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An evaluation of the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers
Get PDFHealth workers hold stigmatizing attitudes toward people with mental distress, and contact-based
interventions have been developed to address these attitudes. However, measures used to evaluate
interventions have mixed validity support, including measures developed with service user involvement.
The present study intended to provide a psychometric examination of one such measure, the 15-item
Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (Kassam et al., 2012; Modgill et al., 2014). With 286
health worker participants from a paid academic survey platform, including 19 retest samples, the focus
was on addressing methodological limitations of previous psychometric evaluations. Current data
demonstrated mixed fit to the known correlated three-factor structure (standardized root-mean-square
residual [SRMR] = .057, root-mean-square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .054, comparative fit
index = .754, Tucker–Lewis fit index = .897) and poor fit with the unidimensional model (SRMR = .080,
RMSEA = .084, comparative fit index = .418, Tucker–Lewis fit index = .755). Data fitting to the bifactor
solution (a structure comprising a general factor and three lower order factors) was attempted but did not
converge. Scores had strong internal consistency (ωt = .73–.86), very weak test–retest reliability (r = −.46
to .21), and weak to moderate albeit statistically significant support for the interrelationship between the
factors (rs = .32–.55). There is some evidence to consider the 15-item Opening Minds Scale for Health
Care Providers as a viable measure of stigmatizing attitudes. However, further robust and transparent
evaluations are still needed to surface better validity support.fals
Readiness for Mandatory Climate-Related Disclosures: A Tri-Jurisdictional Analysis of Governance Attributes in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom
Get PDFWe evaluate the preparedness of companies in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to comply with emerging mandatory climate-related disclosures (CRDs) aligned with TCFD recommendations, using their Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) information. Our analysis also examines the corporate governance attributes influencing their readiness to disclose such information. The findings reveal a strong integration of the Governance aspect of TCFD-recommended disclosure, with an 86% alignment between CDP and TCFD disclosures in the Governance theme. However, lower alignment is observed for Strategy (50%) and Metrics and Targets (49%), highlighting the need for immediate improvements in these areas. Firms with more gender-diverse boards and the presence of a sustainability committee demonstrate greater readiness to comply with CRDs consistent with TCFD recommendations. These insights shed light on firms' readiness for emerging mandatory CRD across jurisdictions, especially considering the new IFRS sustainability standards. The results underscore the urgent need to enhance competencies in Strategy and Metrics and Targets, where alignment is weakest. Practically, by documenting these insights, we provide managers with early guidance on the implications of their current CRD practices. This is especially relevant for firms subject to, or soon to be impacted by, mandatory sustainability regulations in their jurisdictions. The findings hold paramount significance for managers, policymakers and regulators.fals
Navigating the Shift: Assessing the Online Learning Experience and Efectiveness for Construction Students During the COVID‑19 Pandemic in New Zealand
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Leading safely: The impact of generalist CEOs on workplace safety
Get PDFBusinesses are expected to operate as responsible corporate entities, with employee safety serving as a cornerstone of this responsibility. Executives, as corporate leaders, bear moral and ethical obligations to ensure the well-being of their workforce. Drawing on human capital and upper echelons theories, we examine the influence of executives' transferable skills on workplace safety outcomes. We find that chief executive officers (CEOs) with general managerial human capital significantly contribute to the creation of safer work environments. The relation is more pronounced in firms facing financing constraints or intense market competition. These CEOs improve safety outcomes by making more prudent labor investment decisions, reducing employee workloads, and maintaining high information quality. Overall, our study underscores the pivotal role of CEOs' general managerial human capital in promoting employee well-being and mitigating the potential adverse consequences of occupational hazards on firm performance.fals
Characterization, antibacterial activity, and stability of supercritical fluid extracted lemongrass nanoemulsion on Bacillus cereus
Get PDFNatural food preservation is a sustainable approach to extend shelf life, combat foodborne pathogens and enhance food safety. Bacillus cereus, a resilient contaminant, poses challenges due to its spore-forming ability and association with foodborne illnesses. This study investigates the characterization, antimicrobial activity, and stability of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) nanoemulsions, extracted using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and their efficacy against B. cereus isolates (ATCC 14579, P4, and M2). Lemongrass oil was extracted at 85, 100, 200, and 300 bar, with the highest yield (0.815 %) obtained at 300 bar. Nanoemulsions were formulated with lemongrass extract and commercial citral, characterized for droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), conductivity, and zeta potential, and assessed for antimicrobial activity. Lemongrass nanoemulsions initially had droplet sizes of 86.32 ± 0.66 nm, but increased over six months due to coalescence, with PDI values rising from 0.50 ± 0.00 to 0.81 ± 0.27, indicating reduced stability. Although zeta potential declined from −44.01 ± 1.69 mV to −33.63 ± 1.45 mV, it remained within the stable range (>±30 mV), maintaining sufficient electrostatic repulsion to prevent rapid aggregation. At 2.0 % concentration, nanoemulsions effectively suppressed B. cereus isolates (<1.00 CFU/mL), though efficacy declined after four months with increasing droplet size. Lemongrass nanoemulsions exhibited comparable antibacterial activity and stability trends to citral, suggesting that whole lemongrass extract retains its bioactivity as effectively as its major compound. Improved stabilization strategies, such as polymer encapsulation, could enhance shelf life, expanding applications in food preservation.fals
Bone marrow fat content analysis confirms starvation as a cause of death for Australasian bitterns (Botaurus poiciloptilus) in New Zealand
Get PDFWildlife managers conserving threatened species rely on information about causes of population declines. Finding carcasses to record cause of death, sickness or injury in a timely manner is challenging. We used fat content in bone marrow from deceased Australasian bitterns (Botaurus poiciloptilus) to determine whether birds had starved by comparing results among 34 bitterns where the cause of death was assigned via independent autopsies. Fat content was near zero in the eight specimens that died of starvation. Many other specimens had depleted fat content, 17 of which were recorded as dying from impact trauma. This evaluation provided confidence to interpret our database of 126 Australasian bittern mortality records evaluated via autopsy or observation. The most common causes of death were impact trauma (56.3%; mainly vehicles and powerlines) and starvation (17.5%) with a further 5.8% having characteristics of both starvation and impact trauma raising the issue of whether starvation contributed to the deaths of individuals where impact trauma was the primary cause of death or vice versa. Although this dataset is biased by specimens more easily observed by the public, the occurrence of starved/near starved bitterns is of conservation concern and indicates wetland food supplies are likely under stress.fals
Vaping cessation strategies and triggers for relapse amongst people from New Zealand who have vaped
No full textIntroduction: In New Zealand (NZ) vapes (e-cigarettes) are a government-endorsed strategy to help people stop smoking, as well as being used recreationally by people who have never smoked. Nicotine vapes are addictive and many users want to quit. We surveyed current and past users of nicotine vapes to gather insights about their vaping cessation reasons and strategies.
Methods: In December 2022, we undertook a web-based survey in NZ using market research survey panels. Eligible panellists were aged ≥16 years, did not currently smoke and had vaped nicotine. Questions focused on demographics, smoking and vaping status, vaping dependence, strategies used to quit vaping, and triggers for vaping relapse.
Results: One thousand one hundred nineteen participants completed the survey: 144 had never smoked; 975 used to smoke, 401 currently vaped nicotine, and 718 used to vape nicotine. Participants were predominantly aged ≥25 years (89%); 63% were female, and 21% were Indigenous Māori and/or Pacific. Predictors of vaping dependence were having smoked or vaped for ≥2 years and vaping >3% nicotine. Reasons for trying to quit vaping included health concerns, disliking feeling dependent, and cost. Quitting strategies included stopping abruptly, nicotine tapering and family/friend support. Triggers for relapse were stress, being around others who vaped and nicotine withdrawal.
Discussion and Conclusion: In NZ reasons to quit and triggers to return to vaping are similar to quitting smoking. Until more research is available, it seems appropriate to support people who wish to stop vaping with similar strategies used to support people to quit smoking.fals
The impact of experimental warming on bumblebees: Higher temperatures induce behavioral changes in Bombus terrestris queens
Get PDFBumblebees (Bombus terrestris) are important pollinators in most temperate and boreal ecosystems, but these regions are increasingly affected by heatwaves that are a symptom of anthropogenic climate change. Bumblebee queens may be particularly vulnerable to elevated temperatures during their solitary period following overwintering. Using an experimental system with numerous replicates, we investigated the oviposition behavior of overwintered spring queens, the resulting colony characteristics, and the mating behavior of newly emerged fall queens at three different temperatures: optimal (27 °C; C27), moderately high (32 °C; C32), and high (35 °C; C35). Spring queens exposed to higher temperatures exhibited unusual behavior, with spring queens in the C35 group more frequently digging up and destroying egg cells, ultimately leading to colony failure. Compared to C27, spring queens in the C32 treatment displayed more frequent ovipo sition, a higher colony formation rate, a higher number of offspring per colony, a shorter colony development period, and lower body sizes in their adult offspring. These results indicate that elevated temperatures lead to behavioral changes in spring queens and affect the characteristics of resulting colonies. Fall queens exhibited mating avoidance behavior at higher temperatures, resulting in a lower mating rate. Our results demonstrate that bumblebee queens respond to thermal condi tions that can lead to colony failure when thermal limits are exceeded. In nature, behavioral changes induced in bumblebee queens exposed to persistent heatwaves during the solitary period may be seriously deleterious to bumblebee populations in many regions.fals
A Virtual Reality Exit Choice Experiment to Assess the Impact of Social Influence and Fire Wardens in a Metro Station Evacuation
Get PDFAssessing evacuation time is a fundamental task in fire engineering. One of the key decisions made in evacuation dynamics is exit choice. In this work, we propose a new immersive virtual reality (VR) experiment to assess the effects of social influence and fire wardens’ instructions on the exit chosen. We also investigate if and how the perceived level of authority of the fire wardens (i.e., metro staff members or firefighters) can affect these decisions. The proposed immersive VR experiment includes 12 different scenarios during a fire evacuation in an underground metro station. A sample of 131 participants took part in the experiment, making 1048 choices. We estimate a discrete choice model to quantify if and how these factors affect the participants’ decisions. The results show that both instructions by fire wardens and social influence significantly affect exit choice and that the impact of fire wardens can change depending on their perceived level of authority.fals
Towards an Abundance Estimate for New Zealand Fur Seal in New Zealand
Get PDFA lack of population abundance and trajectory data is a conservation and management issue relevant to numerous pinniped species, many of which are exposed to a variety of threats. New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri; ‘NZFS’) populations in different parts of New Zealand have experienced both substantial increases and decreases to their abundance over the last 50 years, since the last nationwide census. Here, existing data and stage-structured matrix modelling were used to provide a contemporary nationwide estimate of NZFS abundance. Graphical depictions demonstrate the spatial inconsistencies in NZFS monitoring in New Zealand through time. A minimum population estimate of 131,338–168,269 NZFS was calculated by combining the most recently available pup production data from around New Zealand and using established multipliers. A second estimate of 181,646–239,473 NZFS was calculated using stage-structured matrix models to project contemporary abundance. Inconsistent NZFS population monitoring and sparse vital rate data for New Zealand's NZFS limited this study, and both population ranges are likely underestimates. However, they still represent substantial increases on the most cited nationwide abundance figure (100,000 NZFS). From these findings, we suggest that a regularised program of monitoring is adopted for New Zealand's NZFS, as has been achieved for similar species in other countries. This would both aid in the management of NZFS in the face of emerging risks, such as H5N1 avian influenza, and enable their use as a sentinel for the health of New Zealand's marine ecosystems.fals