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Using historical data on energy from (Malanima 2020) and GDP from the Maddison Project Database, this paper investigates the energy-growth nexus in a less-studied region, mainly Australia and New Zealand, since 1870. The long annual series allow meaningful application of recently developed time-varying and quantile Granger causality analysis. Results indicate that there is a bi-directional Granger causal relationship between economic growth and energy, coal, and oil consumption at both ends of the distribution, and during various time periods over the past 150 years. Little evidence is found on the Granger causal relationship from gas consumption to economic growth, but some evidence on the direction from economic growth to gas consumption. The Granger causal relationships between electricity consumption and GDP change over time, but results suggest much closer links between the two in most recent decades, and big (positive and negative) changes in electricity consumption significantly Granger causes economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of China's economy over the last two decades saw many Chinese students going overseas to study. Like many western countries, New Zealand benefited from increased international student enrolments, with Chinese students making up the largest proportion of the numbers. Many of these students experienced "culture shock" in their new home, not the least being in their studies. To succeed, they needed to "unlearn" many of their previous ways and adjust to new academic demands. The study reports the experiences of Chinese undergraduates enrolled in a compulsory first year management course where they encountered radically different ways of doing things; different styles of lecturing, group work, participative tutorials and an emphasis on application rather than textbook based study. Data for the study was obtained from observing lectures and tutorials, and from interviews with students and the lecturer. The findings illustrate the difficulties many Chinese students encountered; meeting written and spoken English requirements, dealing with challenging internal assessments, group work, participative tutorials and coping with very different lecturing styles. For many, the paper was a major hurdle to be overcome in studies. (Contains 1 table.)

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of halitosis in young adults. Methods: Young adults (n = 372; mean age = 21.0 ± 2.6 years old, range = 18–30 years) in Dunedin, New Zealand, were recruited into the cross sectional study after providing informed consent. The prevalence of halitosis was determined using both objective measurements (parts per billion [ppb] volatile sulphur compounds [VSCs] in the exhaled air) and subjective measurements (self‐reported halitosis questionnaire, tongue coating index, and organoleptic assessment). Results: Volatile sulphur compounds measurements indicated that the prevalence of halitosis (values ≥140 ppb) was 31.2%; 25.6% of participants self‐reported halitosis. The organoleptic assessment revealed that 14.3% of the participants had a score of ≥2. A positive correlation was found between the VSC measurements and organoleptic assessment (p < 0.05). No significant relationship was found between self‐reported halitosis and either organoleptic assessment or VSC measurements. Self‐reported dry mouth, smoking, oral hygiene index, DMFT index, and tongue coating score were significantly associated with the organoleptic assessment (p < 0.05). The self‐reported dry mouth, mouth breathing and tongue coating score were significantly associated with the VSC scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Halitosis, as represented by VSC, was found in 31.2% of the participants. VSC scores and organoleptic assessment were positively correlated. There was no significant relationship between self‐reported halitosis and either organoleptic assessment or VSC measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International migration is an important source of population change and economic development for Pacific Island countries. Migration from the Pacific Island region contributes to labour recruitment in countries like Australia, New Zealand and the United States. However, there are substantial gaps in the understanding of overall migration patterns in this region, impeding the development of relevant policies. In the absence of good migration statistics, we propose and present an alternative approach to examining the levels of migration in the Pacific Island region using model-based estimates. Three sets of recently produced migration flow estimates are consulted to explore the immigration and emigration levels and key migration corridors in the Pacific Island region between 2000 and 2019. Where reported migration statistics are available, we evaluate the performance of model-based estimates and highlight if there are problems with the reported data. This research brief demonstrates the value of model-based estimates to inform migration in the Pacific Island region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last two decades, task-based language teaching (TBLT) has been promoted as more effective for language acquisition than conventional communicative pedagogic practices in a variety of literature. However, it is unclear whether TBLT principles are integrated into English as additional language (EAL) teachers' beliefs and how they made use of ideas announced in the TBLT literature at tertiary level in New Zealand. This exploratory study investigated whether TBLT is evident in three tertiary EAL teachers' classes and how these teachers used tasks in language classes in New Zealand. Repeated semi-structured interviews and classroom observations were employed in this case study research. A key finding is that teachers were using a Communicative Language Teaching model rather than what they claimed to be TBLT. Furthermore, teachers did not prioritize a particular task feature, which was to have a non-linguistic outcome at the end of the task. This study contributes to our understanding of teachers' beliefs and practices with regard to TBLT in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Having insight into final year dental students' career planning is vital in maintaining and enhancing the quality of dental education. The aim of this study was to investigate final year dental students' career plans, work patterns, work‐life balance and domestic life, in New Zealand and Australia. Methods: The design of the study was a two‐centred cross‐sectional study. Results: A total of 148 students, including 95 females (64%) and 53 males (36%), completed the survey (response rate = 87%). The mean age of students across two Australasian universities was 23 ± 3 years. Findings from this study demonstrate that students prefer their first job is an urban, full‐time and salary‐based with a good mentor. However, when describing their long‐term planning, work‐life balance becomes more important. The growth in the number of female dentists will continue to shape the future patterns of our dental profession. Conclusion: The current study has highlighted several similarity and differences in career plans, work patterns, work‐life balance and domestic life between two Australasian universities. The information might be useful for the policymakers involved in future workforce planning and infrastructure and for those involved in the delivery of dental education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) shows several kinds of disorders, which acutely harm the kidney. However, the current medical methods have limited therapeutic effects. The present study aimed to find out the molecular mechanism of AKI pathogenesis, which may provide new insights for future therapy. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was conducted using the R language (AT&T BellLaboratories, University of Auckland, New Zealand) to acquire the differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in AKI. The expression levels of RNAs and related proteins in tissues and cells were detected by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and western blot. Dual‐luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to verify the target relationship between microRNA (miRNA) and lncRNA as well as miRNA and mRNA. Flow cytometry and tunnel assay were used to detect the cell apoptotic rate in AKI. Results: LINC00520, miR‐27b‐3p, and OSMR form an axis to regulate AKI. Knockdown of LINC00520 reduced acute renal injury both in vitro and in vivo. LINC00520 activated the PI3K/AKT pathway to aggravate renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, while upregulation of miR‐27b‐3p or downregulation of OSMR could accelerate the recovery of AKI. Conclusion: Overexpression of LINC00520 contributes to the aggravation of AKI by targeting miR‐27b‐3p/ OSMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to investigate the middle ear structure and surgical approach appropriate for middle ear surgery in rabbits. A total of eight healthy New Zealand rabbits (16 ears) were dissected under a surgical microscope. The dimensions of the auditory canal and the middle ear were measured. In the present study, the transcanal surgical approach to the middle ear in rabbits was performed without complications, the anatomical landmarks in the auricle and the external auditory canal were apparent, no large vessels were present in the surgical zone and the bleeding was minor. Furthermore, the surgical procedure did not require removal of large bone sections of the external auditory canal. Additionally, the constitution of the ossicular chain, the leverage ratio of the ossicular chain and the constitution of ligaments and muscles in rabbits were similar to humans. Otherwise, the facial nerve canal in rabbits was more prominent compared with humans and the mobility of pars flaccida in rabbits was more noticeable compared with humans. The results of the current study indicate that the transcanal surgical approach was suitable to study the middle ear in rabbits. Furthermore, the rabbit middle ear may be used as a model for ossicular surgery and facial nerve research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess rhabdomyolysis-associated skeletal muscle changes induced by complete ischaemia in rabbits using MRI. Methods: Acute ischaemia was induced in the right hind limb of 34 New Zealand white rabbits by arterial ligation. MRI of vastus lateralis was carried out pre-operatively and every hour post-operatively up to 7h. T1 weighted images, T2 weighted images with fat suppression, T2 maps and diffusion tensor scans were obtained. The correlation of MRI findings with histopathological changes in biopsies of vastus lateralis was examined. Results: Histopathology demonstrated early cellular oedema 1 h post ischaemia and irre- versible injuries by 7 h, including loss of striation and broken muscle fibres. T2 weighted images with fat suppression showed inhomogeneous high signal intensity of vastus lateralis, which progressively increased from 2h following ischaemia. The T2 relaxation rate of ischaemic vastus lateralis was significantly greater than normal muscle (p<0.001) and demonstrated a linear increase with time following ischaemia. A similar linear increase was also found in the ischaemic vastus lateralis apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) 1-5h post ischaemia (p=0.006). Both the T2 ADC and fractional anisotropy (FA) were significantly higher on the ischaemic side 7h post ischaemia (for T2, p=0.02; for ADC, p=0.004). Conclusion: Muscle oedema is detectable on MR images and is reflected well by T2, ADC and FA values. MRI may have value in clinical evaluation of rhabdomyolysis. Advances in knowledge: lschaemic changes detected by MRI may have value in the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For almost two decades New Zealand's tertiary institutions experienced growth in international student enrolments with Chinese students making up the largest proportion of the numbers. Many of these students experience 'culture shock' both inside and outside of the classroom. To succeed they need to 'unlearn' previous ways of studying and adjust to the new academic requirements. This study reports the experience of Chinese undergraduates in a first year management paper as they encountered different styles of lecturing, group work, tutorials and an emphasis on application rather than textbook based study. Data were obtained from observations of lectures and tutorials, and from student and lecturer interviews. The findings highlight the difficulties many students faced - meeting written and spoken English requirements, dealing with challenging internal assessments and different styles of lecturing. For many, the paper was a major hurdle to overcome in their studies in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As far as the 2219 Al-ceramic Al dissimilar friction stir welded joint is concerned, the weld nugget zone surprisingly shows a notable softening phenomenon after the deep cryogenic treatment (DCT). The effect of DCT on microstructure evolution of nugget zone in 2219 Al was investigated in this paper in order to explore the reasons for the unique softening phenomenon. The results indicate that the DCT further promotes recrystallization and causes the grain growth slightly. The diffusion of Ti element from ceramic Al to 2219 Al occurs during the dissimilar friction stir welding, leading to the formation of Ti-rich secondary phases in the nugget zone of 2219 Al. The DCT can facilitate the precipitate dissolution to a certain extent, and thus the size and distribution density of the secondary phase particles are both reduced. Essentially, DCT produces internal stress in the dissimilar friction stir weld, and the rotation of grain boundaries from dislocation movement and the dissolution of secondary phases are able to release the internal stress, which are fundamental reasons for the softening of nugget zone after DCT. • DCT by liquid nitrogen results in NZ softening in 2219 Al-ceramic Al FSW joint. • DCT leads to grain growth, stronger shear texture and dislocation reduction in NZ. • Dissolution of secondary phases occurs in the NZ after DCT. • Fundamental reasons for NZ softening after DCT are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an increasing public interest in the use of TM internationally, yet there is a paucity of research on the use of TM by the public in the dental setting. This study aimed to explore the views, use of and access to TM in dentistry among different ethnic groups residing in New Zealand. Methods: Qualitative study and in-depth interviews were used. An individual semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using an inductive approach to identify the main themes. Results: Three main themes were extracted from interviews with 14 participants from diverse cultural backgrounds: [1] the perspectives of TM varied among different ethnic groups and included the involvement of spirituality, the environment, knowledge and usage of TM. [2] The TM that was used by different ethnic groups included plants, herbs, massage, and other forms of healing. Reasons for choosing traditional or western medicines generally included family tradition, access to TM, and finding a competent traditional healer. [3] The barriers in accessing TM included the paucity of traditional healers, difficulty accessing plants and cost, therefore most would look for a substitution or alternative treatment. Conclusion: Even though the access to these TM in New Zealand was a challenge for the majority of the participants, they are still considered the first-line treatment for the majority. This study provided dental practitioners an insight into the different sort of TM used by the population. By understanding and acknowledging the use of TM, dental practitioners could create a supportive environment for patients to disclose their use of TM and allow them to educate patients on the use of TM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germinal peptide is being developed to treat corneal injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate its effect on corneal epithelial cells in vitro and its ability to promote healing in an alkali injury model in vivo. Cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells were treated with germinal peptide at three concentrations. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed and compared with the effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rh-EGF). In vivo , the corneas of New Zealand albino rabbits were chemically burned with 1 mol/l NaOH for 30 s. The injured eyes were topically treated with germinal peptide (10, 20, and 40 μg/ml), rh-EGF, or phosphate-buffered saline thrice daily. At fixed time points post injury, the healing of the cornea and its histopathology were evaluated. There was no difference in the effect of germinal peptide on cultured cell proliferation. However, cell migration was significantly higher than that in the control groups, with germinal peptide at concentrations of 20 and 40 μg/ml being the most efficacious. In vivo , 20 and 40 μg/ml germinal peptide significantly alleviated corneal opacity and edema. By day 21, the areas of corneal neovascularization in the germinal peptide-treated groups were smaller than those in the rh-EGF and control groups. The repaired corneas in the germinal peptide- and rh-EGF-treated groups also had more corneal epithelial layers and fewer inflammatory cells than the controls. Germinal peptide may be developed as a novel topical treatment agent for corneal wound healing in clinical settings. • We studied the effect of germinal peptide (GP) on healing of alkali eye damage. • Twenty and 40 μg/ml GP significantly alleviated corneal opacity and edema. • At 21 d, corneal neovascularization, epithelial layers, and inflammation were lower. • GP increased rabbit corneal epithelial cell migration in vitro. • GP may provide a novel topical approach to corneal wound healing in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive and broadly specific competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ciELISA) method was developed for the simultaneous detection of nine microcystins (MCs) and nodularin (NOD) using MC-LR-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) for New Zealand white rabbit immunization to produce antibodies. The MC-LR-bovine serum albumin (BSA) and NOD-BSA coating antigens were compared and heterogeneous coating strategy was found to significantly improve the sensitivity of detection, as evident from the appropriate structure. Comparison of the half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) with MC-LR and MC-LR-BSA coating techniques (0.29 ng/mL) revealed the superior performance of 0.054 ng/mL for NOD-BSA coating. NOD-BSA was selected as the coating antigen, because it showed ultrahigh sensitivity for the detection of MC-LR with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0016 ng/mL, which was below the maximum residue level (MRL) of 1 ng/mL. In addition, high reproducibility, good stability, and acceptable spiked sample detection, as validated by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), indicated the possible application of this method for the analysis of MCs and NOD in water sample. • An antibody recognizing 9 microcystins and nodularin was obtained for the first time. • A heterogeneous coating strategy resulted to a high sensitivity. • A highly sensitive and broadly specific competitive iELISA method was developed for the simultaneous detection of 9 microcystins and nodularin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Free-flowing proliposomes which contained vinpocetine were prepared successfully to increase the oral bioavailability of vinpocetine. In this study the proliposomes were prepared by a novel method which was reported for the first time and the formulation was optimized using the centre composite design (CCD). The optimized formulation was Soybean phosphatidylcholine: 860 mg; cholesterol: 95 mg and sorbitol: 8000 mg. After the proliposomes were contacted with water, the suspension of vinpocetine liposomes formed automatically and the entrapment efficiency was approximately 86.3% with an average particle size of about 300 nm. The physicochemical properties of the proliposomes including SEM, TEM, XRD and FTIR were also detected. HPLC system was applied to study the concentration of vinpocetine in the plasma of the New Zealand rabbits after oral administration of vinpocetine proliposomes and vinpocetine suspension. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by the software program DAS2.0. The concentration–time curves of vinpocetine suspension and vinpocetine proliposomes were much more different. There were two absorption peaks on the concentration–time curves of the vinpocetine proliposomes. The pharmacokinetic parameters of vinpocetine and vinpocetine proliposomes in New Zealand rabbits were T max 1 h and 3 h (there was also an absorption peak at 1 h); C max 163.82±12.28 ng/ml and 166.43±21.04 ng/ml; AUC0−∞ 1479.70±68.51 ng/ml h and 420.70±35.86 ng/ml h, respectively. The bioavailability of vinpocetine in proliposomes was more than 3.5 times higher than the vinpocetine suspension. The optimized vinpocetine proliposomes did improve the oral bioavailability of vinpocetine in New Zealand rabbits and offer a new approach to enhance the gastrointestinal absorption of poorly water soluble drugs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]