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Pedagogies of kindness for student completion, retention, and wellbeing
No full textParticipants will hear reasons and small scale evidence for being very supportive to students in the way they communicate with them, especially around late assignments
Publish or perish: Death in the publication performance
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to share a poem I wrote as I seek to publish findings from my PhD. The poem, which can be considered as a form of evocative autoethnography, expresses trauma incurred during childhood triggered by feedback accompanying a desk reject. The poem echoes internalised judgement but also seeks to provide hope that achievement is possible even in the face of what feels insurmountable. The backdrop of the poem is the neo-liberal university, the emotive and perilous demand to publish or perish, as well as patriarchal mansplaining
Secure and defensive forms of national identity and public support for climate policies
No full textThe European Union currently aims to achieve fossil fuels independence and to become the first climate-neutral continent by endorsing the Green Deal policy agenda. In this work, we focus on the role of secure and defensive forms of national identity in shaping citizens’ readiness to support versus oppose public policies aimed at climate neutrality and support for sources of energy perceived as traditional and non-traditional. Namely, we distinguish between national narcissism, which is a belief that one’s national group is exceptional and deserves external recognition underlain by unsatisfied psychological needs, and secure national identification, which reflects feelings of strong bonds and solidarity with one’s ingroup members, and sense of satisfaction in group membership. We hypothesize that in contrast to secure national identification, national narcissism, due to its motivational underpinnings, is related negatively to support for climate-change mitigating solutions. In Study 1 (N = 1134), we show that while secure national identity is positively related to support for developing renewable sources of energy and the Green Deal policy agenda, national narcissism is positively related to support for fossil fuel energy (and vice versa). In Study 2 (N = 1016), we found that allocating funds for reinforcing the green image of a country goes hand in hand with the support for policies aimed at mitigating climate change among those high in national narcissism. We put these findings in perspective by discussing the role of national narratives around the traditional sources of energy in shaping support for climate change mitigating policies
A Kaupapa Māori Intervention on Apology for LDS Church's Racism, Zombie Concepts, and Moving Forward
No full textThis intervention paper, based on the Kaupapa Māori writing inquiry, aims to offer an alternative path forward to the idea that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should apologise for its racism. It argues that an apology is redundant to the Indigenous World. The goal is for better Church-Indigenous relations in the face of racism rooted in The Book of Mormon, Church Policy, doctrine, teachings, and theology. The author develops a positionality and outlines mahi tuhituhi as a Kaupapa Māori (post) qualitative writing inquiry. The Author then moves to contextualise these issues by framing them with what sociologists describe as Zombie Concepts. A brief overview of the Book of Mormon and its significance in Mormonism is provided. Following that, an understanding of the connection between Aileen Moreton-Robinson's white possessive and Lamanitism is provided. Hagoth and his relationship with Tāngata Moana (Māori and Pacific Peoples) is then addressed. Recent remarks by Thomas Murphy to help readers understand the racism in the Book of Mormon. Other issues for Indigenous Peoples are highlighted, with an emphasis on anachronisms and the Book of Mormon's plagiarism. The investigation then shifts to provide Veracini's commentary on settling to build relationality is discussed from the viewpoint of Aotearoa New Zealand. A discussion of the issues is followed by an outline of the research's consequences, which include seven issues that need to be addressed as part of the relationality building in order to create a collaborative future values-based project to move Church-Indigenous relations forward in a positive way
Behavior of Different β Stabilizers on the Microstructure and Properties of Ternary Ti‐3Sn‐X Alloys
Get PDFThe manufacturing of Ti alloys via powder metallurgy and the development of novel compositions are two strategies to reduce the cost of Ti, which is still the primary factor deterring its wider use in engineering applications. In this study, new Ti alloys based on the combined addition of Sn with Nb, Mo, or Mn are manufactured via powder metallurgy to gain an understanding of the role of these β stabilizers on the performance achievable. It is found that the designed alloys have a fully homogeneous chemistry regardless of their actual composition and a lamellar or β‐type microstructure depending on the actual β stabilizer used. This study confirms that the β‐stabilizing power effect decreases from Mn to Mo and, eventually, Nb. The compressibility and sinterability of the alloys increase with the progressive addition of the selected powders, generally leading to stronger and more ductile materials. It is also found that the proposed Ti‐3Sn‐Mo alloys are characterized by the best strength/ductility pairs compared to a variety of sintered or cast binary/ternary Ti alloys bearing the alloying elements considered in this work
He oranga tō te wai: Māori Pedagogies - A Culturally Responsive View of Aquatic Education and Drowning Prevention in Aotearoa
Get PDFDrowning is a leading cause of accidental death and hospitalisation among Māori in Aotearoa. Drowning reports (Water Safety New Zealand, 2010, 2016, 2019) indicate Māori are over-represented in drowning compared to non-Māori, and on average account for up to a quarter of all drowning fatalities each year. Māori male aged 15-44 years and Māori children under five are most at risk of drowning (WSNZ, 2018, 2). A recent Aotearoa study on children’s water survival skills suggest changes are needed to improve how children develop fundamental aquatic skills and how teachers can best teach those skills (Button et al., 2017). In particular, the teaching of water safety skills for broader use in the open water environments of Aotearoa.
Māori pedagogies within physical education, health, and education in the outdoors (Hemara, 2000; Jackson et al, 2016; Phillips, 2018) have demonstrated the benefits of Māori teaching methods that foster positive learning outcomes for Māori. (Bishop & Berryman, 2006, 2009). As such, this research investigated core components of Māori pedagogies that can improve aquatic education for Māori. It sought to validate traditional and contemporary aquatic teachings and water safety practices that Māori exercise as an expression of ira tangata (human development) and their relationship with te ao tūroa (the long-standing world). By means of kaupapa Māori research and the development of a new framework - Tāne Whānau Mārama, this thesis offers valuable insights into the importance of culturally responsive pedagogies in aquatic education that will enhance the health, educational achievements, and well-being of Māori whānau and communities
The spatial dynamics of zooplankton communities in the Waikato River estuary, New Zealand
Get PDFEstuaries are transitional areas between streams or rivers and the ocean. Estuaries are affected by fluvial factors, such as freshwater and sediment inputs, and marine factors, including tidal influence, waves, and the inflow of salt water. The inherently dynamic nature of estuaries results in extreme changes in hydrographic characteristics, with the distribution of zooplankton being highly influenced. Zooplankton provide a crucial role in the biological communities of big rivers. However, they are extremely sensitive to environmental changes, particularly in estuarine environments. Consequently, this study aimed to examine how changes in physicochemical properties, such as salinity, affect species richness and zooplankton community composition along the Waikato River estuary, fed by New Zealand’s largest river. Eight sites were selected to represent the salinity gradient from the river mouth to a point where salinity was undetectable. Environmental variables, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, and chlorophyll-a, as well as zooplankton communities, were examined at spring high tide (25 January 2023), spring low tide (8 March 2023) and neap high tide (15 March 2023).
A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that salinity explained the greatest proportion of variation in zooplankton community composition (26.8%, P=0.002). At the lower extreme of the gradient, zooplankton assemblages of the freshwater sites were dominated by freshwater rotifers such as Lecane luna, Synchaeta oblonga, Brachionus calyciflorus and Filinia novaezealandiae. The zooplankton assemblages of the saltwater sites were dominated by marine copepods, such as Oithona similis, Paracalanus parvus, Microsetella norvegica, and marine cladocerans such as Pleopis polyphemoides. Dissolved oxygen also significantly influenced zooplankton composition, independent of salinity (9.3%, P=0.004).
At sites characterised by intermediate salinities in the Waikato River estuary, typical estuarine copepods (e.g., Gladioferens pectinatus) were absent. Sampling was conducted after high precipitation as well as a severe tropical cyclone which caused heavy rainfall and flooding. The strong influence of the tidal and riverine forces caused an unstable habitat for mid-salinity zooplankton communities to survive. It is predicted that with climate change, extreme weather events will likely become more frequent and severe in the future which pose a threat to less tolerant zooplankton species
Characterising the Physiological Responses of Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Subjected to Heat and Oxygen Stress.
Get PDFIn New Zealand, during the hottest periods of the year, some salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds reach water temperatures above the optimal range for Chinook salmon. High levels of mortality are recorded during these periods, emphasising the importance of understanding thermal stress in this species. In this study, the responses of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to chronic, long-term changes in temperature and dissolved oxygen were investigated. This is a unique investigation due to the duration of the stress events the fish were exposed to. Health and haematological parameters were analysed alongside gene expression results to determine the effects of thermal stress on Chinook salmon. Six copies of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) were discovered and characterised: HSP90AA1.1a, HSP90AA1.2a, HSP90AA1.1b, HSP90AA1.2b, HSP90AB1a and HSP90AB1b, as well as two copies of SOD1, named SOD1a and SOD1b. The amino acid sequences contained features similar to those found in other vertebrate HSP90 and SOD1 sequences, and the phylogenetic tree and synteny analysis provided conclusive evidence of their relationship to other vertebrate HSP90 and SOD1 genes. Primers were designed for qPCR to enable the expression of all copies of HSP90 and SOD1 to be analysed. The expression studies showed that HSP90 and SOD1 were downregulated in the liver and spleen in response to longer term exposure to high temperatures and lower dissolved oxygen. HSP90 was also downregulated in the gill; however, the results for SOD1 expression in the gill were not conclusive. This study provides important insights into the physiological and genetic responses of Chinook salmon to temperature and oxygen stress, which are critical for developing sustainable fish aquaculture in an era of changing global climates
Fish biomass in Taranaki streams in relation to sources and availability of energy
Get PDFLight and temperature are the principal drivers of ecosystem function influencing nutrient cycling, energy flows, and food web dynamics. Solar irradiance controls stream thermodynamics, and in-stream temperature governs the metabolic rate of stream biota. The loss of riparian vegetation can lead to unpredictable changes in fish biomass due to variations in metabolic requirements and energy availability. In New Zealand, unshaded pasture streams have been shown to support greater fish biomass, leading to questions about supply and demand synchronies and energy sources that support fish biomass under differing light and temperature regimes.
This thesis focuses on the ecological processes in relation to the interactions among stream biota and their physical and chemical environment linking freshwater fish biomass, food web dynamics and energy availability. Using a variety of field assessments, I investigate food web dynamics and characterise energy flow with respect to land use and longitudinal riparian fragmentation in mountainous Taranaki streams, New Zealand. I further analyse the influence of alternative energy sources derived from terrestrial and marine environments and their subsidiary role in supporting fish biomass.
Fish densities and biomasses were five-fold greater in pasture than in forest streams and significant correlations were found with light intensity and water temperature (p < 0.05). Body mass to abundance (M-N) allometry was similar between land uses, but the effects of increased light and temperature in pasture streams likely resulted in increased abundance for the equivalent body sizes across the entire community.
Stable isotope analyses (SIA) revealed evidence for energetic and functional food web alterations, in response to land use. Changes in food sources were reflected by the transition in physical variables at the forest to pasture boundary. Here, non-predatory invertebrates showed a distinct food dominance transition between land uses, predominantly assimilating leaf litter (77%) in forest and shifting to periphyton (73%) in pasture. Periphyton biomass was significantly greater in pasture streams and was the most important food source for crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons), contributing 76% to crayfish diet in forest and 97% to crayfish diet in pasture. This highlights the importance of periphyton for energy transfer to higher trophic levels in streams.
Fish showed a distinct dietary reliance on both crayfish and terrestrial invertebrates in both land uses. Unexpectedly, terrestrial invertebrate inputs were five-fold greater at pasture sites when compared to forest sites (p < 0.05). Since terrestrial invertebrates are an important food source consumed by New Zealand fish species, these terrestrially derived food sources may play a significant role in the observed fish biomass. This research highlighted the role of terrestrially derived invertebrates in providing a significant subsidiary energy source, irrespective of land use.
Temperature plays a fundamental role in metabolic rates and energetic requirements of fish, emphasising the importance of temperature-driven changes in supply-demand synchronies. Importantly, summer water temperatures at pasture sites were closer to the thermal preferences of New Zealand fish species. This suggests that higher temperatures increase metabolic scope and food requirements. However, there must be sufficient food supply to compensate for rising metabolic demands of fish.
On a longitudinal scale, Taranaki streams showed localised variations in energy utilisation in response to riparian fragmentation. Non-predatory invertebrates showed a food dominance transition back to allochthonous sources at lower sites, corresponding with greater riparian vegetation cover downstream. Transitions in source dominance were also observed in longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and shortfin eel (Anguilla australis) diets, where the proportional dominance shifted from aquatic invertebrates to terrestrial invertebrates at vegetated downstream sites. These data were more reflective of recent conceptualised models derived from the Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis (RES), rather than the River Continuum Concept (RCC), with localised processes influencing pathways of energy transfer.
There is limited research on the contribution of marine-derived nitrogen (MDN) by diadromous New Zealand fish, which may provide an important subsidiary source of nutrients for stream production. MDN was detected in migratory inanga larvae (Galaxias maculatus) and shrimp (Paratya curvirostris), with these species showing comparable δ¹⁵N that reflected a period of marine residence. The incorporation of MDN was not expressed in the food web, however, most likely due to low densities of inanga and shrimp in the study reaches. High δ¹⁵N in inanga shows the potential for MDN to be incorporated into stream food webs where significant seasonal whitebait migrations occur.
This research provides critical insight into the drivers behind fish biomass, highlighting temperature-driven supply and demand synchronies and the importance of resource availability in sustaining New Zealand fish populations
A new method for producing polylactic acid biocomposites for 3D printing with improved tensile and thermo-mechanical performance using grafted nanofibrillated cellulose
Get PDFIn this work, a new methodology was developed to disperse nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF) in polylactic acid (PLA) composites for 3D printing. The nanofibres were modified by grafting PLA onto their surface through in-situ polymerisation of L-lactide. This modification changed subsequent fibre/PLA interaction and enabled the production of reinforced microparticles by a Pickering emulsion approach. We demonstrated that filaments produced with these microparticles containing up to 20 wt% of grafted CNF (g-CNF) can be processed and printed using the same printing parameters as used for neat PLA. The printed samples presented superior tensile properties, enhanced thermo-mechanical stability, and were dimensionally stable upon PLA crystallisation when g-CNF content is above 10 wt%. When heat-treated after printing the composite with 10 wt% of g-CNF achieved an ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus of 72 MPa and 5.4 GPa, respectively. Post-printing annealing also increased thermo-mechanical stability of the composites achieving a storage modulus at 80 °C up to 850 times the storage modulus of neat PLA at the same temperature