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Are our children protected from skin cancer? Setting the table for improved sun protection in New Zealand
No full textNew Zealand has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) during childhood has been identified as a significant factor. With climate change, the number of people affected is expected to increase substantially. Protective methods like sunscreen, and protective clothing, are often promoted, but many scholars argue they are inadequate protection. While landscape design of children’s play spaces may also play a role, little is known about the extent to which currently designed play spaces protect children from over exposure. Using school grounds in Christchurch, New Zealand as a case study, we use a mixed methodology of indepth interviews with public schoolyard stakeholders and a novel evidence-based design methodology for evaluating the extent to which Christchurch school grounds protect children from over-exposure. Initial findings indicate that a large percentage of activity areas in schoolyards are unshaded. Furthermore, they are frequently characterised by unpleasant microclimates and poor play opportunities. Recommendations for improved design guidelines for schoolyards in support of sun protection behaviours among children are provided
Body composition estimation in breeding ewes using live weight and body parameters utilizing image analysis
Get PDFFarmers are continually looking for new, reliable, objective, and non-invasive methods for evaluating the conditions of ewes. Live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) are used by farmers as a basis to determine the condition of the animal. Body composition is an important aspect of monitoring animal condition. The body composition is the amount of fat, muscle, and bone; knowing the amount of each is important because the information can be used for better strategic management interventions. Experiments were conducted to establish the relationship between body composition and body parameters at key life stages (weaning and pre-mating), using measurements automatically determined by an image processing application for 88 Coopworth ewes. Computerized tomography technology was used to determine the body composition. Multivariate linear regression (MLR), artificial neural network (ANN), and regression tree (RT) statistical analysis methods were used to develop a relationship between the body parameters and the body composition. A subset of data was used to validate the predicted model. The results showed a correlation between fat, muscle, and bone determined by CT and the fat, muscle, and bone weight estimated by the live weight and body parameters calculated using the image processing application, with r² values of 0.90 for fat, 0.72 for muscle, and 0.50 for bone using ANN. From these results, farmers can utilize these measurements to enhance nutritional and management practices
Traditional food and nutrition security: Findings from Nagaland and Assam
No full textPresentation given at the conference From Research to Impact: Towards just and resilient agri-food systems, 11 October, 2023
Seed yield of two white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars grown in different row spacings : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University
Get PDFThis investigation compared the seed yield of two cultivars (‘Legacy’, ‘Quartz’) of white clover and related these to morphological development and light interceptance in different row spacings (30, 45, 60 cm) and light regimes (north and south). This experiment at AgResearch, Lincoln in Canterbury, New Zealand ran from 17th March 2021 until a final (mechanical) harvest on the 25th February 2022. The development of tagged stolons was monitored weekly. Light interception and ground cover were recorded weekly until canopy closure. In addition, three destructive harvests were taken to capture key morphological characteristics of stolon length and seed yield from stolon, hand (quadrat) and mechanical harvests. Above average rainfall immediately prior to harvest resulted in low yields, which was consistent with regional commercial white clover seed yields. ‘Legacy’ produced more seed (792 kg/ha) than ‘Quartz’ (552 kg/ha) when harvested by hand. However, ‘Quartz’ may have had a higher seed potential because it had more juvenile buds and flowers present at desiccation compared with ‘Legacy’. Later desiccation of ‘Quartz’ would enable further flower ripeness and seed yield and it is hypothesised it may then have had seed yields comparable or higher than ‘Legacy’. The ‘Quartz’ phyllochron was 17.5°Cd less than ‘Legacy’ and it had a faster node appearance and stolon extension rate with more branches produced. This resulted in more leaves and total stolon length at stolon harvest compared with ‘Legacy’. An increase in row spacing or the sunny side of rows (north) may have resulted in microclimates, with increased soil surface temperature and light quality. Altered morphological traits due to agronomic decisions (row side or spacing) did not translate into higher seed yield, probably due to poor pollination and the wet conditions during harvest. Higher dry matter and leaf nitrogen was produced by ‘Legacy’ while ‘Quartz’ had more morphological structures (branches) to increase intercepted PAR. The environment of wider rows enabled the expression of these morphological characteristics for ‘Quartz’ and delayed critical leaf area which was favourable for flower development due to light quality. ‘Legacy’ had fewer branches and may produce higher yields when sown in narrower rows that achieve critical leaf area quickly to optimise PAR interception that can be converted to seed yield. Surprisingly leaf size did not differ between cultivars on the two dates it was sampled. However ‘Quartz’ exhibited many traits associated with smaller leaved cultivars while ‘Legacy’ responded as a larger leaved cultivar. ‘Legacy’ achieved critical leaf area quickly in narrower rows suggesting this cultivar is suitable for grazing systems however this poses challenges for seed production due to greater biomass production and subsequent shading from leaves
Policy uncertainty and bank's funding costs: The effects of the financial crisis, Covid-19 pandemic, and market discipline
No full textThis paper examines the impacts of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on bank funding costs using the 2001–2021 data of US banks. We document consistent evidence of a negative relationship between EPU and bank funding costs, implying lower bank funding costs during a time of high EPU, consistent with the hypothesis that economic agents tend to reallocate their assets into safer investments, such as bank deposits during high uncertainty. Large banks are likely to benefit most during high EPU when experiencing lower costs of funds compared with other banks, suggesting the “too-big-to-fail” perception of depositors. Cross-sectional analysis indicates that depositors require safer banks to pay lower rates, indicating the existence of market discipline. The cost-decreasing effects of policy uncertainty are less pronounced during the global financial crisis than the Covid-19 crisis
Impact of internet use on value and diversity of risky financial asset portfolios
No full textThis study analyzed the impact of internet use on the value and diversity of risky financial asset portfolios. Portfolio diversity was computed using the Simpson and Shannon Indexes, and a double-robust inverse-probability-weighted regression adjustment estimator was used to analyze the 2017 China Household Finance Survey data. Findings showed that internet use was associated with higher value and diversity of risky financial asset portfolios. The associations were stronger for females than males. Specifically, internet use was associated with an increase of 57% in portfolio values of females compared to 18% of males; it was associated with increases of 310–313% and 97–99% in the portfolio diversity of females and males, respectively
Evaluating the effectiveness of a feral cat control operation using camera traps
No full textFeral cats (Felis catus) have a negative impact on native biodiversity in New Zealand. As such, their
populations require careful management and monitoring of the effectiveness of these management operations. We used camera traps to assess (1) effectiveness of an intensive cat control operation, and (2) the level of reinvasion six months later. Cat abundance was estimated on a pastoral property in Hawke’s Bay, North Island, New Zealand, subject to cat control using trapping and shooting. Forty cameras were placed on a grid with 500 m spacing and deployed for a total of nine weeks: (1) pre-control, (2) immediately post-control, and (3) six-months post control. Cat abundance was estimated using an index-manipulation-index (IMI) method. The IMI method estimated an c. 84% decrease in cat abundance immediately post-control, suggesting the operation worked well at removing most resident cats at this site. The detections observed six months later suggest reinvasion was very low
Multipixel metamaterial lens imaging system
No full textAn experimental 5-pixel microwave imaging system, operating at 3 GHz, is demonstrated. It employs a planar negative-refractive index lens. A single pixel comprises a pair of small-loop antennas (receive and transmit), that are each loaded by dielectric resonators to enhance sensitivity. The receive loop is on the image plane. The object is scanned across the object plane. Plotting the transmission between the two loops versus object scan position, an image can be constructed from each pixel. A single image can be constructed by combining all pixel data with a reduced object scan range
Spatial planning along the ecological tightrope
No full textThere is a significant change coming to the way that we do environmental planning.
The forthcoming Spatial Planning Act (SPA) will challenge us to think of our regions as ‘ecologies’.
This holistic view of accommodating people and repairing ecosystems, represents a profound and necessary change to planning beyond zoning areas for different activities.
The damage from Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted the maladaptive regulatory environment for managing erosion. Elsewhere, nitrates progressively contaminate aquifers, lakes, and estuaries.
Many regions face significant transition costs to more sustainable land-uses. Many of our ecosystems are incessantly disturbed, and their resilience and biodiversity comprised
In-vitro digestibility, protein digestibility corrected amino acid, and sensory properties of banana-cassava gluten-free pasta with soy protein isolate and egg white protein addition
Get PDFSoy protein isolate and egg white protein were added to cassava-banana gluten-free pasta and the effects on the nutritional quality, digestibility properties, protein digestibility corrected amino acid (PDCAA), and sensory acceptance of the pasta was observed. Banana-cassava composite flour (75:25) was blended with soy protein isolate or egg white protein at the following rates: 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/100 g flour. Cooked pasta samples were analysed for total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, amino acid profiles, protein content, starch digestibility, protein digestibility and protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). Addition of both proteins decreased starch digestibility, increased protein digestibility, improved the balance of the amino acid profile, and PDCAAS whereas only soy protein isolate enhanced the TPC and antioxidant capacity of the banana-cassava pasta. An egg white protein-fortified banana-cassava pasta had better customer acceptance and purchase intent than soy protein isolate inclusion