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Influence of Family Instability on the Mental Health and Academic Performance of Adolescents in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
No full textThe study investigated the influence of family instability on adolescents' mental
health and academic performance at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Five
objectives and three hypotheses guided the study. A descriptive survey
research design was utilized to select 420 adolescents using simple random
sampling. A structured questionnaire validated and tested for reliability was
used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using frequencies ,
percentages, means, standard deviation and chi-square. Findings showed that
more than half (58.1%) of the respondents had a monthly allowance of ₦10,000-
30,000. Findings on types of family instability showed that more than one-third
(33.6%) of the respondents experienced high levels of family instability. More
than half (51.0%) of the respondents had poor mental health status, and over
twenty per cent of them had low academic performance. At p < 0.05 level of
significance, family instability correlated significantly with the mental health
and academic performance of the adolescents. Family instability also correlated
significantly with respondents’ socio-economic characteristics such as monthly
allowance, family area of residence, parents’ educational qualification, housing
type, and household size. The study, therefore, concludes that family instability
significantly influences the mental health and academic performance of
adolescents. It was recommended that the university administration should
provide mental health support services for students to educate them on how to
handle some family-related problems that might be affecting their mental
health and academic performance
Role of language familiarity in understanding speech in noise under various acoustic environments
No full textWe communicate in complex acoustic environments in everyday life but our familiarity with the language can affect how well we can understand speech in these environments. The current study examines the role of language familiarity in understanding speech in varying acoustic environments via a speech intelligibility test conducted under anechoic and reverberant conditions with various speech-noise separation angles. Four groups were recruited with differing level of language familiarity: first language (L1) New Zealand English (NZE) listeners, second language (L2) Japanese native listeners with exposure to NZE, L2 Japanese native listeners with overseas English experiences without exposure to NZE, and Japanese native listeners who have learnt English as a foreign language (FL) without overseas English experiences.
The L1 group performed better in overall speech intelligibility performance compared to the 3 Japanese native groups. Contrary to previous literature where non-native listeners were found to have a similar benefit from spatial separation to native listeners, this was not the case for the FL group, suggesting that this benefit is only available for listeners with a certain level of language familiarity. While there were differences between L2 and FL groups in the anechoic condition, these differences become marginal in the reverberant conditions for the two groups with little exposure to NZE. This suggests that familiarity to the specific language variety has an advantage in acoustically adverse environments
Population health, health equity and health system impacts of light vehicle electrification: a modelling study in Aotearoa/New Zealand
No full textBackground: Electrification of the light vehicle fleet
is a core component of decarbonisation policy globally.
As transport is an important determinant of health,
this process will likely impact a range of pathways to
population health, outside of averted climate change.
Methods: A transport-health multistate lifetable model
for Aotearoa/New Zealand was used to model changes
in the vehicle fleet and transport behaviour patterns that
could be expected as part of electrification in Aotearoa/
New Zealand. These changes are related to the new
energy source and the costs of driving. The potential
health, equity, health system cost and environmental
impacts of this transition were modelled through the
pathways of physical activity, injury and air pollution
(tailpipe and non-tailpipe).
Results: Compared with a scenario of 2018 vehicles
and travel patterns projected forward, under the
electrification scenario modelled by 2050, there would
be a 21% increase in per capita kilometres travelled
by car, a loss of 270 health adjusted life years (95%
uncertainty interval (UI) −1000 to 500) and health
system costs incurred of NZ−12 to NZ$110). While health impacts from
air pollution decreased, in the electrification scenario
road injury increased and there was a net health loss.
Increasing the cost of driving, through distance-based
charging, attenuated the negative health impacts.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the
electrification of the light vehicle fleet has mixed health
impacts. Researchers and policy-makers should take a
cautious approach to claims that light fleet electrification
will have co-benefits for population health and health
equity
Structural Phylogenetics Reveals Relationships Between Motility and Phage Defence Systems in Bacteria
No full textBacterial flagella are powered by membrane-embedded motor complexes such as MotAB, which utilize ion motive force (typically H+ or Na+) to generate rotational motion. These complexes share structural and functional features with homologous systems like ExbBD and TolQR. In this study, I investigated the evolutionary relationships among these known systems and two homologous complexes that are less studied: ZorAB and gliding motility proteins such as GldLM. I employed a combined dataset of amino acid sequences and 3-dimensional interaction (3Di) structural encodings to enhance phylogenetic resolution, which captures residue-level tertiary interaction patterns. Using model-based approaches, including IQ-TREE and BEAST, I reconstructed robust phylogenies that consistently resolve ZorAB as a well-supported clade that is sister to Flagellar Ion Transporters (such as MotAB and PomAB) plus General Ion Transporters (such as ExbBD and TolQR). In contrast, gliding proteins emerged as a more phylogenetically distant lineage, suggesting a likely independent origin of motility. These findings support the inclusion of ZorAB within the broader family of proton-conducting motor systems, highlighting gliding machinery’s structural and evolutionary distinctiveness. This study demonstrates the value of incorporating structural character data such as 3Di into molecular phylogenetics, offering new opportunities to clarify deep evolutionary relationships among diverse bacterial motility and energy transduction systems
Beyond the Clouds: Reimagining Wa Folk Dance within Solo Feminist Choreography
No full text我生来就是高山而非溪流，
I was born to rise as a resilient mountain, not to flow as a submissive stream,
我欲于群峰之巅俯视平庸的沟壑。
To challenge the ordinary valleys from the summit of collective peaks.
我生来就是人杰而非草芥，
I was destined to embody strength and purpose, not to fade as a fleeting blade of grass,
我站在伟人之肩藐视卑微的懦夫。
To stand tall with others and resist the silencing of courageous voices (Zhang, 2008).
These stirring words, written by Zhang Guimei (2008), the principal of Huaping High School
for Girls in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, resonate throughout this research like the steady and
unyielding rhythm of a drumbeat. In Zhang’s (2008) verses, I hear a defiant a cry of women,
a call that has inspired me to ‘speak out’ within this creative practice research. It is this call
that set me on my journey of storytelling.
This research reimagines Wa folk dance material within my solo choreographic practice,
employing a practice-led research (Smith & Dean, 2009) approach. The central question
driving this inquiry is: How might Wa folk dance movement be reimagined in Beyond the
Clouds (我本是高山), as a feminist solo choreography? This creative journey shows how
personal movement stories can help women reclaim their power, especially when everyday
experiences get overlooked in both old traditions and modern feminist ideas (Ahmed, 2017).
By engaging with feminist choreographic practice, this research utilises the movement
language of Wa folk dance from the Yunnan region in China to explore feminist themes of
identity and self-actualisation. The thesis also reflects on the discoveries made during the
practice-led process, investigating how the integration of traditional dance forms might shape
feminist solo choreography.
Guided by the development of solo performance Beyond the Clouds (我本是高山), the
research employs practice-led research methodologies (Barrett & Bolt, 2014; Smith & Dean2009).
Additionally, it draws on feminist theory (Ahmed, 2017; Lorde, 1984),
autoethnography (Chang, 2016; Ellis, 2004), the cultural significance of Wa folk dance (Li,
2018), and feminist choreographic practice (Brown, 1994)
Ancient mitogenomes of Lapita pigs confirm continuity of the Pacific Clade in Remote Oceania
No full textThe movement of Lapita peoples into western Remote Oceania ∼ 3000 BP, and subsequent dispersal into Polynesia, is one of the most extensive migration events in human history. While the origins of these settlers and their commensal animals in the west are generally well understood, questions remain about their dispersal into eastern Remote Oceania, and post-settlement interactions. The pig, Sus scrofa, is one of the commensal animals carried across Remote Oceania, and previous genetic studies identified a single lineage, the “Pacific Clade”, linking Pacific pigs to Island and Peninsular Southeast Asia. Here, we present 16 complete mitogenomes (>99 % coverage) and 8 partial mitogenomes (>80 % coverage) from eleven Remote Oceanic archaeological sites, spanning the Lapita period to the historic period. Phylogenetic analyses show a continuous pig population in Remote Oceania from their first introduction ∼ 3000 BP. Furthermore, sustained pig mitochondrial diversity is detected in western Remote Oceania from the Lapita period until today. In comparison, very limited diversity is found in eastern Remote Oceania, suggesting a bottleneck associated with human expansion into East Polynesia. The contrasting genetic signatures between west and east suggest that little to no pig movement occurred between these regions following the initial settlement of Polynesia. Comparison of the newly generated sequences to previously published ancient pig mitogenomes reveals the first ancient Pacific Clade pig in China, extending their range geographically to mainland East Asia, and temporally to 7000–6000 BP. Overall, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Remote Oceania’s settlement and pig husbandry
Exploring University Students’ Perspectives on Tai Chi for Stress Reduction: A Qualitative Study
No full textBackground: University students often encounter substantial barriers to accessing necessary care for managing mental health challenges. This qualitative study aims to explore university students’ perspectives on Tai Chi as a potential intervention for stress reduction and overall wellbeing enhancement.
Methods: Five focus groups with eighteen university students who reported stress, anxiety, and/or depression were held online between July and December 2023, covering topics related to mental health, perceptions of Tai Chi, and feedback on a proposed Tai Chi-based stress reduction program. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 14.
Results: Three key themes were generated that included: (1) student wellbeing challenges, (2) the perceptions of Tai Chi as a potential resource for coping with demands of being a university student, and (3) enhancing relevance and engagement of students in Tai Chi. Participants highlighted Tai Chi as a promising intervention to address gaps in students’ mental health care, emphasising its potential to enhance and integrate physical and psychological health and foster social connection. However, barriers such as age-related stereotypes and the need for flexible, accessible delivery were noted as crucial to maximising student engagement and participation. The findings will inform the development of a Tai Chi-based stress reduction program.
Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into how Tai Chi is perceived by university students, which can guide future research in developing tailored mind-body interventions to enhance university students’ mental health and support overall wellbeing
Structural remodelling of the 2OG oxygenase Rv3406 enables sulfur-scavenging in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
No full textRv3406 evolved from the ubiquitous taurine-catabolising enzyme TauD and functions as a sulfur-scavenging protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal specific changes that shape its chemical environment for ligand interaction and explain its broad substrate range. These findings show how amino acid substitutions redefine protein function and drive adaptation to the unique metabolic context of Mycobacteria
Three Fluffy Scientists Ponder Wastewater-based Epidemiology
No full textMy PhD research involves analysing wastewater around Aotearoa to identify and quantify the prostate health biomarker, Prostate Specific Antigen (a world first). I wanted my image to be less serious and more cute to appeal to a greater audience. I want my image to start a kōrero (conversation), and make the audience smile. An important part of my research is making the results of this research freely available to the public to start a kōrero about prostate cancer, symptoms and getting tested. To do this I need to be able to communicate science to the general public and engage them. I have three cats of my own (with my husband) and I wanted an image to bring together the cuteness and curiosity of my cats (Mocha, Muffin and Rupi) and my PhD researc