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Tau Ruru: Te Ruru light festival: Rostrevor pop-up 2021
No full textArtist Statement: "2020 was a turbulent year for many. This watchful guardian stands for hope as it calls into the darkness signalling good times ahead. Recycled milk bottles collected during the COVID-19 lockdown were used to construct the ruru and moths." The project was an exploration of how light installations could be developed during a national lock-down. The project explored the use of milk bottles as a sculptural material as, at the time, curbside recycling was not in operation. The work also explored te ao Māori themes of safety and warnings associated with the different calls of ruru (morepork owl). The name of the work alludes to a whakataukī (Māori proverb) that speaks of preserving in hard times. "E rua tau ruru; e rua tau wehe; e rua tau mutu; e rua tau kai." These words seem relevant during the uncertainty of this global pandemic
Heartwood: Te Ruru light festival: Rostrevor pop-up 2021
No full textA light and sound installation bringing an ancient tree to life. The work used light and sound to create the illusion of a heartbeat emanating from the heart of the tree. The work helps viewers consider the life of a tree and recognise it as a living being that, like us, is born, lives, and dies. The red pulsing lights which illuminated the core of the tree created artery like forms from the base of the tree up into the canopy
Airways
No full textMultimedia installation
Airways (2022) is the result of my collaboration with musician Micah Livesay and mathematician Chris Batterton, responding to the ‘What if Climate Change was Purple’ arts project – initiated by climate scientist Prof. James Renwick, aimed at gathering scientists and artists together to share knowledge and research that inspire climate action.
As an artist and former air traffic controller, I have a long-standing interest in the profound impact of aviation on the natural environment and ways the atmosphere is permeated by technologies of communication, transportation and scientific research. With the coronavirus pandemic causing worldwide air travel disruption, there has been a unique opportunity to observe significant changes in the usual rhythm of flight, resulting in humans effectively becoming de-centered and reconfigured within a broader ecological/multispecies system.
To improve quality of life and create an environment in which humans recalibrate their relationship with nature, it is sometimes necessary to evaluate and predict the effects of human activity, using mathematical and statistical modelling. It was with this in mind that 'Airways' became an inquiry into how mathematical data might be used to create new atmospheric imaginaries that somehow flesh out this singular moment in human history.
Both the soundtrack and graphic components of the installation are created using real-world aircraft movement data collected over the past year from various airports in New Zealand, which were then converted into mathematical wave form frequencies. What we see and hear in the installation are sounds and images produced using mathematical ‘models’, through which patterns of flight and acoustic communication in the air are identified and embedded within a harmonic structure. The breathing process synonymous with the flow of information and communication is evoked, using the acoustic signatures of air traffic controllers’ voices and bird calls that combine with indigenous Māori Taonga Pūoro – traditional wind instruments, relying on the performers breath to imitate sounds of the natural world, including bird calls for the purpose of attracting and interacting with them
Dilution method of menthol solutions affects subsequent perceptual thermal responses during passive heat exposure in non‐heat acclimated participants
Full text linkDue to its volatility, the qualitative experience of menthol may be modulated by its prep‐ aration and combination with other compounds. One such method of preparation is dilution, with two dilution methods existing within the sport and exercise science literature, where menthol is used to impart feelings of oral cooling and improve thermal comfort and sensation during heat ex‐ posure. This study compared these two dilution methods; one using a solvent the other using tem‐ perature, via a randomized counterbalanced repeated measures design (n = 12; Height: 174.0 ± 8.5 cm Mass: 73.4 ± 13.3 kg Age: 28.7 ± 8.4 y; two exposures to each solution) to assess the effect of solution and heat exposure, upon thermal comfort, thermal sensation and associated physiological parameters in non‐heat acclimated participants. Thermal comfort was significantly affected by so‐ lution (p = 0.041; η2 = 0.017) and time (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.228), whereas thermal sensation was signifi‐ cantly affected by time only (p = 0.012; η2 = 0.133), as was tympanic temperature (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.277). Small to moderate clear differences between solutions at matched time points were also ob‐ served. These trends and effects suggest that, depending upon the dilution method employed, the resultant perceptual effects are likely impacted; this also likely depends upon the timing of menthol administration within a heat exposure session
The thermal comfort sweet-spot: A case study in a residential house in Waikato, New Zealand
No full textA longitudinal study has revealed that 50% of New Zealand children sleep in rooms that fall below the expected standard for thermal comfort during the winter months. Causes include older insulation and glazing standards for residential homes, poor materials, inadequate ventilation, and residents being unable to afford heating. These combined factors result in poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ). This paper aims to analyse experimentally and computationally the thermal comfort in a bedroom occupied by two children (aged eight and three) from 19:00 to 7:00. The experiment was carried out during June 2021. The measured data were particulate matter (PM2.5), relative humidity (RH%), and air temperature (, captured with an air image sensor. In order to find appropriate thermal comfort parameters, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models with four heat pump temperature settings (19, 20, 21 and 22 were investigated to assess the predicted mean vote (PMV), predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD) and the local air quality index (LAQI) for the expired air. Measurements and CFD results show that setting the heat pump temperature to 22 is aligned with the 1.7 Metabolic (MET) - EN ISO 7730, 2005 and ASHRAE 55 recommendation for thermal sensation and the indoor PM2.5 of 1.058 μg/m3, which meets ASHRAE 62.1, 2019 and the New Zealand Standard NZS4246:2016
Generation of Biogas using Fixed-Dome Anaerobic Digester for Small-Scale Industrial Applications in New Zealand
Full text linkClimate change is clearly becoming perceptible by its adverse effects to the environment. New Zealand is an agriculturally focused nation, it has the capacity to
generate a large amount of organic animal and farm waste (e.g., wood, crops, and food waste) to produce renewable energy resources such as, Biogas. Biogas is a sustainable substitute for a range of small-scale industrial applications such as, Natural Gas for cooking, electricity generation and fuels (Biodiesel) for Diesel Engines.
Biogas is generated from Anaerobic Digestion that consists of five stages of organic matter breakdown, disintegration, hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis. The organic waste gets fed to the digester at the disintegration stage, which breaks down organic polymers such as lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. In the hydrolysis stage, organic polymers from disintegration are hydrolysed (depolymerised) by various enzymes. The carbohydrates, proteins and fats are then converted to their respective monomers such as, sugar, amino acids, and lipids. In acidogenesis, group of microorganisms converts monomers to a mixture of alcohols, volatile fatty acids, and other organic compounds. In acetogenesis, volatile acids produced are transformed to acetic acid, carbon dioxide and hydrogen by a group of acetogenic bacteria. Lastly, methanogenesis stage consists of methanogenic bacteria that munches on the organic matter in a desperate search of oxygen, which breaks down the complex structures to its simplest form, resulting in the formation of Biogas (composed of methane and carbon dioxide).
A single-phase fixed-dome digester is chosen due its cost and ease of maintaining the mesophilic temperatures bands from 25°C to 45°C and pH scale from 5 to 7. The sizing of the digester was computed using the Organic Loading Rate, Hydraulic Retention Time, and Volume of Farm Dairy Effluents formulas. From the calculations, it was found that the digester produces approximately 55% of CH4 and 45% of CO2
Physiological responses during endurance exercise
Full text linkDear Colleagues,
The physiological responses to endurance exercise, optimal training techniques, sports nutrition, and equipment are continually being examined. Recently, there have been major advancements that have truly enhanced endurance performance. For example, the 2-hour barrier for the marathon was finally broken in October 2019 by Eluid Kipchoge, who covered the 42.195 km in 1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds. In October of 2020, we witnessed two new world records for the 5000m and 10,000m (previously set in 2004 and 2005, respectively). The 5000m record was improved by 2 seconds from 12:37:35 to 12:35:36, and the 10,000m record was improved by an incredible 6.5 seconds, from 26:17:53 to 26:11:00 by Joshua Cheptegei. Training techniques, new nutrition products/strategies, and especially new designs and technologies in running shoes have all clearly contributed to these advancements. However, are these achievements due to careful planning and execution of training and nutrition, or are they more influenced by new technologies? Polarized training has been suggested as the most beneficial training distribution to enhance endurance performance, but experienced athletes and coaches appear to already have been practicing in this manner. New shoe designs however have been shown to improve running economy, and advances in aerodynamics have decreased the power output required in cycling events.
Conversely, although clearly popular, it has been repeatedly shown that high fat or ketogenic diets do not benefit endurance performance, and can in fact hamper performance by increasing the oxygen cost of exercise compared to a high carbohydrate diet. Optimal carbohydrate ingestion rates are now recommended to be 60 - 90g/hr, and several new carbohydrate solutions have been designed to try and accommodate these high rates, with even higher rates of consumption reported in competition.
This Special Issue will focus on scientific research related to the physiological responses during endurance exercise, and we invite papers examining:
Training methods of endurance athletes
Effect of equipment on physiological responses during exercise
Nutritional strategies to enhance endurance training adaptations and performance
Physiological responses and chronic adaptations due to endurance training
Technologies used to assess physiological responses to endurance training
Dr. Nicolas Berger
Dr. Russ Best
Guest Editor
Experiences of New Zealand registered nurses of Chinese ethnicity during the COVID‐19 pandemic
No full textNew Zealand's nursing workforce is becoming increasingly multicultural as foreign nurses make up an essential part of the New Zealand health workforce. The ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic has highlighted the contributions that nurses have made in providing front‐line services to the public. However, little has been documented about challenges and experiences of this minority ethnic group—Chinese nurses—who have been working as registered nurses in New Zealand during the COVID‐19 pandemic.This study aimed to investigate the experiences and challenges of New Zealand registered nurses of Chinese ethnicity who have been working during the COVID‐19 pandemic.The result showed that 47.06% participants (n = 24) reported negative experiences including racial discrimination, workplace bullying and judgement, while 52.94% (n = 27) participants reported positive working experiences including supports received in the workplace and positive recognition by the pubic in New Zealand
Educating a culturally competent health workforce for Pasifika communities: A Wintec/K'aute Pasifika clinical partnership project
Full text linkIntroduction
The connection between Wintec and K’aute Pasifika is long standing through health and education and the time is right for collaboration that lifts both organisations is the strongest possible partnership. Significant opportunity exists for Wintec’s CHASP/CSSHP and K’aute Pasifika to work together in developing innovative strategies to enhance opportunities for student engagement in the delivery of services offered through K’aute Pasifika and to evaluate these.
Literature review
Pacific Islanders typically have lower health status and life expectancy than other New Zealanders. Implementation of Māori initiatives are not always appropriate for Pasifika peoples and there is a need to develop Pacific-specific initiatives. Evidence suggests tailored teaching and learning interventions may be required to promote participation and academic success of underrepresented minority groups in New Zealand, such as Pasifika. However, the focus needs to be on more than just Pasifika students and also on increasing non-Pasifika student capacity to work with the Pasifika community in a culturally acceptable and competent manner. There is a consistent shortage of Pacific primary health care workers in New Zealand and Pasifika are underrepresented across all health occupations. The literature identifies a complex range of factors that may contribute to this including high levels of mobilization in the skilled professional workforce and blurring of boundaries. Student-led placements with Indigenous populations have been identified as a feasible and meaningful way of developing a workforce ready to serve Indigenous and minority populations.
Method
A mixed method study design incorporating Talanoa was implemented to address the following key objectives:
1. Map current Wintec student placement provision within K’aute Pasifika against regional population health needs
2. Identify educational opportunities available at K’aute Pasifika through consultation with K’aute Pasifika staff
3. In collaboration between Wintec and K’aute Pasifika, develop a 5-year strategic plan for enhancement of cultural competence of Wintec staff and students in working with Pasifika people
Findings
Our Talanoa identified three major themes through which current and potential student placements could be better understood: the student experience, vā/relationships, and transformation. The first theme, student experience, was divided into subthemes, which expressed how students are valued, quality experiences for students are important to K’aute Pasifika staff, cultural practices are significant in placements at K’aute Pasifika, authentic experiences and interprofessional practices are essential and readily occur at K’aute Pasifika. The second theme, vā/relationships, was conceptualised as a network, with K’aute Pasifika at the centre, surrounded by the relevant partnerships. Equally as important as who those partners were, was the connections and space - or vā - between them. The third theme, transformation, was divided into three sub-themes: growth, capacity for more, and workforce development. These themes were understood in the context of the health data to create a clearer picture of the health needs for the Pasifika community in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton.
Recommendations
A clear action plan for 2021 is outlined which was co-constructed and agreed between K’aute Pasifika and Wintec and derived from the Strategic Plan
Online learning factors that influence the student’s learning outcomes
Full text linkThe research aim is to determine the factors of online learning which has influences on the students learning outcomes. This research is conducted using an online survey to find out the online learning factors from the student’s perspective. Research on the definition and many features of online education is numerous but there are relatively few publications on the determinants of online learning. Online education is becoming an increasingly significant part of higher education as both online and traditional colleges continue to broaden their online offerings. The purpose of this research is to understand the online learning factors which can influence student learning outcomes. All the factors are discussed in the literature in detail. The finding indicated that student’s learning outcomes are influenced by some factors which are interaction, motivation, satisfaction and advantages of online learning. To find out the effectiveness of online learning an online survey is conducted and circulated on social media platforms. The data gathered from the survey show that online learning is growing rapidly and is very effective with different advantages. Many aspects play important roles, and this literature review will go further into a few of them. The research demonstrates that the importance of technological infrastructure and connection in guaranteeing the effectiveness of online learning is critical. In addition, content and technology suppliers require mobile, high-quality, interoperable solutions so that the same information is offered inside the same institution across other institutions and departments.
This research uses the quantitative analysis approach. This study's test model is a revised Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Data was gathered using an online survey method and convenience sampling. The remaining part of the research report is structured as follows: First, the related literature on the factors is examined, and hypotheses for this research are developed. Following that, the research method for this study is addressed. The analysis findings, discussion of the findings, and limits for this study are then presented. The appendix and references are the final parts