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Bridges and barriers: Determinants of retention and departure in a New Zealand residential drug service
No full textSince 1984, Higher Ground Papa Taumata Drug Rehabilitation Trust (Higher Ground) in
Aotearoa, New Zealand (Aotearoa) has delivered abstinence-based, therapeutic
community programmes and aftercare for adults with severe substance use disorders,
emphasising holistic, person-centred change. In 2020, Higher Ground commissioned
research to better understand why some residents leave treatment early and what
factors help others stay. This report presents qualitative findings from focus groups and
individual interviews, identifying structural, relational, cultural, and psychological
influences on residents’ experiences. The insights gathered form the basis for practical
recommendations to enhance retention and improve the overall treatment journey
Secretion of the rotavirus VP7 capsid glycoprotein from polarised epithelial cells
No full textDespite the widespread implementation of rotavirus vaccination, rotaviruses remain a major cause of severe diarrhoeal disease in infants and young children worldwide. Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) non-enveloped virus that infects polarised epithelial cells lining the upper region of the small intestine villi. Among the structural proteins of rotavirus, the VP7 glycoprotein forms the outer capsid layer of the virion where it is a key target for neutralising antibodies, which act to prevent virion decapsidation.
Both polarised and non-polarised cell culture models have been widely used in rotavirus research. However, cell type-dependent differences in rotavirus release and viral protein processing have been described, arising from the reduced viability of non-polarised cells compared to polarised cells during rotavirus infection. This thesis describes the identification of a higher molecular weight form of VP7 found in the medium of polarised Caco-2 cells following rotavirus infection. This secreted VP7 represents the second viral glycoprotein identified as being secreted during rotavirus infection.
Investigation into this novel form of VP7 revealed that it is apically secretion through a Golgi-dependent pathway, resulting in modification of its N-linked glycan. A purification protocol was developed to enable isolation of the protein from infected cells, allowing for further biophysical and biological characterisation. The purified form of secreted VP7 (sVP7) enabled the use of size exclusion chromatography, which demonstrated that VP7 is secreted as a soluble trimer. Furthermore, this soluble protein retains its ability to bind neutralising antibodies, suggesting a role as an antigen decoy. The immunostimulatory effect of sVP7 was explored through TLR receptor binding assays and whole blood stimulation assay, revealing a previously uncharacterised immune response profile. Collectively, this work highlights the difference in rotavirus infection of polarised and non-polarised cells through the identification and characterisation of secreted VP7
Climate change and corporate credit worthiness: International evidence
No full textThis study examines how climate change risks affect corporate credit ratings worldwide. Using a comprehensive dataset of 4427 firms across 60 countries, we find that firms in countries more susceptible to climate change receive lower credit ratings. Such a negative relation ensues from inferior firm fundamentals, such as higher default risk and cash flow volatility associated with climate-change-related uncertainties. We also find that the adverse impact of climate change risks on credit ratings impedes firms' access to debt financing and increases the costs of holding credit default swaps. Further analyses reveal that institutional factors and market attention to climate change significantly shape rating agencies' responses to climate change risks
Fractional Zak transform: Theory and applications
No full textThe Zak transform (ZT) emerges as a powerful tool for time-frequency analysis. However, the ZT is inherently limited in its ability to capture local time-frequency features of non-stationary or time-varying signals, due to its nature as a global spectral analysis tool. In this article, we present a comprehensive exploration of the properties, discretization and potential applications of the fractional ZT (FRZT). We begin by elucidating the mathematical foundation of the FRZT, highlighting its ability to capture the time-frequency characteristics of signals with enhanced flexibility. Furthermore, we explore the features of the FRZT, including its basic properties, convolution theorem, and the Weyl–Heisenberg frames associated with FRZT. Additionally, for practical applications where the signals are discrete, we develop two discretization algorithms for the FRZT. Finally, the experiments with simulated chirp signals and potential applications demonstrate the utility of the FRZT in various signal processing tasks through theoretical exposition and practical examples
Colonial Currents and Indigenous Futures: A Critical Examination of the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility in Aotearoa
No full textAotearoa New Zealand has retained a minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) of 10 years old, despite sustained international and domestic pressure to raise the age. This position conflicts with global human rights benchmarks, national advocacy efforts, and advances in developmental science. This thesis asks: How has Aotearoa New Zealand's MACR been established and maintained despite repeated recommendations for reform, and what alternative frameworks could guide future change? Drawing on a decolonial adaptation of a process tracing methodology informed by critical Indigenous criminology, this work investigates how colonial legal traditions continue to uphold punitive legal thresholds for children in Aotearoa. Framed through the metaphor of a river shaped by colonial sediment, redirected by political dams, and replenished by Indigenous tributaries, this thesis applies a decolonial process tracing approach to follow the legal, historical, political, and cultural currents that have sustained the MACR in Aotearoa. The research traces both formal policy timelines and shifts in national discourse and power relations, revealing that the MACR is not merely a technical setting. Rather, the MACR represents a point at which the river of justice has been obstructed, particularly for tamariki Māori. To better understand the conditions under which reform becomes possible, this thesis examines case studies from Scotland and the Australian Capital Territory, jurisdictions that have successfully raised their minimum age of criminal responsibility, against the backdrop of New Zealand’s policy inertia. This study contributes to future policy reform considerations and existing academic literature on decolonising youth justice in Aotearoa by explicating how the MACR is maintained by entrenched colonial ideologies. In doing so, this thesis offers a methodological and political provocation: that to transform youth justice in Aotearoa, we must let the river fork and depart from linear, path-dependent logics and instead attend to the braided flows of history, power, and possibility
Ageing Resistance of Preservative-Treated Cross-Laminated Timber Under High Humidity Environmental Condition
No full textEngineered wood products are globally recognized for their low carbon footprint and are increasingly utilized in environmentally conscious construction. Traditionally, formaldehyde-based adhesives have been the preferred choice in the formation of strong durable bonds in more extreme service classes. The structural performance of one-component polyurethane (1C-PUR) adhesives in the engineered wood industry has continuously developed since the 1990s, and their utilization has expanded due to their ease of use. While there is much evidence with reliable data for, the durability of adhesive bonding using 1C-PUR with different wood species, very limited work has been undertaken on the durability of 1C-PUR when bonding preservative-treated softwood. In this study, the bonding of cross-laminated timber was assessed. Two commercially available 1C-PURs were subjected to experimental ageing and a comparison with a resorcinol formaldehyde (RF) adhesive was conducted. A series of Mode I fracture energy tests using the single-end notched beam test configuration was carried out on crossbonded specimens, which examined the use of two different preservative treatments and also untreated Radiata pine grown which was grown in New Zealand. The tests were conducted using artificially accelerated ageing subject to high humidity and temperature at three-month intervals for up to a period of six months. Favourable wood failures were achieved in the unaged and aged investigations to date for all combinations. No noticeable chemical changes in the adhesive layer were recorded by examination using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in the ageing regime to date
Is Scabies the Key to Rheumatic Heart Disease Prevention? A Systematic Review of the Evidence
No full textDespite the high prevalence of scabies, acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in regions such as Oceania, few studies have addressed the evidence for a causal relationship of scabies with ARF and RHD. In this study, we evaluate the relationship of scabies with GAS and subsequently ARF and RHD, as it could lead to an additional strategy for ARF/RHD prevention. Databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) were accessed to identify and include studies that investigated the association between scabies, ARF and RHD. Seventy-three articles investigating a potential link between scabies, GAS skin infections and ARF/RHD were included in this review. Most of these studies were from Australasia. Epidemiological and microbiological evidence consistently support the hypothesis that scabies increases the risk of Group A streptococcal (GAS) infection, which, in turn, leads to ARF and RHD. Many studies found shared risk factors and a strong association between scabies and ARF/RHD. The available evidence supports a role of scabies and GAS skin infection in the pathogenesis of ARF/RHD. Large-scale observational studies should be conducted to further define the relationship between these conditions. Based on the evidence presented here, we believe it is likely that improving scabies diagnosis and treatment would reduce the incidence of ARF/RHD
Commodifying climate solutions: a critical investigation of circular economy
No full textThis article critiques the Circular Economy (CE) under the hegemony of climatecapitalism, analysing its role in commodifying environmental problems. UsingMarxian surplus value and Lacanian surplus enjoyment, we argue that CE fosterseconomic gains and perpetuates a cycle of surplus enjoyment that reinforces thecapitalist status quo. Employing Political Discourse Theory, the study deconstructsCE-related discourses in planning through examples from literature, and reports byinternational institutions and local governments. Our analysis reveals CE’salignment with neoliberal agendas, prioritising economic growth over genuineenvironmental solutions. We advocate for moving beyond empty signifiers tomeaningfully address climate crises
Investigating the Impact of Fining Timings on the Aroma Composition of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
No full textMarlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine is renowned for its fruity and green aromas, which is driven by the elevated concentrations of varietal thiols. These aromas contribute to its status as New Zealand’s leading wine variety export. Winemakers continually seek ways to enhance and preserve these distinctive characteristics.
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pre-fermentation and mid-fermentation fining with a range of common fining agents on Sauvignon Blanc’s aromatic composition. To assess their individual and interactive effects, laboratory-scale fermentations were conducted using two yeast strains and seven fining agents. Comparison between animal and plant-based fining agents was also investigated, along with the impact of accelerated ageing. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses quantified 55 aroma compounds, with statistical methods including ANOVA, PERMANOVA, Tukey’s HSD, and redundancy analysis (RDA) used to interpret the data.
The results found all variables significantly influenced varietal thiol concentrations. Notably, mid-fermentation fining increased levels of 3SHA and 4MSP compared to pre-fermentation fining. Other aroma compound classes, such as ethyl and acetate esters, were more consistently affected by ageing and fining timing rather than the specific fining agent used. Aged samples consistently showed a decline in ester concentrations. While yeast strain selection did not have a significant individual impact, interactions between yeast and other variables were observed. Ageing also revealed hydrolysis reactions, particularly between ethyl isovalerate and its fatty acid counterpart, isovaleric acid.
Wine is a complex matrix influenced by numerous compositional factors. This research provides a strong foundation for further studies on how fining decisions, in conjunction with yeast selection and ageing, affect Sauvignon Blanc’s aromatic profile, offering valuable insights for optimising the desired aromatic profile of resulting wines