bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Evolution of Tyrant Tropes in Greek Tragedy
Authors:   , Hann Charlie
Published: December 2021

Tyranny (tyrannis) is a name given to a type of Greek monarchy that came into being in the seventh century B.C.E. The democratisation of Greece and the transference of aristocratic ideas of equality and liberty to the whole citizen population led the vilification of tyranny as the opposite of democracy and its extensive use as a foil for democracy in Athenian politics. This political idea made its way into literature, including tragedy where it was one of several important anachronistic political ideas. The demonization of the tyrant also led to the development of tropes to create the stereotype of the tyrant. These tropes are catalogued in Plato and Aristotle and widely recognised in Herodotus, but as Lanza (1977) and Seaford (2003) have pointed out, they also occur in tragedy, to the same extent as they do in prose. The tropes can roughly be split into two groups – those that are based on real power-conserving strategies and those that were created to characterise the tyrant as a moral monster.
Dance for the dead: Belief, anxiety, and social cohesion in the Japanese Bon Festival
Authors:   , Irving Briar
Published: December 2021

This thesis aimed to investigate the role of belief in reducing anxiety and increasing social cohesion outcomes of collective ritual. To accomplish this, we developed a belief scale specific to the Japanese Bon Festival, based on ethnographic research and focus groups. We also present a modern ethnographic account of the Bon Festival, one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Japan. Belief in the spiritual background on the Bon Festival did not seem to have an effect on the anxiety and social cohesion outcomes of participation in the ritual. This suggests that the existence of meaning is enough and belief in it is not important for gaining these benefits.
Questioning policy-making as problem-solving. A Bacchian examination of how paid parental leave was problematized in New Zealand and Norway
Authors:   , Morrissey Susan
Published: December 2021

This thesis adopts Carol Bacchi’s Foucault-influenced poststructuralist perspective to investigate how the concept of gender equality was conceptualized in the paid parental leave (PPL) policies in New Zealand and Norway. Poststructuralism is concerned with how we ‘know’ things, and with language, and the Foucauldian influence brings a focus on discourse as knowledge. Poststructuralism is also concerned with subjectification, how subject positions are created by the discourse, and the way in which some people are excluded from certain subject positions. The research investigates changes to the PPL policies in New Zealand and Norway and how gender equality was conceptualized in each country.  This research is conducted using two closely-related poststructuralist methodologies for two different types of data. The first data consist of historical documents from prior to and including the time that the PPL policies were changed and Bacchi’s ‘What’s the Problem Represented to be?’ or ‘WPR’ framework is used to analyse them. The second data consist of interviews with people involved in the PPL policies and Bacchi and Bonham’s Poststructural Interview Analysis or ‘PIA’ framework is used to analyse them. For both data sets, the analysis consists of thematic coding, followed by answering the series of WPR questions or the PIA processes. Three common themes of payment rate, eligibility, and rights were identified in the analysis of the historical data and they provided a focus for the interview data analysis. Different conceptions of gender equality were identified in each country.   The research makes a number of contributions. It provides an original insight into the design of PPL policy from a critical perspective and brings a gender lens to policy analysis. It offers a unique comparison between New Zealand and Norway, and provides a further methodological example of the established WPR framework, as well as an early application of the new PIA approach. The research also challenges policy-makers to makers to adopt and maintain a critical perspective in their work, and to recognise that people are subjects, and that policies are problems constituted by the discourse.
Bridging the Distance: Accommodating Wildlife Interaction in an Urban Setting.
Authors:   , Thomson Michaela
Published: December 2021

Currently within the Wellington region there is an abundance of green spaces hosting a variety of native and exotic wildlife species (Rastandeh, Brown, & Pedersen Zari, 2018; “The Sanctuary,” 2018). These species are somewhat confined to a ‘home’ green space, in that travel between habitats involves difficult navigation between dense urban and residential structures (Forman, 1995; Rastandeh, Brown, et al., 2018). Many native species are not able to make long distance flights (Wittern & Berggren, 2007); and as a result habitat fragmentation is occurring at a rapid ecological level. The built form is limiting and discouraging wildlife movement, as well as being dangerous for smaller animals (Forman, 1995; Santiago, 2014). Currently tiny patches of vegetation provide wildlife with a directional indication of intended movement, but overall urban planning is designed for humans only.  Aside from the lack of possible movement between habitats, there is also an absence of human connections to these spaces. There is a missed opportunity to introduce humans to ecological spaces, in that it allows a physical link and understanding to be achieved, as well as additional wellbeing benefits (Ell, 1981a; Santiago, 2014).   With these two existing elements; the lack of wildlife movement between established habitats and the connectivity of humans to these spaces, there is also a third element of how interaction between people and wildlife within urban locations is absent. People are stuck with contributing towards the rapid decline of habitat, there are very limited positive interactions that are being utilised (Rastandeh, Brown, et al., 2018; Santiago, 2014). Infrastructure and specific designed elements that provide the correct facilities to allow for interactions between wildlife and humans is largely non-existent and crucial in the face of biodiversity loss and fragmentation.  This thesis aims to establish a set of design guidelines towards understanding how interaction can be utilised within the design profession, as a way to reduce biodiversity loss, fragmentation and to increase exposure to unique species. Exploration at different scales, macro, meso and micro will be addressing different issues to answer the question of what types of interactions will be occurring within these spaces.
Delicacy
Authors:   , Morley Jaimee
Published: December 2021

A new acceptance of aesthetics, technological advancements and current trends of slenderness and lightness have encouraged contemporary society towards the delicate. Delicacy is a notion within the aesthetic concept of beauty. To explore this shift towards the delicate in this portfolio, I explore the potential of delicacy within architecture through shifting scales. The design-led methodological framework pursues an iterative approach of exploration. To aid in generative and reflective discovery this research is structured to address three different scales: a 1:1 installation, mid-scale project and a public-scale project. The three scales increased in architectural complexity whilst testing the proposition. Literary context, projects and design precedents fed into the design process, further refining the proposition as it shifted. Scale, materiality, and colour and whiteness were developed as an evaluative framework throughout the entire research. An installation investigating the ‘vast and the intimate’ highlighted the importance of the human scale and considering materiality and construction techniques. The next experiment tested the proposition at an architectural scale and, through evaluation, refined the proposition to focus on delicacy. The final design investigation considers the perception of delicacy through a seemingly effortless architectural outcome through multiple scales. To conclude, the research considers the overarching typology down to the detail. Structure, materiality and detailing can all positively inform and enrich architectural aesthetic possibilities in favour of the delicate, where complexities are hidden within the appearance of effortlessness.
Socialising Church Space
Authors:   , Young Thaddeus
Published: December 2021

For hundreds of years the Christian Church stood as the pillar of occidental cities, structuring society and the urban fabric. At the time of European colonisation, the impact of the Church on New Zealand society was less significant than it had been centuries before. Social priorities were slowly shifting away from religious fanaticism, as such; the church did not influence the urban environment to the same level. Church buildings became increasingly isolated from their urban setting, with less impact on their surrounding environment. In addition, New Zealand urban development was expanding, creating the need for vehicular transport. For the majority of Christians, driving to church continues to be commonplace. What little exterior space churches have is typically used as car parking. This space surrounding many church buildings is functional and utilitarian, resulting in an uninviting exterior with no pedestrian interactivity. This has limited the potential interaction between the church and local community. To fully understand the New Zealand model, ten churches were identified and analysed in Wellington. Information and evidence were gathered on how to address the lack of inviting exterior church space. A comparative analysis model was used to identify sites with particular potential for improved design. Engagement with the respective church communities was then necessary to establish a deeper understanding of each site and the needs of the community. Comparative analysis and community engagement methods produced a set of criteria for designing in each space. By following the same process for each church space, the resulting designs propose spaces which allow opportunities for both members of the church and the general public to interact. Designs specifically focus on creating vibrant spaces with less emphasis on the architectural qualities and utilitarian programmes of church space. They are also multipurpose and flexible, taking into account weekly engagement and potential future development.
Contested identities: Tuan Guru and Ahmadiyah in the redrawing of post-1998 Sasak-Muslim boundary lines in Lombok
Authors:   , Nurhayati Sitti Sani
Published: December 2021

This study examines what drives the increasing hostility towards Ahmadiyah in post-Suharto Lombok. Fieldwork was undertaken in three villages – Pemongkong, Pancor and Ketapang – where Ahmadiyah communities lived and experienced violent attacks from 1998 to 2010. The stories from these villages are analysed within the context of a revival of local religious authority and the redefinition of the paradigm of ethno-religious identity. Furthermore, this thesis contends that the redrawing of identity in Lombok generates a new interdependency of different religious authorities, as well as novel political possibilities following the regime change. Finally, the thesis concludes there is a need to understand intercommunal religious violence by reference to specific local realities. Concomitantly, there is a need for greater caution in offering sweeping universal Indonesia-wide explanations that need to be qualified in terms of local contexts.
Internationalisation of a Global Sporting Product: The Case of Rugby 7s
Authors:   , Perkinson Oliver
Published: December 2021

Sports are continuing to grow in prominence and possess similar attributes to multinational corporations. However, there is currently a lack of knowledge around the internationalisation of sports in business literature. Research is heavily centred on the sport of soccer, with a focus on historical accounts of how sport has shaped national identities of nations and the cross-national diffusion of sports across national borders. This research has been driven due to the focus on the topic by the fields of sociology and political science which both contribute heavily to the literature. This thesis aims to create a focus on emerging sports such as rugby, using real-time and current accounts of how internationalisation is currently being impacted and shifting the literature into the international business field. In order to do this, two research questions are asked: How is Rugby 7s internationalising? And How does Rugby 7s manage the key decision points in internationalisation? The use of decision points looks at going beyond applying theoretical frameworks to the research and directly seeks to find the key decisions that sports managers face when internationalising.  This study is designed in an exploratory way with semi-structured interviews used to explore and better understand the phenomena of sports internationalisation. To ensure all perspectives from stakeholders were covered a single case study with embedded units was applied to the study. With the results of the interviews then triangulated with a secondary data set. The analysis of the findings shows the executives faced difficult decisions within the areas of market selection, mode of entry, adaptation and standardisation and long term commitment. The results show that Rugby 7s as a product has been heavily shaped by numerous forces such as culture and knowledge of the markets. With the events individually being unique, however, as a collective product Rugby 7s can be identified as one product as a ‘glocal’ approach has been implemented by executives. Further research should continue looking at other emerging sports to gain a wider understanding of sports internationalisation. By doing this it increases the knowledge and understanding of the phenomena and can be used to establish frameworks for future research.
The effects of neighbourhood and workplace income comparisons on subjective wellbeing
Authors:   , Noy Shakked
Published: December 2021

We investigate how the incomes of a person’s neighbours and coworkers affect her happiness, using survey data on subjective wellbeing linked to unprecedentedly rich administrative data on the characteristics of survey respondents’ peer groups. Linear regressions of subjective wellbeing on peer income variables establish that people care exclusively about their ordinal rank within their peer income distribution, that workplace rank matters much more than neighbourhood rank, and that workplace comparisons are driven primarily by fairness concerns. We confirm that our results reflect a causal effect of peer income by implementing sensitivity analyses, identifying off changes in peer income over time for immobile people, exploiting plausibly exogenous moves between workplaces triggered by mass layoffs, and testing for the effects of unobservable group-level confounders.
The life and music of André Tchaikowsky: A series of performances, an analytical survey of his compositional style, and a critical/performance edition of the Sonata for Piano
Authors:   , Glapska Gabriela
Published: December 2021

This thesis focuses on André Tchaikowsky (1935–82) – a Polish émigré musician who was mostly recognised as a brilliant pianist, even though he considered himself primarily a composer. His traumatic childhood spent in bombarded Warsaw during World War II, losing his mother along with almost his entire family due to the Holocaust, and being hidden in several places after escaping the Warsaw Ghetto, made a great impact on creating his eccentric and complex personality as well as his artistic outcome. Tchaikowsky’s legacy of seven published works, including compositions for piano, two string quartets, a piano trio, and an opera, as well as several unpublished works, is a small but very significant body of 20th-century music.  This research explores the evolution of Tchaikowsky’s compositional style throughout his lifetime, based on selected works with piano, and investigates the elements of war stigma in his compositions. Significant contributions to the existing body of knowledge are the analysis of the selected works and a critical/performance edition of the unpublished Sonata for Piano, written in 1958 by the 33-year-old composer. Some answers can be provided to three main research questions through this analytical survey. The questions are: How did Tchaikowsky’s compositional style evolve over his life? Why does he remain largely unknown even in music circles? How did the Holocaust affect his life and work as a composer and pianist? This thesis consists of two parts, with the first presenting the result of research into the stylistic development of Tchaikowsky’s compositional language and a critical/performance edition of the Sonata for Piano, while the second is a performance component comprised of five recitals, which is the prevailing element of this degree. Each recital includes one of the analysed Tchaikowsky compositions, which are connected with other composers and their works in various ways, shaping five concerts of engaging and under-performed music.
Managing Calls to Mauri Ora: Medical Reception in Action
Authors:   , Grattan Fiona
Published: December 2021

Often a patient’s first contact with their health service is through a medical receptionist. Literature has framed medical receptionists as gate-keepers, and few studies have examined what they actually do when they answer incoming calls by studying recordings of them. The current thesis asks how receptionists managed calls to Mauri Ora, a student health service, to deliver what the callers were asking for. The findings present evidence that receptionists are skilled and supportive in their interactions with patients.  Following discursive psychology and conversation analysis as theoretical and methodological frameworks this thesis examined naturally occurring social interactions to discover how joint understanding and coordinated action was accomplished. Eighteen (N=18) calls between receptionists and patients were recorded, transcribed and examined in detail for what happened in each call and how receptionists worked to deliver what the callers were asking for.  Callers ring with a broad range of different problems. The analysis documents how receptionists showed that they understood what callers wanted, and the ways they worked to progress solutions. The examination of requests for doctors’ appointments were of particular interest because of their very limited availability and the triage process for getting one. By establishing with the caller the conditions under which they could see a doctor, including if it was an urgent problem, receptionists opened the door to the health care being sought. A difficult matter for receptionists is asking for and responding to health-related information because they have no medical training. An additional aspect of the analysis demonstrated that receptionists only asked for medical information as a record for triage referral, and when it had not previously been disclosed.  Far from casting medical receptionists as gate-keepers withholding help, the current thesis demonstrates their orientation towards granting the requests of callers and doing what they can to facilitate access to health care. Practical applications for the training and practice of medical receptionists are considered as well as future research, and the ethical constraints of this kind of work.
Investigations of Intercellular Mitochondrial Transfer in Neural Cells by Applied Single Molecule Genotyping
Authors:   , Rowe Matthew
Published: December 2021

Over the past decade and a half, evidence for transfer of whole mitochondria between mammalian cells has emerged in the literature. The notion that mitochondria are restricted to the cell of origin has been overturned by this curious phenomenon, yet the physiological relevance of these transfer events remains unclear.   This thesis investigates intercellular mitochondrial transfer in co-cultures of neural cells in vitro, to understand whether neural cells placed under stress demonstrate an enhanced rate of intercellular mitochondrial transfer. This would implicate the phenomenon as a cellular response to stress.   Reliable techniques for quantitative study of intercellular mitochondrial transfer are limited so far in this field. To address this, a novel quantitative approach was developed to detect intercellular mitochondrial transfer, based on single molecule genotyping by target-primed rolling circle amplification. This enabled imaging of individual mitochondrial DNA molecules in situ, to detect those molecules which had moved between cells. Through this strategy, intercellular mitochondrial transfer was detected in new in vitro co-culture models.   Primary murine pericytes derived from brain microvessels, were found to readily transfer mitochondria to a murine astrocyte cell line in vitro. Cisplatin, a DNA damaging agent; and chloramphenicol, a mitochondrial ribosome inhibitor, used to induce acute cellular injuries in the murine astrocyte cell line. These injuries were characterised and found to induce apoptosis, cause changes in growth characteristics, mitochondrial gene expression, and alter the metabolic phenotype of the cells. A derivative of the astrocyte cell line which completely lacks mitochondrial respiration, was found to model a chronic metabolic injury.  As pericytes are prevalent throughout the brain, the pericyte/astrocyte co-culture model was selected to evaluate how the rate of intercellular mitochondrial transfer was altered, when the astrocytes were injured prior to co-culture. Through in situ single molecule genotyping and high throughput confocal microscopy, quantitative data was produced on how the rate of intercellular mitochondrial transfer was altered by injury in these models. The rate of intercellular mitochondrial transfer remained unaltered by chloramphenicol, however both cisplatin and the chronic metabolic injury model demonstrated reduced numbers of pericyte mitochondrial DNAs transferred into the injured astrocytes.   These studies demonstrate successful application of a novel approach to study intercellular mitochondrial transfer and enable quantitative studies of this phenomenon.
Cooperative gender beliefs and cost-benefit trade-offs of gender inequality
Authors:   , Deak Krisztina
Published: December 2021

Cooperative gender beliefs are characterizations of women, men and heterosexual relationships that focus on positive aspects of traditional traits and roles, and heterosexual interdependency, but ultimately rationalize gender inequality. Approaches to cooperative gender beliefs vary by discipline, resulting in different theories and terminology. Terms such as benevolent sexism, gender-specific-meritocracy, and traditional gender beliefs refer to similar clusters of beliefs that are associated with gender inequalities. By specifying the different types, functions, and levels of cooperative gender beliefs, this thesis provides a systematic study that investigates why people would adopt beliefs that perpetuate harmful gender inequalities. This line of study tests evidence for the perspective that cooperative gender beliefs manage trade-offs between the costs and the benefits of living in societies with unequal gender relations. I conceptualize different types of gender beliefs as cooperative, and investigate the extent to which they are linked with trade-offs involved in inequality at the individual level, such as doing unfair amounts of housework, and the societal level, such as being relatively less impacted by gender inequalities. I present three empirical studies. Study 1 explores different types of cooperative gender beliefs and how they are linked to gendered divisions of labour. Study 2 investigates evidence for an evolutionarily informed theory that cooperative gender beliefs function to increase reproductive benefits by assessing residual change in individuals’ fertility rate over two years; and a socio-structural theory that cooperative gender beliefs arise to justify the inequalities encompassed in heterosexual parenthood. Finally, Study 3 distinguishes cooperative gender beliefs endorsed by individuals vs. cooperative gender beliefs endorsed by societies more broadly to understand how these beliefs palliate feelings of injustice, thereby alleviating the negative effects of inequalities on individuals’ subjective wellbeing. Together these studies advance our understanding of how cooperative gender beliefs justify gender inequalities and thus function to offset some of the harm that inequality causes women.
A Place in Nowhere: Architectural Placemaking in the Tararua Ranges
Authors:   , Wright Douglas
Published: December 2021

The resulting thesis asks, ‘how can architecture curate our experience of site to facilitate placemaking’. It finds that architecture can create distinctive and diverse ‘places’ in large landscapes by enabling new ways for people to engage with the site. These places result in a deeply felt experience and, when positioned in a series, they highlight the significance of the landscape.  The thesis examines a significant route within the Tararua Forest Park known as the Southern Crossing. The thesis explores how architecture can curate this experience to better connect us to place. This is facilitated by a series of nine architectural interventions that test and refine methods for situating, orientating, temporalising and contextualising one’s experience of space.   Starting with site analysis, the thesis finds that subjectivity can provide deeper insights and more powerful concepts when related to experience. It finds that narrative methodologies enable the study of actuality and this is accompanied with the ability to interpret spatial elements which affect this experience. This is opposed to contemporary approaches which are focused on objectivity and fact.   Through evolving narrative techniques, a way for the architecture to curate one’s experience of each site is discovered. The design methodology does away with contemporary abstract views. Instead, the process focuses on understanding how the architectonic elements influence the spatial experience to better connect us to place.
"We would never go back" Stories of early years teachers transitioning to play-based learning environments
Authors:   , Maguire Teresa
Published: December 2021

International and national interest has been growing around the use of play-based learning approaches in the early years of primary school. This qualitative study explored the journeys of five early years teachers in New Zealand, who were transitioning to using play-based learning approaches in their classrooms. Semi-structured interviews and observations of teacher interactions were used to explore the reasons teachers were moving away from traditional teaching practices, the pathways they were taking, and the changes they had made in both their practices and their beliefs about themselves as teachers. Findings indicated that teachers in this study adopted play-based learning approaches because they were more appropriate for their students’ learning and development. They had initiated the move to play-based learning themselves, often with the support of a fellow teacher. School leaders and other colleagues were both understanding of, and resistant to, the changes the teachers were making. Teachers had adapted the physical environment of their classroom to accommodate play-based practices. More significantly, however, they had transformed the way they perceived themselves and their role in the classroom. This grassroots movement towards implementing play-based learning approaches in schools has implications for curriculum, assessment, resourcing, and preschool primary transitions.
Using Lentivirus and CRISPR to Modify Cattle Embryonic Genes
Authors:   , Upton Jevon
Published: December 2021

Developing transgenic livestock has become popular in recent years after advances in the field of genetic editing. Cattle are one of the main exports in New Zealand and are a prime target for new genetic editing tools. Applications of genetic editing in cattle can extend to increases in production, and elimination of disease genes. Due to its ease of use, CRISPR/Cas9 has become one of the most popular methods of editing genes, hence this was employed in the research. Cattle embryos in culture are very sensitive to environmental changes and for this reason, a delivery vector is necessary to deliver the genetic material as traditional transfection methods cause high rates of embryo death. The zona pellucida, a glycoprotein coat surrounding the embryo, acts as a protective agent against viral vectors, and needed to be considered in the research. This research aimed to create a novel, high titer lentivirus particle capable of transducing bovine embryos, and causing subsequent genetic modification by integration of CRISPR/Cas9 into the genome. Using fluorescent reporters, viral transduction was monitored. The research found that after optimizing transfection protocols, high-titer lentiviral particles can be produced and can infect bovine embryos. Zona pellucida removal experiments revealed over-digestion in early stage embryos, however, this was not observed in compact morulas. Removing the zona allowed for successful transduction of bovine embryos, resulting in transgenic cells expressing eGFP. While CRISPR/Cas9 experiments were in preliminary stages, these indicated eGFP knock-out in certain eGFP-HEK293T cells. Though challenges were encountered throughout the research process, solutions were explored, and it was shown that transgenic bovine embryos using lentiviral gene delivery can be produced. This indicates the high likelihood that CRISPR/Cas9 systems can be delivered this way, inducing targeted genetic modification.
Cultivating care: Exploring the patchy Anthropocene in four community gardens in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors:   , Heine Zoe
Published: December 2021

This thesis responds to the idea that storytelling and gardening are two practices that can be used to re-frame human action within the Anthropocene. Eight gardeners from four community gardens in Wellington City, Aotearoa New Zealand were interviewed. Alongside the interviewees, the author gardened at each of the community gardens from late autumn to early summer 2019. The interviews and field notes have been written up as creative non-fiction essays to form the majority of this thesis. Three major themes are explored through these essays; the patchy Anthropocene (a concept proposed by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing), the lively multispecies entanglements present at each of the community gardens, and the importance of care.
Procedural Gothic: Regenerating Wellington's 19th Century Timber Churches
Authors:   , McLennan Samuel
Published: December 2021

This research looks at using the technique of procedural modelling to investigate the characteristic rules present within a loosely defined architectural style. The 19th-century timber Gothic churches built in the city of Wellington, New Zealand are examples of a particular interpretation of the Gothic style. Although they all share common aspects, there are no prescribed rules regulating how these churches were designed. This research explores a methodology for creating a procedural 'timber Gothic church generator' that is generated from an understanding and interpretation of the design of the buildings examined. Once developed, the procedural generator can be used to extrapolate, and produce other church designs as well as create hybrid designs. These outputs can be further refined through the creation of parametric rules. A key result of this methodology is to explicate better otherwise ambiguous design philosophies that are shared between the similar buildings. It shows how a design can be reverse-engineered and converted into procedural logic. The research establishes the process and logic to enable the creation of further rules to be explored.
What is Mental Disorder? Developing an Embodied, Embedded, and Enactive Psychopathology
Authors:   , Nielsen Kristopher
Published: December 2021

What we take mental disorder to be has implications for how researchers classify, explain, and treat mental disorders. It also shapes how the public treat those who are experiencing mental disorder. This is the often-underemphasized task of conceptualization, which sits at the foundation of psychopathology research. In this thesis I consider the nature of mental disorder through the lens of a growing perspective known as embodied enactivism. Embodied enactivism is a philosophical position on human functioning that holds the mind to be: embodied (non-cartesian, and constituted by both brain and body), embedded (richly influenced by the physical and social environment across development), and enactive (meaning and experience arise through the precarious organisms’ interactions with the world). After overviewing a selection of current conceptual positions – present either as independent conceptual frameworks or within our classification systems – I move to presenting my own conceptual framework of mental disorder grounded in an embodied, embedded, and enactive view. Some implications of this framework for the task of classification are explored, and a meta-methodological framework for developing explanations of psychopathology is developed. It is shown that the concept of mental disorder developed: moves beyond the internalist bias of many current concepts, recognizes the normative nature of disorder, encourages consideration of cultural and individual variance, does not unduly prioritize brain-level explanations of human behaviour, and can sit comfortably within a wholly natural world view.
How Local People Use Their Indigenous Knowledge to Respond to Floods and Droughts: A Case Study of Tonle Sap Lake Community, Cambodia
Authors:   , Seng Sopheak
Published: December 2021

This thesis investigates the impacts of floods and droughts in the Tonle Sap Lake region and examines to what extent the local communities’ indigenous knowledge (IK) is used to deal with floods and droughts. The thesis begins by exploring the Tonle Sap Lake communities’ perceptions of climate change, especially floods and droughts and their impacts on local livelihoods. It then examines how the communities have used their IK to develop livelihood adaptation methods to cope with floods and droughts. To conduct this study, a qualitative methodology was adopted using semi-structured interviews, and non-participant and unstructured observation as the main methods. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with local people and local authorities from two communities, and NGO staff.   The study found that the intensity of floods and droughts in the Tonle Sap Lake region has increased in the last few years. Floods and droughts have threatened local livelihoods and food security. To mitigate the effects of floods and droughts, the local communities in this region have developed various livelihood adaptation strategies to adapt to the hazards. The communities appeared to use both IK and technologies for their adaptation strategies. IK is seen as an invaluable local community asset in developing livelihood adaptation methods.   Although a mixture of IK and new knowledge has been used to develop various adaptation strategies, the sufficiency of the adaptation is still limited. The current severity of climate change is seen to limit the local communities’ response capacities. To strengthen the communities’ adaptation capacity, contribution and involvement from non-governmental organisations and the government in developing climate change adaptation policy at a local level are essential.
Type II Activation of Monocytes in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors:   , Chuluundorj Delgertsetseg
Published: December 2021

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable autoimmune disease of the CNS. Although its cause is not known, immune cells are involved in the disease progression. Among these cells, type I monocytes are first to arrive to the brain and initiate inflammation; however, if monocytes are type II activated, they can inhibit inflammation. Previous research has shown that immune responses can be modulated by treatments, such as glatiramer acetate (GA) and immune complexes (IC). Therefore, we aimed to determine whether GA and IC can induce type II activation of monocytes in MS.

Human blood monocytes from healthy volunteers and MS patients were stimulated in vitro with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (classical activation) in the presence or absence of GA and immune complexes (IC) composed of IVIG and human red blood cells (type II activation). Flow cytometry, ELISA and cytometric bead array were used to assess levels of marker expression and cytokine production in order to define the activation of monocytes.

Interestingly, while both GA and IC induced type II activation of monocytes, the characteristics of these type II monocytes were distinct. We have found that monocytes from both healthy people and MS patients have significantly lower levels of inflammatory marker CD40 and higher levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 after treatment with IC. In contrast, GA treatment reduced the levels of CD40, CD86 and the inflammatory cytokine IL- 12. Moreover, the combined addition of GA and IC appeared to be more effective in type II activating monocytes than either agent alone. We also found that both CD14++CD16- and CD14+CD16+ monocyte subsets can be type II activated by the treatments; however, an interaction between the subsets impaired their response to the treatments.

Our study suggests that treatments with GA and IC, especially in combination, are effective in type II activation of human monocytes and can be beneficial therapeutic approaches for multiple sclerosis.
Developing a Novel Method of Analysis for Thiols in Sauvignon blanc
Authors:   , Carter Danica Christine
Published: December 2021

New Zealand wine had an export value of $1.21 billion in 2013. Of the total 170million litres of wine exported thatyear, Sauvignon blanc madeup 84.5%. Sauvignon blanc wines have specific flavours and aromas that consumers detect and enjoy including grapefruit, passion fruit,and citrus characters that are due to the presence of sulfur containing thiols. Unfortunately, thiols are also responsible for aromas such as cat’s urine, grass, and gasoline, which taint the flavour of a wine. Careful analysis of these compounds could lead to wines tailored to specific palates and a reduction of taint aromas and flavours, therefore further increasing the market potential for New Zealand Sauvignon blanc. The aim of this project was to further develop an SPME-based technique for thiol analysis of wine that is more reproducible, more accessible, and less toxic than the current method that concentrates the thiols using organomercury columns. To do this, gold nanoparticles were synthesised and coated onto SPME fibres in an attempt to selectively extract thiols from wine samples. Initial results showed an inconsistency between analyses and led to the need for a more comprehensive analysis ofthe gold surface,the gold-sulfur bond, and its RED-OX chemistry. Techniques employed for analysis of the gold surface included scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy,zeta-sizing and UV-VisSpectrophotometry. To examine the interactions between gold and sulfur, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and computational chemistry were used. The RED-OX chemistry was initially assessed in terms of the carrier gas in the gas chromatographs but was later changed to reductive and oxidative dips. It was found that an H2O2 dip in between samples oxidised the bound thiolates to a series of dimers that were easier to remove from the gold. While not yet completely resolving the hysteresis observed in previous attempts, this method of cleaning the fibres will lead to future experimentation and development in this area.
The Pedestrian Workplace
Authors:   , Davenport Bronté
Published: December 2021

How can analysis of affective relationships enable the public street as a pedestrian workplace?  When thinking of places we feel a bond to - an attachment to - home commonly comes to mind. In today’s world, where many of us spend just as much time at home as at work, do we feel a similar connection to our workplace? As mobility increases through technology, and we can work anywhere, anytime, do we take this affective bond with us… everywhere?  Every place has an affect; a sense about it, a feeling. The street has a particular affect, as encounters between the place and the pedestrian continuously occur. In recent years, there has been an increase of awareness in urban design of public environments as places of work. People are able to perform working behaviours anywhere, at any time, thanks to technology - even as they walk down the street. In response to the new mobility of the contemporary workplace, this thesis aims to explore affective relationships that take place in the street - where the worker takes on the role of pedestrian. Previous research into this area has discovered a dichotomy in opinions – as our mobility increases, do we form stronger bonds to places, or does this mobility rob us of any place attachments? Do third places catering to mobile working conditions necessarily diminish social and recreational life? I am interested in firstly exploring what affects are occurring within the street, and later to explore how architectural design intervention can manipulate the affective response of a pedestrian.  The research will employ analogue and digital media, alongside theoretical research, to explore the interactions and affective links that occur between work and street. The ability to design with affective encounters in mind will be the driving force. The implications will be an exploration of affect within the context of the street system, specifically when the street is considered as a place where working behaviours may occur alongside social and recreational behaviours. This will further the understanding of the connections people have with places, and how this manifests in daily life.
The distribution and relative abundance of the invasive Northern blue mussel, M. galloprovincialis, in New Zealand: management implications
Authors:   , Blixt Ian
Published: December 2021

Biological invasions are a growing problem on a global scale, are capable of causing moderate to severe damage, and are most often associated with human activity. This is particularly true in the marine environment, where there are many well documented cases of non-indigenous species (NIS) spreading via maritime traffic or undergoing a range expansion associated with ocean temperatures continuing to increase. The blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, recognized a one of the most successful NIS globally, is one such species that is spreading in such ways. However, in the Southern hemisphere research over the past decade has shown that there are two lineages of M. galloprovincialis present, likely different species, one native to the Northern hemisphere and one native to the Southern hemisphere. In New Zealand, the Northern lineage of M. galloprovincialis (MgN) has successfully invaded and poses a unique threat to native biodiversity as there are higher rates of introgression with the native Southern lineage of M. galloprovincialis (MgS) than elsewhere in the Southern hemisphere. However, whether MgN is causing other ecological damage in New Zealand is still unknown. Therefore, the main objective of Chapter 2 is to provide a preliminary description of the distribution and relative abundance of MgN in New Zealand, and how abiotic factors may be influencing this invasion. Also, it was recently reported that M. galloprovincialis causes severe economic losses to the native greenshell mussel Perna canaliculus aquaculture industry. However, these reports did not differentiate between the native and invasive blue mussel lineages. The main objective of Chapter 3 then is to provide a description of the distribution and relative abundance of MgN in the Marlborough Sounds, the primary P. canaliculus aquaculture region in New Zealand. The results of Chapter 2 indicate that several abiotic factors significantly influence the relative abundance of MgN across New Zealand; and that intranational maritime traffic is a more important vector of spread than international maritime traffic. The results of Chapter 3 show that the relative abundance of MgN was approximately equal across aquaculture facility sites and adjacent shore sites, but that increased habitat space on the grow-lines of aquaculture facilities has resulted in significantly increased overall abundances of both MgN and MgS. This means that there is a much larger MgN population in this region than would be otherwise present due to the aquaculture facilities. Overall, these results indicate that human activity in New Zealand is significantly affecting the MgN invasion therein. These findings are important for both management purposes and for guiding future research.
Socialising Office Space: Flexibility through a layering of multiple programs in traditional office buildings.
Authors:   , Wyatt Brad
Published: December 2021

This design-research project explores extending the flexibility of a typical 1960s open-plan office building. Through the use of cross-programming, the building now works along a 24- hour timespan. Housing a co-working office, community space and a night shelter, the building models a more efficient use of office space within our central cities. A focus on the individual allows a meaningful connection to space and to others through parallel design interventions that operate as desks and as sleeping pods.