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Automated Scientific Narrative Generation Through Computational Provenance and Dynamic Authoring Frameworks
No full textDespite the growing quantity of born-digital research, scholarly articles remain
tethered to flattened PDFs—unable to expose or verify the computations they summarize. We
present a publication container that couples provenance-generating eScience infrastructures
with Dynamic Authoring Frameworks (DAFs). Using this method, an article is modelled as a
set of symbolic operations over provenance. The result is a procedural narrative whose claims
are anchored to deterministic combinations of operations and provenance, enabling verification.
To enhance this method we place LLM inference tasks inside the DAF for small, constrained
tasks. This mitigates hallucination, supports granular attribution, and enables researchers
to move “warrant” making away from LLM inference, to the explicit operations within the
DAF. Using a remote-sensing case study (CoastSat), we show how this method can produce
consistent, accurate, and generative methodological descriptions from provenance. We argue
that for modern scholarly communication to support generative text, it must move beyond
“flat” scholarly articles towards more formal representations of authorship
Singing Along with the Social Rhythms: Andrei Bely’s Attempts at Soviet Travel Writing
No full textIn the canon of Soviet travel writings of the 1920s–30s, Andrei Bely’s lesser-known book Veter s Kavkaza (1928, not reprinted since its first publication) and the essay Armenia (1929) are something of an oddity. They are generally seen аs an active attempt on his part to become a Soviet writer. This attempt by all accounts had very limited success, but the intention was genuine, and it enters into a most intriguing constellation with the more successful travel writings of the same period that ostensibly are based on the same practice of participatory observation as was practiced by members of LEF and other literary groups. Bely’s writings are more about observation itself than they are about anything else. His entire approach to the subject matter of his travel narratives is based on an obsessive mapping of the topography of his journey in an attempt to learn (by his own account) the Goethean art of seeing—not just the physical topography but also the past and the future of the human landscape in its revolutionary transformation. Ultimately, Bely’s spatially focused narrative seeks to see and represent time, and for this reason suffers the most spectacular failure, which Bely the Kantian and Bely the Symbolist wants to celebrate, but Bely the Soviet writer desperately tries to overcome. The article examines this failure in the broader political and artistic context of the time.</jats:p
Older informal caregivers’ experiences following the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textRecognising that informal (also termed family, whānau, aiga or unpaid) caregivers/carers are a
vital part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system, providing care and support for loved ones,
whānau, friends and neighbours, this study aimed to explore the experiences of older informal
caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority research questions were: how did informal
caregivers experience caregiving during the pandemic, and how might we support them during
another pandemic, disaster, or national emergency? To our knowledge, this is the first
exploration of such experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand. We wanted to understand the
unprecedented challenges and barriers informal caregivers faced during the pandemic and
highlight the resilience and mana (power, strength) of informal caregivers in overcoming them.
To explore the lived experiences of informal caregiving during the pandemic, the research team
travelled across New Zealand between May 2023 and February 2024 to conduct 81 in-depth
interviews, with 73 completed face-to-face, four via Zoom and four by phone. A total of 34 male
and 47 female informal caregivers were interviewed, including 35 Māori and 46 non-Māori. The
mean age of participants was 66 years old. Thirty-nine rural and 42 urban-dwelling informal
caregivers were interviewed, and the study covered both the North and South Islands. A
Kaupapa Māori researcher and a Māori adviser oversaw appropriate tikanga (processes), kōrero
(discussion) and manaakitanga (care and support) for all the Māori participants interviewed.
The COVID-19 pandemic placed significant strain on older informal caregivers in Aotearoa New
Zealand, exacerbating existing challenges and exposing critical gaps in support systems. Many
participants experienced heightened emotional and psychological distress due to increased
caregiving demands, social isolation, and the disruption of formal and informal support
networks. The closure of essential services meant that informal caregivers in this study had to
navigate complex healthcare systems with little guidance, often facing bureaucratic hurdles
and limited access to respite care. Financial strain further compounded these difficulties, with
some participants struggling to meet the rising costs associated with informal caregiving while
experiencing reduced income or employment instability. For Māori participants, the inability to
engage in kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) interactions with whānau and communities
disrupted cultural traditions such as whanaungatanga, tangihanga (funeral practices), and
communal caregiving, intensifying feelings of isolation and distress.
Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability,
drawing on their life experiences (or "resilience in older people") and existing support systems to
navigate the pandemic. Many participants relied on self-sufficiency, using strategies learned
from past crises and disasters such as the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes and the
1940s/1950s polio epidemics to manage caregiving responsibilities and everyday challenges
with limited external assistance. Strengthened relationships with care recipients and an
increased sense of community support were positive outcomes for some participants, who
found solace in tighter family bonds and mutual aid from neighbours and local groups. Māori
participants, in particular, emphasised the importance of cultural and community-based
networks, with iwi and extended whānau playing crucial roles in providing informal support.
These findings underscore the need for policies that recognise and support the diverse needs of
informal caregivers, including tailored caregiving assistance, clearer communication about available services, and culturally responsive caregiving frameworks that strengthen resilience in
future health crises.
Findings from this study highlight the need for: 1) tailored, context-specific support systems:
Formal support services must be more flexible to accommodate the diverse needs of informal
caregivers, particularly those in rural and Māori communities; 2) Improved access to
information and services: Many participants were unaware of available support, pointing to the
need for clearer, caregiver-specific communication and helplines; 3) Enhancing emotional and
social support mechanisms: Regular check-ins from healthcare providers and community
groups could alleviate the emotional burden of caregiving; and 4) Resilience-based and
bicultural approaches to caregiving support: Policies should integrate Māori perspectives on
informal caregiving and strengthen social capital among informal caregivers. It is clear from this
research that no one-size-fits-all approach is appropriate for supporting informal caregivers.
This research provides a critical evidence base for improving the support structures available to
informal caregivers, ensuring they are better prepared for future pandemics, disasters, and
national emergencies
RGIK guidelines for compiling consistent rock glacier inventories
No full textRock glaciers are characteristic and ubiquitous periglacial landforms. They contain key information for understanding the past and present evolution of the mountain cryosphere, as well as for addressing a range of more applied concerns such as water supply/quality and geohazard assessment, especially in relation to ongoing climate change. Their spatial distribution and characterization, including their state of activity, has long been documented by means of rock glacier inventories (RoGIs). However, owing to the inherent morphological complexity of these landforms, contrasting definitions, and limited international cooperation, most RoGIs compiled around the globe exhibit a high degree of heterogeneity. This is a critical shortcoming that hampers our ability to combine RoGIs across regions towards the compilation of a global inventory. To address this limitation, the International Permafrost Association (IPA) Action Group (2018–2023) on Rock Glacier Inventories and Kinematics (RGIK) has fostered and coordinated international collaborative work to develop widely accepted guidelines for inventorying rock glaciers, including the characterization of kinematic behavior (RGIK, 2023a). Accordingly, a technical definition of rock glaciers and a methodological workflow for inventorying these landforms are provided. This RGIK definition relies on three morphological criteria: the mandatory evidence of a rock glacier front and adjoining lateral margins, and optionally, ridge-and-furrow topography. Deliberately, the definition does not address the questions of formative mechanism(s) and ice origin. To account for landform complexity, a hierarchical classification scheme of rock glacier units (RGUs) and systems (RGSs) is also introduced. The methodological workflow is composed of four steps: (i) detection, which consists of rock glacier identification according to the relevant morphological criteria; (ii) location, which involves assigning a georeferenced primary marker to each RGU and RGS; (iii) characterization, which among a set of optional attributes, entails assigning a geomorphological type of upslope connection and a degree of activity to each RGU; and (iv) delineation, in which the rock glacier outline is mapped and relevant degree of uncertainty is documented. Primarily, this workflow is based on a geomorphological approach, which may be supported with a kinematic approach, when reliable kinematic data is available. The coordination of ongoing testing, training, and prospective developments is entrusted to the IPA Standing Committee on RGIK, which was established in 2024
Investigating the genetic underpinnings of ongoing Fall Armyworm (FAW) range expansion in Aotearoa New Zealand.
No full textSpodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; FAW) is a major agricultural pest native to the Americas, with the first reported invasion of Africa in early 2016. Since then, FAW has spread rapidly across Africa and Asia before invading Australia (2020) and first being detected in Aotearoa New Zealand in February 2022. Here, we assessed the whole genomes of 34 novel FAW individuals along the invasion front (representing three new invasive populations from Cambodia, Australia, and New Zealand) with the largest publicly available global FAW genome dataset (n = 173), resulting in a dataset of 112 and 99 samples from the invasive and native range, respectively, to: (1) place the new invasive populations within the global invasion; (2) identify the potential geographic origin of the New Zealand invasion, including from a single or multiple incursion event; and (3) assess pre- existing insecticide resistance potential at the invasion front. We confirm that these new invasions conform to the broad population structure of the initial invasive populations identified in Benin (West Africa), all of which belong to the invasive corn strain, as defined through previous triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) analysis and associated isolation from specific host plants. While we could not confidently assign the source population of the New Zealand invasion, we find preliminary support for a multiple introduction hypothesis in our data, which could contribute to increased genetic diversity within the New Zealand population. Further sampling is therefore required to fully characterise the origins of the New Zealand invasion. In novel samples, we detected putative insecticide resistance alleles previously reported in other invasive populations. These resistant loci should be tracked over time to understand the mechanisms enabling the invasion success of FAW in the Asia- Pacific region. We emphasise that sharing of genomic resources between institutions and consortia is an essential first step in the control of this global invader
The enduring negotiations of being and becoming : an acknowledgement of Karl Spracklen’s leadership in rugby league scholarship.
No full textKarl Spracklen has been, and remains as, one of the leading critical scholars of rugby league. Through his early work examining identity, race, society and rugby league to more modern reexaminations, Karl has paved the way for rugby league scholarship to embrace criticality and move beyond the confines of social history. This essay provides insight into the impact of Karl Spracklen in the world of rugby league scholarship through the sharing of stories and reflections from the author. In paying tribute to the career of Karl, this essay will open the door for the continued building upon the foundations that he has laid
Project Report 1: Challenges accessing timely and reliable COVID-19 communication among linguistic minority communities in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textThis report is the first in a series for the project ‘Transforming crisis communication for linguistic
minority communities.’ The project aimed to foster more inclusive, effective and interactive crisis
communication for linguistic minorities, most of whom are migrants and former refugees, through
exploring their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ōtautahi Christchurch
Modern re-investigation and reactivity of [Co(dien)(en)Cl]²⁺ stereoisomers,
No full textThis thesis presents a modern reinvestigation of the cobalt(III) polyamine system [Co(dien)(en)Cl]²⁺ and its intramolecular condensation chemistry with 2-keto acids. The first part of the work revisits the classical stereochemical problem of the four proposed OC-6 stereoisomers. Using low temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction, ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, UV–visible and IR spectroscopy, and ESI mass spectrometry, three stereoisomers, pp-f-OC-6-24, ps-f-OC-6-34 and OC-6-44-ma-[Co(dien)(en)Cl]2+, were prepared and isolated as their tetrachloridozincate salts. Modern crystallography data collection at 120 K and refinement with current SHELX programs gave significantly improved structural models compared with the original 1970s room temperature studies, including reliable hydrogen atom placement and defined ligand conformations. Re-examination of the historical synthetic routes showed that the fourth, alleged OC-6-44-ms isomer cannot be reproduced as a pure compound and is best explained as a mixture containing [Co(en)₃]³⁺ and N-bound nitro substituted cobalt(III) species. The adoption of OC-6 CIP stereodescriptors and the removal of N-bound nitrite and tris(ethane-1,2-diamine)cobalt(III) impurities place the stereochemistry of [Co(dien)(en)Cl]²⁺ on a secure structural footing.
The second part of the thesis explores intramolecular condensation between these stereochemically defined precursors and pyruvate to form coordinated imine chelates. Under basic conditions, the two facial stereoisomers OC-6-24 and OC-6-34-[Co(dien)(en)Cl]2+, both give the same pair of imine complexes, mmₐ-[Co(Aimen)(dien)]²⁺ and mf-[Co(Aimdien)(en)]²⁺ in a ~55:45 ratio, which were isolated chromatographically and fully characterised by NMR, UV–visible, IR, ESI-MS and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Quantitative analysis of isolated yields and ¹³C{¹H} integrations of the C=N, COOM and CH₃ reporter carbons shows that both facial precursors produce these two imines in very similar ratios, with a slight favour towards the en-condensed product. This indicates that ligand substitution by pyruvate does not preserve the facial geometry in a simple way but instead proceeds via a common pyruvate intermediate or small family of intermediates. When followed by dehydration, only conformations that allow a planar imine–keto fragment are formed.
In marked contrast, the meridional OC-6-44-mₐ stereoisomer does not follow this clean pattern. Even under more forcing conditions involving silver promoted chloride abstraction, it yields complex mixtures of aqua substituted starting material, carbinolamine and coordinated pyruvate species with only minor possible imine formation.
Finally, the condensation chemistry was extended to aromatic 2-keto systems. Attempts to condense 2-acetylpyridine and related keto acids directly onto [Co(dien)(en)Cl]²⁺ stereoisomers did not give isolatable imine products under the conditions used, whereas analogous reactions with cis-[Co(tren)Cl₂]⁺ were successful and gave a well-defined f(m)m-[Co(Mepimtren)Cl]+ complex, related to previously reported Co(III) pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde systems. The new tren ligand based product was characterised by NMR, UV–visible, IR and X-ray crystallography, and the structural metrics fall in line with those of the [Co(dien)(en)Cl]-derived imines and earlier cobalt(III) imino acid complexes. Taken together, the results of this thesis show how modern crystallography and multidimensional NMR can resolve long standing stereochemical ambiguities, and demonstrate that coordinated imine formation in cobalt(III) polyamine systems is controlled primarily by the requirement for a planar, conjugated imine–keto fragment rather than by the initial stereochemistry alone
Cross-lagged relationship between interpersonal closeness, early language skills and emotion understanding among toddlers
No full textThis longitudinal study examined how parent–child closeness, teacher–child closeness and language skills predicted and were predicted
by emotion understanding in early years. Participants were 128 Hong-Kong-Chinese toddlers (74 girls; Mage
= 33.03 months). Parents and teachers reported their closeness with each child, and children’s oral language and emotion understanding were tested at two
timepoints 6 months apart. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the unique contribution of children’s language skills to
their emotion understanding increased over time whereas that of parent–child and teacher–child closeness decreased, and language
skills consistently had a greater influence on emotion understanding than relationship closeness did. Cross-lagged modelling analyses
showed a unidirectional link from earlier parent–child closeness predicting later emotion understanding, a unidirectional link from
earlier emotion understanding predicting later teacher–child closeness and a bidirectional relation between oral language and emotion
understanding. This study connects children’s emotion understanding with their own characteristics and their social relationships in
the family and classroom settings, providing a fuller picture of early emotional development across multiple contexts