Masters Theses
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Item The Expectancy Effect and Psychedelic Microdosing: An investigation of whether expectation manipulations can enhance analgesic and cognitive performance(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2023) Letica, Mirabella Mary; Reynold, LisaThe utilisation of psychedelics in healthcare is gaining popularity as a therapeutic tool for various physical and psychological disorders. Albeit less studied, psychedelic microdosing is gaining more attention from researchers. Current anecdotal reports and observational studies proclaim various benefits from psychedelic microdosing. However, scientifically rigorous randomised controlled trials are limited. It is, therefore, unclear whether the reported benefits result from psychedelic microdosing or psychosocial factors, namely placebo effects. The present study investigated whether manipulated expectations of the analgesic or cognitive benefits of microdosing can influence individuals' objective performances and subjective perceptions of performance on a series of cognitive and analgesic tasks. Participants were randomised into three expectation groups; The analgesia manipulation group were informed that microdosing has analgesic effects, The cognition manipulation group were informed that psychedelic microdosing has cognitive benefits, and the control group did not receive any expectations. All participants consumed a placebo pill containing 100mg of Niacin, which they were told was a psychedelic microdose. Objective performance scores and subjective ratings of felt pain and cognitive function were recorded at baseline and post-microdose consumption. Participants' perceptions of felt pain relief and cognition enhancement were also collected post microdose consumption. Eighty-eight participants completed the experimental session; seven were excluded from the initial analysis. 84% of participants believed they consumed a psychedelic microdose. The 13 participants (16%) who believed they consumed a psychedelic microdose were also excluded from the analysis. The results indicated that the analgesia manipulation group held higher pain reduction expectations than the other two groups. In comparison, participants in the cognition manipulation group held higher expectations of memory enhancement but not concentration or problem solving. Regarding pain outcomes, the analgesia manipulation group reported greater analgesia compared to the cognition manipulation group. Regarding cognition, neither objective performance nor reports of cognitive enhancements were shown in the cognitive manipulation group. The present study is the first to investigate the relationship between placebo effects and psychedelic microdosing. Further, it demonstrates a novel experimental design that can effectively investigate microdosing. The findings suggest that people's expectations can influence the reporting of microdosing benefits– particularly regarding analgesic effects. The extent to which expectation contributes to broader reports about microdosing effects is still unknown and thus requires further investigation. Future research should continue to explore whether expectancies contribute to other reported microdosing effects and whether specific populations are more at risk of placebo responding.Item Glycogen Accumulation and Its Influence on Metabolite Dynamics in Diabetic Myocardium(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Driscoll, Cole; Tran, KennethThe incidence rates of both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their associated health risks continue to rise. Diabetes is associated with myocardial glycogen accumulation and increased rates of cardiac dysfunction, though the underlying mechanisms vary between T1D and T2D. Despite this, the mechanical and metabolic effects of glycogen accumulation in the myocardium remain unexplored. This study investigates the hypothesized barrier effects of glycogen on cardiomyocyte metabolites. Left-ventricular samples from streptozotocin-induced T1D rats were imaged using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to quantify mitochondrial, myofibril, and glycogen structures within cardiomyocytes. A 115% increase in glycogen area fraction was confirmed, accompanied by a 19.8% decrease in myofibril area fraction. To assess the functional and metabolic impacts of glycogen, finite element models of cardiomyocytes were created, simulating conditions with and without glycogen. Computational simulations of mitochondrial respiration and reaction-diffusion mechanisms were conducted on these finite element mesh models to evaluate glycogen's effects on metabolite diffusion and steady-state concentrations. Our simulations revealed that increased glycogen levels in diabetic cardiomyocytes led to significant increases in ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr), and inorganic phosphate (Pi), with a corresponding decrease in ADP. Additionally, glycogen amplified the spatial variability of PCr and Pi concentrations in diabetic cells, but not in control cells.Item Barking up the right tree: how unhoused dog owners navigate social support services(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Scott-Elvidge, Sophie; Hyslop, IanHomelessness is a critical social issue that affects numerous individuals globally. In New Zealand, a proportion of unhoused individuals rely on companion animals, particularly dogs, for emotional and psychological support. Despite the important role these animals play, the experiences of unhoused dog owners when accessing services for themselves and their dogs remain underexplored. This study seeks to examine the experiences of unhoused dog owners when accessing services, using social constructionism and Communities of Practice (CoPs) as theoretical frameworks. The objectives are to explore the emotional bond between unhoused individuals and their dogs, identify barriers to service access, and assess the support provided by service providers and the public. The research involved empathy interviews with three previously homeless individuals who owned dogs, and employees from four service providers (Auckland City Mission, Orange Sky NZ, The Salvation Army NZ, and Street Paws UK). Thematic analysis was applied to the interview data to extract key themes and insights. The primary strength of this study lies in its use of empathy interviews, which provided deep, qualitative insights into the personal experiences of unhoused dog owners and service providers. The study also recognises limitations such as researcher bias, constraints related to time and resources, and issues with sample size and recruitment, which were addressed through rigorous measures such as reflexive journaling, triangulation, and targeted recruitment strategies to maintain the quality and reliability of the data collected. This research confirms that unhoused dog owners share a profound emotional connection with their dogs, which greatly enhances their well-being. However, the presence of their pets creates additional barriers to accessing services. Despite these obstacles, some support is offered by service providers and the public. This study also highlights feelings of shame and mistrust towards service providers among unhoused dog owners, and reveals the need for improved collaboration, education, and advocacy in future service provision. This research thesis contributes to the understanding of the experiences of unhoused dog owners, highlighting the need for inclusive and supportive services for those with pets. The findings suggest that future efforts ought to focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by this group to enhance their well-being and social inclusion.Item Exploring Children’s Grasp of Addition: The Big Impact of Small Changes(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Huxford, Catherine; Darragh, Lisa; Kontorovich, Igor'For some decades there has been interest in how children’s mathematical thinking changes and develops over time. Studies have shown that analysis of children’s talk can provide helpful insights into how they learn mathematics. This study explored young children’s thinking in addition-focused activities. In particular, coming from the commognitive standpoint, the research focused on the observable similarities and differences in children’s discursive activity after subtle changes in the task situation. The study analysed the communication of two children in lessons that had comparable task situations. The commognitive apparatus was employed to make sense of the children's discursive routines, with attention to process-oriented (ritualistic) and outcome-oriented (explorative) aspects. Overall the findings show that subtle changes in a task situation can produce qualitative differences in young children’s communication. Additionally, subtle changes in task situations can also produce socially motivated actions even in children who objectify numbers. I argue that to encourage student participation and learning, teachers may need to take into account multiple aspects of task design. This study contributes to commognitive research conceptualising learning as a movement from ritualistic routines to explorative routines by providing empirical evidence that objectification and bondedness are distinct and the presence of one does not guarantee the presence of the other.Item Comparison of Post-Disaster Infrastructure Reconstruction Between Donor-Driven and Community-Based Approach(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Restriono, Wahyu; Latu, KilisimasiNatural disasters like cyclones, earthquakes, and floods can significantly and continuously impact the well-being and health of those affected and their communities. The reconstruction of the infrastructure after a natural disaster plays a vital role in the rehabilitation and restoration of critical services needed by the community. This study developed an infrastructure reconstruction framework based on assessing two different reconstruction approaches used in Indonesia. The donor-driven and community-based reconstruction approaches were evaluated using a mixed-method approach comprising qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data and information were collected through a survey using questionnaires from seven communities: Duyu, Tondo, Pombewe, Kayumalue Pajeko, Petobo, Panau and Pantoloan. These communities were affected by the Central Sulawesi Earthquake and Tsunami in 2018. The survey collected data from 264 participants who responded. The participants were the residents who were the beneficiaries of the reconstruction project. Quantitative and qualitative assessments were used to analyse the data on the satisfaction level of the participants with the infrastructure services, and the results were used to develop the infrastructure reconstruction framework. This study found that community-based reconstruction obtained a higher satisfaction level than donor-driven reconstruction, and the type of reconstruction selected correlates with the satisfaction level. The donor-driven approach is more suitable for implementation in resettlement projects or relocation reconstruction, where complex and sophisticated planning, design, and construction methods are required. In contrast, community-based reconstruction is more suitable in post-disaster infrastructure reconstruction projects carried out in existing settlement areas, with the integration or combination of a donor-driven approach when dealing with the need for primary or secondary infrastructure. The developed framework will provide a better understanding of reconstruction approaches and which types of reconstruction to use, particularly in infrastructure reconstruction, and input for improving and enhancing the process of post-disaster infrastructure reconstruction. This study can be further enhanced by expanding the scope of area and type of infrastructure, improving the methodology, and considering other key factors, such as socioeconomic, cultural influences, and other external variables.Item Ultraviolet Futures: A Critique of Progress(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Mathews, James; Cremin, CiaraModernity is both a subjective concept and an objective historical social formation. It is both the object of study for sociology and its condition of possibility. This coextensive relationship effectively reduces prescriptive accounts of what exceeds the constitutive antagonisms of modernity to descriptive explanations of the modern experience. Sociology cannot understand social and historical change beyond the terms of the reproduction of modernity. This thesis pinpoints this recursive, temporal feedback loop as an effect of the specific temporality of the structure of modernity. The argument of this thesis addresses the dynamics of this contradiction across four central chapters. In the first chapter, I define and explain modernity through a reconstruction of a critical exchange between three central interlocutors. This exchange identifies the self-referentiality of modernity as attributable to the specifics of its temporality and demonstrates how these dynamics circumvent modernity’s supersession. Secondly, I identify the social form of time in capitalist modernity as socially necessary labour-time. I examine how this social form appears in modernity through the transformation of historical time and as the real abstraction of mechanical clock-time. The transformation of the temporality of modernity provides the condition of possibility for the modern paradigm of progress. The third chapter critiques progress through the work of Walter Benjamin and critically examines his attempts to retemporalize modernity through messianic concepts and the dialectical image. The last chapter further develops the antinomies of progress and reveals how these antinomies mask the underlying social contradiction of progress. This clears the terrain and reevaluates the critical potential of what appears as anachronistic in modernity and to reinterpret modernity as comprised of multiple non-contemporaneous temporalities.Item tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs, exhibiting translation-inhibitory 5’-terminal oligoguanine motifs, are produced by Trichomonas vaginalis and packaged into extracellular vesicles(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Toledo, Daniel; Simoes-Barbosa, AugustoTrichomoniasis, caused by the pathogenic protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, is a widespread sexually transmitted disease causing mostly vaginitis and urethritis but also significant morbidities. Despite its high global prevalence, research into T. vaginalis struggles to gain adequate attention from the scientific community leaving substantial gaps of knowledge on the pathobiology of this medically important pathogen. A key avenue of investigation comprises understanding the impact that the RNA cargo of extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by T. vaginalis may have on parasite-to-parasite and parasite-to-host communication. T. vaginalis EVs have a subpopulation of tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) alike to tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (tiRNAs). In mammals, 5’-tiRNAAla and 5’-tiRNACys harbouring a 5’ terminal oligoguanine (TOG) motif are known for promoting translation inhibition through dissociation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (eIF4F) complex as an endogenous response to nutritional stress. To date, this pathway has not been formally described in protozoan parasites; even less is known about these tsRNA populations in protozoans and how they are produced in cells and packaged into EVs. In this study, we aimed to identify TOG-containing 5’-tiRNAAla and 5’-tiRNACys in T. vaginalis, and determine their relative abundances upon nutritional stress in cells and EVs via quantitative PCR. Secondly, we wanted to test methodologies that could allow us to determine translational inhibitory properties of these 5’-tiRNAs for future research. These include testing the performance of: antibodies to detect individual components of the human eIF4F and a luciferase reporter assay to quantify translation activity in human cells. This research demonstrated that T. vaginalis TOG-containing 5’-tiRNAAla and 5’-tiRNACys can be detected qualitatively with primers. Quantitative analysis further revealed that when nutritionally stressed, T. vaginalis cells upregulate TOG-containing 5’-tiRNAs, and this relationship is transferrable to EVs. While we could not ascertain the translational inhibitory properties of TOG-containing 5’-tiRNAs so far due to technical errors, we are one step closer to displaying this mechanism clearly. Collectively, the findings in this research broaden our knowledge of the packaging of tsRNAs into EVs and strengthen the hypothesis that T. vaginalis TOG-containing 5’-tiRNAs play a crucial role in parasite-to-host communication.Item Evaluating Flood Model Performance: A Multi-Criteria Approach to Assessing Effectiveness During the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend Floods(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024-07) van der Hilst, Tim; Dowling, ThomasHydrological-hydraulic models remain the predominant feature of flood inundation modelling around the world. However, it is difficult to apply these traditional methods to evaluate the efficacy of flood modelling given that the actual flooding process is extremely ephemeral, and therefore, it is difficult to evaluate which areas have been inundated in a flood. Therefore, approaches are needed to assess the areas inundated during flooding to test the efficacy of hydrological-hydraulic models. This thesis uses a multi-criteria approach to attempt to fill this gap. This research incorporates high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery and geolocated social media data that serve as a real-time validation tool for flood events. These methods are tested against the accuracy and validity of Tonkin & Taylor’s (T&T) Te Ararata Stream sub-catchment hydrological-hydraulic model during the Auckland Anniversary Weekend flooding in 2023. The T&T model is designed to simulate the extent and depth of inundation across the sub-catchment during a 1- in-100-year flood event for existing developments. Flooded areas confirmed by SAR and social media data were then combined with the broader T&T model to assess socio-economic vulnerability to flooding in the Te-Ararata Stream sub-catchment. The K-Means Nearest Neighbours classifier applied to the SAR imagery produced the most accurate output. SAR and social media data were integrated with T&T’s model to evaluate the effectiveness of the current flood model in forecasting flood events in the Te Ararata Stream sub-catchment. The analysis revealed that the T&T Te Ararata Stream flood model missed capturing three per cent of the total subcatchment area that experienced observed flooding during the Auckland Anniversary event. The Index of Multiple Deprivation (2018) explored deprivation levels between different socio-economic mesh blocks. The Te Ararata Stream sub-catchment encompasses highly to extremely deprived mesh blocks. A total of 53 per cent of predicted and observed flooding occurs in extremely deprived mesh blocks. This study demonstrates that using a multi-criteria approach could be considered valuable to flood modelling research, particularly the testing of the accuracy of flood hazard maps. However, hydrological-hydraulic models and SAR are often susceptible to topographic and human errors. These errors must be mitigated to produce optimal outcomes for flood inundation research.Item “Um, yeah, kind of hōhā…”: An interpretative phenomenological analysis into the mental wellbeing of young social work students studying during lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Huang, Nick; Beddoe, Liz; Hyslop, IanThere has been a growing body of literature highlighting the challenges experienced by social work students during their tertiary education journeys. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic along with its by-product of public health measures has not only created new challenges for social work students, but it has further exacerbated some of the existing challenges. This study set out to explore how the COVID-19 lockdowns impacted the mental wellbeing of social work students in Aotearoa New Zealand, how they coped during this time of uncertainty, and whether they found the supports made available to them by their universities helpful. The lived experiences of five social work students who went through COVID-19 lockdowns were gathered through semi-structured interviews. The data gathered were then subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings of this study are presented in five inter-related themes, with participants reporting that they experienced a sense of disconnect from their cohorts and lecturers, feeling dis-satisfied with the quality of learning as well as feelings of helplessness. Participants recognised that the supports from their universities were well intended, but they fell short. There was also a consensus that having social connections during lockdown appeared to be the best coping strategy. Further research and recommendations are made through this study for universities to better support their social work students to maintain their mental wellbeing during any future lockdowns.Item Exploring the Career Progression Experiences of Filipino Internationally Qualified Nurses Working in a Tertiary Hospital in New Zealand(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Valencia, Jerson Mikhail Lim; Aspinall, Cathleen; Parke, RachaelIntroduction: New Zealand (NZ) has emerged as a preferred destination for Filipino internationally qualified nurses (FIQN). It is essential to understand their career progression to maximise their potential and positively influence the healthcare system. Further investigation into career progression is necessary due to its correlation to nurse job satisfaction and retention. Aim: The aim of this research is to report the experiences of FIQNs working in a publicly funded hospital in NZ on career progression. Methodology and Methods: A qualitative descriptive research methodology was utilised to investigate the experiences of FIQNs in a publicly funded hospital in NZ. This research was guided by the transformative paradigm, which underscored the significance of comprehending participants' experiences with oppression to advocate for social justice and address inequity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 participants recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. Braun and Clarke's Reflexive Thematic Analysis was employed to analyse the data. Findings: Three primary themes were generated from the data: barriers and enablers to career progression and suggestions for success. Barriers to career progression included highly stressful roles, low-income yield, confusion with different career progression pathways, family-oriented culture, collectivist culture, effects of colonialism and upbringing, devaluing and crab mentality, and language proficiency and colloquialism. Enablers to career progression included a supportive and encouraging environment, acquiring postgraduate qualifications, cultural competency, Filipino traits, and role modelling. Suggestions for success in career progression included internal and external factors. Conclusion: This research found the supportive culture of the health organisation enabled all participants and provided a chance for them to reach their full potential and thrive in their workplace. The multifaceted career progression experiences of FIQNs in NZ were influenced by external, cultural, and internal factors and demonstrated the interplay of extensive structural barriers, enablers and suggestions to success.Item Investigating Gender Stereotypes and Educational Inequalities: From the Perspectives of Chinese High School Students and Teachers(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Yang, Qingyi; Liu, Lucen; Choo, Liyun WendyAlthough women are increasingly gaining educational achievement and socioeconomic status, gender stereotypes in educational settings and society are still deeply entrenched. Gender disparities in occupational segregation and income remain pronounced, and women’s participation in STEM fields (sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics) remains low. Moreover, gender stereotypes also harm men. Extensive research has explored the issue of gender differences in educational outcomes and career development from biological and sociological perspectives, highlighting the pervasive influence of cultural norms and gender stereotypes on these disparities. This thesis uses social role theory to explore differentiated expectations for young Chinese adolescents in China and how they might affect young people’s cognitive formation of gender identity and restrict their pursuit of educational and career aspirations. Investigating the formation and influence of these gender constructs provides a clearer understanding of how gender stereotypes manifest in educational and career-planning contexts. This study conducted semi-structured individual interviews with three teachers and ten students at a high school in China to explore gender stereotypes and their potential detriments in the contemporary Chinese educational environment. The research findings revealed that most student participants espoused relatively liberal views on gender roles. By contrast, their teachers often maintained more conventional gender perspectives. Gender stereotypes continue to be deeply intertwined with traditional social roles, influencing educational opportunities, behavioural norms, emotional development, and the career choices of both male and female students. The study concludes that parents, teachers, and peers are instrumental in shaping how individuals perceive and internalise gender norms. It proposes that implementing interventions to dismantle gender stereotypes is imperative to foster greater gender equality in both educational and societal spheres.Item Engineering geological investigation of landslides in Karekare, Auckland, New Zealand(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Pickering, Cameron; Brook, MartinIn the early months of 2023, the Auckland region was subjected to three major storm events, exTropical Cyclone Hale (10 January), Auckland Anniversary Storm (27 January) and ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle (12–16 February), leading to catastrophic impacts and economic losses amounting to NZ$14.5 billion. January 2023 set the record for the wettest month in Auckland’s history, with 539 mm of rainfall recorded in the central city, resulting in the triggering of thousands of landslides, and severe flooding. Two weeks later, ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle impacted the North Island, causing further devastation with hundreds of thousands of landslides and extensive flooding. On February 13 2023, the intensive rainfall of ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle led to the initiation of multiple slope failures within the Karekare township area, ~50 km west of central Auckland. This was estimated to be 1-in-200 year storm event. Karekare was cut off from metropolitan Auckland, with significant damage to both infrastructure and private property. This site investigation involved in-situ shear vane and handheld penetrometer testing. Samples of the residual Piha Formation soils collected from the site were analysed further in the laboratory to investigate the soil index properties. The mineralogy of the soils was investigated using SEM-EDS methods. Pre- and post-failure LiDAR and post-failure imagery were used to map the extent of the slope failures within the study site. From site visits and GIS modelling, it was determined that the landslides were primarily shallow translational landslides and debris flows, in shallow residual soils. Slope stability modelling was conducted to investigate the current factor of safety of slopes. This highlighted that currently, slope failures are inactive, and failure is only likely with soil saturation. As future slope failure is possible, slope engineering and monitoring methods should be implemented to mitigate further landslide risk. The findings of this study were contextualised against the landslide and property risk categorisation conducted by GHD on behalf of Auckland Council in late 2023.Item What is the experience of whānau Māori caring for their pēpi in a neonatal setting?(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2023) Brown, Merophy Kate; Adams, Sue; Komene, EbonyThe motivator for this research are the inequities faced every day in neonatal units around Aotearoa New Zealand. Māori pēpi (babies) have the highest rates of preterm births and proportionally higher mortality rates. The whānau (families) and their extended whānau struggle with the western model that governs Aotearoa’s neonatal units. Our pēpi in Aotearoa sadly go on to be disproportionately represented experiencing poorer health outcomes than their non-Māori contemporaries. This research aimed to investigate the experiences of whānau Māori caring for their pēpi in Aotearoa’s neonatal units. A descriptive Māori-centered methodology was used to obtain Māori knowledge. Eight whānau Māori were interviewed kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) either in person or by Zoom. The hui process used established whakawhanaungatanga (making connections) and was essential for the research to succeed. By using Braun et al., (2018) six-step reflexive thematic analysis, five superordinate themes were identified. Results showed that when healthcare practitioners took time to listen and connect respectfully, the whānau saw this as a positive experience. Conversely, without these actions, whānau felt loneliness and subsequently disengaged. Powerful stories were told by whānau highlighting a system which failed to provide culturally safe care. The symbiotic relationship between pēpi and whānau supports the need for culturally appropriate care systems. Within a westernised model of health care, the barriers created organisationally and by healthcare staff, perpetuate the cycle of inequity and poor health outcomes. This research shows the immense need for a paradigm shift from the neonatal unit floor through hospital leadership and management to government policy makers.Item Where The 'Bloody' Hell Is It? A Study of Menstruation in the New Zealand Relationships and Sexuality Education Guideline(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Rarity, Caitlin Anne; McGlashan-Fainu, Hayley; Fitzpatrick, KatieThis thesis examines the way in which the New Zealand relationship and sexuality education (RSE) guidelines represent menstruation and menstruation education. Menstruation is a topic in RSE guidelines that tends to be given little time in schools. This is an issue because menstruators are not given the information to understand what is happening in their bodies or the guidance on when or how to seek professional help. The scarcity of information presented to students carries on the Western discourse of menstruation as a secret to be kept. This study focused on the official curriculum policy for the teaching of RSE in schools and sought to understand how menstruation is represented. Textual analysis was used to examine the frequency and context of a selected group of key words across all sections of the RSE guidelines. Nvivo 14 was used to generate word clouds for visualisation of this. A poststructural feminist theoretical framework guided this project. Key concepts including discourse, language, power, resistance, and freedom and subjectivity, as well as knowledge and truth underpin the analyses. The analysis of the RSE guidelines revealed that there is no straightforward answer to my research question. Western discourse is still evident in the RSE guidelines through a limited vocabulary relating to menstruation as well as menstruation being confined predominantly to the curriculum. In contrast, the analysis also revealed that the RSE guidelines have moved away from menstruation being a hygiene crisis and towards understanding menstruation through a holistic approach. It was concluded that there have been remarkable efforts in reducing stigma related to menstruation and identify that steps can be made to reduce the stigma further. This research project adds to our understandings about the place of menstruation in official RSE curriculum policy in New Zealand.Item Does Early Access to a Concussion Service Reduce Ongoing Service Utilisation(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Venkatram, Sruthi; Te Ao, BradenAim: The primary objective of this study is to describe the patterns of health services utilisation for patients with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) three months after receiving concussion service treatment in New Zealand. This study also investigated unmet needs for persistent symptoms following mTBI, the factors associated with post-concussion symptom recovery and the quality of information received. We compared these outcomes by the timeliness of accessing concussion services (early vs late). Methods: Data on 298 mTBI patients from a large population-based study (Aotearoa Concussion Service Cost-EffectiveneSS study) were used. Health services utilisation, unmet needs, post-concussion symptom recovery and quality of information received were measured using self-reported questionnaires. The data was presented based on presentation time (early vs. late) for each of the measures above. Multivariate linear regression was conducted for the patient demographics to predict health services utilisation and unmet needs. Results: Two hundred and ninety-eight patients were included of which 155 people presented early and 143 presented late. The data contained 86 males, 217 females and two gender-diverse individuals aged 18-85. Forty-four percent reported that the mechanism of their injury was a fall, and 35% reported that the injury took place during daily living activities. Physiotherapy was the most utilised service (63%), followed by occupational therapists (52%). About 20-30% of early-presenting and late-presenting patients were unsatisfied with the care received for headaches and related symptoms. Twenty-one percent of late-presenting patients were dissatisfied with the care received for depression. Over 55% of all participants were satisfied with the support received to return to different activities. However, 20% of all participants received no information to return to driving. Over 22% of patients did not know who to contact at Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) about their case. No patient demographics predicted patient service utilisation or unmet needs. Conclusion: This study emphasises that physiotherapists and occupational therapists are the most utilised services. Most patients are satisfied with the quality and frequency of information received to return to various activities and the care received for post-concussion symptoms. These findings suggest that once accepted into a concussion service, most patients can obtain the services and care they need and are provided with adequate information.Item Navigating Virtual Realms - Discovering the Impact of Head-Mounted Displays on Human Gait using Wearable Sensor Motion Capture(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Balachandran, Biruthuvan Keeran; Yeung, Ted; Billinghurst, Mark; Besier, ThorThis thesis outlines a preliminary investigation into the effects that wearing head-mounted displays (HMDs) have on human gait. Through the use of gait analysis, the research has two objectives: 1) to observe and quantify any changes to gait that may occur among individuals while wearing HMDs; and 2) to compare the data extracted from inertial measurement units (IMUs) to that of an optical motion capture (OMC) system. OMC and IMU data were collected on a pilot dataset of 20 healthy participants subject to trials under three testing conditions: Normal, using an optical seethrough Augmented Reality (AR) display, and using a video see-through Virtual Reality (VR) display. A study protocol was developed that outlined seven movement paths that tested the participants under various scenarios. With these paths repeated for each trial condition, analysis was done to identify any changes to gait. Observing the changes in the extracted gait metrics reflected participants slowing down and acting more cautiously while wearing the HMDs. However, post-hoc analyses on the results frequently revealed low statistical significance and a greater sample size was required. The observed changes included a decreased gait velocity and cadence (aka step frequency), as well as increases in stride time, reaction time, task completion time, and cumulative knee flexion throughout strides. An increase in the cumulative knee and hip flexions and marker/sensor heights were also observed during obstacle clearance. These changes in gait characteristics reflect how the participants felt a sense of instability and unfamiliarity, therefore slowing down and behaving more carefully in order to prevent collisions and/or accidents. These differences were observed in data derived from both the OMC and IMU systems, although the calculated magnitudes varied. Post-hoc analyses comparing the two datasets revealed minimal statistical significance in these differences. The observed decreases in IMU-derived gait metrics likely reflect the accumulation of sensor inaccuracies throughout data collection and processing. In both objectives, it was found that a larger study sample size was required to obtain more statistically significant results. Further development of the study would involve a larger study population, increased immersion in virtual environments, and the extraction of more comprehensive gait metrics to advance the understanding of the effects of extended reality (XR) technology. This would require enhanced resources, in terms of data collection and processing tools. Expanding knowledge on the effects of HMDs and XR technologies can allow for the manufacturing of safer devices, thus potentially mitigating the risk to users.Item Potassium hydroxide and ball-mill modified rice husk biochar for the elimination of Zn2+ and Hg2+ from aqueous solution(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Lyu, Yuanze; Sarmah, AjitAs a result of rampant industrial and agricultural activities worldwide, heavy metal pollution of aquatic bodies has become a common occurrence, resulting in significant damage to the ecological environment and human health. There is an urgent need to develop sustainable and efficient technologies to remove metals commonly found in aquatic bodies. Rice husk is a highly productive agricultural byproduct, and improper biomass disposal can cause environmental issues such as air pollution. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of rice husk biochar and its modified derivatives in eliminating Zn2+ and Hg2+ from aqueous solutions. The rice husk underwent pyrolysis at a temperature of 500°C and was subsequently modified through ball milling. Subsequently, the pristine biochar and ball-milled biochar were immersed in a potassium hydroxide solution for further modification. The adsorption performance of biochar on metal ions was studied using diverse pH, dosage, kinetics, and isotherm experiments. Among all the adsorbents, potassium hydroxide modified ball-milled biochar exhibited the maximum adsorption capacity for Zn2+ (24.96 mg/g) and Hg2+ (330.38 mg/g). The adsorption capacity increased by 182% and 23%, respectively, compared to the pristine biochar. Langmuir model described the adsorption of Zn2+ (R2 = 0.95 - 0.99) well, whereas the Freundlich model was found to be most suitable for the adsorption of Hg2+ (R2 = 0.96 - 0.99). All the kinetics experimental datasets were accurately described by the pseudo second order model (R2 = 0.99). The main mechanisms for the Zn2+ and Hg2+ adsorption include pore-filling, electrostatic interaction, ion exchange, and complexation. It was concluded that potassium hydroxide modified ballmilled biochar could effectively remove Zn2+ and Hg2+ from contaminated water. Future studies could determine the most effective modification techniques of rice husk biochar to co-adsorb multiple metal ions to explore the competing adsorption mechanisms.Item Exploration of endoscopic neurodynamic activity via computational modelling(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Zhu, Maxwell; Maso Talou, Gonzalo; Cheyne, JulietteCalcium imaging techniques are at the forefront of modern neuroscience research, enabling single-cell resolution imaging of large neuronal populations. However, current research utilising calcium imaging techniques focuses primarily on quantitative analysis. This study investigated the feasibility of developing computational neural circuit models directly from calcium imaging recordings, which would enable deeper quantitative analysis of the underlying mechanisms that drive such neural circuits. Initially, I applied a state-of-the-art calcium imaging pipeline to identify cell bodies and extract neuronal activity from recordings of a rat hippocampal Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) region. Next, I implemented a computational model of the CA1 using a modified leaky integrate and fire formulation. Finally, I applied optimisation techniques to calibrate the model to retrieve the original network connectivity and neurodynamics observed in the calcium imaging recordings. While I was successful at developing a simple model of the CA1 capable of replicating known CA1 dynamics, as well as calibrating my model to synthetic data, I was ultimately unable to reconstruct the observed biological activity. My analyses indicated that the main limitation of my pipeline was the limited neuronal activity extracted from calcium imaging, which fails to describe the in-vivo neurodynamics.Item Public Education as Trade: A Brief Historical Survey on the Export Education in New Zealand and the Introduction of an International Student Programme in a State Secondary School(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2023) Richer, Monique Sarah; Hood, Nina; Daley, CarolineExport education – the selling of educational services to international students – has become a lucrative industry in New Zealand. While New Zealand has long been involved in transnational education, introducing a profit-generating model was more recent. This historical study will include a single case study of a school that became a ‘late adopter’ of export education in 1998 and address some of the broader historical developments of this industry in New Zealand, including the disruption caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020. Export education in New Zealand state schools reveals the ideological tensions in a system built on egalitarian aims that later adopted liberal capitalist values. Post-primary education provides an interesting context as the expansion of compulsory and free secondary schooling was an emblem of New Zealand’s supposed egalitarianism. Export education was part of a shifting education picture under the Tomorrow Schools, which has implications for the present day including widened disparities between publicly funded schools. The market-based education reforms of the late 1980s set the conditions for the export education industry to be established and to thrive. The promotion of education as an export faced criticism over what was seen as the privatisation of public goods and that international fees would be used to shore up inadequate government funding for public schools. As more schools became involved and successful in export education, the focus shifted from barring the industry to regulating it. Based on participant interviews and documentary research, the findings suggest that export education provided some cultural and financial incentives for state secondary schools that were most noticeable at the individual school level. The presence of this industry within the state system supported an education system of individual actors – schools of varying means and quality – rather than a collective of state institutions with equitable resourcingItem Teacher’s Awareness and Practice in Fostering Children’s Development Through Shared Book Reading: A Case Study(ResearchSpace@Auckland, 2024) Zhao, Kevin; McNaughton, StuartShared book reading is a beneficial method in fostering children's learning and development in many aspects, such as language learning, emergent literacy, and cognitive development. This study examined teachers' awareness of the benefits attributed to shared book reading for children's learning, their intentional pedagogical decisions in practice, and the deliberateness and rationale behind their pedagogical decisions. Three teachers were observed in their shared book reading sessions, and participated in one-on-one interviews, to shape an image of these teachers' personal beliefs and professional philosophies, as a small group relative to the practicing teachers in New Zealand. For the findings of this study, teachers demonstrated an understanding of the benefits that shared book reading brings to the children. Teachers were observed to be intentional in their pedagogical decisions and interactions with the children during shared book-reading sessions. However, a disconnect between teachers' professional knowledge and the rationale behind their pedagogical decisions could be observed. The effectiveness of professional development training was observed in this study, where teachers were better able to elaborate on their pedagogical decisions, and make connections between their professional knowledge and actions. However, professional development training was only observed to be effective in some cases. In conclusion, this study provided some insight into the perspectives and practices of three practicing teachers in New Zealand and examined the relationship between teachers' professional knowledge and their practice.