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The Anthropocene
Get PDFThe Earth recently entered a new epoch – the Anthropocene. Representations of the Anthropocene tend towards Climate change as a readily available trope. Since the dawn of modern mechanised industry and the use of fossil fuels, the story goes that human beings have become the dominant force for change in our atmosphere, seas and land. It is a compelling idea – and the Anthropocene has generated public interest as well as academic debate. Geologists are now beginning to consider the knock-on global effect that the economy, government, news and arts media may have on our Earth. In this lecture I shall further explore how art, design and humanities consider their relation to planetary and geographical scales
Sweet Charity: Musical theatre show
No full textSweet Charity - 21 June - 6 July, Clarence Street Theatre. Hamilton Operatic Society.
Sweet Charity is a swinging, award-winning musical from the legendary director and choreographer Bob Fosse, with iconic songs such as "Big Spender" and "Rhythm of Life". Charity is a taxi dancer, a dancer-for hire who "treats her heart like a hotel - you've got men checking in and out all the time." Although her job is fairly down in the dumps, her unwavering romanticism and optimism lift her up to pursue a better life, as she sings, dances laugh and cry her way through romantic adventures both hilarious and heartbreaking. After a string of bad relationships and even worse men, can she find a better life?
Based on an original screenplay by Frederico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, and Ennio Flaiano. Music by Cy Coleman, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Book by Neil Simon
Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr, and Harris. Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse
Presented by Hamilton Operatic Society. Director David Sidwell, Musical Director Nick Braae, Choreographer: Sonja McGirr-Garrett and Alexis Holme
Tōia Mai: Speculating art and reality at the hyphen in Aotearoa-New Zealand
No full textLocated at the intercultural space between Māori and Pākeha in Aotearoa-New Zealand, Joe Citizen’s practice-led creative research explores some potential parallels and synergies between the metaphysics of te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā through the interactive public artwork Tōia Mai, which is located on the Western bank of the Waikato River at Hamilton’s Ferrybank Reserve.
As a Pākehā attempting to be guided by a kaupapa Māori methodology within the context of a tertiary polytechnic educational setting, the project has been developed in partnership with the Māori achievement office of the Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC), the Hamilton City Council and the engineering firm Longveld.
The project sought to develop a deeper understanding of te ao Māori, through a research negotiation critical of Western universalist assumptions. Identifying Māori and Pākehā metaphysical strands that challenge human exceptionalism in the production of knowledge, the thesis calls for a reassessment of aesthetics and asks if art is solely a human practice. Finally, through this interactive public art work, digital virtuality is reconsidered. Joe Citizen argues that technology is a form of cultural logicity that has agency within continuously emergent and co-constituted phenomena
Choice f micro-mobility: Case studies of ta public bicycle sharing system in New Zealand
Get PDFThis study considers how to improve understanding of sustainable urban transport planning from the perspective of the Central Business District (CBD) redevelopment process for two cities, Hamilton and Christchurch in New Zealand (NZ). The most proportion of ‘Public Bicycle Share Schemes’ operate in densely populated cities as these are characterized by limited modal accessibility but high population density in the urban CBD. This situation is similar to NZ’s two medium-sized cities, in each of which the city’s population density is constantly increasing in the past years. In this study, Multinomial and Mixed Logistic regression models were used to determine the model specification, and subsequently, to test the mode choice cross-elasticities for promoting greater use of the bicycle sharing system in conjunction with public transport service. The data were gathered using stated preference surveys from 486 New Zealanders, and the modeling results indicate that the potential improvement in a modal shift towards micro-mobility, which can be enhanced by applying different policy options
Strength and reaction time capabilities of New Zealand polo players and their association with polo playing handicap
Get PDFPolo is an equestrian team sport consisting of four players per team, with level of play determined by cumulative player handicap (−2 to +10 goals), with a higher handicap denoting a better player. There is minimal literature investigating Polo players’ physical attributes, hence the understanding of the physical characteristics that may contribute to an improved handicap are unknown. This study sought to identify the relationship between pertinent strength measures (left and right hand grip strength; absolute and relative isometric mid-thigh pull) and reaction time in Polo handicap in 19 New Zealand Polo players, and ascertain whether handicap could be predicted by these measures. Correlation coefficients were expressed using R values, accompanying descriptors and 90% confidence intervals (C.I.). Variance explained was expressed via the R2 statistic, and statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Right hand grip strength, isometric mid-thigh pull values were found to significantly correlate to and explain variance within Polo player handicap (all moderate to large correlations; p < 0.05). Whereas left hand grip strength (R: 0.380; 90% C.I. −0.011 to 0.670) and reaction time (0.020; −0.372 to 0.406) were non-significant, moderate and trivial correlates and predictors of handicap respectively. Practically, these findings highlight the differing roles between rein and mallet hands of Polo players and emphasise the importance of a strong and stable platform when riding and striking the ball. Lack of association with reaction time may be explained in part by higher handicapped Polo players employing a more proactive approach to the game
All things being equal: Spatiotemporal differences between open and women’s 16-goal polo
Get PDFPolo is an equestrian team sport, consisting of Open and Women’s only handicapping systems. As cumulative player handicap increases in Open Polo, distance covered, average speeds and high intensity work performed per chukka also increase. These activities may differ in terms of distribution of, and their affect upon, match outcome in Women’s Polo, and thus have implications for equine preparation and management. This study aimed to quantify spatiotemporal differences between Open and Women’s Polo when matched for handicap and assess their affect upon chukka and match outcome using a prospective cohort design. Distance, speed and high intensity activity data were collected via player worn global positioning system (GPS) units during 16-goal Open and Women’s Polo tournaments. Notational analysis quantified chukka duration and chukka and game outcomes. Between group differences were assessed by independent samples t-tests, and two factor mixed effects ANOVA for within group analyses. Between group differences were analysed using an independent samples t-test with alpha defined a priori as p<0.05. Open and Women’s Polo differed by a small to large extent (ES: 0.54 – 1.81) for all spatiotemporal metrics. In Open Polo, players covered moderately more distance (429.0m; 238.9m to 619.0m), with small to large increases in high intensity activities performed in games won. Whereas in Women’s Polo, moderately higher maximum speeds were attained in games won (17.13 km/h; 11.86 km/h to 22.40 km/h) and a small increase in accelerations performed (5.1; 0.2 to 10.0). Open and Women’s Polo, when matched for handicap, present with small to large spatiotemporal differences that are likely of practical significance, and influence game outcome differently between codes. These differences do not necessarily mean that Polo ponies need to be trained differently for each code
The effectiveness of orally applied L-menthol on exercise performance in the heat
Get PDFDuring exercise in the heat, increasing thermal load leads to thermo-behavioural adjustments in exercise performance, due to greater perceptual and physiological strain. Behavioural reductions in exercise intensity in the heat are initially mediated via rises in skin temperature, which alter thermal perception (comfort and sensation) and later by rises in core temperature, which increase cardiovascular strain and perceived exertion. Therefore, thermoregulation may be ordered and dependant on the magnitude, timing and/or prioritisation of afferent signals.
Non-thermal cooling via L-menthol has been shown to enhance exercise performance in the early and latter stages when delivered orally at a concentration of 0.01%. Indeed, during periods of progressive thermal stress, imposed by the combination of maximal exercise and environmental heat and humidity, L-menthol has been shown to offer an immediate cooling stimulus thus extending exercise capacity. However, repeated administration of L-menthol during exercise in the heat, as thermal load increases, is unable to recover a decline in work rate. Therefore, it is unclear whether the potency of L-menthol is sustained upon frequent application and what strategies are needed in both sporting and occupational settings to optimise its effectiveness.
In this part of the symposium we will consider oral delivery of L-menthol and its potential for reducing an individual’s perception of heat stress with associated effects on exercise tolerance in the heat. We will also examine the frequency of use, optimal concentration, timing and novelty of L-menthol in a sporting and occupational context
A step-by-step beginner’s protocol for whole genome sequencing of human bacterial pathogens
No full textBacterial whole genome sequencing (WGS) is becoming a widely-used technique in research, clinical diagnostic, and public health laboratories. It enables high resolution characterization of bacterial pathogens in terms of properties that include antibiotic resistance, molecular epidemiology, and virulence. The introduction of next-generation sequencing instrumentation has made WGS attainable in terms of costs. However, the lack of a beginner’s protocol for WGS still represents a barrier to its adoption in some settings. Here, we present detailed step-by-step methods for obtaining WGS data from a range of different bacteria (Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and acid-fast) using the Illumina platform. Modifications have been performed with respect to DNA extraction and library normalization to maximize the output from the laboratory consumables invested. The protocol represents a simplified and reproducible method for producing high quality sequencing data. The key advantages of this protocol include: simplicity of the protocol for users with no prior genome sequencing experience and reproducibility of the protocol across a wide range of bacteria
Hood Street: The Musical
No full textOriginal musical written by Nick Braae (words and music), Kyle Chuen (script), Nick Wilkinson and Courteney Mayall (additional dialogue/performers).
The one act musical presents a series of humorous vignettes of a night out in Hamilton, with songs for two singers and seven-piece band composed in a variety of show and popular styles.
The work had its premiere at the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival 2019 and was a commercial and critical success
Performance of Hood Street: The Musical
No full textPremiere performance season of Hood Street: The Musical, composed by Nick Braae, and written by Kyle Chuen, Nick Wilkinson, and Courteney Mayall.
The season was part of the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival, 20-22 February 2019, and was a commercial and critical success.
The performance featured Wilkinson and Mayall in the lead roles, with direction from Kyle Chuen, and featured a seven-piece band (led by Nick Braae as Musical Director and Pianist) comprised predominantly of Wintec students