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Within the software engineering community, deciding how to collect, store and use personal data has become about more than just understanding our users. This paper considers ethical data use that includes cultural considerations and data ownership rights. We discuss indigenous data sovereignty as a concept and how it potentially impacts technological solutions that gather personal data from users. We propose an extension to typical user-centred design processes, which we call participatory data design. This incorporates the use of frameworks and tools that specifically focus on managing data within the cultural context it is gathered from. We also present a specific example of how we have used this approach in the context of a data collection project from Māori workers in New Zealand forestry. We conclude with a discussion of the wider implications of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing data from a representative population survey conducted in New Zealand in 2016, this paper examines factors that influence, or are at least associated with, public trust in the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). The large number of specifically designed questions allows the study of the relationship between six groups of variables and RBNZ trust: (i) economic situation, (ii) monetary policy knowledge, (iii) non-specific trust, (iv) interest and information search, (v) politicians and government, and (vi) socio-demographic indicators. Using ordered logit models, we find that respondents who put more trust in RBNZ are financially satisfied, have more objective and subjective knowledge about the RBNZ, have higher trust in government institutions, are interested in the RBNZ, are older, and are self-employed. The reverse impact is found for those who do not acquire information about the RBNZ and believe that politicians foster the long-term well-being of their country. Institutional trust has the greatest economic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

British forestry is threatened by numerous pests and diseases. This study investigated the potential for re-introduction of aerial pesticide applications for landscape-scale disease management. In North Scotland in 2013 and 2015, copper oxychloride was applied to Pinus sylvestris L. stands infected with Dothistroma septosporum (Dorogin) Morelet. Helicopters distributed ultra-low-volume (ULV) applications of product via Micronair rotary atomisers, following methods used against D. septosporum in P. radiata D. Don stands in New Zealand. Product deposition was quantified on paper catchers and in foliage, soil and water. Catchers 100 m beyond the plot boundaries intercepted 0.5 per cent of within-plot mean deposition. Foliar analysis revealed slightly elevated copper concentrations (+0.07 μg g−1 dw) 250 m outside plot boundaries. Copper in foliage and needle litter remained above background levels for 109 and 157 weeks after application, respectively, longer than recorded during New Zealand operations. Concentrations in the soil increased over 3 years' monitoring, whilst deposition into water traps resulted in copper concentrations well within limits set by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. No deleterious impacts on vascular and non-vascular ground and canopy flora were recorded. Copper fungicide applications significantly reduced foliar infection at both sites but did not affect needle retention. Further ground-based trials will investigate the efficacy of other actives. In Britain, such aerial operations have not occurred for two decades: this study demonstrated aerial and ground teams have the necessary expertise for their re-introduction, whilst highlighting areas needing further optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robots are increasingly appearing as a potential answer to the 'care crisis' facing a number of countries. Although it is anticipated that many positives will flow from the application of these technologies, they are also likely to generate unexpected consequences and risks. This paper explores the use of robots within disability and aged care settings in the Australian and New Zealand contexts. Informed by thirty-five semi-structured interviews with a range of stakeholders, the paper explores why this area is so difficult to govern examining areas identified as generating tensions around the use of robots in care settings. In each of these areas some respondents saw the introduction of robots to be relatively straightforward applications that do not require extensive structures of governance. Others, however, viewed these applications as having potentially greater implications and the need to govern for these over the longer term. The three areas of tension that we explore in this paper relate to independence and surveillance, the re-shaping of human interaction and who can care. These tensions illustrate some of the problems involved in governing robots in a care service context and some of the potentially difficult issues that governments will need to resolve if these technologies are to be effective. We conclude the paper arguing what is needed is a responsive regulation approach to help resolve some of the complexities and tensions in overseeing these technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wu, Howlett, and Ramesh's understanding of policy capacity has been used to identify generalizable strengths and weaknesses of specific jurisdictions and policy sectors such as health. In an extension of this work, Howlett and Ramesh have argued that the mode of governance of a policy sector accentuates the importance of specific elements of policy capacity. In this paper we focus on the implementation of the System Level Measures Framework (SLMF) in New Zealand that has been specifically focused on health systems improvement and which aimed to do so by fostering network governance at the local level. However, this policy is introduced in a context in which there has been significant contestation regarding which mode of governance--network or hierarchy--is dominant in New Zealand health policy. By exploring three divergent local cases of implementation of the SLMF we develop three arguments that contribute to the literature on policy capacity and health. Firstly, local histories of interorganizational play a crucial role in shaping health policy capacity. Secondly, it is crucially important to understand the dynamics and feedback loops between operational, political, and analytical policy capacity. Network and hierarchical governance are characterized by distinct and contrasting understandings of the content of policy capacity elements and of the way in which they are dynamically related. Thirdly, the key challenge in developing policy capacity compatible with network governance is how to facilitate this capacity when connections between operational, political, and analytical policy capacity fail to fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional tight integration of high-rate GNSS and strong motion sensors, an appropriate process variance is crucial for obtaining accurate broad-band coseismic deformations. In this paper, instead of using a subjectively empirical value, we present an approach for determining the process variance adaptively based on the adaptive Kalman filter for real-time use. The performance of the approach was validated by the colocated stations collected during the 2010 M w 7.2 earthquake in El-Mayor, 2016 M w 7.8 earthquake in New Zealand and 2016 M w 6.5 earthquake in central Italy. The results show that this method complements the advantages of GNSS and strong motion accelerometers and can provide more accurate coseismic waveforms especially during the strong shaking period, due to the ability of the method to adjust the process variance in real time according to the actual status of the station. In addition, this method is also free from the influence of the baseline shift. Testing of the new method for the integration of strong motion and multi-GNSS indicates that multi-GNSS has an obvious improvement in the precision while single GPS has a poor observation condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding tree stability under self-weight and applied loads from wind and snow is important when developing management strategies to reduce the risk of damage from these abiotic agents. In this paper, linear buckling analysis was conducted using the finite element method to identify the instability modes of a tree structure under a specified set of loads. A non-prismatic elastic circular column of height H was analysed, taking self-weight into account. Various scenarios were considered: column taper, base rigidity, radial and longitudinal stiffness, ellipticity and crown weight. The effect on the critical buckling height was assessed in each case. Validation against closed form solutions of benchmark problems was conducted satisfactorily. The results indicate that column taper, base rigidity and the stiffness/density ratio are particularly important for this problem. Further comparison was made using data from a 15-year old Pinus radiata stand in New Zealand, which contained both buckled and non-buckled trees. While the model predicted factors of safety against buckling that were close to unity, it was unable to differentiate between buckled and non-buckled trees. Further investigation is needed to examine the reasons why this occurred. Despite this, the current study provides an in-depth numerical investigation, which has aided our understanding of the effects that material properties, geometric properties and boundary conditions have on buckling phenomenon in trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were inclusive in their design, the reliance on official measurement infrastructures has upheld narrow definitions of both the terms of sustainability and development. Indigenous and non-Indigenous "governance beyond the state" approaches call these definitions into question. They highlight that disaggregated official data are unable to fully reflect alternative grounds and aspirations of living sustainably with the environment and non-human world. Relational Indigenous epistemologies and practices contribute to alternative epistemic infrastructures. In this paper, three examples from the Andean-Pacific region provide an alternative lens through which to reconceptualize and remake the SDG landscape. Together this suite of cases highlights the importance of bottom-up articulation processes, knowledge inclusion, and alternative epistemic harmonization for operationalizing the SDGs. In particular, we highlight the urgent need to renegotiate the relationship between Indigenous communities and the global measurement infrastructure in order to pursue and realize sustainability globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Physical inactivity rates have remained high worldwide since 2001. Public policies are an essential upstream lever to target individual physical activity (PA) behaviour. However, implementers have different strategies and face implementation challenges that are poorly understood. The present study analyzes the implementation processes of public policies to promote PA in terms of: (i) the policies covered and their legal quality, (ii) the actors and stakeholders involved in the implementation process and (iii) the used implementation strategies (vertical, horizontal or a mix). Methods A scoping review was systematically conducted (registered Open Science Framework: osf.io/7w84q/), searching 10 databases and grey literature until March 2022. Of the 7741 titles and abstracts identified initially, 10 studies were included. Results The current evidence includes high-income countries (USA, n  = 7; UK, New Zealand and Oman, n  = 1 each). Policy areas covered are education (school sector) and PA promotion in general (national PA plans or city-wide approaches). The legal classification ranges from laws (school sector) to coordination and budgeting to non-legally binding recommendations. The jurisdictions covered were federal (n  = 4), state (n  = 1), county (n  = 1), school district (n  = 1) and city (n  = 3). Implementation strategies for city-wide approaches are characterized by a coordinated approach with vertical and horizontal integration; federal PA policies by a mix of implementation strategies; and the school sector by a strict horizontal top-down integration without the involvement of other actors. Conclusion Implementation strategies differ by policy field. Therefore, continuous evaluation of the implementation process is necessary to align policy implementation with policy goals to promote individual PA behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focus of Presentation Cohort study recruitment can be complex, often requiring extensive pre-screening to recruit sufficient numbers of exposed and unexposed participants. We discuss a prospective study of the impact of racism on adult health in New Zealand (NZ), with emphasis on propensity-score based sampling and recruitment methods accessing participants from a national survey (NZ Health Survey 2017/18, n = 12,530 eligible adults). Discussion will cover sampling design, response rate, and confounder balance in the final sample. Key empirical results will be summarised. Findings The NZHS provided a sampling frame with complete baseline exposure and covariate data, giving n = 2,099 exposed individuals (reported racial discrimination on NZHS). A propensity-score model (stratified by ethnicity) allowed invitation of unexposed individuals balanced on key sociodemographic confounders. Recruitment used postal invitations with telephone follow-up: individuals could respond by paper survey, online questionnaire or telephone interview. Response rate was 54%, with comparable rates in exposed/unexposed individuals, with key sociodemographic factors well-balanced by exposure status. Conclusions/Implications Racism is an important determinant of health inequity, with limited prospective research in New Zealand. Our approach enabled appropriate recruitment from a sampling frame with baseline exposure status (NZHS), including allowance for exposure variability by ethnicity. Propensity-score matching on baseline covariates allowed for balance on key confounders at invitation, with balance maintained in the final sample. Key messages Secondary sampling from large national surveys can provide efficient recruitment for prospective studies. We achieved a highly satisfactory response rate, and propensity-score based sampling substantially balanced confounders between exposed and unexposed groups, enhancing study validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-emptive kidney transplantation is the recommended strategy for patients with end-stage renal failure in all guidelines [Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), The Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplantation Registry (ANZDATA), European Renal Best Practice Guideline (ERBP), British Transplant Society (BTS)]. This recommendation is intuitive and based on few older studies with considerable limitations. In addition, there is conflicting evidence as to whether the duration of dialysis vintage impacts on graft and patient survival after transplantation. The objective of this structured review was to critically review the published evidence on dialysis vintage and outcomes by including the most recent papers on that topic. We searched Medline using keywords for kidney transplantation, pre-emptive, dialysis vintage and relevant outcomes, and found 14 eligible cohort studies. The best evidence was found for pre-emptive transplantation, which was found to be associated with a lower risk of actual graft loss (including death as event) compared with non-pre-emptive transplantation. When only patients were considered that have been registered pre-emptively but then received or did not receive a pre-emptive transplant, the association with functional graft survival (excluding death as event) was only marginal. Dialysis vintage had a graded association with patient survival in most of the studies, but an unclear estimate with functional graft survival. Older studies also found an association of dialysis vintage with death-censored graft survival, but this association is likely confounded by selection and the competing risk of death and was no longer observed in recent eras, i.e. in transplants performed in the last decade. In summary, the recommendation for pre-emptive kidney transplantation for optimal patient and graft survival remains valid even in recent periods but the association of dialysis vintage after dialysis initiation with death-censored graft survival is less clear. The association of dialysis vintage with mortality after transplantation depends on the median duration of dialysis of the wait-listed population as well as acceptance rates for transplantation, and may thus be country specific. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to advocate pre-emptive kidney transplantation in all age groups. What remains unsolved is the selection issues since the reasons for longer waiting time on dialysis are difficult to capture in retrospective observational studies, and lead time as well as immortal time bias may have confounded the mortality data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In New Zealand, the burden of nutrition-related disease is greatest among vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including Maori and Pacific peoples. However, little research is currently available on effective ways to improve nutrition in these communities. This paper describes the development of six paper-based nutrition education resources for multi-ethnic participants in a large supermarket intervention trial. Six focus groups involving 15 Maori, 13 Pacific and 16 non-Maori, non-Pacific participants were held. A general inductive approach was applied to identify common themes around participants' understanding and thoughts on relevance and usefulness of the draft resources. Feedback from focus groups was used to modify resources accordingly. Five themes emerged across all focus groups and guided modification of the resources: (i) perceived higher cost of healthy food, (ii) difficulty in changing food-purchasing habits, (iii) lack of knowledge, understanding and information about healthy food, (iv) desire for personally relevant information that uses ethnically appropriate language and (v) other barriers to healthy eating, including limited availability of healthy food. Many issues affect the likelihood of purchase and consumption of healthy food. These issues should be taken into account when developing nutritional materials for New Zealanders and possibly other multi-ethnic populations worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the perspectives of secondary school students and staff about the extent to which young people's health rights are catered for at school. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the concept of Health-Promoting Schools encourage the provision of healthy school environments. A postal survey of secondary schools in New Zealand elicited responses from 821 Year 11(15-16 year olds) students and 438 staff in 107 schools. Most students and staff reported that sources of health advice were available at their schools, but only a minority of students saw these sources as accessible or trustworthy. In every area of health promotion, students saw information and advice as less accessible than staff did. Most staff and students identified mental health problems such as depression as a source of concern in schools, but only a quarter of students (compared to half of stall) thought that this topic was covered during classtime. Students in lower-income schools reported the school environment as slightly less healthy than did students in high-income schools. The paper concludes that schools and policy makers should seek the voices and opinions of young people in order to improve effectiveness in catering for health rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrating on New Zealand's welfare-to-work policy, this paper draws on interview data to explore the impact of `outsourcing' on tutors who work with young, unemployed people. Contracting independent organizations to provide services, or outsourcing, as it is euphemistically known, has become standard practice in business and is assuming a central role in social policy in many Western nations. It is argued that outsourcing is used to control the practices of those who work with unemployed people in New Zealand. The data show that outsourcing achieves this control by creating uncertainty over the tutors' own employment situation. In this respect, out-sourcing helps create a regulatory framework in which the tutors seek to secure their own employment by improving their tutees' employability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Australia has eight state-based ambulance services and New Zealand (NZ) has two. Significant variation between their datasets compromises cross-border research opportunities and translation of research to improve patient care. Ambulance data harmonisation has occurred in the United States and United Kingdom however, to-date no data harmonisation has occurred in Australia. This study aims to compare ambulance service variables in Australia and NZ to identify opportunities and barriers for harmonisation. Method Available 2019 variables were mapped to each other and several international standardized terminology systems to identify variations and similarities in variable names and definitions, and harmonisation opportunities. Results Four Australian ambulance services used one electronic patient care record (ePCR) system, three used other ePCR systems, one used paper-based records and both NZ services used one ePCR system. Only the NZ services had mapped their variables to two international standardised terminology systems. Barriers to harmonisation included the variables collected, the variable definitions and the variable naming convention. The core variables available for mapping varied and numbered from 27-69. Differences included similar variable names having different definitions, variables that should have different definitions having the same, and naming convention for similar/same variables differing between services. Conclusions Ambulance service data harmonisation in Australia and NZ is possible and presents significant opportunities for improvement in patient outcomes and performance audit. It would facilitate quality, large-scale, high-impact collaborative national and international research. Key Message There is an opportunity for Australian and NZ ambulance services to harmonise their data to conduct large scale international research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article obtains elasticity of taxable income (ETI) estimates using data for NZ over the period, 2001–2017, and using the connection between the ETI and excess bunching at income tax thresholds. Results are reported for the top two thresholds in the tax schedule and for various taxpayer types. Adjustments to tax changes are investigated by comparing ETIs obtained from persistent bunching at thresholds when the tax regime is unchanged, with transitory values associated with specific tax reforms. Results suggest substantial bunching around both tax kinks, with ETIs of around 0.2–0.3 across all taxpayers. Evidence suggests large responses by the self-employed, with ETIs of around 0.8–1.0. No significant differences between males and females were found. Adjustment costs and/or inattention biases associated with a shift in a tax threshold were equivalent initially to around 18% (declining to 6%) of the observed excess mass at the post-reform threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Towards the end of the 1980s, the concept of 'user' empowerment emerged as a central idea in debates about the organization and delivery of health and social care services. Politically attractive to left and right, the concept contains both 'liberatory and regulatory' implications (Baistow, 1994/5). While offering the possibility of greater control and self-determination, it may also involve expectations about increased self-reliance and Individual responsibility. Although not Inherently contradictory, the~ different objectives may prove difficult to reconcile if the promotion of self-reliance is primarily driven by a concern to reduce the provision of state services. This paper sets out to explore the issue of empowerment in the context of the new Family Group Conference (FGC) initiative. Originating in New Zealand (NZ), the FGC model explicitly aims to shift the balance of power between families and professionals within the child-care decision-making process. Political interest in the model, however, may also be generated by its perceived potential for reducing the dependency of families on state-provided services. Drawing on research from NZ and the UK, the paper examines the quality of empowerment provided by the FGC model from the perspectives of the families involved and sets out to assess the particular balance that obtains within the model between the different and potentially contradictory objectives of promoting user empowerment and encouraging family self-reliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflict between groups, including nations, seemingly leads to solidarity among the people in each collectivity. Testing this proposition at the international level is difficult owing to methodological problems of data gathering. This paper reports upon the impact of an international controversy upon national opinion consolidation. After the New Zealand government banned nuclear-capable ships from the country, the United States retaliated through public denunciation of this action and mild sanctions. Poll information suggests that, as a result of this dispute, New Zealanders put aside their preexisting political and social differences on the issue of nuclear weapons in their country and rallied behind their government. Over time, however, this consolidation effect shows signs of disintegration: social and, especially, political cleavages have begun again to discriminate opinion on the question of nuclear weapons in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Emotional symptoms are recognized as a key feature in individuals with major depressive disorder. Previously, emotional blunting has been described both as a side effect of antidepressant treatment and as a symptom of depression. Little is known about the change of emotional blunting during antidepressant treatment. Methods The PREDDICT trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, 6-week trial on the augmentation of vortioxetine with the anti-inflammatory agent celecoxib or placebo. Presently we report on exploratory secondary outcomes of changes in emotional blunting in depression assessed with the Oxford Depression Questionnaire (ODQ) total score and subscores from baseline to 8-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up assessments. Results In the whole group, there was a significant improvement in the ODQ total score and all subscores after 8 weeks. After stratification of participants into the treatment groups, the ODQ total score as well as subscores related to emotional blunting as a symptom of depression (reduction in positive emotions, not caring) improved between baseline and all follow-up time points in both treatment groups. Changes in subscores considered as a side effect of antidepressants (general reduction in emotions, emotional detachment) were inconclusive in both treatment groups. Overall, the placebo-augmented group showed slightly better results in changes of emotional blunting scores than the celecoxib group as did those with elevated inflammation at screening, regardless of treatment group. Conclusions This analysis suggests favorable effects of vortioxetine on emotional blunting in both short- and long-term course. The beneficial impact of vortioxetine on emotional blunting was weaker in celecoxib-augmented patients compared with placebo, possibly due to pharmacokinetic interactions. Clinical Trials Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ACTRN12617000527369p. Registered on 11 April 2017, http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12617000527369p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pioneered by New Zealand in 1990, a growing number of countries have adopted the practice of inflation targeting, the international experience of which has been reported as satisfactory. However, existing empirical evidence fails to support inflation targeting as having a positive growth effect. To provide further evidence, this study adopts a new classification system for monetary policy regimes that allows the empirical estimation of the effect of inflation targeting on economic growth in comparison with its main alternative, exchange rate targeting. Our study, which covers more than 100 countries for the 35 years from 1974 to 2009, presents robust evidence that inflation targeting promotes economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an examination of how small populations of deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students attending New Zealand postsecondary institutions faced and dealt with various challenges in participating in classes, obtaining adequate access to services, and becoming socially integrated into campus life. Sixty-four students completed a survey and 8 were interviewed, providing information about their support needs, learning, and social participation experiences and challenges within the postsecondary context. Findings indicated that access to accommodations that facilitated communication and inclusion were critically important to their learning and participation experiences but were not always available in the institutions they attended. Reflecting recent policy and legislative changes, greater awareness and greater funding support are needed within New Zealand postsecondary institutions of DHH students’ academic and social needs. This process should be at the forefront of moves toward inclusive education at the postsecondary level, if DHH students are to be equal participants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Herpesviruses notably establish lifelong infections, with latency and reactivation. Many of the known human herpesviruses infect large proportions of the population worldwide. Treatment or prevention of herpes infections and recurrent disease still pose a challenge in the 21st century. Sources of data Original papers and review articles, meeting abstracts, a book (Clinical Virology; DD Richman, RJ Whitley & FG Hayden eds) and company web sites. Areas of agreement For herpes simplex types 1 and 2 and for varicella zoster, acyclovir (ACV; now increasingly replaced by its prodrug valacyclovir, VACV) and famciclovir (FCV) have greatly reduced the burden of disease and have established a remarkable safety record. Drug-resistance, in the otherwise healthy population, has remained below 0.5% after more that 20 years of antiviral use. In immunocompromised patients, drug resistance is more common and alternative drugs with good safety profiles are desirable. For human cytomegalovirus disease, which occurs in immunocompromised patients, ganciclovir and increasingly its prodrug valganciclovir are the drugs of choice. However, alternative drugs, with better safety, are much needed. Areas of controversy Various questions are highlighted. Should the new 1-day therapies for recurrent herpes labialis and genital herpes replace the current standard multi-day therapies? The marked differences between VACV and FCV (e.g. triphosphate stability, effect on latency) may not yet be fully exploited? Do current antivirals reduce post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN)? For immunocompromised patients with varicella zoster virus (VZV) disease, should the first-line treatment be FCV, not ACV or VACV? Should there be more support to explore new avenues for current antivirals, for example in possibly reducing herpes latency or Alzheimer's disease (AD)? Should primary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) disease in adolescents be treated with antivirals? How can new compounds be progressed when the perceived market need is small but the medical need is great. FCV was reclassified from prescription-only to pharmacist-controlled for herpes labialis in New Zealand in 2010; should this be repeated more widely? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Clean hands play an important role in preventing infectious disease transmission. The physical quality of any toilet and handwashing facilities is an important determinant of whether and how it is used, especially for school children. Methods This study assessed the physical quality of toilet and handwashing facilities used by 9 year olds at 68 primary schools in three cities in the South Island of New Zealand. The facilities were assessed for availability, functionality and provision of hand basins, hygiene products and drying facilities. Results Nineteen schools (28%) followed the New Zealand Ministry of Education Code of Practice for toilet and bathroom facilities in schools, by providing warm water, liquid soap at every basin and functioning hand drying facilities. A further 25 schools (37%) would have met the standards except they provided only cold water (21 schools) or the cloth roller towels were unusable (4 schools). The other 24 schools' toilet facilities were deficient in some way, including one with no soap and six that provided no drying facilities. School socioeconomic position and toilet facility quality were not related. Conclusions These results suggest that a significant number of New Zealand children do not currently have access to high quality hygiene facilities at school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Hymenophyllaceae (filmy ferns) are typically plants of shady, constantly moist habitats. They attain greatest species diversity and biomass in humid tropical montane forests and temperate hyperoceanic climates. This paper presents ecophysiological data bearing on their worldwide ecological niche space and its limits. Methods Chlorophyll fluorescence was used to monitor recovery in desiccation experiments, and for measurements of 95 % saturating irradiance [photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD95 %)] of photosynthetic electron flow and other parameters, in the New Zealand Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum, and three species each of Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes from forests in Trinidad and Venezuela. Key Results Hymenophyllum sanguinolentum was comparable in desiccation tolerance and light responses with the European species. The more common species in the two tropical forests showed PPFD95 % >100 µmol m−2 s−1, and withstood moderate desiccation (–40 MPa) for several days. The four most shade-adapted species had PPFD95 % ≤51 µmol m−2 s−1, and were sensitive to even mild and brief desiccation (–22 MPa for 3 d). Conclusions Light and desiccation responses of filmy ferns can be seen as an integrated package. At low light and windspeed in humid forests, net radiation and saturation deficit are low, and diffusion resistance high. Water loss is slow and can be supported by modest conduction from the sub-stratum. With higher irradiance, selection pressure for desiccation tolerance increases progressively. With low light and high humidity, the filmy fern pattern of adaptation is probably optimal, and the vascular plant leaf with mesophyll and stomata offers no advantage in light capture, water economy or CO2 uptake. Trade-offs between light adaptation and desiccation tolerance, and between stem conduction and water absorption through the leaf surface, underlie adaptive radiation and niche differentiation of species within the family. Hymenophyllaceae are a rare example of an evolutionary shift of adaptive strategy from typical vascular plant adaptation to the poikilohydry most typical of bryophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background. To date, there has been no attempt to describe or compare physical therapy as practiced globally, nor any evidence that an international data set exists to support this effort. It is known that research evidence can be used in strategic and tactical ways, especially within the highly politicized context of the policy arena. The International Private Practitioners Association recognized the potential value a global evidence base could have in influencing policy and supporting professional development in a number of countries, yet it lacked a mechanism to achieve these aims. Objectives. The purposes of this study were: (1) to identify and test an international data set, definitions, and means of data collection and (2) to establish views in relation to the value of international collaborations. Design. A mixed, prospective design was used in the study. Method. Phase 1 (2006-2007) involved the development of a data set, definitions, and Web-based and paper-based data collection options involving 98 physical therapists from 68 physical therapy practices in 7 countries. Phase 2 (2008-2009) involved testing of the data set in 34 practices involving 3,195 patient episodes and included physical therapist feedback of experience, local relevance of the data set, and value of international collaborations. Results. Testing confirmed the relevance and reliability of the data set and definitions and a preference for Web-based data collection (74.0%). Physical therapist feedback supported these findings. Most respondents (60.0%-100.0%) reported the value of further international collaborations for their profession nationally or internationally. Limitations. Although a true international collaboration, the limited sample size should be recognized. Conclusions. It is possible to develop an agreed-upon international data set and means of data collection. Testing appears to support its acceptability and relevance for use in practice. Participants highly valued the opportunity to undertake international collaborations that may benefit their profession nationally and internationally. Further testing and use of the data set are advocated before final validation is sought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in the feasibility of establishing ‘Carbon’ forests where carbon sinks are created by maintaining forest stands out to considerable ages. In New Zealand, Pinus radiata (D. Don) is usually grown over 25- to 30-year rotations; the main aim of this paper is to examine the potential to maintain stands to 60 years or more. There were over 140 permanent sample plots in New Zealand that were maintained for at least 50 years. These data were examined to verify that growth can be sustained over this period. Net basal area per hectare and mean-top-height are graphically demonstrated to follow expected growth paths with no signs of senescence occurring. Stems per hectare loss is shown to be sometimes high, especially with dense stockings, but virtually all dying trees are small suppressed stems, so the impact on basal area yield at maturity is minimal. It is concluded that growing radiata pine on a rotation of 60 years is feasible, and it may be possible to use much longer rotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the reasoning processes of social workers in child protection social work as they make decisions. Within this interpretive process, they assign meaning to clients' behaviours in a context containing a multitude of competing discourses relating to the nature and cause of clients' problems. The study used a qualitative approach, specifically a critical incident framework. It asked workers to describe cases they felt ‘pleased with’ and explain the reasoning processes they used in those cases. It also asked clients their views of decisions made about them. This article draws on social constructionist theorising to describe and analyse the discourses used to frame the aims of practice and the causes of clients' problems. It found that workers valued family maintenance and sought to bolster this while managing potential risk. In the cases selected by workers, they constructed the causes of clients' problems in non-blaming but individualised ways, viewed clients as being capable of change and honest in their dealings with workers. It is proposed that these ways of viewing contributed to maintaining relationships with clients despite the challenges of balancing risk, care, control and power. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports on the issues surrounding decolonization. This paper highlights the historiography of decolonization. It also discusses the imperial history which shaped the varied governing bodies. The processes of changing a national anthem and a national flag after a country has been freed from its colonizers are briefly discussed giving in example the oddities in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Dates and symbols become national pride and symbolizes independence from colonizing rulers.

Toppling, or the windthrow, of young (<2-3 years of age) trees is a problem in some regions of the world, including New Zealand. In that country, the incidence of toppling of young radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) trees is a concern to foresters. Toppling differs from wind damage in older forests as trees are not blown completely over, but instead attain a lean; a tree is said to have toppled when this lean exceeds 150 from vertical. Impacts of toppling include a higher incidence of stems with basal sweep and reduced selection choice at the time of pruning and thinning. When trees from toppled stands are harvested, basal sweep results in reduced yields of clearwood and increased levels of compression wood in sawn timber. This paper discusses the phenomenon of toppling and presents an overview of research that has been carried out to identify key causal factors and evaluate treatments which reduce this risk. Due to confounding influences, it is often difficult to experimentally determine those factors responsible. Therefore, a mechanistic model is proposed, which aims to predict the probability that a tree will topple, as well as allowing the effect of different management actions to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on Irish episcopal imperialism in the nineteenth century. On June 30, 1870, some forty Irish-born Roman Catholic bishops gathered at the Irish College in Rome for the saint's day of Paul Cullen, the cardinal archbishop of Dublin. Several contries including Asia, Australia, Africa, Tasmania, New Zealand, and Canada had their representatives. The attendees comprises one of the most substantial national blocks at the council who were Irish-born prelates in attendance at the First Vatican Council.

This article discusses the role of dancing in the midst of modernity in popular culture in New Zealand between 1918 and 1945. Public dancing is popular in a farmer dominated society like the New Zealand of 1914. The popular dances at that time were the waltzes and square dances like Lancers, Schottisches and Velettas. Dancing provides entertainment and bonds of mutuality. However, the puritans along with the state has censured dancing as it is considered a vice or social evil like drinking. The Young Women's Christian Association regarded dancing as a danger to purity. Dances in the rural areas are more traditional than urban centers. However, modernity soon reached the rural areas. The arrival of U.S. servicemen challenged the puritanical values of New Zealand.

This paper discusses the development of a practice framework for child welfare in New Zealand. A practice framework is defined as a conceptual map that brings together, in an accessible design, an agency's approach to social work practice with children and families. Designed as a tool for practitioners, the New Zealand practice framework integrates three perspectives: child-centred; family-led and culturally responsive; and strengths and evidence-based. The practice framework establishes a vision for New Zealand child welfare work that is grounded in the realities of practice, supported by research and embedded in a set of principles and values that are essential to the work. As a concept, it provides a clear understanding of what underpins the work, and how this informs our interventions with children and families. As a tool for practitioners, it provides a theoretically informed intervention logic and a set of triggers to support best practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines and explains the way in which cultural factors specific to New Zealand have contributed to this country's historically high rate of imprisonment; certainly, when compared to the two jurisdictions it has most in common with Australia, and England and Wales, and, by extension, most other Western democratic societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comply with workplace legislation, New Zealand schools are required to have policies regarding tobacco smoking. Many schools also have policies to prevent tobacco use by students, including education programmes, cessation support and punishment for students found smoking. This paper investigated the associations between school policies and the prevalence of students' cigarette smoking. Furthermore, we investigated the association between school policy and students' tobacco purchasing behavior, knowledge of health effects from tobacco use and likelihood of influencing others not to smoke. Data were obtained from a self-report survey administered to 2658 New Zealand secondary school students and staff from 63 schools selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Components of school policy were not significantly associated with smoking outcomes, health knowledge or health behavior, and weakly related to a punishment emphasis and students advising others to not smoke. Similarly, weak associations were found between not advising others to not smoke and policies with a punishment emphasis as well as smoke-free environments. The results suggest that having a school tobacco policy was unrelated to the prevalence of tobacco use among students, tobacco purchasing behavior and knowledge of the negative health effects of tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops standardized commercial cpue indices for a highly aggregated spawning fishery in New Zealand waters, and verifies the indices using fishery-independent data. Indices were calculated for all vessels using three different measures of effort, and for vessel subsets based on processing type (surimi and dressed), and relative experience in the fishery. Trends in cpue were consistent with trends in fishery-independent acoustic surveys, age composition of the commercial catch, and recent stock assessment results. In particular, the cpue indices tracked the more than fourfold increase in abundance from 1993 to 1996 associated with the recruitment of the strong 1991 year class, and the decline in relative abundance as this year class was fished down. Despite this being a highly aggregated spawning fishery, there was little evidence for hyperstability. There were also significant differences in fishing strategies of the fleets between periods of high and low fish abundance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes the follow-up evaluation of a school-based scalds prevention programme designed to teach children about scalds hazards and encourage safe family practices. It involved two classroom sessions and a homework exercise that targeted five safety practices. The programme was taught to 28 classes in 14 schools in Waitakere City, New Zealand by Public Health Nurses (PHNs). Children (n = 116) aged 10-11 years from three of the schools in ethnically diverse, low/middle-income areas were assessed for their knowledge of scalds hazards 1 year after the programme. They recalled a mean of 7.46 out of 10 hazards, which was almost equivalent to children in an earlier evaluation who recalled 7.62 hazards immediately after the teaching. Altogether, 65-79% of children reported that each of the four safety items provided were at least temporarily used as intended, with 29-55% reporting that they were still in use 1 year later. Interviews with children's parents (n = 18) indicated that the majority of their hot water practices were not optimally safe prior to the programme and that many had adopted the suggested practices. While the PHNs were positive about the programme, they suggested teachers could deliver it as part of the school curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of accretionary prisms and the processes that take place along subduction interfaces are controlled, in part, by the porosity and fluid overpressure of both the forearc wedge and the sediments transported to the system by the subducting plate. The Hikurangi Margin, located offshore the North Island of New Zealand, is a particularly relevant area to investigate the interplay between the consolidation state of incoming plate sediments, dewatering and fluid flow in the accretionary wedge and observed geodetic coupling and megathrust slip behaviour along the plate interface. In its short geographic extent, the margin hosts a diversity of properties that impact subduction processes and that transition from north to south. Its southernmost limit is characterized by frontal accretion, thick sediment subduction, the absence of seafloor roughness, strong interseismic coupling and deep slow slip events. Here we use seafloor magnetotelluric (MT) and controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) data collected along a profile through the southern Hikurangi Margin to image the electrical resistivity of the forearc and incoming plate. Resistive anomalies in the shallow forearc likely indicate the presence of gas hydrates, and we relate deeper forerarc resistors to thrust faulting imaged in colocated seismic reflection data. Because MT and CSEM data are highly sensitive to fluid phases in the pore spaces of seafloor sediments and oceanic crust, we convert resistivity to porosity to obtain a representation of fluid distribution along the profile. We show that porosity predicted by the resistivity data can be well fit by an exponential sediment compaction model. By removing this compaction trend from the porosity model, we are able to evaluate the second-order, lateral changes in porosity, an approach that can be applied to EM data sets from other sedimentary basins. Using this porosity anomaly model, we examine the consolidation state of the incoming plate and accretionary wedge sediments. A decrease in porosity observed in the sediments approaching the trench suggests that a protothrust zone is developing ∼25 km seaward of the frontal thrust. Our data also imply that sediments deeper in the accretionary wedge are slightly underconsolidated, which may indicate incomplete drainage and elevated fluid overpressures of the deep wedge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas hydrates that occur on many continental margins have received global attention. In reflection seismic imaging, the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) is a common indicator of gas hydrates. However, it is difficult to identify gas hydrates and quantify their amounts through the BSR alone. For gas-hydrate characterization, it is therefore useful to measure seismic stratigraphic and attenuation attributes. Short-scale patterns of layering that contain information about the amount and mechanism of gas hydrates can be identified through stratigraphic and attenuation attributes. We measure the complete time-variant spectra by using sparse strongest peaks, and the spectral differences at different times through attenuation parameters Q –1 and γ. The traditional Q –1 is associated with the attenuation of the frequency-dependent part of wavefield, and the γ characterizes the frequency-independent attenuation. The measurement approach is straightforward and requires no sophisticated inverse algorithm and is applied to surface seismic data acquired over the Hikurangi and Gondwana margins, eastern New Zealand. High-quality spectral and attenuation images are obtained. Spectral attributes correlate with BSRs and large positive Q –1 and negative γ -values are below and above the BSRs, which are interpreted as being related to free-gas and gas-hydrate accumulations. These results will aid the quantification of gas hydrates and the assessment of their roles as an energy resource, as a potential geological hazard, and in climate change and ocean warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many situations, species distribution models need to make use of multiple data sources to address their objectives. We developed a spatio-temporal modelling framework that integrates research survey data and data collected by observers onboard fishing vessels while accounting for physical barriers (islands, convoluted coastlines). We demonstrated our framework for two bycatch species in New Zealand deepwater fisheries: spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and javelinfish (Lepidorhynchus denticulatus). Results indicated that employing observer-only data or integrated data is necessary to map fish biomass at the scale of the New Zealand exclusive economic zone, and to interpolate local biomass indices (e.g. for the east coast of the South Island) in years with no survey but available observer data. Results also showed that, if enough survey data are available, fisheries analysts should: (1) develop both an integrated model and a model relying on survey-only data; and (2) for a given geographic area, ultimately choose the index produced with integrated data or the index produced with survey-only data based on the reliability of the interannual variability of the index. We also conducted a simulation experiment, which indicated that the predictions of our spatio-temporal models are virtually insensitive to the consideration of physical barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Past studies have demonstrated better mental health and well-being among transgender youth who had accessed gender-affirming care. However, few existing studies have assessed unmet need for gender-affirming care as a social determinant of mental health inequities. Methods Data on unmet need for gender-affirming care, distress and suicidality were analysed from the 2018 Counting Ourselves nationwide community-based survey of transgender people in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Associations between unmet need for gender-affirming care and mental health indicators were tested for transgender youth within the sample (aged 14–26 years; n  = 608; M age = 20.5). Results Transgender youth reported unmet needs ranging from 42% for gender-affirming hormone to 100% for feminizing surgeries and voice surgeries. Overall unmet need for gender-affirming care was associated with worse mental health. Trans men with an unmet need for chest reconstruction (84%) scored an average of 7.13 points higher on the K10 Psychological Distress Scale relative to those whose need had been met. Participants reporting unmet need for hormones (42%) had twice the odds (adjusted odds ratios = 2.01; CI = 1.02–3.98) of having attempted suicide in the last 12 months. Conclusions Dismantling barriers to accessing gender-affirming care could play a crucial role in reducing mental health inequities faced by transgender youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countries are rapidly developing digital contact tracing solutions to augment manual contact tracing. There is limited empirical evidence evaluating these tools. We conducted a feasibility study of a Bluetooth-enabled card with hospital staff in New Zealand (n  = 42). We compared the card data against self-report contact surveys and a stronger Bluetooth device. The cards detected substantially more contacts than self-report contact surveys, while the concordance between Bluetooth devices was high, suggesting that the cards detected clinically relevant close contacts. There was high acceptability among participants, suggesting that their integration would be accepted by healthcare staff. As the pandemic shifts, there is a need to rapidly contact trace and conduct informed risk management, particularly in critical settings such as healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Childhood cancer survivors are vulnerable to long-term treatment-related health conditions, which can lead to poor quality of life. Little data exist on the overall health of long-term Australian and New Zealand childhood cancer survivors or on survivors' motivations for attending survivorship clinics. Methods This study administers a cross-sectional questionnaire to long-term survivors ≥5 years from their primary diagnosis. We compared participant-reported number of late effects by a cancer diagnosis, and identified clinical (eg, treatment) and demographic (eg, age) factors that were associated with late effects burden and engagement in cancer survivorship care. Results A total of 634 participants completed questionnaires (48% male, mean age = 21.7 years). Most participants (79%) reported at least one cancer-related late effect, most commonly fatigue (40%) and memory/learning difficulties (34%). Brain tumor survivors reported a higher total number of late effects than survivors with other diagnoses (mean = 5.7 vs. 3.2, P  < .001). Participants' most commonly reported motivators for engaging in care were to understand problems that may occur later in life because of their cancer and/or treatment (98.5%) and to get reassurance about one's health (97.4%). The proportion of survivors endorsing each motivating factor was similar across cancer diagnoses, with the exception of learning more about insurance and pensions (highest in brain tumor survivors = 80%). In multivariable analyses, survivors were more likely to report being engaged in survivorship care if they were younger (P  < .001), less time had elapsed since their diagnosis (P  < .001), or they reported a higher number of motivating factors (P  = .016). Conclusion Survivors report a range of health problems decades after treatment completion. Understanding the burden of late effects, and motivators for seeking survivorship care to manage these health problems, is important for ensuring that tailored interventions or services are available to meet the needs of this growing population and to design effective models of survivorship care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most studies assessing pathophysiological heterogeneity in asthma have been conducted in high-income countries (HICs), with little known about the prevalence and characteristics of different asthma inflammatory phenotypes in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study assessed sputum inflammatory phenotypes in five centres, in Brazil, Ecuador, Uganda, New Zealand (NZ) and the United Kingdom (UK).Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 998 asthmatics and 356 non-asthmatics in 2016-20. All centres studied children and adolescents (age range 8-20 years), except the UK centre which involved 26-27 year-olds. Information was collected using questionnaires, clinical characterization, blood and induced sputum.Results: Of 623 asthmatics with sputum results, 39% (243) were classified as eosinophilic or mixed granulocytic, i.e. eosinophilic asthma (EA). Adjusted for age and sex, with NZ as baseline, the UK showed similar odds of EA (odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.37-2.94) with lower odds in the LMICs: Brazil (0.73, 0.42-1.27), Ecuador (0.40, 0.24-0.66) and Uganda (0.62, 0.37-1.04). Despite the low prevalence of neutrophilic asthma in most centres, sputum neutrophilia was increased in asthmatics and non-asthmatics in Uganda.Conclusions: This is the first time that sputum induction has been used to compare asthma inflammatory phenotypes in HICs and LMICs. Most cases were non-eosinophilic, including in settings where corticosteroid use was low. A lower prevalence of EA was observed in the LMICs than in the HICs. This has major implications for asthma prevention and management, and suggests that novel prevention strategies and therapies specifically targeting non-eosinophilic asthma are required globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome sequences can reveal the extent of inbreeding in small populations. Here, we present the first genomic characterization of type D killer whales, a distinctive eco/morphotype with a circumpolar, subantarctic distribution. Effective population size is the lowest estimated from any killer whale genome and indicates a severe population bottleneck. Consequently, type D genomes show among the highest level of inbreeding reported for any mammalian species (F ROH ≥ 0.65). Detected recombination cross-over events of different haplotypes are up to an order of magnitude rarer than in other killer whale genomes studied to date. Comparison of genomic data from a museum specimen of a type D killer whale that stranded in New Zealand in 1955, with 3 modern genomes from the Cape Horn area, reveals high covariance and identity-by-state of alleles, suggesting these genomic characteristics and demographic history are shared among geographically dispersed social groups within this morphotype. Limitations to the insights gained in this study stem from the nonindependence of the 3 closely related modern genomes, the recent coalescence time of most variation within the genomes, and the nonequilibrium population history which violates the assumptions of many model-based methods. Long-range linkage disequilibrium and extensive runs of homozygosity found in type D genomes provide the potential basis for both the distinctive morphology, and the coupling of genetic barriers to gene flow with other killer whale populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Polyploidy is an important process that often generates genomic diversity within lineages, but it can also cause changes that result in loss of genomic material. Island lineages, while often polyploid, typically show chromosomal stasis but have not been investigated in detail regarding smaller-scale gene loss. Our aim was to investigate post-polyploidization genome dynamics in a chromosomally stable lineage of Malvaceae endemic to New Zealand. Methods We determined chromosome numbers and used fluorescence in situ hybridization to localize 18S and 5S rDNA. Gene sequencing of 18S rDNA, the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) with intervening 5.8S rDNA, and a low-copy nuclear gene, GBSSI-1 , was undertaken to determine if gene loss occurred in the New Zealand lineage following polyploidy. Key Results The chromosome number for all species investigated was 2 n  = 42, with the first published report for the monotypic Australian genus Asterotrichion. The five species investigated all had two 5S rDNA signals localized interstitially on the long arm of one of the largest chromosome pairs. All species, except Plagianthus regius , had two 18S rDNA signals localized proximally on the short arm of one of the smallest chromosome pairs. Plagianthus regius had two additional 18S rDNA signals on a separate chromosome, giving a total of four. Sequencing of nuclear ribosomal 18S rDNA and the ITS cistron indicated loss of historical ribosomal repeats. Phylogenetic analysis of a low-copy nuclear gene, GBSSI-1 , indicated that some lineages maintained three copies of the locus, while others have lost one or two copies. Conclusions Although island endemic lineages show chromosomal stasis, with no additional changes in chromosome number, they may undergo smaller-scale processes of gene loss and concerted evolution ultimately leading to further genome restructuring and downsizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on social history topics which include an article by David Prior on nationalism and international affairs in the U.S. during the postbellum period, an article by Sandra Swart on humor during and after the South African War, and an article by John C. Weaver on suicide in rural New Zealand.

Background Many public health experts have claimed that elimination strategies of pandemic response allow 'normal social life' to resume. Recognizing that social connections and feelings of normality are important for public health, this study examines whether, and for whom, that goal is realized, and identifies obstacles that may inhibit its achievement. Methods Thematic analysis of narratives obtained via a qualitative cross-sectional survey of a community cohort in Aotearoa | New Zealand. Results A majority of participants reported that life after elimination was 'more or less the same' as before the pandemic. Some became more social. Nevertheless, a sizeable minority reported being less social, even many months after elimination. Key obstacles to social recovery included fears that the virus was circulating undetected and the enduring impact of lockdowns upon social relationships, personal habits and mental health. Within our sample, old age and underlying health conditions were both associated with a propensity to become less social. Conclusions Elimination strategies can successfully allow 'normal social life' to resume. However, this outcome is not guaranteed. People may encounter difficulties with re-establishing social connections in Zero-COVID settings. Measures designed to overcome such obstacles should be an integral part of elimination strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Past research has established that transgender people experience significant disparities in mental health outcomes and healthcare dissatisfaction compared with cisgender people, but more research is needed on how supportive healthcare interactions relate to the mental health of transgender people.Objectives: The 2 main aims of our analyses were: (i) to establish the most common negative experiences in healthcare and the most common supportive experiences specifically with primary care doctors for transgender people; and (ii) to examine the association of supportive experiences with mental health variables after controlling for demographic factors.Methods: Data from the 2018 Counting Ourselves nationwide survey of transgender people were analysed using regression modelling. The 948 participants with a primary care doctor or general practitioner were included in analyses. Participants were aged 14-83 years old (mean 30.20).Results: The most common supportive experiences involved primary care doctors treating transgender people equitably, with competence, and with respect. Participants with more negative healthcare experiences had higher psychological distress as well as higher likelihood of reporting nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidality. Conversely, participants with more experiences of supportive primary care doctors had lower psychological distress and were less likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months.Conclusion: When transgender people receive supportive care from their primary care providers they experience better mental health, despite ongoing negative healthcare experiences. Future research is needed to confirm ways of supporting positive trajectories of mental health for transgender people but these findings demonstrate the importance of positive aspects of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents announcements from the Society for the Study of Evolution. The association will hold its 2007 joint meeting with the Society of Systematic Biologists and the American Society of Naturalists at the Christchurch Convention Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand from June 16 to 20. The council of the society is inviting proposals for the symposia at the 2008 annual meeting of the society.