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The endemic bull kelp Durvillaea willana Lindauer grows on South and Stewart/Rakiura Islands, with a small North Island population on the northern Wairarapa coast. Drawing on field observations, the distribution of this species is mapped. Within its biogeographic range, there are three lengthy tracts of rocky shore where the kelp is conspicuously absent. These distributional gaps are: Wellington's south coast (despite proximity to populations on the South Island side of Cook Strait), the southern and central Wairarapa Coast, and in South Westland. Theorising that these gaps have been caused by earthquake-driven coastal uplift, this paper examines the effects on Durvillaea species of a 7.8 Mw earthquake in 2016, which raised around 100 km of seashore along the Kaikōura coast, plus the historical evidence of uplift along the Akatore Fault, south of Dunedin. This evidence suggests that the requirements for such local extinctions are that the uplift is consistently higher than the kelp's vertical range, and that it occurs along an entire rocky coastal tract flanked by barriers to recolonisation such as long beaches or deep ocean–major obstacles to a non-buoyant kelp with poor dispersive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the following paper, we apply digital mapping techniques and tephrostratigraphy to correlate marker horizons across the Whanganui Basin, culminating in a new 1:25,000 geological map of the central Rangitikei. This is achieved by (1) compilation of existing research, (2) correlation of major element glass shard datasets to known eruptive products and (3) completion of a three-year field survey. We update and refine existing stratigraphic correlations, focusing on two critical units within the basin succession; namely the Makirikiri Tuff (1.6 Ma) and Kaimatira Pumice Sand (1 Ma) formations. Okehu Group is proposed to cover all strata from Pakihikura to Potaka pumice. Rewa Pumice is placed within its own formation bridging the Makirikiri Tuff and Kaimatira Pumice Sand formations. Mapping and analysis facilitate placement of Coutts Creek Horizon within Rewa Formation. Sub-aerial surfaces and influxes of greywacke and volcaniclastic detritus from c. 1.6 Ma onward provide evidence for an alluvial plain developing at the foot of the uplifting, paleo-axial range. We suggest uplift in the paleo-axial range occurred contemporaneously with the onset of rhyolitic activity at Mangakino caldera (c. 1.6 Ma) so that the first influxes of fluvial conglomerate and volcaniclastics occur in close proximity within the eastern basin succession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous igneous bodies within the Deepwater Taranaki Basin are recognised mainly from seismic data and range from Early Cretaceous to Pliocene in age. They were all emplaced within an intra-plate setting but are scattered apparently at random in time and space. This paper describes the occurrences of igneous rocks within the basin as interpreted from seismic data, and discusses their possible origin. There are no indications of hotspot tracks within the Zealandia micro-continent so an alternative origin is sought. Previous authors see the main cause of volcanism as decompression melting due to localised lithospheric detachment and the movement of the Zealandia plate across the mantle as incidental. It is suggested that the movement of the Zealandia lithosphere, in the order of 4000 km to the north-northwest since the Cretaceous, may have caused drag across the asthenosphere, which in turn created transient small-scale convection cells that assisted the process of decompression melting as a modification to the accepted theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People living in rural and remote communities commonly experience significant health disadvantages. Geographical barriers and reduced specialist and generalist services impact access to care when compared with metropolitan context. Innovative models of care have been developed for people living with chronic diseases in rural areas with the goal of overcoming these inequities. The aim of this paper was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of studies investigating innovative models of care for people living with chronic disease in rural areas of developed countries where a metropolitan comparator was included.Methods: An integrative systematic review was undertaken. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method was used to understand the empirical and theoretical data on clinical outcomes for people living with chronic disease in rural compared with metropolitan contexts and their models of care in Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.Results: Literature searching revealed 620 articles published in English between 1st January 2000 and 31st March 2019. One hundred sixty were included in the review including 68 from the United States, 59 from Australia and New Zealand (5), 21 from Canada and 11 from the United Kingdom and Ireland. 53% (84) focused on cardiovascular disease; 27% (43) diabetes mellitus; 8% (12) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and 13% (27) chronic kidney disease. Mortality was only reported in 10% (16) of studies and only 18% (29) reported data on Indigenous populations.Conclusions: This integrated review reveals that the published literature on common chronic health issues pertaining to rural and remote populations is largely descriptive. Only a small number of publications focus on mortality and comparative health outcomes from health care models in both urban and non-urban populations. Innovative service models and telehealth are together well represented in the published literature but data on health outcomes is relatively sparse. There is significant scope for further directly comparative studies detailing the effect of service delivery models on the health outcomes of urban and rural populations. We believe that such data would further knowledge in this field and help to break the deadly synergy between increased rurality and poorer outcomes for people with chronic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reducing net greenhouse gas emissions through conserving existing forest carbon stocks and encouraging additional uptake of carbon in existing and new forests have become important climate change mitigation tools. The contribution of harvested wood products (HWPs) to increasing carbon uptake has been recognised and approaches to quantifying this pool developed. In New Zealand, harvesting has more than doubled since 1990 while log exports have increased by a factor of 11 due to past afforestation and comparatively little expansion in domestic processing. This paper documents New Zealand's application of the IPCC approaches for reporting contributions of the HWP pool to net emissions, in order to meet international greenhouse gas inventory reporting requirements. We examine the implications of the different approaches and assumptions used in calculating the HWP contribution and highlight model limitations. Results: Choice of system boundary has a large impact for a country with a small domestic market and significant HWP exports. Under the Production approach used for New Zealand's greenhouse gas inventory reporting, stock changes in planted forests and in HWPs both rank highly as key categories. The contribution from HWPs is even greater under the Atmospheric Flow approach, because emissions from exported HWPs are not included. Conversely the Stock Change approach minimises the contribution of HWPs because the domestic market is small. The use of country-specific data to backfill the time series from 1900 to 1960 has little impact but using country-specific parameters in place of IPCC defaults results in a smaller HWP sink for New Zealand. This is because of the dominance of plantation forestry based on a softwood mainly used in relatively short-lived products. Conclusions: The NZ HWP Model currently meets international inventory reporting requirements. Further disaggregation of the semi-finished HWP end uses both within New Zealand and in export markets is required to improve accuracy. Product end-uses and lifespans need to be continually assessed to capture changes. More extensive analyses that include the benefits of avoided emissions through product substitution and life cycle emissions from the forestry sector are required to fully assess the contribution of forests and forest products to climate change mitigation and a low emissions future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of resveratrol on various conditions have been widely studied previously. This paper aimed to investigate the influence of resveratrol on atherosclerosis (AS). Twenty-four New Zealand male rabbits were randomly and equally assigned to the normal diet group (NDG), fat diet group (FDG), and fat diet with resveratrol group (80 mg/kg/d, RFG). Biochemical indicators from blood samples were analyzed at baseline and 3 months to investigate the effects of resveratrol on blood lipid, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), liver, and renal function. The indicators including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (CREA), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and Lp-PLA2. At 3 months, arteries were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to study the influence of resveratrol on the aortic intima, smooth muscle layer, and the intima/media ratio. Comparisons of weight, ALT, AST, CREA, TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and Lp-PLA2 among the three groups showed no significant difference at baseline. However, at the end of 3 months, significant differences were observed in AST, CREA, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and Lp-PLA2 between the three groups (P < 0.05). In pairwise comparison, CREA, TC, LDL-C, and Lp-PLA2 had significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the AST and HDL-C levels between RFG and NDG groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the HDL-C levels were also significantly different between the FDG and NDG groups (P < 0.01). The histologic analysis also showed that the thickness of the aortic intima and the ratio of the intima and aortic tunica media (P < 0.05) significantly decreased in RFG compared to FDG. Resveratrol may have an antiatherosclerosis effect on a rabbit model of AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main reason for the weakening of the body of rabbits is a deficiency of nutrients and biologically ac􀆟ve substances in their diet. The search for non-toxic and highly effec􀆟ve preven􀆟ve drugs of complex ac􀆟on that have a posi􀆟ve effect on the metabolism of minerals in rabbits is of keen interest. Here we present the results of the study of morphological and biochemical parameters of the blood as well as the content of chemical elements in blood plasma in New Zealand White rabbits on the farm in Kyiv region. The paper presents the materials for determining the biochemical status of the body in fa􀆩ening rabbits for the preven􀆟on of microelementoses using a new experimental environmentally friendly tool. The content of total protein, albumin, glucose, total calcium, inorganic phosphorus, total bilirubin, urea, crea􀆟nine, TBA-ac􀆟ve products, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co and the ac􀆟vity of ALT, AST, LF, and HGT in the blood of New Zealand White rabbits in the first and 50th days of the experiment (before and a􀅌er the use of biologically ac􀆟ve addi􀆟ve "Huminorm plus") are presented here for the first 􀆟me. The use of this addi􀆟ve had a posi􀆟ve effect on haematopoiesis, protein and mineral metabolism, and func􀆟onal status of the liver, which indicates its high efficiency for the preven􀆟on of micronutrient deficiency. "Huminorm Plus" s􀆟mulates poten􀆟al body growth in rabbits up to the age of 90 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food taxes and subsidies are one intervention to address poor diets. Price elasticity (PE) matrices are commonly used to model the change in food purchasing. Usually a PE matrix is generated in one setting then applied to another setting with differing starting consumptions and prices of foods. This violates econometric assumptions resulting in likely mis-estimation of total food consumption. In this paper we demonstrate this problem, canvass possible options for rescaling all consumption after applying a PE matrix, and illustrate the use of a total food expenditure elasticity (TFEe; the expenditure elasticity for all food combined given the policy-induced change in the total price of food). We use case studies of: NZ$2 per 100g saturated fat (SAFA) tax, NZ$0.4 per 100g sugar tax, and a 20% fruit and vegetable (F&V) subsidy. Methods: We estimated changes in food purchasing using a NZ PE matrix applied conventionally, and then with TFEe adjustment. Impacts were quantified for pre- to post-policy changes in total food expenditure and health adjusted life years (HALYs) for the total NZ population alive in 2011 over the rest of their lifetime using a multistate lifetable model. Results: Two NZ studies gave TFEe's of 0.68 and 0.83, with international estimates ranging from 0.46 to 0.90 (except a UK outlier of 0.04). Without TFEe adjustment, total food expenditure decreased with the tax policies and increased with the F&V subsidy–implausible directions of shift given economic theory and the external TFEe estimates. After TFEe adjustment, HALY gains reduced by a third to a half for the two taxes and reversed from an apparent health loss to a health gain for the F&V subsidy. With TFEe adjustment, HALY gains (in 1000's) were: 1,805 (95% uncertainty interval 1,337 to 2,340) for the SAFA tax; 1,671 (1,220 to 2,269) for the sugar tax; and 953 (453 to 1,308) for the F&V subsidy. Conclusions: If PE matrices are applied in settings beyond where they were derived, additional scaling is likely required. We suggest that the TFEe is a useful scalar, but we also encourage other researchers to examine this issue and propose alternative options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal research is needed to better understand the natural history of oral conditions and long-term health and social outcomes. Oral health data has been collected periodically in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study for over 40 years. To date, 70+ peer-review articles on the Study's oral health-related findings have been published, providing insight into the natural history of oral conditions, risk factors, impacts on quality of life, and disparities in oral health. Some of these report new findings, while others build upon the existing body of evidence. This paper provides an overview of these findings and reflects on their public health implications and policy utility in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Working farm dogs are invaluable on New Zealand sheep and beef farms. To date no study describing farm dog population and health has included information about incidence of illness and injury, or risk factors affecting health and career duration. This paper describes the methodology and initial results from TeamMate, a longitudinal study that was designed to address this gap. We describe the study population, husbandry practices, and prevalence of clinical abnormalities on enrolment. Methods: Data about the farms, owners, husbandry practices and dogs were collected on farm at approximately 6-month intervals. All dogs over 18 months old and in full work were enrolled. Dogs were given physical examinations by veterinarians. On examination all abnormalities were noted, regardless of clinical significance. Results: Six hundred forty-one working farm dogs and 126 owners were enrolled from the South Island of New Zealand. Forty-nine percent of dogs were Heading dogs (314 of 641) and 48% Huntaways (308 of 641). Median age of dogs was 4 years (range 1.5–14) and median body condition score (BCS) was four on a 9-point scale (interquartile range (IQR) 3–5). Fifty-four percent of dogs were male (345 of 641), and 6% (41 of 641) were neutered. Eighty-one percent of owners (102 of 126) fed dogs commercial biscuits and meat sourced on farm. Forty-four percent of dogs (279 of 641) had bedding in their kennel, 14% (55 of 393) had insulated kennels, 69% (442 of 641) had been vaccinated and 33% (213 of 641) were insured. Clinical abnormalities were found in 74% of dogs (475 of 641). Common abnormalities involved the musculoskeletal system (43%, 273 of 641), skin (including scars and callouses; 42%, 272 of 641), and oral cavity (including worn and broken teeth; 35%, 227 of 641). Conclusions: Our results expand on those from previous surveys and indicate that musculoskeletal illness and injury, and skin trauma are the most commonly seen clinical abnormalities in working farm dogs. These results will provide a baseline for investigation of incidence and risk factors for illness, injury, retirement and death in New Zealand working farm dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In February 2017, a wildfire occurred in the Port Hills on the southern boundary of Christchurch city in New Zealand. It was one of the country's most severe fires of the last decade in terms of the scale of evacuation, infrastructure damage, and property loss. On the third day of the fire, fire behavior was unexpectedly active, and two rapid downhill fire-spread events took place, creating a dangerous situation for firefighters. The aim of this paper is to explore the atmospheric processes that influenced the fire behavior at a range of meteorological scales, from the synoptic to meso- and microscales. Meteorological and fire data analyzed include observed data together with model simulations of weather conditions at different scales: 1) the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) numerical weather prediction model, which provided the regional context of the fire; and 2) the California Meteorological (CALMET) diagnostic model, which was used to undertake a higher-resolution investigation of atmospheric processes near the fire. Results indicate that the fire was not strongly seasonally influenced. Instead, it appears the fire conditions were the effect of a specific combination of synoptic weather conditions and local meteorological conditions. The first rapid downhill fire-spread event was the result of airflow interaction with the intricate terrain of the Port Hills under stable nocturnal conditions. The second downhill fire-spread event bears similarities to vorticity-driven lateral spread, because the downhill component of the spread happened on a broad fire flank perpendicular to the surface wind direction and characteristic pyrocumulus convection occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivation to adopt innovative communication and e-learning practices in education settings can be stimulated by events such as natural disasters. Education institutions in the Pacific Rim cannot avoid the likelihood of natural disasters that could close one or more buildings on a campus and affect their ability to continue current educational practices. For the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, the impetus to innovate was a series of seismic events in 2010 and 2011. This paper presents findings from studies that identified resilient practices in this organisation, which was a 'late adopter' of e-learning. The findings indicate that the combined use of social media and e-learning to support teaching, learning, communication, and related organisational practices fosters resilience for students, staff, and organisations in times of crises. The recommendations presented are relevant for all educational organisations that could be affected by similar events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing online learning communities is a promising pedagogical approach in online learning contexts for adult tertiary learners, but it is no easy task. Understanding how learning communities are formed and evaluating their efficacy in supporting learning involves a complex set of issues that have a bearing on the design and facilitation of successful online learning experiences. This paper describes the development of a framework for understanding and developing an online learning community for adult tertiary learners in a New Zealand tertiary institution. In accord with sociocultural views of learning and practices, the framework depicts learning as a mediated, situated, distributed, goaldirected, and participatory activity within a socially and culturally determined learning community. Evidence for the value of the framework is grounded in the findings of a case study of a semester-long fully online asynchronous graduate course. The framework informs our understanding of appropriate conditions for the development and conduct of online learning communities. Implications are presented for the design and facilitation of learning in such contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaboration between faculty and learner support can create seamless services for e-learners. Providing access to learning materials and activities with co-located tailored learner support creates an environment in which e-learners can easily access everything they need for an enhanced, supported, and more focused learning experience. The emerging practice of embedding live librarians in online tertiary classrooms provides a new avenue for such learner support, and forms a natural extension of the library links and resources which are routinely found on online campuses, library websites, and some online course pages. Embedded librarians can actively direct students to tailored library resources and tutorials and assist students directly, often in a library discussion forum, with their specific information and referencing questions. This paper reports on research into the nature and effectiveness of using embedded librarians in online classrooms in New Zealand, and takes a multi-faceted view of this emerging practice. Findings illustrate the benefits of this new form of e-learner support and identify potential pitfalls through increasing engagement with relevant and pertinent information resources to support their learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an investigation of the temporal rainfall variability in the South Island of New Zealand has been carried out using a high-quality monthly dataset of 152 rain gages with more than 50 years of observation. Possible trends in seasonal and annual rainfall values have been detected by means of the Mann–Kendall test and of a new graphical technique, Şen's method, which allows the trend identification of the low, medium, and high values of a series. As a result, different behaviors emerged in the South Island, with a rainfall increase in the southwest regions and a decrease in northeast areas. Moreover, the comparison of the trend methodologies has revealed different trend results (increasing, decreasing, or trendless time series). In particular, this study shows that Şen's method could be successfully used in the evaluation of peak and low values of data for the trend analysis of seasonal and annual rainfall values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Falls are common among older people, and General Practitioners (GPs) could play an important role in implementing strategies to manage fall risk. Despite this, fall prevention is not a routine activity in general practice settings. The iSOLVE cluster randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate implementation of a fall prevention decision tool in general practice. This paper sought to describe the strategies used and reflect on the enablers and barriers relevant to successful recruitment of general practices, GPs and their patients.Methods: Recruitment was conducted within the geographical area of a Primary Health Network in Northern Sydney, Australia. General practices and GPs were engaged via online surveys, mailed invitations to participate, educational workshops, practitioner networks and promotional practice visits. Patients 65 years or older were recruited via mailed invitations, incorporating the practice letterhead and the name(s) of participating GP(s). Observations of recruitment strategies, results and enabling factors were recorded in field notes as descriptive and narrative data, and analysed using mixed-methods.Results: It took 19 months to complete recruitment of 27 general practices, 75 GPs and 560 patients. The multiple strategies used to engage general practices and GPs were collectively useful in reaching the targeted sample size. Practice visits were valuable in engaging GPs and staff, establishing interest in fall prevention and commitment to the trial. A mix of small, medium and large practices were recruited. While some were recruited as a whole-practice, other practices had few or half of the number of GPs recruited. The importance of preventing falls in older patients, simplicity of research design, provision of resources and logistic facilitation of patient recruitment appealed to GPs. Recruitment of older patients was successfully achieved by mailed invitations which was a strategy that was familiar to practice staff and patients. Patient response rates were above the expected 10% for most practices. Many practices (n = 17) achieved the targeted number of 20 or more patients.Conclusions: Recruitment in general practice settings can be successfully achieved through multiple recruitment strategies, effective communication and rapport building, ensuring research topic and design suit general practice needs, and using familiar communication strategies to engage patients.Trial Registration: The trial was prospectively registered on 29 April 2015 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry www.anzctr.org.au (trial ID: ACTRN12615000401550). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue of New Zealand Journal of Crop & Horticultural Science includes papers describing some current research activities in mānuka. The research projects were planned and undertaken with various degree of Māori involvement. Here we give a perspective as three of the senior authors, and discuss science at the intersection of Māori and Pākehā cultures, focusing on mānuka. The underlying conclusion is that the processes for accessing plant material, engaging with Māori on the use of this material in science, and the ownership and dissemination of resulting data, have not often been appropriate and there should be a greater degree of inclusion of Māori in research involving taonga species. There is increasing recognition amongst non-Māori scientists within the Aotearoa New Zealand science community that research involving taonga species must follow the country's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, and be led by Māori cultural values, concepts and practices. On this basis future research involving taonga species should include co-design and co-management of research projects, analysis of the risks and benefits, and prior discussion and agreement on the use and implications of any new knowledge generated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calls for the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand to come together in unity -- tuī,tuī, tuituia -- have featured frequently in oratory and writings over the 250 years since the bark HMS Endeavour reached these shores in October 1769. The Ministry of Culture and Heritage has included as a theme for Tuia -- Encounters 250 events in 2019 'Dual Heritage, Shared Future -- presenting a balanced and honest history to better understand each other, and build a strong foundation for a shared future.' This paper focuses on the very high rate of prison incarceration in this country and the large number of Māori who are incarcerated. Current criminal justice policies undermine hopes for a positive dual heritage in a shared future. The significance of integration policies fostered by the Hunn Report 1960 is a particular focus. The article draws on an historical report of mine published in 2001 by the Waitangi Tribunal during the Wai 262 inquiry that led to the report Ko Aotearoa Tēnei [Waitangi Tribunal. 2011. Ko Aotearoa Tēnei: A report into claims concerning New Zealand law and policy affecting Māori culture and identity. Te Taumata Tuarua, Wellington: Legislation Direct] and then comments on recent criminal justice data and governmental policies. It is concluded that whole-of-government policies to address underlying issues of inequality, scarcity and deprivation existing in our midst are more important than tinkering with prison policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores what it takes to develop a common language and shared sense of purpose between Māori and the high-tech science sector. Robotics and automation, 3-D printing, sensors, and digital technologies are shaping New Zealand's economy in fundamental ways. If, as envisioned under New Zealand's Vision Mātauranga policy, Māori contribution to economic growth through distinctive Indigenous innovation is to be recognised and valued, then how this happens in these frontier science domains requires investigation. Findings are presented from the first phase of a longitudinal study of one National Science Challenge: Science for Technological Innovation (SfTI) -- Kia Kotahi Mai, Te Ao Pūtaiao me te Ao Hangarau. Collecting a variety of data from science, business and Māori participants, the findings suggest that while there is enabling macro policy, organisational and science team human and relational capacities require recalibrating. The authors outline a model of how this can be done through a focus on mātauranga (knowledge), tikanga (practice) and kaupapa (focus areas) and how SfTI is reshaping its organisational practice to align to this model. The research also identifies the important role of the science intermediary as crucial to this alignment within teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonisation has deeply harmed Maori communities, seriously and consistently undermining their vitality, aspirations and potentials, particularly since the 1860s, at inestimable cost to the entire nation. The British arrival in Aotearoa commenced a relationship between two very different peoples that has profoundly influenced their distinct and collective fortunes ever since. Despite manifest breaches of te Tiriti o Waitangi, this relationship has centred settler interests ensuring that Maori sovereignty has been displaced in favour of colonial hegemony, entrenching longstanding, preventable inequities in health and other important domains of social life. In this paper we trace some broad indicators of relational health and wellbeing in Aotearoa and consider how Maori thinking about whenua, health and wellbeing might lead healing opportunities for people and whenua. We outline ways in which a unified, dynamic, relational Maori concept based on whenua as the determinant of health could contribute. We believe this could expand, strengthen and revitalise prevention, protection and promotion approaches, to counter the injustices of colonisation, contribute toward health equity and move toward just, sustainable shared futures for the benefit of all New Zealanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

John Buchanan was New Zealand's first locally-based official scientific illustrator, preparing illustrations for a wide range of scientific publications. He was also an experienced botanist, publishing papers on the local flora. From 1862 until his retirement in 1885 Buchanan worked as an assistant to James Hector, undertaking fieldwork and a variety of technical projects. From 1868 onwards he undertook the time-consuming task of preparing illustrations for the first eighteen volumes of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. [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]

Background: Improving oxygen systems may improve clinical outcomes for hospitalised children with acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI). This paper reports the effects of an improved oxygen system on mortality and clinical practices in 12 general, paediatric, and maternity hospitals in southwest Nigeria.Methods and Findings: We conducted an unblinded stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial comparing three study periods: baseline (usual care), pulse oximetry introduction, and stepped introduction of a multifaceted oxygen system. We collected data from clinical records of all admitted neonates (<28 days old) and children (28 days to 14 years old). Primary analysis compared the full oxygen system period to the pulse oximetry period and evaluated odds of death for children, children with ALRI, neonates, and preterm neonates using mixed-effects logistic regression. Secondary analyses included the baseline period (enabling evaluation of pulse oximetry introduction) and evaluated mortality and practice outcomes on additional subgroups. Three hospitals received the oxygen system intervention at 4-month intervals. Primary analysis included 7,716 neonates and 17,143 children admitted during the 2-year stepped crossover period (November 2015 to October 2017). Compared to the pulse oximetry period, the full oxygen system had no association with death for children (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-1.46; p = 0.721) or children with ALRI (aOR 1.09; 95% CI 0.50-2.41; p = 0.824) and was associated with an increased risk of death for neonates overall (aOR 1.45; 95% CI 1.04-2.00; p = 0.026) but not preterm/low-birth-weight neonates (aOR 1.30; 95% CI 0.76-2.23; p = 0.366). Secondary analyses suggested that the introduction of pulse oximetry improved oxygen practices prior to implementation of the full oxygen system and was associated with lower odds of death for children with ALRI (aOR 0.33; 95% CI 0.12-0.92; p = 0.035) but not for children, preterm neonates, or neonates overall (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.60-1.58, p = 0.913; aOR 1.12, 95% CI 0.56-2.26, p = 0.762; aOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.57-1.43, p = 0.651). Limitations of our study are a lower-than-anticipated power to detect change in mortality outcomes (low event rates, low participant numbers, high intracluster correlation) and major contextual changes related to the 2016-2017 Nigerian economic recession that influenced care-seeking and hospital function during the study period, potentially confounding mortality outcomes.Conclusions: We observed no mortality benefit for children and a possible higher risk of neonatal death following the introduction of a multifaceted oxygen system compared to introducing pulse oximetry alone. Where some oxygen is available, pulse oximetry may improve oxygen usage and clinical outcomes for children with ALRI.Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12617000341325. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchard, S; Atkin, E.A., and Mead, S.T., 2019. Development of the regional significance concept for surf break management in Aotearoa New Zealand. In: Bryan, K.R. and Atkin, E.A. (eds.), Surf Break Management in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 87, pp. 23-34. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. New Zealand is at the forefront of global developments in the management of surf breaks. Since establishing legal protection under the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 the focus has shifted to the implementation responsibilities of local government. Within this context, a new planning mechanism has evolved around the concept of identifying surf breaks of 'regional significance' as a focus for protective measures. This paper provides a comprehensive review of these new developments including the different approaches taken in technical assessments and statutory plans to date. Although the concept is still in its infancy, there have been a range of approaches used that differ in many important aspects. These include the information sources relied upon, methodologies for community participation, and the rationale for conferring regional significance status. Two major paradigms can be identified in the design of assessment processes: the direct nomination of surf breaks for regional significance by local knowledge holders, and the assessment of surf breaks against regional significance criteria and associated qualifying thresholds. At the current point in time there are a range of philosophical decisions to be worked through in relation to the intended role in the management context, and the non-disclosure of sensitive locations leading to their exclusion from assessments. The current examples provide an important starting point towards a comprehensive approach for recognising national, regional and local levels of significance. Further developments can be expected as management authorities incorporate and build upon on these new approaches to surf resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mead, S.T. and Atkin, E.A., 2019. Managing issues at Aotearoa New Zealand's surf breaks. In: Bryan, K.R. and Atkin, E.A. (eds.), Surf Break Management in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 87, pp. 13–22. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Policy 16 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS) provides a legislative framework that identifies and calls for the protection of surf breaks of national and regional significance by "ensuring that activities in the coastal environment do not adversely affect the surf breaks" and by "avoiding adverse effects of other activities on access to, and use and enjoyment of the surf breaks". While this is ground-breaking as the world's first environmental policy to specifically identify surf breaks as protected spaces, it has been somewhat toothless in its effectiveness because there are no clear, quantitative measures or guidelines describing the oceanographic or geomorphic characteristics of the coastal zone that contribute to the functionality of a surf break. This paper summarises our existing knowledge concerning surf breaks in New Zealand and highlights the management issues facing local communities and councils; it presents an example of an implemented management approach and the way forward with the recently completed national management guidelines for surfing resources, which are a world first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchard, S; Atkin, E.A., and Mead, S.T., 2019. Development of the regional significance concept for surf break management in Aotearoa New Zealand. In: Bryan, K.R. and Atkin, E.A. (eds.), Surf Break Management in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 87, pp. 23-34. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. New Zealand is at the forefront of global developments in the management of surf breaks. Since establishing legal protection under the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 the focus has shifted to the implementation responsibilities of local government. Within this context, a new planning mechanism has evolved around the concept of identifying surf breaks of 'regional significance' as a focus for protective measures. This paper provides a comprehensive review of these new developments including the different approaches taken in technical assessments and statutory plans to date. Although the concept is still in its infancy, there have been a range of approaches used that differ in many important aspects. These include the information sources relied upon, methodologies for community participation, and the rationale for conferring regional significance status. Two major paradigms can be identified in the design of assessment processes: the direct nomination of surf breaks for regional significance by local knowledge holders, and the assessment of surf breaks against regional significance criteria and associated qualifying thresholds. At the current point in time there are a range of philosophical decisions to be worked through in relation to the intended role in the management context, and the non-disclosure of sensitive locations leading to their exclusion from assessments. The current examples provide an important starting point towards a comprehensive approach for recognising national, regional and local levels of significance. Further developments can be expected as management authorities incorporate and build upon on these new approaches to surf resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mead, S.T. and Atkin, E.A., 2019. Managing issues at Aotearoa New Zealand's surf breaks. In: Bryan, K.R. and Atkin, E.A. (eds.), Surf Break Management in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 87, pp. 13–22. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Policy 16 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS) provides a legislative framework that identifies and calls for the protection of surf breaks of national and regional significance by "ensuring that activities in the coastal environment do not adversely affect the surf breaks" and by "avoiding adverse effects of other activities on access to, and use and enjoyment of the surf breaks". While this is ground-breaking as the world's first environmental policy to specifically identify surf breaks as protected spaces, it has been somewhat toothless in its effectiveness because there are no clear, quantitative measures or guidelines describing the oceanographic or geomorphic characteristics of the coastal zone that contribute to the functionality of a surf break. This paper summarises our existing knowledge concerning surf breaks in New Zealand and highlights the management issues facing local communities and councils; it presents an example of an implemented management approach and the way forward with the recently completed national management guidelines for surfing resources, which are a world first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) is performance based. From a durability perspective, compliance requires a practitioner to demonstrate that materials will remain functional for the minimum periods specified. The NZBC also states that buildings must be constructed to avoid the likelihood of fungal growth or the accumulation of contaminants on linings and other building elements. Currently, there is no recognised method for practitioners to use to demonstrate that a wall system can meet this requirement for the required design life. In this paper, we consider how hygrothermal modelling, in conjunction with the VTT mould index, may be used to form the basis of such a method. In the past, there has been a discrepancy between predicted failures and field evidence, but the VTT mould index appears to correlate much better with the successful in-service history of typical New Zealand construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropsychological tests are routinely used to assess Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, yet very few investigations of the psychometric properties of these tests with this population have been conducted. This paper focuses on factors that may impact performance of Māori adults on neuropsychological testing. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) was administered to a sample of 284 Māori stratified for age (between 16 years and 90 years) and gender in order to establish a Māori normative data set. The sample who primarily spoke English as their first language were recruited from a range of urban, regional and rural areas in New Zealand to obtain representation of the main Māori Iwi (tribes). Analysis of test results suggests acculturation, education, income, and, "a culturally positive experience" may have accounted for some of the variance in test performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the New Zealand landscape, the mahika kai sites (resource gathering areas) are marked through place names, which act as central reference points (whai take) for a wider ecosystem catchment area and indicate changes over time. The traditional ecological knowledge, awakened through place names, informs and influences the way Māori realise cultural, social, environmental, and economic aspirations and practices (past and present). This paper will draw from a research project in Te Wai Pounamu (South Island), New Zealand that utilises traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) surrounding the place name, Matainaka, which indicate places where Kāi Tahu (South Island Māori tribal group) gathered whitebait (īnaka, Galaxias maculatus): an important fresh water species. A major focus of the research project is the knowledge around socio-cultural tipping points that will impact directly on the future cultural, social and economic sustainability within a specific catchment location, the Waikōuaiti River. The river has spawning and fishing sites for the īnaka mahika kai and comes under the mana whenua (recognised traditional authority) of the Māori tribal group, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki. Traditional ecological knowledge kōrero (speech) explains the importance of Matainaka and its contribution to the surrounding catchment area, and - in contemporary times - works alongside that of scientific knowledge. The project merged TEK and science to find ways to improve future planning and adaptation for habitat restoration and modification, and to lessen impacts on īnaka spawning sites from the expected impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, there is growing recognition of the benefits that indigenous peoples can bring to ecology and conservation, drawing on deep spiritual and cultural ties to the environment. The contribution of indigenous peoples and their knowledges is now widely acknowledged as critical to successful efforts to mitigate anthropogenic impacts. In New Zealand, matauranga spans all aspects of indigenous Maori knowledge and is conceptualised, developed and maintained through practice and connection. We searched all issues of the Proceedings of the New Zealand Ecological Society and the New Zealand Journal of Ecology from 1953 to 2018 to identify and highlight papers that feature research partnerships with Maori and/or acknowledge and explore matauranga Maori in a meaningful way. There were only three, republished here in this virtual issue. Although there has been a recent increase in studies that incorporate matauranga Maori published in other journals, we argue that substantive commitment to community partnerships and bicultural research has not been realized in ecological research. Working with interdisciplinary knowledge including matauranga will be critical to halt further biodiversity loss and improve outcomes for the environment and people, in New Zealand and worldwide. Matauranga Maori has much to contribute to positive biodiversity and ecological outcomes, but it will require institutional and systemic support of scientific researchers to develop authentic partnerships with Maori communities to transform research practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper records the abstracts of the presentations given at the 11th Oamaru Penguin Symposium, held at the Opera House, Oamaru, New Zealand, 3 and 4 May, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue reviews the state of biodiversity conservation in New Zealand, following the establishment of the Department of Conservation (DOC) in 1987. Here we summarise events that led to the formation of DOC, and the unprecedented series of changes in how biodiversity conservation has been viewed and conducted. Subsequent papers in this issue outline the successes, failures and key technological shifts in biodiversity conservation in New Zealand in the past 30 years; how visionary people and institutions have instigated conservation at landscape scales and in urban areas; the growing roles of Māori and non-Māori communities; and audacious new goals that reflect continuing attitudinal changes to the conservation of native biodiversity alongside the global and local implications of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Built-up box sections are becoming increasingly popular for column members in cold-formed steel (CFS) construction; uses of such sections include CFS trusses, space frames, and portal frames. In this article, the built-up box sections are formed through two identical lipped channels connected at their flanges with self-drilling screws. In such an arrangement, independent buckling of the individual channels is prevented by the screws. This paper presents an experimental investigation on axial capacity of built-up CFS box sections. Tests were conducted for different values of slenderness from short to slender columns. In total, the results from 16 experimental tests are reported. Of these, 8 tests were conducted on built-up CFS box sections and the remaining 8 tests were conducted on single channel sections. Load-axial shortening relationship, and failure modes are discussed for built-up columns. Nonlinear finite element (FE) models were developed for built-up CFS box sections and single channels. FE models considered material nonlinearities, initial imperfections and modeling of intermediate fasteners. FE results showed good agreement against the test results. A parametric study was conducted which comprises 148 models to investigate the effect of fastener spacing on axial capacity of built-up CFS box sections. Both FE and test results were compared against the design strengths calculated in accordance with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and Australian and New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS). From the comparison, it was observed that the AISI & AS/NZS are conservative by around 17% while determining the axial capacity of such built-up CFS box columns. • Experimental tests were conducted on CFS built-up box sections under axial compression. • Results from an experimental regime and elasto-plastic finite element are reported. • Local and overall imperfections are considered in FE models • The validated FE model was used for a parametric study to investigate the effect of screw spacing. • The design strengths in accordance with the AISI & AS/NZS are conservative by around 17% for CFS built-up box columns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning algorithms are used successfully in this paper to forecast reliably upcoming short-term high concentration episodes, or peaks (<60-min) of fine particulate air pollution (PM 2.5) 1 h in advance. Results are from a network around Christchurch, New Zealand, with an objective to forecast the occurrence of short-term peaks using a gradient boosted machine with a binary classifier as the response (1 = peak, 0 = no peak). Results are successful, with 80–90% accurate forecasting of whether a peak in PM 2.5 would occur within the next 60-min period. Elevated and variable nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lower temperatures and wind gusts are found to be important precursors to the occurrence of PM 2.5 peaks. The use of meteorological data from a network of personal weather stations across the monitored area and from the measurement instruments was able to identify local-scale peak differences in the network. Boosted models using hourly-averaged and daily-averaged peaks as the response are developed separately to showcase differences in precursors between short-term and long-term peaks, with recent wind gusts and nitrogen oxides linked to hourly-averaged peaks and aloft air temperatures and atmospheric pressure linked to daily-averaged peaks. Results could prove useful in exposure mitigation strategies (e.g. as a short-term warning system). • High short-term (<60 min) PM2.5 concentrations were forecast, 1 h in advance. • Significant precursors were nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, temperature and wind. • Personal weather stations helped identify local-scale processes affecting PM2.5 • Short-term results were different to daily-averaged forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. In the framework of the multi-wavelength and very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) monitoring program TANAMI (Tracking Active Nuclei with Austral Milliarcsecond Interferometry), we study the evolution of the parsec-scale radio emission in radio galaxies in the southern hemisphere and their relationship to the γ-ray properties of the sources. Our study investigates systematically, for the first time, the relationship between the two energy regimes in radio galaxies. In this first paper, we focus on Fermi-LAT-detected sources. Methods. The TANAMI program monitors a large sample of radio-loud AGN at 8.4 GHz and 22.3 GHz with the Australian long baseline array (LBA) and associated telescopes in Antarctica, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa. We performed a kinematic analysis for five γ-ray detected radio galaxies using multi-epoch 8.4 GHz VLBI images, deriving limits on intrinsic jet parameters such as speed and viewing angle. We analyzed 103 months of Fermi-LAT data in order to study possible connections between the γ-ray properties and the pc-scale jets of Fermi-LAT-detected radio galaxies, both in terms of variability and average properties. We discuss the individual source results and draw preliminary conclusions on sample properties including published VLBI results from the MOJAVE (Monitoring Of Jets in Active galactic nuclei with VLBA Experiments) survey, with a total of fifteen sources. Results. We find that the first γ-ray detection of Pictor A might be associated with the passage of a new VLBI component through the radio core, which appears to be a defining feature of high-energy emitting Fanaroff-Riley type II radio galaxies. We detect subluminal parsec-scale jet motions in the peculiar AGN PKS 0521−36, and we confirm the presence of fast γ-ray variability in the source down to timescales of six hours, which is not accompanied by variations in the VLBI jet. We robustly confirm the presence of significant superluminal motion, up to βapp ∼ 3, in the jet of the TeV radio galaxy PKS 0625−35. Our VLBI results constrain the jet viewing angle to be θ <  53°, allowing for the possibility of a closely aligned jet. Finally, by analyzing the first pc-scale multi-epoch images of the prototypical compact symmetric object (CSO) PKS 1718−649, we place an upper limit on the separation speed between the two mini-lobes. This in turn allows us to derive a lower limit on the age of the source. Conclusions. We can draw some preliminary conclusions on the relationship between pc-scale jets and γ-ray emission in radio galaxies, based on Fermi-LAT-detected sources with available multi-epoch VLBI measurements. We find that the VLBI core flux density correlates with the γ-ray flux, as seen in blazars. On the other hand, the γ-ray luminosity does not show any dependence on the core brightness temperature and core dominance, which are two common indicators of jet Doppler boosting. This seems to indicate that γ-ray emission in radio galaxies is not driven by orientation-dependent effects, as in blazars, in accordance with the unified model of jetted AGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Preoperative decongestion with Moffett's solution is routine practice in sinonasal procedures providing an ideal operative field. Anecdotally, it is related to postoperative throat pain, yet a quantitative relationship has not been established. We compare the incidence and severity of postoperative throat pain after application of Moffett's solution against Cophenylcaine decongestion. Methodology. A total of thirty patients from two consultants were recruited. The intervention arm (twenty) was decongested with Moffett's solution and the control arm (ten) with Cophenylcaine. The primary outcome was self-reported postoperative throat pain as measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) at 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, and next morning. Results. There was a significantly higher VAS for throat pain in patients decongested with Moffett's solution in the early postoperative period (2 hours p=0.03, 4 hours p=0.04). Conclusion. Moffett's solution is associated with a greater severity of transient postoperative throat pain compared to topical Cophenylcaine. We recommend further studies to identify means to minimise this side effect. Clinical Trial Registration. This paper has been registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry under the registration number: ACTRN12619000772145. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital inclusion--having what we need to participate in, contribute to, and succeed in the digital world--is becoming a priority for individuals, groups, and governments around the world. Not having the necessary motivation, access, skills, and trust to engage with all things digital can result in both individuals and groups being digitally excluded. In this Editorial we look at what is encompassed by digital inclusion, who is most likely to be excluded, and the New Zealand government's recent publication of the Digital Inclusion Blueprint. Following this discussion, the papers included in this issue are introduced [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net wind pressures acting across solar panels were obtained by testing 1/20 scale models in a range of typical array configurations in the wind tunnel. This paper presents data for a typical panel array configuration inclined at α = 20°. Large net negative (upward) pressures were measured on the panels at the leading edges for wind blowing towards the bottom surface of the sloping panels. Shielding from upwind arrays was negligible. Large net positive (downward) pressures were measured on the panels at the bottom leading edge for wind blowing towards the top surface of the sloping panels. Aerodynamic shape factors on the panels and arrays are given in a form that has been proposed in the revision of the Australian/New Zealand wind loading standard AS/NZS 1170.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations comparing surface downwearing rates derived from photogrammetry data and the micro-erosion meters (MEM) are limited due to the former's coarse spatial resolution and the temporal scale of data collection. These space and time limitations were revisited with the possibility of simultaneously using the Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetric workflow and the MEM. Using a cross-scale nested survey approach over one year to cover micro (10−2 m2) and meso (100 m2)-spatial scales, this paper presents erosion rates on uplifted intertidal shore platforms and marine terraces at Kaikōura Peninsula, New Zealand. The survey represents one of the first investigations combining the MEM and the SfM technique to estimate erosion rates on horizontal coastal bedrock. In a unique way, we applied established methods which allowed comparative accuracy between models via similar point matching to provide a detailed representation and visualisation of the changing rock surfaces at similar spatial and temporal scales. Over one year, across a microscale area (~0.01 m2) of rock, the MEM and SfM point clouds (SfM PCs) measured the lowest and highest erosion rates on a similar rock type and erosion site. The mean annual erosion rate of 2.244 mm/yr from the MEM was lower than the rates of 2.608 mm/yr and 10.299 mm/yr estimated using the SfM micro- and mesoscale PCs, respectively. A lower range of erosion rates (0.131 to 4.750 mm/yr) was measured using the MEM compared to erosion rates estimated from the SfM microscale PCs (0.194 to 10.106 mm/yr). Across the mesoscale (1 m2) areas, higher erosion rates were recorded using the SfM mesoscale PCs on all but one erosion site showing that a significant amount of erosion was undetected by the MEM. Using the SfM-orthomosaics, we link the erosion rates measured across the micro and mesoscale areas to intense granular disintegration, flaking, micro- and polygonal cracking and biological activities. These results provide statistical evidence to argue against extrapolating MEM erosion data obtained over small areas to larger areas on shore platforms affected by recent tectonic uplift. The implications of these findings are considered within the context of techniques for measuring shore platform erosion across spatial and temporal scales. • Erosion rates were acquired at similar spatial and temporal scales using MEM and SfM • A significant amount of shore platform erosion was undetected by the MEM • SfM PC models provided higher mean erosion rates for the micro (~0.01 m2) and mesoscale areas (1 m2) • Statistically similar mean erosion rates across microscale areas support substituting techniques. • MEM efficacy at capturing maximum erosion across microscale areas on the Kaikōura shore platforms has diminished [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel holistic method for off-grid microgrid planning optimisation is introduced. • The potential of state-of-the-art metaheuristics in better nearing global optimality is shown. • A high penetration of EVs are integrated using specific demand response strategies. • The importance of energy resilience in isolated microgrid sizing is highlighted. • The potentially significant impact of characterising uncertainties in optimal microgrid planning is substantiated. The resilient microgrid (MG) capacity planning and optimisation problem is widely recognised as a non-deterministic polynomial time-hard (NP-hard) problem. Accordingly, metaheuristics – top-level algorithms inspired by various natural and physical processes – can be utilised to determine the near optimality in designing MGs. However, a comprehensive review of the mainstream literature has shown that the performance of several metaheuristics has not yet been evaluated. In response, this paper first systematically benchmarks the efficiencies of previously unexplored metaheuristics in MG sizing applications against the well-established metaheuristic in the literature, namely the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm. To this end, the metaheuristics are separately integrated into a novel MG sizing method, which is aware of the optimal demand response capacity procured from electric vehicle (EV)-charging loads. Two grid-independent, 100%-renewable MGs are modelled, which enable the reliable and robust supply of electrical loads in areas far removed from the grid. Furthermore, an advanced EV-charging demand response program is integrated into the overall method, whilst quantifying various sources of time-series data uncertainty and considering specific resilience constraints. The simulation results yielded from three real-world isolated community case studies in Aotearoa-New Zealand confirm the effectiveness of the proposed stochastic, resilience-oriented, EV-charging demand response-addressable MG sizing method. Importantly, the comprehensive statistics-based performance evaluations indicate that new metaheuristics have the potential to outperform the PSO by up to ∼6% in MG sizing applications. This indicates the potentially significant implications of using advanced metaheuristics for improving the economics – and, therefore, rolling out – capital-intensive grid-isolated 100%-renewable MGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the early 90s, patient navigation programs were introduced in the United States to address inequitable access to cancer care. Programs have since expanded internationally and in scope. The goals of patient navigation programs are to: a) link patients and families to primary care services, specialist care, and community-based health and social services (CBHSS); b) provide more holistic patient-centred care; and, c) identify and resolve patient barriers to care. This paper fills a gap in knowledge to reveal what is known about motivators and factors influencing implementation and maintenance of patient navigation programs in primary care that link patients to CBHSS. It also reports on outcomes from these studies to help identify gaps in research that can inform future studies.Methods: This scoping literature review involved: i) electronic database searches; ii) a web site search; iii) a search of reference lists from literature reviews; and, iv) author follow up. It included papers from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and/or Western Europe published between January 1990 and June 2013 if they discussed navigators or navigation programs in primary care settings that linked patients to CBHSS.Results: Of 34 papers, most originated in the United States (n = 29) while the remainder were from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Motivators for initiating navigation programs were to: a) improve delivery of health and social care services; b) support and manage specific health needs or specific population needs, and; c) improve quality of life and wellbeing of patients. Eleven factors were found to influence implementation and maintenance of these patient navigation programs. These factors closely aligned with the Diffusion of Innovation in Service Organizations model, thus providing a theoretical foundation to support them. Various positive outcomes were reported for patients, providers and navigators, as well as the health and social care system, although they need to be considered with caution since the majority of studies were descriptive.Conclusions: This study contributes new knowledge that can inform the initiation and maintenance of primary care patient navigation programs that link patients with CBHSS. It also provides directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by international trends and government policy, it is a requirement for all newly built schools in New Zealand to be designed as innovative learning environments (ILEs) with flexible learning spaces. These environments, celebrated by some for the "transformational" educational opportunities they may provide, also raise questions about whether the anticipated pedagogical value of these "non-traditional" spaces is based on idealised visions of teaching and learning rather than empirically derived evidence. Before such complex issues can be efficiently addressed, evidence of the actual "state of play" of ILEs is required. Drawing on New Zealand specific data from a large Australasian research project, this paper triangulates principals' opinions, teachers' perspectives, and the literature on some key preliminary issues: what types of learning spaces can be found in New Zealand schools; what teaching styles are evident in these spaces; what pedagogical beliefs are driving ILE teaching practices; and what types of learning activities are occurring in ILEs? The paper provides an evidencebased platform for further discussion about the opportunities and challenges surrounding the use and practice of ILEs in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'FeminEast' is a feminist club that was founded by students at Wellington East Girls' College in 2013. At the time of writing, the club's popularity is growing and has attracted attention from national media. This paper reports on a pilot study based on conversations with FeminEast co-founder Jess Dellabarca and analysis of media texts by and about the club. The author contextualises FeminEast in a neoliberal climate, focussing on the neoliberal discourse usually called 'postfeminism', the widespread belief that feminism is no longer needed because we have achieved gender equality. This paper foregrounds efforts by FeminEast's leaders to mobilise feminist anger and contend with contemporary gender norms and postfeminist discourse. These efforts are discussed particularly in relation to the 2013-2014 'Roast Busters' scandal. FeminEast members adeptly navigate postfeminist social dynamics; ultimately, they succeed in developing and disseminating their view that the Roast Busters are a product of persistent and pernicious rape culture, a key weapon of contemporary patriarchy. This paper shows that girls can and do engage activistic practices that are more worthy of scholarly attention than the dearth of recent research on girls' activism would suggest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term air temperature prediction is of major importance in a large number of applications, including climate-related studies, energy, agricultural, or medical. This paper examines the performance of two Machine Learning algorithms (Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP)) in a problem of monthly mean air temperature prediction, from the previous measured values in observational stations of Australia and New Zealand, and climate indices of importance in the region. The performance of the two considered algorithms is discussed in the paper and compared to alternative approaches. The results indicate that the SVR algorithm is able to obtain the best prediction performance among all the algorithms compared in the paper. Moreover, the results obtained have shown that the mean absolute error made by the two algorithms considered is significantly larger for the last 20 years than in the previous decades, in what can be interpreted as a change in the relationship among the prediction variables involved in the training of the algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-formed steel (CFS) is a popular form of construction in New Zealand and the developed world because it can be cost-effective, durable, sustainable, resilient to extreme environmental and seismic loads and easy to install. When used in domestic and medium-rise buildings, T-Stub connection between CFS channel sections is formed by using self-drilling screws which connect the flanges. In the literature, no prior investigation on the tension capacity of such connection has been reported. Therefore, this paper describes a novel test procedure for determining the tension capacity of such CFS T-Stub connection and the associated mechanism of failure. An experimental test program that comprises thirty experimental tests is reported in this paper. Three channel section thicknesses were examined: 0.55 mm, 0.75 mm, and 0.95 mm. All specimens failed as a result of tilting of the screws and bearing failure. Non-linear elasto-plastic finite element (FE) models were developed, and the predictions were validated against the experimental test results. It was adjudged that there was reasonable agreement in terms of connection strength and failure mode prediction. Finally, the design strengths derived from current design standards were compared with the experimental failure loads. It was found that the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI 2016) and Australian and New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS 2018) are conservative by 6% and unconservative by 10% for the initial and final failure loads of T-Stub CFS connections, respectively. • A novel cold-formed steel T-stub connection was studied experimentally and numerically. • The results of a total of 30 new experimental tests were reported. • Finite element analysis was conducted and validated against the test results. • The prediction accuracy of current design standards was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how a combination of high-resolution numerical modeling, a robust homogenization algorithm, and local pressure observations have been used to understand and reconcile time series of daily, seasonal, and annual peak wind gusts recorded at observing sites in the Cook Strait region of New Zealand. The homogenization algorithm consists of corrections for the relocation of masts, changes in instrumentations, data acquisition and signal processing, surrounding surface roughness, and measurement heights. In addition, a statistical method, penalized maximal F test (PMFT), was used to assess the homogeneity of the wind speed time series and detect and eliminate all remaining, undocumented, artificial (i.e., nonclimatic) breakpoints. A three-dimensional time-dependent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was carried out using the Gerris model to characterize the turbulence environment at the mast sites and to estimate topographic speedup effects. Trends in magnitudes and frequencies of the homogenized seasonal and annual peak wind gusts are evaluated and presented for the Cook Strait region. The pressure gradients between pairs of stations were used to study the correlation between the gust wind speeds and the pressure field. A high-resolution convection-resolving numerical weather prediction model [the New Zealand Convective-Scale Model (NZCSM)] was employed to aid the interpretation of results and analyze wind trends. The trend in gust speeds is also shown to be consistent with larger-scale NCEP–NCAR reanalysis pressure trends. The homogenization algorithm showed promising results in eliminating the artificial breakpoints and trends. Overall, strong correlations were found between the homogenized gust speeds, the pressure field across the region, and NZCSM predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a full-band calibration scheme of timing mismatch for Time-Interleaved Analog-to-Digital Converters (TI-ADC) based on Automatic Identification (AI) detection scheme. Besides estimating the value of timing mismatch, AI detection scheme also judges the odd–even property of the Nyquist zone (NZ) which the input signal belongs to and thus adaptively adjusts the calibration polarity for full-band application. On the other hand, Successive-Approximation-Register (SAR) correction technique is employed to speed up the convergence process of calibration with low cost. The efficiency of the proposed calibration scheme is verified by MATLAB simulation and implementation on PCB. Both results show that with an input signal whose bandwidth is within any NZ, the proposed calibration methodology is effective. Compared with the traditional calibration schemes, the proposed calibration method achieves fast convergence speed with 6 × 1 0 3 samples and costs less hardware with 2.1 k gate counts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns are adopted in many structural applications, especially for tall buildings, bridges and large infrastructure due to their substantial structural and economic benefits. However, the design guidelines for CFST columns with high strength materials and slender sections are still limited. In acknowledging these limitations, a large number of tests on high strength CFST columns have been conducted. In this paper, the most recent experimental data on CFST columns with high strength materials and slender sections are collected and merged with existing databases to establish a comprehensive database with over 3100 tests. The test results are then compared with those predicted from existing design codes, including Eurocode 4, Australian/New Zealand code AS/NZS 2327 and American code AISC 360-16 to calibrate their accuracy in strength prediction of CFST columns. In general, all codes give conservative predictions for CFST columns. Eurocode 4 and AS/NZS 2327 give the best predictions, whilst AISC 360-16 gives conservative predictions. The effects of material strengths and section slenderness on the code predictions are also investigated to evaluate the applicability of the codes beyond their material strength and section slenderness limits. • A comprehensive database of 3103 tests on CFST columns was collected. • Test results were compared with the predictions from three modern design codes. • The effects of material strengths and section slenderness on the code predictions were examined. • The applicability of the design codes beyond their material strength and section slenderness limits was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an application of the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) based technique to investigate the block shear failure mode of bolted connections made of high strength cold-reduced G450 sheet steel. In conjunction with the conventional testing approach, the DIC provides detailed failure information on connection behaviour and its correlation with macroscopic material tests. A total number of 12 tests of 3 mm thickness specimens were tested at the University of Sydney. The experimental results provide a better understanding on how the failure of the bolted connections progress. The features of the new block shear equations recently adopted in the North American Specification for Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members (AISI S100:2016) and the Australian/New Zealand Standards 4600:2018 Cold-Formed Steel Structures have been clarified. • A block shear failure experimental program of bolted connections using high strength G450 sheet steel is performed. • The Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is used to observe the failure of the bolted connections. • Test results are compared with the predictions in AISI S100:2016 and AS/NZS 4600:2018. • The average shear area used in the block shear equation in the latest AISI S100:2016 and AS/NZS 4600:2018 has been confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]