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Further examination of cross-modal association in canine (Canis familiaris) scent detection: Extending research on training dogs to identify multiple odours
No full textDogs' superior olfactory capabilities and trainability have led to widespread use of dogs
for scent detection research and work. Previous research has largely focused on dogs' ability to
detect and discriminate single odours, however more research is needed to understand dogs’
ability to use multiple sensory modalities to identify and discriminate odours. Continuing
research started by Campbell- Smith (2024), the current study hypothesized, a) dogs are capable
of using cross-modal association to match odours to images of shapes and b) the inclusion of an
error correction procedure and physical screen border on the touch screen where the images are
presented will increase dogs responding accuracy and decrease biases towards specific shapes
and screen quadrants, previously observed by Campbell-Smith. Four dogs were trained using
shaping and chaining to engage in a conditional discrimination task using an automated scent
delivery carousel and touch screen. Challenges faced early on during the initial conditional
discrimination sessions prompted the inclusion of a simple visual discrimination task and an
errorless learning procedure. The findings were largely consistent with Campbell-Smith, in that
all dogs had above chance (50%) accuracy rates overall, but none met the mastery criteria (80%)
overall. The correction procedure and physical touch screen border did reduce overall biases in
all dogs, but did not increase responding accuracy enough to meet the mastery criteria. This
suggests that the procedures used in these experiments may not be optimal for training dogs to
accurately match odours and visual stimuli. Alternative procedures should be investigated in the
future. The current findings provide more information as to dog's cross-modal identification
capabilities, as well as further understanding of dogs’ visual capabilities and a comparison of
dogs’ accuracy on conditional discrimination with and without an errorless learning procedure
Healing through culture: Kava-talanoa as a PTSD therapeutic framework
No full textIntroduction: The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasing, particularly among military personnel, first responders (police, fire, ambulance), and prison officers. PTSD is also a health economic burden, with costs linked to treatment, long-term morbidity, and increased mortality risk. Many cases go undiagnosed due to factors such as trauma-related avoidance behavior, which also negatively impacts PTSD therapy (Watkins et al., 2018, Front. Behav. Neurosci., 12:1-9). There is a significant unmet need for improved and culturally aligned PTSD treatments in the Pacific and beyond. Medical standards of care for acute anxiety/PTSD typically involve psychotropic drugs such as benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and antipsychotics. These medications offer short-term relief only, carry addictive risks, are contraindicated for key populations (e.g., the elderly), and have had harmful effects in indigenous communities. Kava (Piper methysticum) is a traditional, culturally significant Pacific Island beverage known for its soporific and relaxant effects, similar to benzodiazepine (Sarris et al., 2012, J. Hum. Psychopharmacol. Clin. Exp., 27:262-9). Unlike benzodiazepines, kava is non-addictive with regular use and extremely safe—regulated as ‘food’ in several countries (Aporosa, 2019, J. Drug Sci. Policy Law, 5:1-13). Kava does not induce marked euphoria or hallucinations (Aporosa et al., 2022, J. Ethnopharm., 291:1-15), and promotes productive discussion known as talanoa—a form of ‘talk therapy’ (Vaka et al., Issues Ment. Health Nurs., 37:537-544).
Methods: This ethics approved (21/372) study was guided by the faikava talanoa methodology (Aporosa et al., 2021, Pacific Dynamics, 5:74-92). Self-report experiences of Pacific-based UK and US military veterans and serving combat returnees (n=40) were documented in traditionally influenced kava-use spaces in which attendees engaged in talanoa. While exact kava consumption volumes were not measured, participants typically consumed 3.6 litres (6.33 pints) of kava—approximately 5,000 mg of kavalactones— over six hours. Focused coding was utilised to analyse participant comments. Results: Participants reported that engagement in talanoa within traditionally influenced kava-use spaces increased their relational connectedness, improved meaning making of trauma experiences and promoted better sleep.
Conclusions: Aided by kava’s anxiolytic soporific effects, it is suspected that kava use with talanoa reduces the triggering of ‘fear structures’, minimizes avoidance behavior and aids sleep quality, contributing to symptom reduction. Further, we believe that kava-talanoa offers an innovative, culturally augmented, A56 ABSTRACTS group-based CBT intervention (Aporosa et al., 2025, Front. Psychol., doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1460731). The f indings serve as a foundation for clinical trials (underway) to determine the efficacy of the approach as a much-needed transcultural treatment of trauma that addresses the global PTSD burden
Two Decades After Siaan Nathan’s (1999) Study: Revisiting the Responsiveness of Professional Clinical Psychology Programmes
No full textClinical psychology training programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand are predominantly monocultural and centred on perspectives from Western Europe and North America. Several initiatives have sought to address the monocultural dominance of Western psychology in training programmes, with limited sustainability. We surveyed clinical psychology programme directors (N=6) to assess the progress of programmes towards meeting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations across five key domains (Māori representation across programme staff and students, advisory group, admissions process and programme content). Promisingly, progress regarding the inclusion of Māori-focused content and faculty representation was identified. However, all directors reported that the increase in Māori student representation was slow, with half (n=3) reporting the number of tauira Māori applicants to programmes was an ongoing concern. The limited progress towards ensuring increased Māori representation was thought to reflect system constraints. The findings highlight the pressing need for clinical psychology training to fulfil Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations to support tino rangatiratanga for Māori that leads to transformative change. Notably, equity for Māori was identified as a priority through the provision of sufficient and sustainable resourcing for kaupapa Māori psychologies
Anti-racism Allyship Amongst Psychologists and Students in Psychology Training in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textRacism is a well-established social determinant of health, impacting Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, few scholarly studies have focused on racial justice allyship in Aotearoa, particularly within the psychology discipline. This study examines demographic and attitudinal factors associated with anti-racism allyship among psychologists and students in psychology training amidst escalating racist rhetoric and opposition to Māori self-determination in Aotearoa. Drawing data from an online anonymous survey (n = 280), we assessed participants’ responses on three scales: 1) Attitudes towards aspects of Māori (taha Māori); 2) Attitudes towards acknowledging the existence of racism and settler colonialism 3) Anti-racist allyship. Certain demographic groups (Pākehā, Asian, older-aged, male, or those who entered training decades ago) scored lower on these scales, indicating the need for targeted training. Regression analyses showed both ‘Attitudes towards taha Māori’ and ‘Attitudes towards racism and colonisation’ scales were significantly correlated with anti-racist allyship. Our findings call for a sustained investment in training anti-racist psychologists who are competent in providing culturally safe care and capable of challenging racial injustices. Future research is required on the development of a racial justice allyship model across all institutions that train, employ and regulate psychologists in Aotearoa that is informed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Flood risk and property value: A case study analysing the effect of disclosed flood risk maps on the housing market in Hamilton, New Zealand
No full textFlooding is among the most financially devastating natural disasters globally and in New Zealand. To manage flood risk, educating the public about its potential dangers is widely recognised as a necessity worldwide. However, in New Zealand, building development and property sales continue to thrive in officially designated flood risk areas, suggesting that published flood risk information may not be achieving its intended impact. This raises alarming concerns about whether the public effectively receives published flood risk information and to what extent it influences their decision making. However, empirical research on this topic is scarce in New Zealand, and the few existing studies only cover small portions of a case study area, lacking broader geographical representation and transferrable insights into long-term behavioural responses to flood risk information. This leaves local governments without reliable evidence to assess the effectiveness of flood risk disclosures and informed land-use decisions. One of the key reasons is the lack of nationally consistent flood risk mapping and the fragmented flood risk management approach across localities and regions, making flood risk information scattered, inconsistent, and difficult to access.
This research aims to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive empirical analysis in Hamilton City, New Zealand. Specifically, I focus on the holistic timeline of flood risk information released within the city since the first flood map was officially adopted in 2012. Specifically, Hamilton City Council (HCC) released flood risk maps and adopted them in the 2012 District Plan, followed by the introduction of online Floodviewer maps in 2020. Publishing flood risk information through two different platforms covering various urban spaces makes this a unique case study for examining the effects of flood risk on property prices. This research combines rigorous causal inference methods, including Difference-in-Differences (DID), Repeat-Sales models, and Hedonic modelling, to examine whether the release of flood risk information influences property sales in officially designated flood zones. The Results show that flood risk information has a limited impact on property prices in Hamilton City’s flood risk areas. However, in repeat sales analysis, disclosing flood risk information positively impacts housing value in these areas. These findings align with most historical research in New Zealand, indicating that it is not rare for people to disregard flood risk information in this country. This may be attributed to the absence of a unified national standard for published flood risk information and the lack of effective communication mechanisms
The impact of human dispersals and local interactions on the genetic diversity of coastal Papua New Guinea over the past 2,500 years
No full textThe inhabitants of New Guinea and its outlying islands have played an important role in the human history of the Pacific region. Nevertheless, the genetic diversity, particularly of pre-colonial communities, is still understudied. Here we present the ancient genomes of 42 individuals from Papua New Guinea (PNG). The ancient genomic results of individuals from Watom Island (Bismarck Archipelago) and the south and northeastern coasts of PNG are contextualized with new (bio-) archaeological data. The individuals’ accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates span 2,500 years of human habitation, and our results demonstrate the influences of different dispersal events on the genetic make-up of ancient PNG communities. The oldest individuals show an unadmixed Papuan-related genetic signature, whereas individuals dating from 2,100 years before present carry varying degrees of an East-Asian-related contribution. These results and the inferred admixture dates suggest a centuries-long delay in genetic mixture with local communities after the arrival of populations with Asian ancestry. Two geographically close communities on the South Coast, AMS dated to within the past 540 years, diverge in their genetic profiles, suggesting differences in their interaction spheres involving groups with distinct ancestries. The inferred split time of these communities around 650 years before present coincides with intensified settlement activity and the emergence of regional trade networks
A qualitative analysis of parent's reminiscing with their child with autism: Motivations, enablers and barriers
No full textParent-child reminiscing is a critical learning process associated with many cognitive developmental outcomes, including language acquisition, memory development and socio-emotional functioning (see Waters et al., 2019 for review). Many of these developmental outcomes are compromised for autistic children. However, only a few published studies have examined parent-child reminiscing for neurodiverse families (Faust, 2009; McDonnell et al., 2021; Raman, 2022). Moreover, none have qualitatively explored parents’ experience of and goals for reminiscing. Thus, we know little about how reminiscing might differ for children with autism or their parents. This study aimed to explore parents’ experiences of reminiscing with their child with autism, including their goals, motivations, and barriers and enablers to their participation in a three-session reminiscing intervention. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with five parent-child dyads before and after a three-session reminiscing intervention. All children had a prior diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We used reflective thematic analysis (RTA) (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2020) to explore and generate themes from pre- and post-
intervention interviews related to motivations, goals, challenges and benefits of reminiscing with a child on the autism spectrum. Findings highlight the significant influence of emotional states on conversation engagement, the challenges autistic children face in understanding conversational structure and narrative retelling, and the unique motivations parents have for reminiscing, including reminiscing as a tool for emotional regulation, preparing for and understanding social situations, and fostering a positive relationship. Participation in the intervention provided insights into the benefits and challenges of reminiscing, with parents emphasising the need for individualised support and flexibility. Our findings contribute to a small but growing body of research on parent-child reminiscing in autism, offering practical implications for future interventions. Our approach highlights the importance of aligning intervention goals with parents’ needs to enhance their effectiveness. Future research should explore parents’ motivations across larger, more diverse samples to inform autism-specific reminiscing interventions further
Innovative cold-formed steel nested tapered box section portal frames with bolted-side plate joints
No full textNested tapered box (NTB) portal frames made entirely of cold-formed steel (CFS) are widely used in New Zealand. Shahmohammadi (2019) recently described a full-scale test of such a system. The tested frame had a span of 18.16 meters and a height to the eaves of 4.27 meters. The joints of this NTB portal frame were rigid, constructed with bolted end plates. However, bolted end plate joints can be expensive due to the full penetration butt weld. This thesis proposes an alternative jointing system that uses bolted-side plates. The numerical work conducted in this study yields the following findings:
• A shell finite element (FE) model was developed and validated using previously conducted full-scale portal frame tests. This validated model was then employed to compare the performance of bolted-side plate joints with bolted end-plate joints. The analysis revealed that a portal frame with 10 mm thick bolted side plates could sustain the same load as an NTB portal frame with bolted end-plate joints. Increasing the thickness of the bolted-side plates from 10 mm to 16 mm resulted in a 20% increase in load-carrying capacity. This improvement was due to the confinement effect provided by the side plates, which reduced the slenderness ratio near the eaves joint. However, the NTB portal frame with bolted-side plates exhibited greater apex displacement compared to the frame with bolted end-plate joints.
• FE models were developed for both the eaves and apex joints of the NTB portal frame. A parametric study was then carried out involving 1,000 FE models. Using FE models, design equations are proposed for the moment capacities of the eaves and apex bolted side plates, accounting for both opening and closing moments under partial restraint.
• A parametric study was conducted using the developed design method on eight models, considering a range of spans from 25m to 40m and eaves heights from 5.5m to 6.25m, with a consistent frame spacing of 7.5m. The results showed that portal frames with bolted-side plates can carry on average 7% more load compared to those with bolted end plate joints.
• A methodology was presented to predict the load-carrying capacity of portal frames with back-to-back channel sections. It was shown that the predicted vertical loads from the proposed approach were, on average, within 1% (on an average) of the FEA results for portal frames. The same approach was applied to NTB portal frames through worked examples in Appendix B and C, demonstrating good accuracy
Jailcraft: Exploring informal knowledge and practices of corrections staff in custodial spaces
No full textCustodial officers have one of the most complex, high-risk jobs within our society. The job is formally guided and bound by organisational policy, national law and international law. However, in Aotearoa, New Zealand, the role of a custodial officer is held by a range of people to support the diverse prison population in an array of contexts, which requires nuance as not one model will be optimal for all needs. The present research aims to identify and understand the informal knowledge and informal practices held by custodial officers. Seven custodial officers employed by Ara Poutama Aotearoa from across Aotearoa, New Zealand, were interviewed for this research. These interviews were analysed using constructivist grounded theory. The theory states that a custodial staff’s experiences of recruitment and initial training will shape the attitudes they adopt and the subsequent practices they engage in. The data shows that two operational attitudes on the floor will contribute to the formal and informal behaviour of custodial officers and that tension arises out of these differences that contribute to rates of staff turnover
Validating the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS-21) across Germany, Ghana, India, and New Zealand using Rasch methodology
No full textPsychological distress is widespread globally, affects both mental and physical health, and has been significantly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reliable and valid instruments to assess psychological distress are needed so that interventions to address this condition can be directed and evaluated. We evaluated the psychometric statistics of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) using the Rasch method and a population survey sample dataset from four nations. To meet the requirements of the Rasch model, we randomly selected 500 participants (at least 110 from each country) from a total sample of 1822 individuals from Germany (n = 475), Ghana (n = 523), India (n = 411), and New Zealand (n = 413). Minor testlet modifications were necessary to achieve a satisfactory model fit for the depression (χ2 (30) = 40.32, p = 0.099), anxiety (χ2 (32) = 31.22, p = 0.510), and stress (χ2 (20) = 29.64, p = 0.076) subscales, and the full-scale (χ2 (18) = 23.93, p = 0.16). The scales were strictly unidimensional with acceptable reliability reflected by Person Separation Index (PSI) values of 0.86 for depression, 0.74 for anxiety, 0.82 for stress, and 0.87 for the total scale. The scales’ items showed invariance across the countries and sociodemographic factors. The scales also demonstrated convergent, structural, and external validities. The study supported the reliability and validity of the DASS-21 for assessing psychological distress in four countries. Rasch model algorithms developed in this study enable conversion of the ordinal DASS-21 scale and its subscale scores to interval-level scores, which increases the precision of measurement. Future studies should apply Rasch methodology to the DASS-21 in various cultural contexts, incorporating subgroup analyses