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Mining Meaningful Keys and Foreign Keys with High Precision and Recall
No full textWe demonstrate a next-generation Entity/Relationship (E/R) Profiler that mines meaningful key/foreign key relationships from a given data repository. Core novelties include a strict hierarchy of key variants ranging from candidate keys to SQL unique constraints that represent different ways to identify incomplete entities, a measure of orthogonality that separates accidental from meaningful keys, and algorithms for mining approximate keys for all these variants under different thresholds of arity, completeness, dirtiness, and orthogonality. We showcase the high precision and recall achieved by our tool and how it facilitates the users’ understanding which entity and referential integrity constraints govern their data.fals
Phylogenetic analysis and population structure of the New Zealand Huntaway and heading dog : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Science at Massey University, Al Rae Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
No full textThe New Zealand Huntaway and Heading Dog are vital to the success of New Zealand’s livestock farming industry. This study presents one of the first large-scale genomic analyses of these two unique working breeds. Utilising phylogenetic and population structure methodology, the primary objectives of this research were to investigate the genetic relationships of the New Zealand Huntaway and Heading Dog with international dog breeds, formalise the major historical breed contributions that have shaped their development, and assess their population structure and diversity. This study utilised a dataset of 1,735 individuals, representing 129 dog breeds and three wild canid species, and included 211 Huntaways and 246 Heading Dog genomic datasets generated as part of this project. Genomic analyses revealed that both breeds can be traced back to ancestral UK rural working dog populations, occupying positions within the UK rural subclade on the domestic canine phylogeny. Baseline inbreeding scores suggest that neither the New Zealand Huntaway or Heading Dog populations express significantly high inbreeding levels, and the scores obtained are similar to those seen in other formally recognised dog breeds. A list of genes under putative positive selection in both populations is presented and could be used for future genetic selection in these dog populations. This study highlights the Huntaway and Heading Dog as genetically distinct breeds adapted to the unique demands of New Zealand’s pastoral farming systems. These results not only contribute to the current understanding of breed development in geographically isolated environments such as New Zealand but also highlights the opportunity of integrating genomics into working dog management and breeding practices. The genetic resources generated through this study will serve as a valuable reference for future research in the “Right Dog for the Job” project, aimed at preserving the health, diversity and functionality of the New Zealand Huntaway and Heading Dog
Perceptions of People with Disabilities on the Accessibility of New Zealand’s Built Environment
No full textAccessing the built environment poses many challenges for people with disabilities, severely affecting their independence and quality of life. A panel of experts with a lived experience of disabilities co-designed a survey capturing the challenges in New Zealand’s public places. There were 319 survey respondents with impairments related to mobility (66.5%), vision (18.8%), hearing (5.0%), sensory processing and cognition (8.8%). They perceived sports stadiums as the least accessible venue, followed by bars, boutique shops and public toilets. The most accessible venues were supermarkets, libraries and shopping malls. The type of disability affected the main accessibility challenges. Significant outdoor barriers included uneven and cluttered paths, inadequate provision of curb cuts, seating and accessible parking spaces, and obscure wayfinding. Entrance barriers included heavy doors, complex access control, remote ramps and narrow, obscure entrances. Interior problems included cluttered paths and poor signage. The top priorities for improvement were simplifying layouts, keeping paths clear, and providing clear, inclusive signage, communication and assistance for people with varying impairments. Providing lower counters, better colour contrast, hearing loop facilities and better control of lighting and acoustics also improve accessibility. This research contributes novel experiential data from people with disabilities that is critical to achieving an inclusive built environment.fals
Hidden stories : exploring teachers’ experiences of family violence response and inter-agency collaboration in schools : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
No full textThe introduction of the Family Violence Act (2018) marked a significant shift in legislative guidance for information-sharing and inter-agency collaboration, for the first time, naming schools as social agencies taking an active, collaborative role in family violence response, opening spaces to privilege the knowledge of teachers, positioning them as valuable stakeholders in inter-agency working. The current research aimed to explore teachers experiences of family violence response and collaborative opportunities through listening to the lived experiences of six primary school teachers who worked prior to and since the introduction of the Family Violence Act (2018), analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The identified themes of Spaces and Islands, Doing What is Right and Best, and Travelling with the Trauma revealed the isolation, institutional and professional limitations, and pain teachers experience when supporting children who have experienced family violence in their classroom due to a lack of information-sharing capabilities and collaborative interagency networks of support that persist despite the potentials the Family Violence Act (2018). The adaptive and creative strategies teachers employ to protect and support their students was also acknowledged, where they do what they can with heart and with passion within the limitations and constraints they face, at times placing themselves at risk to protect their students. The findings from this study highlight the commitment of teachers to student wellbeing, and the under-utilised, detailed student knowledge they can contribute to inter-agency family violence response measures in Aotearoa. Systemic change is required to recognise teachers and schools as valuable stakeholders in inter-agency networks of family violence response, and to mobilise their expert knowledge and experience to better support and protect children experiencing family violence in our communities. As the first research study in Aotearoa New Zealand to explore teachers’ lived experiences of family violence response, it is recommended that further study of teachers’ lived experience is required to continue contributing to our collective knowledge of inter-agency family violence response
Correction: Development of a non-infectious control for viral hemorrhagic fever PCR assays
No full textThe Funding statement for this article is incorrect. The correct Funding statement is as follows: EBO-SURSY project funded by the European Union via the World Organisation for Animal Health (Grant 3000034275; OIE Laboratory (or Collaborating Centre) Twinning Project: Enhancing capacity for early detection of viral haemorrhagic fevers in Liberia through epidemiological and laboratory training).fals
Living Through Food Rations: A Culture-Centered Study With Rohingya Refugees
No full textThe Rohingya people, an Indo-Aryan Muslim ethnic group from Myanmar, have faced decades of discrimination and repression, rendering them the world’s largest stateless community. Grounded in the culture-centered approach, a critical methodology that positions culture, structure, and agency in dialectical relationships, this study explores the issue of food scarcity among Rohingya people residing in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Drawing from ethnographic research and 41 in-depth interviews with Rohingya refugees within these camps, 3 key themes were identified: Inadequate access to food, monotonous and culturally inappropriate food, and resorting to selling food. These findings depict how food scarcity is a direct contributor to poor health and works to inhibit agency in the pursuit of health and well-being in the refugee camps, informing a discussion about the interplay of communicative and material inequalities.fals
Surveying pet owners’ attitudes towards roaming cats in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textAim:
To examine the attitudes of pet owners towards roaming cats in New Zealand.
Materials and methods:
Data was used from a survey of New Zealand residents aged over 18 conducted online between January and March 2019. Along with demographic questions, the respondents were asked, “Do you think that roaming pet dogs and cats are a problem?” (yes, no, never thought about it) and if they answered “yes”, were invited to explain their answers. Thematic analysis was applied to open-text responses focused on cats, while quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results:
Of a total of 2,744 participants, 2,292 answered the question regarding roaming pets, with 72% (n = 1,654) viewing roaming pets as problematic. While gender, ethnicity, and rural upbringing showed no significant association with this view, age, education level, place of residence, and pet ownership did. Explanations for their choice of answer were given by 1,479 respondents and highlighted key concerns about free-roaming pets including cats: compromised animal welfare due to risks and neglect; the need for more responsible pet ownership and owner education; calls for stricter regulations and enforcement, including mandatory microchipping and desexing, and regulating cats similarly to dogs; the negative influence of social media; the importance of desexing to control populations and improve behaviour; increased risks to the roaming animals themselves, other animals, humans, and the environment; nuisance behaviours; and differing opinions on whether roaming cats or dogs are more of an issue.
Conclusion:
The findings align with previous research indicating a growing but inconsistent public awareness of animal welfare and environmental impacts associated with free-roaming cats. They highlight the need for education and targeted policy to address inconsistencies in attitudes and promote responsible cat ownership.
Clinical relevance:
Addressing these issues through enhanced public education and policy measures will help to balance animal welfare with community safety and environmental protection.fals
Mutagenesis treatment of Mortierella alpina for PUFA production enhancement for future food development
No full textRandom mutagenesis has been identified as a key tool for improving microbial and fungal strains enabling the development of isolates with improved traits suited for industrial scale metabolite production to enhance the nutritional value of future foods. Presented here, is a random mutagenesis strategy employed to assess the effect of 5-fluorouracil (20-200 µg/ml), alone and in combination with the secondary agents octyl gallate and nocodazole, and diethyl sulfate (0.1 to 1 %) chemical mutagenic agents, on the biomass and lipid production as well as the FAME profile. Interestingly, a correlation was demonstrated between 5-fluorouracil exposure time and the arachidonic acid content, which was also influenced by the concentration used. 5-fluororuracil of 100 µg/ml treatment for 48 h resulted in the highest arachidonic acid (% TFA) content in isolates. Mutant M5F047 isolated with 5-fluororuracil (100 µg/ml) alone, proved to be most superior in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and arachidonic acid production, as compared to the Mortierella alpina wild type strain, with enhancements that doubled that of the parent strain. These improvements are more favorable for industrial scale production of arachidonic acid, a precursor of meaty flavour to improve plant-based meats in future food development.fals
Exploring youth vaping in New Zealand intermediate and high schools: a mixed-methods study protocol
No full textBackground: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) represent a global growing public-health concern among adolescents. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), daily vaping rates have risen sharply (10.5%) among 15–17-year-olds in 2023/24. This is alarming due to nicotine’s addictive nature and its impact on adolescent brain development, mental health, and academic performance. Māori youth and those in socio-economically deprived areas are disproportionately affected, exacerbating existing health-inequities. Legislative frameworks prohibit vaping on school premises, yet ease of access remains a concern. Punitive school responses are increasingly viewed as harmful and ineffective, highlighting an urgent need for evidence-based, health-centred interventions.
Methods: This multiphase, mixed-methods study explores vaping within secondary schools on the East Coast, NZ. Phase 1 involves online surveys to collect quantitative data on vaping behaviours, targeting 1375 students to ensure sufficient statistical power. Initial qualitative data will be gathered alongside. Phase 2 employs in-depth interviews and focus groups with students (vapers/non-vapers) and staff to explore perceptions of health risks, access, and effectiveness of school responses. A rapid scoping review (RSR) will synthesise existing research on adolescent vaping in Oceanic countries, identifying behavioural patterns, legislative impacts, and gaps in the evidence base.
Discussion: This protocol addresses critical knowledge gaps by integrating quantitative and qualitative findings with a RSR. This study aims to inform the development of culturally appropriate, health-based, vape prevention and cessation strategies. Ultimately, findings may support a paradigm shift away from punitive disciplinary measures towards supportive school-based interventions, that improve public-health outcomes and reduce health inequities.fals
The Generality of Psychosocial Safety Climate Theory—A Fundamental Element for Global Worker Well-Being: Evidence From Four Nations
No full textOccupational health and safety researchers and policymakers often rely on organisational theories and evidence to provide valuable information for effective policy making and understanding. Yet, most traditional and contemporary organisational theories are developed within a single nation, often in high-income countries. Therefore, cross-national validation is required for generalisable worldwide use. The current study focuses on an antecedent to workplace health and safety, that is, the psychosocial safety climate (PSC), and aims to investigate if PSC is an etic (i.e., universally applicable) or emic (i.e., nationally/context specific) theory. Across nations, we investigate the construct meaning of PSC by testing PSC measurement invariance and the invariance of a nomological network of PSC relationships, (1) PSC to co-worker to work engagement (PSC extended Job-Demands Resources (JD-R) motivational pathway), (2) PSC to co-worker support to psychological distress (PSC extended JD-R health erosion pathway), and (3) the moderation of PSC on the co-worker to outcomes relationship. A total of 5854 employees from four nations (Australia = 1198, New Zealand = 2029, Malaysia = 575, Japan = 2052) participated in the study. Multi-group structural equation modelling suggested that there was measurement invariance in a four-factor PSC model across the four samples. Findings from multigroup analyses support both the PSC extended motivational and health erosion pathways across nations, as well as the moderation effect of PSC in the Australian and Japanese samples. Together, the results largely support the etic nature of PSC construct and theory, with a few national nuances.fals