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Trembling Cinema
No full textThis thesis places Édouard Glissant's concept of a "Trembling Utopia" alongside Fred Moten's text Jurisgenerative Grammar (for Alto) to provide the basis for a personal reading and dismantling of the cinematic traditions I regard as being related to my creative research practice. By utilising the form of the cinematic category, this outlines an assemblage of films, artworks and methodologies titled "Trembling Cinema". Glissant's 'Trembling Utopia' calls for the continuous creation of new grammars, fostering cultures of errantry, fugitivity, and opacity as generative methodologies that are always on the run. These methodologies build on-and-with the unknowable, trembling nature of the world and challenge the metaphysical foundations underpinning Western Knowledge. Through the misuse of the language of cinematic categorisation and the legal principles of contract law, I aim to draw connections between the institutions of both the court and the cinema. I am concerned with their utilisation by the colonial state to consolidate and maintain interpretive authority and, therefore, the maintenance of their autocratic role in the determination of truth and knowledge. Furthermore, I aim to outline a personal methodology of fugitivity and errantry that subverts and dismantles these interpretive structures. Structures that currently deny the creation of new forms of relation essential to the destruction of colonial institutions.
At the heart of this project lies the question of interpretation as it relates to the institutional power of the camera as an apparatus for the determination of truth and knowledge. I propose that cinema, or the camera, has been utilised as a solution to the opaque multiplicity of the world in the same way that the state has utilised the court as a solution to the problem of interpretation of the law. On the one hand, the camera as a recording device facilitates the suppression and reduction of the world to individual representations. On the other hand, actions that utilise the generative grammar of filmmaking are inherently uncontainable and avoid singular representation and, therefore, may contribute to the destruction of the system of knowledge from which they erupt.
This thesis will utilise common legal principles of contract law (The Curtain Principle and The Mirror Principle) and relate them to the use of the camera as an interpretation device that captures reality and anoints the filmmaker with the power to interpret. The same power of interpretation that the court provides the state. These chapters examine the works and methodologies of filmmakers and artists who have utilised the generative grammar of their chosen medium and destabilised and disrupted the role of interpretation by renouncing their authority or pushing this interpretive role to its breaking point. As part of this submission, I also intend to apply and explore these methodologies in the creation and presentation of a film work. Analysis of this activity is included in this thesis
Life Cycle Assessment of End-Of-Life Options of Demolition Waste Wood In New Zealand
No full textThe concept of circular economy (CE) in construction has become significantly more important and is recently gaining increasing attention. It proposes a change in mindset in which waste can be valued as an additional resource rather than an issue to manage and send for disposal. The approach prolongs the value of useful materials and optimizes supply chains. This research study investigates the possible environmental benefits of applying circular economic principles to the issue of demolition waste wood in order to counteract climate change. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to quantify the environmental impacts of managing waste wood across different avenues in the New Zealand construction environment. A range of alternatives were examined, such as remanufacturing the waste wood into glued-laminated timber, cross-laminated timber, and dowel-laminated timber products, recycling for particleboards, and energy recovery. The LCA results revealed that all the alternative scenarios were beneficial regarding global warming potential and abiotic depletion potential (fossil fuels), while the remanufacturing scenarios also had substantial reductions in the acidification potential of land and water, eutrophication potential, and photochemical ozone creation potential. These results advocated for adopting remanufacturing strategies in waste wood management systems to enhance sustainability and resource efficiency in New Zealand's construction industry
Evaluation of the antidiabetic effects of green lipped mussel oil and its combination with low molecular weight fucoidan extracted from Undaria pinnatifida
No full textType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, which is closely associated with obesity and inflammation. This highlights the need for safe anti-diabetic supplements that enhance insulin sensitivity, regulate glucose absorption, and suppress inflammation. Combining natural bioactive compounds is gaining recognition as an effective therapeutic approach. Marine bioactive compounds have garnered attention as potential antidiabetic agents. In this study, the in vitro antidiabetic activities of oil extracts obtained by organic solvent extraction (SVC) from Perna canaliculus and low molecular weight (LMW) fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida, both individually and in combination, were investigated. The focus was on in vitro anti-inflammatory effects (suppression of IL-6 cytokine levels), enhancement of glucose uptake in C2C12 myotube and 3 T3-L1 adipocyte, modulation of lipid accumulation, and inhibition of α-amylase activity. SVC enhanced glucose uptake in both myotube (50.79 %) and adipocyte (40.15 %) cell lines, reduced α-amylase activity (27.62% – 36.51 %), and suppressed IL-6 secretion to near-basal levels (1.77–3.16 %) in LPS-stimulated myotubes. This is the first report to demonstrate that SVC may exert antidiabetic activity. However, LMW fucoidan did not show antidiabetic activity in this study. In comparison to the individual compounds, the combination demonstrated potential antidiabetic effects, including synergistic enhanced glucose uptake (60.22 % - 66.73 %) and decreased IL-6 levels (2.86 % - 2.55 %) in stimulated myotube cells. However, further in vivo validation and studies on sample composition, structure, and their combined molecular mechanisms are needed
“I needed someone”. Parents/whānau/caregivers’ perceptions of the help they need when supporting a young person who self-harms and the role of first responders
No full textBackground:
Self-harm (SH) is a significant issue among youth in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly in rangatahi Māori. Mental-health related calls to emergency services have increased, and approximately 42 per 100,000 young people presented to an emergency department for SH between July 2023 and June 2024. However, little research has explored how parents/whānau/caregivers experience supporting their young person who self-harms, particularly in relation to first responders and parents/whānau/caregivers perceptions of the help they provide. Parents/whānau/caregivers play a crucial role in facilitating help-seeking, yet often feel ill-equipped to provide support.
Methods:
The study aimed to explore the needs of parents/whānau/caregivers supporting a young person who has self-harmed, specifically regarding their experiences with first responders. A mixed methods approached was used, combining qualitative and quantitative data from a larger study. Qualitative data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, while quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics methods. The sample consisted of 112 participants, mostly mothers (89.3%), from urban areas, and of Pākehā (59.8%) or Māori descent (23.2%). The study examined parents/whānau/caregivers’ emotional reactions, perceptions of their young person’s SH, and interactions with first responders.
Results:
The average age of young people who had self-harmed was 14.4 years, with over half in late adolescence (15-19 years old). Parents/whānau/caregivers reported emotions such as sadness, anxiety, and fear, which intensified upon discovering SH. They attributed SH to motivations such as showing desperation or ‘relief from a terrible state of mind’. Parents/whānau/caregivers expressed a strong need for support and guidance, especially in response to uncertainty about how to help. First responders were not frequently mentioned as part of the supported needed, and experiences with them were mixed.
Conclusion
Parents/whānau/caregivers of young people who SH experience significant emotional distress, highlighting the need for improved support systems. First responders can play a critical role but are often perceived as lacking the training and resources to meet parents/whānau/caregivers needs. The study emphasizes the need for better emergency response training, communication, and greater involvement of parents/whānau/caregivers in the care process. Parents/whānau/caregivers also need information, guidance, and practical support to better support their young people
Commutator estimates and Poisson bounds for Dirichlet-to-Neumann operators with variable coefficients
No full textKindness in Healthcare Teams: Defining it and identifying the individual, team, and organisational conditions supporting kindness in action
No full textThesis embargoed until 09/202
Bayesian Phylogenetic Inference of Protein Structure Evolution Using Angular Diffusion Model
No full textProtein structure is more conserved than the amino acid sequence over long evolutionary timescales; yet, most phylogenetic methods rely solely on sequence data. The angular diffusion model proposed by Golden et al. (2017) uses dihedral angles to represent protein backbone structure and detect structural dependencies between neighbouring Cα atoms. However, this model has not been integrated into a phylogenetic framework. Here, we implement the angular diffusion model for phylogenetic inference by incorporating it into the Bayesian phylogenetics software BEAST2. We extend the tree likelihood function to compute the pseudo-transition probability density described by Golden et al. At this stage, we validate our implementation using simulated datasets. By incorporating structural dependencies, this approach captures more realistic evolutionary trajectories and provides improved estimates of evolutionary parameters compared to sequence-only methods. Our implementation enables researchers to leverage protein structural information for more accurate phylogenetic reconstruction
Establishing Co-Culture CRISPR Screening Conditions to Investigate Immune-Related Mechanisms in HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)
No full textTrastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) are human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that are approved to treat advanced HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). Recent preclinical and clinical settings suggests both innate and adaptive immunity play important roles in the therapeutic effects of trastuzumab and trastuzumab-containing ADCs (T-DM1 and T-DXd). This study aimed to optimise a robust co-culture system of HER2-positive BC cells with HER2-targeting CD8⁺ T cells and/or NK cells and evaluate assays to detect immune-mediated cytotoxicity to BC cells to inform future studies with T-DM1 and T-DXd.
This study utilised NK-92 natural killer and Jurkat T cell lines to assess the immune-mediated cytotoxicity against HER2-positive MDA-MB-361 cells in co-culture. NK-92 cells and Jurkat cells that were transduced with a HER2 chimeric antigen receptor were cultured with MDA-MB-361 cells at effector: target (E:T) ratios of 1:1, 2.5:1 and 5:1. A range of assays, including live imaging, fluorescence staining, and cytotoxicity assays, were employed to determine suitable methods for assessing NK-92- and CAR-Jurkat-mediated killing of MDA-MB-361 cells. NK-92 co-culture with MDA-MB-361 revealed that NK-92-mediated cytotoxicity occurred within 48 h and increased with E:T ratio, with the strongest effect at 2.5:1 and 5:1. Live imaging and fluorescence-based imaging showed morphological change in MDA-MB-361 cells during co-culture. Quantification using ImageXpress and Countess platforms with CellTracker-labelled MDA-MB-361 cells appeared to be the most suitable method to identify NK-92-mediated cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-361 cells. Similarly, CAR-Jurkat cells showed cytotoxicity to MDA-MB-361 cells that increased with E:T ratio, with the strongest effect at 5:1. CAR-Jurkat cells did not require activation with phytohemagglutinin, as recognition of the HER2 antigen appeared sufficient to activate CAR-Jurkat cells and enable cytotoxicity. For CAR-Jurkat cells, quantification using Countess and flow cytometry platforms appeared to be the most suitable method to identify CAR-Jurkat mediated cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-361 cells.
NK-92 and CAR-Jurkat both exhibit cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-361 cells in an E:T ratio dependent manner, supporting their use in a co-culture system for investigating immune-related mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to ADC therapy. However, further studies are needed to optimise assay conditions and to confirm the ideal E:T ratios for CRISPR-co-culture screens
Quantification of γ-Nonalactone in New Zealand Wines and Investigation of its Biogenesis During Winemaking
No full textγ-Nonalactone 1 is an n-alkyl lactone found in wine, associated with aroma descriptors including sweet, coconut, stonefruit and prune. Little is known about how this compound is produced during winemaking, despite its ubiquity, but it has been proposed that γ-nonalactone 1 is synthesised by yeast and/or extracted from oak. The focus of this thesis was therefore to investigate the biogenesis of γ-nonalactone 1 during winemaking.
For quantification of γ-nonalactone 1 in the complex wine matrix, a novel isotopologue, 2H213C2-γ-nonalactone 2H213C2-1, was synthesised. Subsequently, an accurate and sensitive SIDA-SPE-GC-MS method for γ-nonalactone 1 quantification was established, with 2H213C2-γ-nonalactone 2H213C2-1 as an internal standard. The method was used to quantify γ-nonalactone 1 in New Zealand wines for the first time, wherein 12 Pinot noir and 38 white wines were analysed. Concentrations in these wines were largely in agreement with previous studies. Notably, the concentration of γ-nonalactone 1 was significantly higher in white wines with noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) influence than those without.
Alcoholic fermentation experiments were undertaken to elucidate the biosynthesis of γ-nonalactone 1 in winemaking. Additions of linoleic acid 16, 4-oxononanoic acid 37 and 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid 18 (13-HPODE) resulted in γ-nonalactone 1 production, attributable to the action of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To further investigate, several S. cerevisiae strains were utilised for fermentation with 13-HPODE 18 spiking, and significant differences in γ-nonalactone 1 production were observed. A genetic basis for differences in γ-nonalactone 1 biosynthesis in yeast was therefore able to be hypothesised. However, a further experiment with S. cerevisiae BY4743 deletants in genes related to fatty acid metabolism and reactive oxygen species degradation did not show differences in γ-nonalactone 1 production. Finally, the influence of oak during fermentation and ageing on γ-nonalactone 1 concentration was assessed, using additions of oak chips to Chardonnay during fermentation and/or ageing. Higher concentrations of γ-nonalactone 1 were associated with oak fermentation. Additionally, ageing of wines, even without oak, correlated with increases in γ-nonalactone 1 concentration.
The analytical method established, and the γ-nonalactone 1 biogenesis findings reported herein, have provided key methodology and findings towards understanding wine aroma and the biosynthesis of aroma compounds from fatty acids
Projected speaker numbers and dormancy risks of Canada's Indigenous languages
No full textUNESCO launched the International Decade of Indigenous Languages in 2022 to draw attention to the impending loss of nearly half of the world's linguistic diversity. However, how the speaker numbers and dormancy risks of these languages will evolve remains largely unexplored. Here, we use Canadian census data and probabilistic population projection to estimate changes in speaker numbers and dormancy risks of 27 Indigenous languages. Our model suggests that speaker numbers could, over the period 2001-2101, decline by more than 90% in 16 languages and that dormancy risks could surpass 50% among five. Since the declines are greater among already less commonly spoken languages, just nine languages could account for more than 99% of all Canadian Indigenous language speakers in 2101. Finally, dormancy risks tend to be higher among isolates and within specific language families, providing additional evidence about the uneven nature of language endangerment worldwide. Our approach further illustrates the magnitude of the crisis in linguistic diversity and suggests that demographic projection could be a useful tool in assessing the vitality of the world's languages