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Infants In Control - Measuring Infants' Guidance of Visual Attention
No full textThesis embargoed until 6/2026
Closely matched comparisons suggest that separable processes mediate contextual size illusions
No full textPrevious research suggests the magnitudes of the Ebbinghaus, Delboeuf, Ponzo, and tilt illusions all depend on the cortical distance between the neural representations of target stimuli and the surrounding context. However, several psychophysical studies found no compelling association between these illusions, calling this hypothesis into question. Here we ask if these discrepant reports could arise from methodological differences between these studies. We ran a battery of visual size illusion and basic discrimination tasks with carefully matched geometric properties, using a classic forced-choice design. In our small, homogenous sample, the Ebbinghaus and Delboeuf illusion magnitudes were strongly correlated, consistent with the idea that they reflect the same underlying mechanism when other sources of individual differences are minimised. Ponzo illusion magnitude also correlated with these two illusions, although less strongly in the case of the Ebbinghaus. Interestingly, the classic arrowhead version of the Mueller-Lyer illusion did not correlate with any of the other illusions or even with the objective ability to discriminate line length. This suggests that an altogether separate process underlies this perceptual effect. We further demonstrate that presenting stimuli briefly with central fixation critically affects measurements of the Ebbinghaus illusion. Additionally, we found that measuring illusion magnitude via adjustment is less reliable compared to two-alternative forced-choice procedures. Taken together, our findings suggest that different tasks probe separable processes determining illusion measurements. They further highlight the importance of the experimental design when testing relationships between perceptual effects and their links to neural processing
LegalChainReasoner: A Legal Chain-guided Framework for Criminal Judicial Opinion Generation
No full textA criminal judicial opinion represents the judge's disposition of a case, including the decision rationale and sentencing. Automatically generating such opinions can assist in analyzing sentencing consistency and provide judges with references to past similar cases. However, current research typically approaches this task by dividing it into two isolated subtasks: legal reasoning and sentencing prediction. This separation often leads to inconsistency between the reasoning and predictions, failing to meet real-world judicial requirements. Furthermore, prior studies rely on manually creating knowledge to enhance applicability, yet such methods remain limited in practical deployment. To address these limitations and better align with legal practice, we propose a new Legal AI task: Judicial Opinion Generation, which simultaneously produces both legal reasoning and sentencing decisions. To achieve this, we introduce LegalChainReasoner, a framework that applies structured legal chains to guide the model through comprehensive case assessments. By integrating factual premises, composite legal conditions, and sentencing conclusions, our approach ensures flexible knowledge injection and end-to-end opinion generation. Experiments on two real-world and open-source Chinese legal case datasets demonstrate that our method outperforms baseline models
Integrating Chemical Ecology with Behavioural Bioassays to Understand Host Preferences in the Stink Bug Egg Parasitoids Trissolcus basalis and Trissolcus oenone (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)
No full textCurrent approaches to assessing potential non-target risks associated with biological control agents are conservative, and they often rely on oviposition experiments conducted in quarantine laboratories. By their nature, such tests offer robust evidence of a parasitoid's ability to attack and develop in a host. However, they exclude many important chemical cues present in the natural environment, which play a key role in the ability of a parasitoid to search for and locate hosts. We conducted a series of experiments with Trissolcus basalis and Trissolcus oenone to better understand the chemical basis mediating differences in host-specificity between these parasitoids. First, we compared the searching behaviour of T. basalis and T. oenone in open arena arrestment bioassays contaminated with footprint compounds of Nezara viridula or Cuspicona simplex. Trissolcus basalis spent four times longer searching for N. viridula than C. simplex, while T. oenone spent four times longer searching for C. simplex than N. viridula. We then conducted competition experiments to assess factors important to determining the outcomes of extrinsic and intrinsic contests between these parasitoids when they are simultaneously exposed to C. simplex egg masses. Trissolcus oenone was the superior competitor in extrinsic and intrinsic contests. Finally, we recorded the antennal responses of T. basalis to egg extracts of N. viridula, to tentatively identify potential contact kairomones used by this parasitoid to recognise and accept hosts. We discuss our results in the context of combining behavioural and chemical ecological techniques for pre-release risk assessments of classical biological control agents
Consumer views on ultra-processed foods Are beans on toast part of a healthy diet?
No full textBackground - Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are associated with an increased risk of various health conditions. Young children commonly consume UPF in early childhood and their innate preferences for sweet energy-dense foods and sensory characteristics make them vulnerable to overconsumption and the risk of developing an unhealthy dietary pattern that continues into adulthood. There is limited research investigating how UPF is perceived and understood in New Zealand. This study is the first to explore how New Zealand parent/caregivers understand and identify UPF, and the influence of their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on their acquisition and provision of processed foods.
Methodology - Four focus groups were conducted at four early learning centres in Auckland, New Zealand, with 37 parents/caregivers from May to June 2024. A purposive sampling approach was used to provide economic diversity. Qualitative data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. NVivo software was used to analyse themes and subthemes.
Findings - Two key themes were identified: 1. Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs influence processed food provision, and 2. Micro and macro environments influence processed food provision. Subthemes were organised using an ecological model to illustrate how the participants of the focus groups made decisions regarding processed food acquisition and provision based on multiple levels of influences.
Conclusion - This study found that familiarity with UPF was low and assessing foods according to the level of processing was a new paradigm for parents/caregivers. Participants accurately classified all unprocessed/minimally processed and processed food packages but misclassified up to 5 out of twelve UPF packages as processed, of which 4 were grain products. Parents/caregivers had sound knowledge of healthy dietary patterns and how to read a food label to determine the healthfulness of a packaged food. They preferred to offer and consume natural foods and home cooked meals, but identified UPF tastiness, convenience, affordability and food messaging as hindrances to consuming a less processed diet. These findings indicate the need for careful consideration of UPF in dietary guidelines. Food environment policy action is necessary, and further research is required to better understand the mechanisms of UPF and the dietary patterns of the New Zealand population
Disability, Social Media, and Public Pedagogy: A Multimodal Analysis of Douyin Content
No full textSocial media plays an increasingly vital role in shaping public perceptions of disability. This study explores how disability is represented on the Chinese social media platform Douyin, analysing both the multimodal characteristics of video content and the language used in these representations. Using the Visual Verbal Video Analysis (VVVA) framework developed by Fazeli et al. (2023) alongside discourse analysis, this research examines how disabled individuals, and non-disabled creators engage with disability narratives. The combination of these methods allows for a comprehensive understanding of both the visual and verbal dimensions of social media content. The study investigates key elements such as gestures, movements, on-screen text, and voiceovers to understand how different modes of communication contribute to the portrayal of disability. Rather than adopting a medicalized view, the research situates these portrayals within the framework of social constructionism, emphasizing how meaning is collectively shaped through social interaction. The findings highlight a contrast between empowering self-representations by disabled content creators and more traditional, stigmatizing narratives often perpetuated by non-disabled users. Additionally, the study considers the role of Douyin as a tool for public pedagogy, enabling education and advocacy through digital storytelling. By analysing four Douyin videos featuring different types of disabilities, this research reveals how multimodal social media content can challenge or reinforce societal perceptions of disability. The study underscores the importance of social media as a space where disabled individuals can reclaim agency over their representation, while also acknowledging the limitations posed by algorithmic visibility and audience engagement. Ultimately, this research contributes to a broader understanding of how digital platforms can both empower marginalized voices or reinforce existing stereotypes, offering insights for future discussions on disability representation in China’s evolving media landscape
Development of a Screening Tool to Predict Risk of PTSD In Patients with Traumatic Physical Injury
No full textAim: This thesis aimed to investigate the implementation of a screening tool for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following major physical trauma in Aotearoa New Zealand. Specifically, it sought to (1) establish the prevalence of pre-existing mental health disorders among trauma patients, (2) evaluate screening tools that predict which patients are at high risk of developing PTSD, and (3) identify barriers and enablers to implementing a PTSD screening programme in an Aotearoa New Zealand trauma setting.
Methods: A series of systematic reviews were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The first examined the prevalence of pre-existing mental health disorders in adult trauma populations. The second reviewed screening tools for identifying trauma patients at risk of developing PTSD, including self-report questionnaires and electronic medical record (EMR)–based tools. A narrative review of early intervention strategies for preventing PTSD was also undertaken. Finally, an implementation study was designed, incorporating stakeholder questionnaires and interviews with clinicians, psychiatrists, whānau, and persons with lived experience. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) (Kilbounre, 2007) and the Equity-based Implementation Research (EquIR) framework (Woodward, 2019), grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Whare Tapa Whā (Rochford, 2004) guided this stage.
Findings: The prevalence of pre-existing mental health disorders in trauma patients was 40.4% (range 3.8%–85%), with studies relying on patient interviews and questionnaires reporting higher prevalence than those using EMRs, suggesting under-recognition in routine data. International prevalence of PTSD following trauma is estimated at 23–29%. Screening tools such as the Injured Trauma Survivor Screen (ITSS) (Hunt J. C.-C., 2019), PAS-P (Johnson L. G., 2023), and EMR-based models demonstrated sensitivities ranging from 50–90% and are feasible for use in the inpatient trauma setting. Stakeholder engagement in Aotearoa New Zealand highlighted both enthusiasm and challenges: clinicians acknowledged the unmet need for psychological care, while barriers included limited resourcing, lack of clear referral pathways, and inequities in healthcare access for Māori and Pasifika populations.
Conclusion: Major trauma patients in Aotearoa New Zealand are at significant risk of adverse psychological outcomes, with pre-existing mental health conditions a strong predictor of PTSD development. Evidence supports the utility of validated screening tools in identifying high-risk patients, and early intervention can improve outcomes (Zatzick D. K., 2001); (Zatzick D. J., 2021). However, successful implementation in Aotearoa New Zealand requires equity-focused, culturally responsive approaches that embed Māori models of health and address systemic barriers. This thesis provides the foundation for piloting a PTSD screening tool within the trauma system, with the potential to reduce patient morbidity, improve whānau wellbeing, and lessen the burden on the healthcare workforce
Evolution of allostery in isocitrate lyase
No full textAllostery is crucial for regulating the activity of enzymes in many biochemical and physiological processes. In allostery, the binding of ligands in one site of a protein changes the binding or activity of another site on the protein. Over the past decades, the mechanisms of allostery have been better understood in molecular details. However, how allostery evolves in biological systems remains an intriguing question. Mycobacterium tuberculosis isocitrate lyase 1 and 2 (MtbICL1, MtbICL2) are homologous enzymes essential for the lipid utilisation of M. tuberculosis. While MtbICL1 consist primarily of a core catalytic domain, MtbICL2 contains an additional ligand-binding domain and the ability to undergo allostery upon binding to acetyl-CoA. We aimed to find out whether the allosteric regulation of MtbICL2 can be reimagined by grafting its allosteric features onto non-allosteric ICLs. We designed chimeric ICLs fusing the ligand-binding domain of MtbICL2 to the catalytic core of the non-allosteric Aspergillus nidulans ICL, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ICL1, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis ICL1, and investigated their structure and function. The enzyme activity assay results indicates that these constructs are not regulated by acetyl-CoA. The binding study revealed that the chimeric ICLs have a lower affinity to acetyl-CoA than MtbICL2. The results indicated that these non-allosteric ICLs cannot acquire allosteric capabilities simply by fusing the ligand-binding domain with the catalytic domain, and may need to undergo further evolution to establish the allosteric communication between domains. In summary, this study provides further insights into the evolutionary of allostery in MtbICL2
Invertebrate Fern Herbivory: a New Zealand Case Study
No full textInvertebrate herbivory is vital for a range of ecosystem functions, from nutrient cycling to community dynamics. Traditionally, herbivory research has focussed on angiosperms, largely overlooking ferns on the belief that ferns are not a target for herbivores. However, recent research suggests that ferns may contribute to herbivory just as much as seed plants – but uncertainty persists due to a global lack of in-depth case studies.
Therefore, my project aimed to investigate how ferns are impacted by herbivores in New Zealand. This understanding was gained by approaching from three angles: firstly, I (1) performed a semi-quantitative literature review to compare New Zealand invertebrate-fern interactions to global patterns. Secondly, I (2) performed field sampling to quantify the rates of leaf consumption in ferns, comparing these to angiosperms and between fern species. Finally, I (3) measured mechanical and chemical defensive traits in ferns, comparing between species.
I found that a wide diversity of invertebrates are recorded feeding on ferns in New Zealand, and broad taxonomic trends reflect global patterns, with a dominance of Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. However, there are clear taxonomic and spatial biases in the literature which indicate that current records may not be truly representative. Contrary to expectations, I also found that angiosperms experience higher damage than ferns. However, herbivory rates on ferns were similar to global estimates, which indicate that invertebrate herbivory on angiosperms may be unusually high in New Zealand. Finally, I also collected the first data to my knowledge of mechanical traits in ferns and found that ferns may, on average, have stronger and tougher leaves than angiosperms. I also collected new data on volatile compounds in ferns, several of which are known to have herbivore-resistant properties. I also identify several issues with the current research methodology and highlight knowledge gaps and sources of biases in current research in the fern herbivory space. Overall, my findings demonstrate that ferns are indeed an important food source for invertebrates in New Zealand, and in doing so, offer a compelling case study which I hope may promote further research and offer new perspectives in the long-standing global fern herbivory debate
Digital Noticing: A Qualitative Study of Teachers’ Interactions With Digital Data
No full textIn New Zealand, as in many countries worldwide, schools have increasingly integrated
digital learning platforms into their instructional practice. The widespread adoption of these
platforms has led to the collection of large amounts of digital data on learners and their
environments. This thesis explores how a group of New Zealand middle school teachers attend
to, interpret, and respond to digital data from two commercially available digital learning
platforms.
This doctoral study intersects two key fields: data-informed decision making and the use
of digital data in education. Although numerous teacher data use frameworks have been
developed, those tailored to digital data remain limited. Current frameworks lack the granularity
to describe teachers’ interactions with digital data or to account for contributing professional,
technological, and contextual factors. Moreover, most frameworks have been designed for
preservice teachers or for contexts outside compulsory schooling.
This research was conducted as a single case study within one New Zealand school. Six
teachers, representing a range of subject areas and varying levels of teaching expertise,
participated in the study. Data were gathered over three school terms and included pre and post
interviews, an initial data snapshot survey, recordings of eight professional data conversations,
and entries from seven reflective logs. Data were thematically analysed and used to contribute a
model of how teachers interpret digital data in a professional learning setting.
Key findings highlight the influence of dashboard design in prioritising the digital data to
which teachers attended. In the interpreting phase, teachers tended to interpret data through a
confirmatory lens, framing their interpretations in ways that reinforced their intuition,
experience, and professional judgement. In the responding phase, more experienced teachers demonstrated a greater breadth of proposed instructional responses compared with their less
experienced counterparts.
This research adopts and extends a theoretical framework rooted in the teacher noticing
literature. The resulting digital noticing framework contributes microlevel processes and
contributing factors, offering insights into how teachers interact with digital data in professional
learning contexts. The study’s implications for practice and policy include recommendations for
stakeholders across the educational spectrum including platform designers, teacher education
institutions, school leadership, and practitioners