing The Sun and Her Oscillating Care are among the moving image installation works discussed in relation to the intermediality of still photography and moving image combinations, and modes of poetic documentary. The intersecting binary of movement and stillness makes room for a plethora of others - past and present, dead and alive, fixed and transforming. The materiality of light and surface take on new significance, in both moving-still and moving image installation works, leading to ideas about the immersive qualities of digital projection and the occupancy of a darkened three dimensional space. I describe the framework of decision making that leads to metaphorical expressions of memory and time, and the punctuating and repeating moments that hold meaning in the creative work