21436 research outputs found
Sort by
An explorative study on Pasifika students' wellbeing, experiences with feedback, coping, and protective factors at universities in Aotearoa New Zealand : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
Get PDFThere is a drive in clinical psychology towards increased awareness that mental wellbeing is important for achievement of sustainable mental health. This study focuses on the cultural perspectives of wellbeing, specifically Pasifika psychology. It does so by investigating the link between Pasifika wellbeing and feedback at universities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Using the Kakala Research Framework, this study privileged the voices of Pasifika students by asking them about the impact of feedback on their wellbeing at universities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Participants’ stories revealed the impact of feedback across relational, cognitive, affective, and behavioural domains of Pasifika wellbeing. In addition, participants identified coping strategies (e.g., avoidance, psychological disengagement, and feedback-seeking) and protective factors (e.g., Pasifika identities) when navigating feedback at universities in Aotearoa New Zealand. This study recommends Pasifika cultural consideration in the feedback process and proposes the utilisation of a feedback model specifically designed for Pasifika students at universities in Aotearoa New Zealand
Factors Affecting the Selection of Sustainable Construction Materials: A Study in New Zealand
Get PDFThe construction industry is increasingly prioritizing sustainability, with the selection of sustainable construction materials (SCMs) playing a crucial role in achieving environmental and regulatory objectives. However, New Zealand’s construction codes and sustainability standards lack cohesive, region-specific guidance, posing challenges for industry professionals in selecting appropriate materials. This study aims to identify the key factors influencing SCM selection within the New Zealand construction sector. An online questionnaire was distributed to 115 industry professionals, and data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling (SEM) with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the relationships among social, economic, environmental, and technical factors. The finding was that technical factors are vital in achieving sustainable construction. Additionally, the social, economic, environmental, and technical factors were strongly correlated, affecting the selection of SCMs. Based on this research, construction consultants should advise customers on materials and the long-term economic benefits of investing in sustainable materials, which will cut operating expenses and environmental effects.fals
State of the Art in Parallel and Distributed Systems: Emerging Trends and Challenges
Get PDFDriven by rapid advancements in interconnection, packaging, integration, and computing technologies, parallel and distributed systems have significantly evolved in recent years. These systems have become essential for addressing modern computational demands, offering enhanced processing power, scalability, and resource efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of parallel and distributed systems, exploring their interrelationships, their key distinctions, and the emerging trends shaping their evolution. We analyse four parallel computing paradigms—heterogeneous computing, quantum computing, neuromorphic computing, and optical computing—and examine emerging distributed systems such as blockchain, serverless computing, and cloud-native architectures. The associated challenges are highlighted, and potential future directions are outlined. This work serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners aiming to stay informed about trends in parallel and distributed computing while understanding the challenges and future developments in the field.fals
“I’ve adopted it as my smell”: transgender identity and the olfactory
Get PDFSmell is an often-overlooked sense within transgender studies, despite the extensive theorization of the ways that scent and perfume is categorized along gendered lines, and its links to identity more broadly. This article begins to address this presently under-studied topic, drawing on data from 26 interviews with transgender people about their perspectives on smell, scent, and fragrance in relation to identity. Interview data was analyzed using a combination of thematic and critical discourse analysis approaches. The participants reported that smell was often a central component of early experiences which prompted them to explore or question their gender identity; that fragranced items were something which they used to affirm their gender personally; and that smell was something they used to manage or direct others’ perceptions of their identity, including to minimize experiences of misgendering. Participants were acutely aware of how fragrances are culturally “read” as gendered, and while they were often critical of these divisions, they also acknowledged they could be useful at times. It is evident that smell and fragrance can form part of the process of gender identity exploration and expression for transgender people.fals
Mutations in the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway confer resistance to furazolidone and abolish the synergistic interaction between furazolidone and vancomycin in Escherichia coli.
Get PDFThe combined application of furazolidone and vancomycin has previously been shown to be synergistic against Gram-negative pathogens, with great therapeutic promise. However, the emergence and mechanism of resistance to this antibiotic combination have not been characterized. To fill this gap, we here selected Escherichia coli progeny for growth on the furazolidone-vancomycin combination at the concentration where the parent was sensitive. We show that selected clones were associated with increased resistance to neither, only one drug, or both furazolidone and vancomycin, but in all cases were associated with a decrease in the growth inhibition synergy. Using whole-genome sequencing, we identified various gene mutations in the resistant mutants. We further investigated the mechanism behind the most frequently arising mutations, those in the riboflavin biosynthesis genes ribB and ribE, that represent novel mutations causing furazolidone resistance and diminished vancomycin-furazolidone synergy. It was found that these ribB/ribE mutations act predominantly by decreasing the activity of the NfsA and NfsB nitroreductases. The emergence of the ribB/ribE mutations imposes a significant fitness cost on bacterial growth. Surprisingly, supplementing the medium with riboflavin, which compensates for the affected riboflavin biosynthesis pathway, could restore the normal growth of the ribB/ribE mutants while having no effects on the furazolidone resistance phenotype. Searching the ribB/ribE mutations in the public sequencing database detects the presence of the furazolidone-resistance-conferring ribE mutations (TKAG131-134 deletion or duplication) in clinical isolates from different countries. Hypotheses explaining why these ribE mutations were found in clinical isolates despite having poor fitness were further discussed.fals
Healthcare performance of leprosy management in peripheral health facilities of Dhanusa and Mahottari, Nepal.
Get PDFBACKGROUND:
The global elimination of leprosy transmission by 2030 is a World Health Organization (WHO) target. Nepal's leprosy elimination program depends on early case diagnosis and the performance of health workers and facilities. The knowledge and skills of paramedical staff (Leprosy Focal Person, LFP) and case documentation and management by health facilities are therefore key to the performance of health care services.
METHODS:
The performance of health workers and facilities was evaluated through a combined cross-sectional and retrospective study approach of 31 health facilities and their LFPs in Dhanusa and Mahottari Districts in Madhesh Province, Nepal. An average of 6 patients (paucibacillary, PB, or multibacillary, MB) per health facility registered within the 2018/2019 fiscal year were also enrolled in the study. LFP knowledge (e.g., of the three cardinal signs) and skills (e.g., nerve palpation) and facility processes (e.g., record keeping) were scored (e.g., 0, 1) and then rescaled to a proportion, where 1 is perfect. Internal benchmarking was used to guide performance management.
RESULTS:
Overall LFP knowledge and skill scores of health workers ranged from 0.16 to 0.63 (median 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.46-0.6). Case documentation scores ranged from 0.15 to 0.87 (median 0.37, 95% CI 0.36-0.38), case management scores from 0.38 to 0.79 (median 0.54, 95% CI 0.53-0.55) and overall healthcare scores from 0.36-0.62 (median 0.48, 95% CI 0.47-0.49). Leprosy-related training was significantly related to the knowledge and skills of the health workers. All identified cases (n = 187) adhered to the complete treatment and release after treatment (RFT) scheme, out of which 84.5% were satisfied with the service they were provided. Leprosy disability and ear hand and feet (EHF) scores were not significantly reduced in treated patients during the study period, but counseling by LFPs significantly improved cases' positive beliefs and practices regarding self-care.
CONCLUSION:
Overall leprosy care median performance was low (53%) and can be improved by evidenced-based training, onsite coaching, monitoring, and supervision to facilitate leprosy transmission elimination. The results highlight many of the challenges facing leprosy elimination programs.fals
Factors associated with ultra processed food intake in children : a systematic review of observational studies : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
No full textBackground Ultra processed food (UPF) makes a substantial and growing contribution to diets globally. UPF intake is associated with adverse health outcomes. Childhood represents an ideal time for interventions to reduce UPF intake as it is when dietary behaviours are established. Understanding factors associated with UPF intake in children will help inform the design of future interventions. The socioecological model provides a framework in which to conceptualise factors contributing to dietary behaviours, such as UPF intake. Aim To synthesise the current body of knowledge on the factors associated with UPF intake in children. Methods A comprehensive literature search of three databases was conducted to identify quantitative evidence of factors associated with UPF intake in children. A total of 3,271 articles were identified. After screening, 32 reports from 20 original studies (18 cross-sectional and two prospective cohort) were included. A narrative synthesis of factors across levels of the socioecological model was performed. Results The majority of studied factors were at the interpersonal and individual levels of the socioecological model. Few factors had been studied at the community level and none at the policy level. Studies have identified positive associations between screen time, screen use during meals and having a parent who smokes and children’s UPF intake, and generally negative associations between breastfeeding duration and UPF intake. Sex, ethnicity, gestational age, birthweight and parents BMI did not tend to be associated with children’s UPF intake. There were inconsistent associations for age, physical activity, socioeconomic status, parents age and family size and children’s UPF intake. A wide range of other factors had been examined in one or two studies. Conclusions Screen use, parental smoking and breastfeeding appear to be related to UPF intake in children, but how these factors influence UPF intake requires further study. There is a paucity of knowledge on how factors at the community and policy levels of the socioecological model influence UPF intake in children. Further research is needed to understand factors associated with UPF intake in children and which interventions are successful, the findings of this review may be used to inform the design of such studies
Complementary foods in infants: an in vitro study of the faecal microbial composition and organic acid production
No full textThe transition from breastmilk to complementary foods is critical for maturing the colonic microbiota of infants. Dietary choices at weaning can lead to long-lasting microbial changes, potentially influencing health later in life. However, the weaning phase remains underexplored in colonic microbiome research, and the current understanding of how complementary foods impact the infant's colonic microbiota is limited. To address this knowledge gap, this study assessed the influence of 13 food ingredients on the in vitro microbial composition and production of organic acids by the faecal microbiota in New Zealand infants aged 5 to 11 months. To better represent real feeding practices, ingredients were combined with infant formula, other complementary foods, or both infant formula and other foods. Among the individual food ingredients, fermentation with peeled kūmara (sweet potato) increased the production of lactate and the relative abundance of the genus Enterococcus. Fermentation with blackcurrants, strawberries, or raspberries enhanced acetate and propionate production. Additionally, fermentation with blackcurrants increased the relative abundance of the genus Parabacteroides, while raspberry fermentation increased the relative abundance of the genera Parabacteroides and Eubacterium. When combined with infant formula or with blackcurrants, fermenting black beans increased butyrate production and stimulated the relative abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 1. These foods are promising candidates for future clinical trials.fals
Hot management trends
No full textManagement practices are constantly changing amid intense competitive global pressure. This can put a strain on managers in terms of adapting to new challenges that arise from rapid transformations. While there is an emphasis on timely transformations in order to increase efficiency and productivity gains, there can also be a relaxation when managers have reached their pinnacle and achieved their goals. The goal of this editorial is to focus on hot management trends which is an important topic given the ever shifting business environment. Well-known academics were asked to write about what they see as the main management trends affecting society at the current time period. They each have diverse views based on their area of expertise and thought processes. For the Journal of Management & Organization, it is critical that we look into management trends in order to inform practice but also to enrichen theory. It is exciting times with many things happening regarding management that makes it exciting to read about what may occur in the future.fals
Evaluation of empirical and mechanistic models and sampling intervals to model the lactation curves of F1 dairy sheep
Get PDFRecently Latin American countries have developed a dairy sheep industry with an increasing number of specialized dairy-sheep flocks. The objective of this study was to evaluate the goodness of fit of empirical and mechanistic models and sampling interval to model the lactation curve of F1 dairy sheep with different shape of lactation curves in an intensively managed flock of the central highlands of Mexico. A total of 4,494 weekly (7D) test day records (TDR) from 156 lactations were analyzed. Three datasets were generated from the original 7D data set, setting TDR at different sampling intervals: 14 (14D), 21 (21D) and 28 (28D) days. Lactation curves were fitted using two empirical (Wood and Wilmink) and two mechanistic models (Dijkstra and Pollott). The parameters of the empirical and mechanistic models were estimated using the iterative non-linear curve fitting procedure in R. The results showed that the estimation of TMY was not affected by the sampling interval. However, the estimation of peak yield (PY) and day at peak yield (TPY) was affected by sampling interval (P < 0.05), with better estimates for 7D and 14D. Estimates of PY and TPY differed between the empirical and mechanistic models with both methods failing to estimate PY and TPY in atypical curves. The Dijkstra model showed the best fit for typical curves and the Pollott model for atypical curves in all the sampling intervals evaluated.fals