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MGO-Agent: A Framework for Congestion Mitigation in Matching Markets using PageRank and Multi-Objective Optimization
No full textConventional talent-matching and job-recommendation systems focus on improving individual matches, yet often neglect market-level dynamics and feedback, resulting in systemic congestion. This "tragedy of the commons" reduces overall efficiency and increases inequality of opportunity. To counter this, I develop MGO-Agent (Market Guidance & Optimisation Agent), an intelligent framework that proactively manages network externalities at the macro level.
Contributions:
1. Theory: I introduce a congestion-modelling paradigm where congestion is treated as a systemic risk that propagates through the skill-affinity network, captured via personalised PageRank. The resulting metric — Networked Congestion Pressure (CP) — reflects both direct application heat and a job’s global ability to absorb and transmit congestion.
2. Framework: The computation-driven agent deterministically integrates PageRank-based sensing, NSGA-III (Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III) multi-objective optimisation, and a dynamic behavioural-evolution model, producing Pareto-optimal guidance that balances individual match quality with system-wide efficiency and fairness.
3. Methodology: To overcome data scarcity and privacy concerns, I design a dual-layer test-bed: a generic simulation environment for large-scale quantitative analysis and a Large Language Model (LLM)-based environment for qualitative case studies, forming a systematic evaluation pipeline.
Key Results:
In the most challenging scenario — a "red ocean" market defined by intense competition and oversaturation — MGO-Agent increases the global match rate from approximately 46% to nearly 99%, and reduces the congestion Gini coefficient by 26%. Meanwhile, the average user-side rank drops from 1st to about 7th, revealing a deliberate trade-off: modest individual sacrifice for maximal social welfare.
Overall, this study offers a new theoretical perspective and a practical approach to mitigating systemic congestion in matching markets. It demonstrates that network science, multi-objective optimisation, and dual-layer simulation can work together to address challenges in complex socio-economic systems
Developing hydrodynamic sensing capabilities for fish-like robots
No full textMaritime Drones, just as their counterparts on land and in the air, are becoming an
increasing reality and a field of rapid development. Used for ocean exploration, asset
monitoring and harbour security, they withstand high pressures, salt water and rough conditions
to provide information and manipulation capabilities. Biomimetic, fish-like robots offer the
possibility of silent, agile and energy-efficient locomotion in this domain. To realize their
potential of swimming like a fish, sensor systems are needed which provide hydrodynamic
information such as flow speed and direction while being able to withstand the demanding
oceanic conditions.
Existing sensor systems offer high sensitivity, rivalling the biological analogue but face
inherent design challenges such as high cost and energy consumption, brittleness and static
pressure sensitivity preventing their deployment and proliferation. I hypothesize that these
inherent challenges for open ocean deployment in previous hydrodynamic sensor systems for
fish-like robots can be overcome through bioinspired capacitance-based designs, providing
robust, low-cost blueprints which can be tailored to provide relevant flow information in
diverse conditions. Three sensors are developed to validate this hypothesis.
The developed sensors based on electroactive polymers are pressure agnostic, physically
robust and shielded from electromagnetic interference. A novel membrane-based rheotaxis
sensor makes angle-of-attack measurements up to 1 m/s flow speed with a resolution below 5-
degrees possible. Furthermore, the possibility of integrating sensing membranes directly into a
bionic pectoral fin propulsors, measuring hydrodynamic loading was demonstrated. Lastly, a
dorsal fin sensor for detecting cross-body flow along a robotic fish’s spine using solid state
fringe-field sensors enabled roll and yaw estimation related to the actual flow. The real-world
capabilities of these sensors were successfully tested through high-pressure exposure and longterm
salt-water submersion tests.
The developed sensors validate the research hypothesis and present a further step in
achieving fish-like hydrodynamic sensing capabilities deployable from the depth of the ocean
to rivers and mangrove estuaries benefiting research, commercial and security operations
“Everybody's different, and they all have different experiences” Experiences navigating hope, community engagement, and resilience in people with Parkinson’s
No full textThere is increasing research on the benefits of exercise, arts, and support groups for people with Parkinson’s. However, significant gaps remain in the literature around the role of community activities, the experiences of hope, and how these relate to wellbeing in people with Parkinson’s. In this study, I employed a strength-based, holistic approach drawing on positive psychology theories and cultural models of health. Ten people with Parkinson’s who participated in community groups in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five major themes were conceptualised: (1) I was trying to think about it, what hope means, (2) The community things that keep us sort of together, (3) Just don’t sit around. If you can, do something to slow it down, (4) My life has changed quite dramatically, and (5) There’s not enough known about it. The findings revealed that hope was perceived by research participants as a complex, relational concept grounded in personal goals, social connections, and medical advancements working towards a cure. Active participation in community activities and groups, both Parkinson’s specific and mixed, supported wellbeing, provided spaces to share experiences, and filled in knowledge gaps. Engaging in individual activities also fostered autonomy and preserved personal identity, with people living independently challenging mainstream narratives about the need for care partners. Exercise was valued for the benefits in managing physical symptoms, while the arts were valued for their social benefits, revealing the contrast in how different activities are appreciated. Resilience was reflected in how people adapted their daily lives, attitudes, goals, and perspectives of living with Parkinson’s. The study highlighted the diverse experiences of people living with Parkinson’s and how they proactively engage in strategies to live well. Healthcare professionals should explore individuals’ lived experiences with Parkinson’s and personal beliefs in hope, resilience and wellbeing to support more person- and community-centred approaches to health and wellbeing
Kia mataara | Awakening to change: Higher Ground outcomes report 2019-2024
No full textThis outcomes report covers findings on the progress of former residents of Higher Ground from the start of 2019 through to the end of 2024, by analysing outcome data for all tāngata whai ora who entered Higher Ground over those six years. The findings from data collected through Higher Ground’s quantitative assessment tools are accompanied by a social cost-benefit analysis
Gender Dynamics in Mathematics Education: Perceptions and Beliefs among Parents and Teachers in Lebanon
No full textThesis embargoed until 8/2026
Sarcopenia, myosteatosis, and frailty parameters to predict adverse outcomes in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy: prospective observational multicentre cohort study
No full textBackgroundFunctional compromise contributes significantly to adverse outcomes after emergency laparotomy. Sarcopenia, defined as reduced muscle strength and muscle quantity, has been seldom assessed in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. The aim of this study was to examine functional compromise in emergency laparotomy using sarcopenia, myosteatosis, and frailty parameters and evaluate impacts on functional and patient-centred outcomes.MethodsPatients aged greater than or equal to 55 years who underwent emergency laparotomy and preoperative computed tomography (CT) at two hospitals in New Zealand between February 2022 and October 2023 were included in a prospective database. Sarcopenia was measured using the SARC-F questionnaire, isokinetic dynamometry to measure hand grip strength, and skeletal muscle quantity according to CT. Myosteatosis was determined using CT and frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale. Predictors for rehabilitation, days alive and out of hospital at 90 days, and risk of not returning home were analysed using relative risk and proportional means regression. Secondary outcomes were 3- and 6-month mortality and inpatient morbidity defined using the Clavien-Dindo classification.ResultsA total of 101 patients undergoing emergency laparotomy during the study interval were analysed; 21.6% of participants had sarcopenia, 34.7% had myosteatosis, and 24.8% were living with frailty. Muscle strength parameters (low grip strength and a positive SARC-F questionnaire) had significant relationships with primary outcomes. Low grip strength (less than 27 kg for male patients and less than 16 kg for female patients) was most significant for risk of admission for rehabilitation (adjusted risk ratio 5.48 (95% c.i. 2.03 to 14.82)). A positive SARC-F questionnaire (an overall score of greater than or equal to 4 out of 10) was most significant for not returning home (adjusted risk ratio 8.26 (95% c.i. 1.81 to 37.76)). Isolated low muscle quantity (less than 52.4 cm2/m2 for male patients and less than 38.5 cm2/m2 for female patients) demonstrated no relationship. Being frail was most significant for a reduced number of days alive and out of hospital at 90 days (-13.4% compared with non-frail participants (95% c.i. -24.3% to -0.8%)). Sarcopenia and low grip strength were the only parameters to demonstrate a relationship with 3- and 6-month mortality.ConclusionSarcopenia and frailty parameters are major determinants of functional compromise and predict adverse outcomes after emergency laparotomy. Muscle strength is more important than mass, and measurable without imaging, streamlining its clinical application
Modelling water use in commercial buildings: the impact of NABERS on spatial, temporal and climatic variations in water use in Australian commercial buildings
No full textWith increasing global water resource pressures and rising water demands in urban buildings, enhancing water efficiency has become essential for sustainable development. Green building certification systems, such as NABERS, play a significant role in promoting water-saving behaviors. Using data from 1,248 office buildings across six major Australian cities (2006-2019), this study examines the effectiveness and mechanisms of NABERS certification by integrating temporal, spatial, and climatic dimensions. Results indicate NABERS significantly reduces water intensity by approximately 9.8%, with greater effects in initially high-consuming buildings, while high-efficiency buildings risk efficiency loss post-certification. Certification adoption and effectiveness are notably higher in CBD areas compared to Non-CBD regions due to market competition and economic incentives. Seasonal and climatic variations markedly influence building water use, suggesting certification systems should incorporate tailored regional standards and climate resilience indicators. To ensure lasting efficiency, the study recommends strengthened long-term monitoring post-certification. These findings offer insights for refining green certification systems and advancing sustainable urban water management
Acute Rheumatic Fever
No full textAcute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune disorder resulting from Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis or impetigo in children and adolescents, which may evolve to rheumatic heart disease (RHD) with persistent cardiac valve damage. RHD causes substantial mortality and morbidity globally, predominantly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, with an interplay of social determinants of health and genetic factors determining overall risk. ARF diagnosis is based on a constellation of clinical and laboratory features as defined by the 2015 Jones Criteria, although advances in molecular point-of-care testing and the ongoing search for ARF biomarkers offer the potential to revolutionise diagnostics. There are persistent gaps in ARF pathophysiology with little progress in therapeutics over the last several years. The greater focus towards primordial, primary, and secondary prevention such as advances in GAS vaccine development, innovations in digital health technology, improved antibiotic formulations for secondary prevention, and decentralised programmatic implementation to improve health-care delivery offer feasible solutions towards reducing future ARF burden globally
Early Roman Cavalry in Combat (6th-3rd centuries BCE)
No full textThe early equites, or citizen cavalry of early Rome, have traditionally been viewed as the impractical, aristocratic complement to the community’s core force of heavy infantry. Based largely on the testimony of Polybius, Rome’s early cavalrymen were understood to have been brave and elite, but also-and confusingly-equipped with substandard equipment and seemingly ineffective in battle until c. 200 BCE. This article argues that Polybius’ account offers a skewed vision of the early equites, shaped by his own literary goals and experience. In contrast to the negative image he offers, a growing body of evidence suggests that early Roman cavalrymen were actually relatively well-equipped and effective in battle. However, the nature of that equipment and the style of battle they engaged in were not those that Polybius was familiar with. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, they also did not align with his vision for Rome’s military and society. This article, therefore, offers a reappraisal of the practical capabilities of early Roman cavalry in combat, looking beyond Polybius’ account