bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creating New Standards: Jazz Arrangements Of Pop Songs
Authors:   , Lile Trudy
Published: November 2021

This study involves the research, analysis, and performance of existing arrangements of songs that have been played and recorded by jazz musicians, and are identifiable as pop songs of the last thirty years. This project will discuss the development of these songs as new repertoire in the jazz idiom. In particular it will examine transcriptions of arrangements by Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Brad Meldau, Charlie Hunter, Christian McBride, and Bob Belden. The analysis of these transcriptions will consider the techniques these musicians used in their arrangements including reharmonisation, melodic interpretation, rhythm, and restructuring of the form of the original song. Further, the techniques identified in the analyses will be applied in the creation of new arrangements of similar songs from that era for jazz ensemble of various sizes.
NGO Coordination and the Changing Aid Environment in Cambodia: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors:   , Chum Samnang
Published: November 2021

Cambodia is one of the poorest and most aid-dependent countries in Southeast Asia. Historically NGOs have operated in Cambodia since the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. Since the Paris Peace Accord Agreement, signed by the Cambodian leaders in 1991, the number of NGOs has grown rapidly and played a pivotal role in delivering public services and advocacy. In an effort to improve efficiencies and effectiveness aid delivery mechanisms have become extraordinarily complex and cumbersome. They require all parties to have strong coordination efforts within their individual groups and amongst broader stakeholders. This thesis analyses the effectiveness of NGO coordination in Cambodia. It is based on recently completed in-country research involving participant observation and a series of semi-structured interviews. The paper explores NGO coordination and how the NGO community engages in the aid coordination processes led by the Cambodian government. The findings indicate that the NGO coordination efforts have encountered a series of challenges. These include cultural, political and institutional challenges and poor NGO coordination between the national and provincial levels. They have resulted in a) the absence of a collective voice, b) slow progress on NGO self-regulation, c) the fragmentation and duplication of NGO projects, d) a poor working relationship with the government e) little understanding of aid effectiveness and f) poor engagement in the aid coordination mechanisms. Thus, the NGO coordination efforts are relatively loose although progress has been made since the 1990s. Consequently, Cambodia's NGO sector remains immature and weak. There are, however, some opportunities for improvement through creating an environment that enables policy dialogue with the government.
The Effects of New Entries on Economic Growth: a Story on Advanced and Laggard Sectors
Authors:   , Hansen Vera
Published: November 2021

The main goal of this thesis is to construct a theoretical model that provides an explanation for the relationship between growth and new entry that is consistent with empirical evidence. The model is a four sector endogenous growth model in which there is a technologically advanced and a technologically laggard consumption goods which are imperfect substitutes. The production of each good requires its own stock of human capital and physical capital. The accumulation of physical capital and human capital in each industry is modelled by a Cobb-Douglas production function. The main result of the model is that new entries have a positive effect on the fraction of the existing stock of human capital devoted to the accumulation of human capital in both the advanced and laggard sectors. However, this effect is stronger in the advanced sectors than in the laggard sectors. This result is consistent with empirical evidence.
Civil Society, Social Capital and Governance: Liberal Policy Agendas and Indigenous Civil Society: the Fa'asamoa as a Case Study
Authors:   , Tonkin Edward
Published: November 2021

The funding of civil society has become a key aspect of the governance agenda for international aid. This arises out of a number of theories linking civil society to better governance through the leveraging of social capital. These theories find their genesis in a distinctly liberal body of work that has drawn its findings from Western historical experience. In particular, the work of Robert Putnam and many like him in the 1990's draws its inspiration from Alexis d'Tocqueville's observations of democratic life in the early nineteenth century United States. Here, civic associational, according to Tocqueville, played a key part in the vibrant democratic spirit of the USA. Putnam's own findings, on the difference between governance outcomes in Southern and Northern Italy, mirror those of Tocqueville. Although the formulations of civil society and social capital inherent in this liberal tradition are but one among many theories, they are the ones that have influenced the international donors and the allocation of development assistance money has reflected this. Civil society funding generally goes to ideal types of organisations that most resemble a Western conception of civil society. In particular, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's) have proliferated to take advantage of this. This may well be overlooking many key forms of civil society that already exist in developing countries. A liberal reading of civil society that focuses on the associative values of civil society organisations would miss groups that are characterised more by kin, ethnicity or tribal ties. The fa'asamoa (or 'Samoan way') is an example of just such an institution that may be viewed as too traditional and backward looking by liberal theory, but upon reflection performs many of the key roles ascribed to civil society including as an important provider of social capital. It could be that donors concerned with good governance would do better to further engage with traditional institutions such as the fa'asamoa, than to simply create a new class of civil society, dominated by NGO's over the top of existing social structures.
Enhancing 3D Models with Urban Information: A Case Study Involving Local Authorities and Property Professionals in New Zealand: Quantifying the Benefit of 3D over Alternative 2D systems
Authors:   , Ryan Rachel Anne
Published: November 2021

This thesis aimed to reach two principal outcomes: To develop a robust testing methodology that allowed a detailed and fair comparative analysis of the benefit, or otherwise, of 3D methods of information interrogation over alternative 2D methods; and to test the ability for a single model to have multiple user-group functionality. The research used the examples of two user-groups within the urban planning industry and their typical decision making processes. A robust testing methodology was developed to investigate the usefulness of 3D in a detailed and focused manner involving individual end-users as participants in a case study. The development of this efficient process assisted the study in moving past the initial visual impact of the models. The method employed a combination of three research instruments: A focus group formed the base from which an urban planning task, questionnaire and guided discussion investigated evidence for the benefit or otherwise of 3D using both quantitative and subjective measures. Two widely disparate user-groups were selected to further test the functionality of a resource to meet the needs of multiple users: city council urban designers and property developers. The research revealed that 3D methods of information visualisation allow users to develop a greater spatial awareness, increasing their understanding of information, when compared to alternative 2D methods. While evidence for this benefit was established using both quantitative and subjective methods, the research proved that this increased understanding does not necessarily lead to quicker decisions as the 2D group completed the task faster and more accurately than the 3D group. The ability for a single model to have multiple user-group functionality was confirmed as each of two disparate user-groups noted that the availability of the other user-group's information was of positive benefit to their understanding of the proposed development within the urban planning task.
The Role of /Overlaps\ in Intercultural Workplace Interaction
Authors:   , Lazzaro-Salazar Mariana
Published: November 2021

The field of workplace communication continues to grow, and globalisation has encouraged researchers to focus on the phenomenon of intercultural interaction in multi-cultural workplaces. Usually, but not exclusively, framed within the constructs of Brown and Levinson's Politeness Theory, intercultural studies have typically concentrated on instances of miscommunication taking a partial, one-sided account of intercultural workplace interaction. Differing social norms for what constitutes politeness have been a major focus of debate into the merits of politeness theory. Overlapping speech, in particular, is one aspect of workplace interaction that has been long neglected in the field of intercultural workplace interaction research. Moving away from the traditional views in the field, the present study takes a positive stance on the study of the interplay of interactional norms of politeness in intercultural face-to-face workplace interaction and investigates how people from different ethnic backgrounds undertake relational work in naturally-occurring workplace exchanges. As the analytic framework, rapport management (developed by Spencer-Oatey) provides a useful reconceptualisation of linguistic politeness with a greater focus on negotiated interaction. The analysis focuses on the role of overlapping speech in this context of interaction guided by two research questions: 1) how does overlapping speech function in workplace interactions in New Zealand? and 2) how are these overlaps intended and 'perceived' by culturally different interactants? To this end, the data for the present study were drawn from two meetings in a large educational institution in New Zealand. In the first phase of data collection, two meetings were video and audio recorded, from which representative extracts containing overlaps were chosen for analysis. In the second phase, individual stimulated recall interviews were held with the participants with the purpose of eliciting participants' intentions and perceptions regarding the use of overlaps. The findings suggest that this group of instructors operate as a Community of Practice (CofP) rather than as ethnic individualities with shared assumptions and expectations regarding the appropriate use of overlaps to cooperatively construct meaning in interaction. This CofP, it was noted, is also strongly oriented towards the maintenance and enhancement of social harmony in their workplace interaction, which influences the use of overlapping speech as a communicative strategy employed to this end. Overall, the study demonstrates that considering intercultural communication from the perspective of rapport management can provide positive insights into how people from different ethnic backgrounds do relational work as they construct meaning in interaction.
Gender, Bodies and Cyberstalking: Embodying Theory, Developing Methodology
Authors:   , Williams Rachel Elizabeth McKenzie
Published: November 2021

The exponential growth of advanced communication technologies has corresponded with diverse opportunities for criminal offending within this arena. New forms of deviance are supported by the unique characteristics of the Internet environment, whilst pre-existing crimes are also paralleled online. Research indicates that content related offences, including cyberstalking and online sexual harassment, mirror offline gender disparities, although research addressing this disparity is minimal. The disparate victimisation of women, and the characteristics of cyberstalking, facilitates the recognition of this offence as a gendered form of harassment and the development of a theoretical framework responsive to this disparity. However, current theories addressing the Internet often display concepts concurrent with what is commonly referred to as the online disembodiment thesis. These concepts, namely the promotion of an absolute demarcation between the online and offline environment and the notion that bodies can be transcended online, are problematic when addressing the online victimisation of women as feminist theorists have located much of women's power in the centrality of the body. To inform the development of a gendered framework appropriate for an assessment of cyberstalking this thesis rejected the online disembodiment thesis, alternatively employing the theories of the body to develop a theoretical framework appropriate for an examination of cyberstalking. Criminologists are currently in an exploratory research era in regards to cybercrime, the growth of which has thus far not been matched by criminological scholarship. Consequently, there currently exists little methodological precedent for the researcher intending to qualitatively examine the online victimisation of women. The lack of methodological precedent prioritised the development of a methodological framework suitable for researching the online victimisation of women. The development of an alternative theoretical framework that recognised the immutability of bodies online subsequently informed the development of two key methodological considerations. The methodological considerations developed in this thesis lay the foundations for additional research on cyberstalking and prioritise a gendered assessment of this crime.
I Love Ali: a Telefeature
Authors:   , Arapai Arnette Makimou
Published: November 2021

One man's quest to meet his idol 'Muhammad Ali', the Greatest boxer of all time...
The Politics of Fertility: The Global Emergence of 'Pro-Family' Organisations
Authors:   , Wigley Jennifer
Published: November 2021

This thesis is part of a small but growing literature on the activism of Christian Right 'pro-family' organisations from the United States (US) in international development politics. This thesis provides a detailed analysis of the texts of five globally active 'pro-family'organisations from 1997 until the end of 2008. One of the major findings is that the 'pro-family' political project, previously defined as the defence of the family against powerful global elites, is now being articulated against values associated with industrialisation and modernity. Through this change, longheld Christian Right tenets such as hostility to feminism, staunch adherence to free markets, and suspicion of the UN, are being reconsidered or redefined to suit the needs of the 'pro-family' movement. By mapping the ways that 'pro-family' discourse is changing, this thesis shows the impacts that globalization and involvement at the UN is having on this set of conservative Christians, and how their agenda is changing as a result of their political activism outside of the US. This thesis provides a current, comprehensive and reliable review of the activist publications of the US 'pro-family' movement, and as such, offers an insight into the changing agenda of a movement that is growing both in organisational aptitude and in global influence.
A Place for Shadows: A Prolegomena to the Authorship Practices and Films of Joanna Margaret Paul
Authors:   , Whyte Dick
Published: November 2021

This is an "authorship" study of New Zealand artist Joanna Margaret Paul, with specific reference to her "experimental film" works. Though I will draw on a wide range of theorists, my overall approach is what Laura Marks calls "intercultural cinema." For Marks the term "intercultural cinema" refers to a specific "genre" or "movement" of experimental films created by authors caught "between two or more cultural regimes of knowledge." Intercultural film-makers include feminist, queer, indigenous and immigrant authors (any "minority" which possesses its own "regime of knowledge" and makes experimental film) living in "Western metropolitan areas," whose dominant culture is capitalist, masculine, "hegemonic, white and Euro-American" (a second regime of knowledge). What draws intercultural cinema together (and indeed, one could argue, experimental film in general) is an oppositional stance toward capitalist ideology, the commodification of the art object and the uniformity of classical narrative forms. As David Bordwell and Kristen Thompson write, experimental films are "often deliberate attempts to undercut the conventions of commercial narrative filmmaking" and, as Marks writes, intercultural cinema "flows against waves of economic neocolonialism," and is "suspicious of mass circulation... [as] making commercial cinema still involves significant compromises."
Quantification of the Enhancement Factor in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors:   , Blackie Evan
Published: November 2021

This thesis presents a rigorous stepwise methodology towards the accurate measurement and quantification of the SERS enhancement factor (EF), the key parameter in describing the SERS effect. The work represents, we believe, a successful attempt to resolve some of the inconsistencies in the literature and to refocus the field by emphasizing the importance of consistent definitions and rigorous quantification to elucidate matters of fundamental importance in SERS. The success in our approach is that it combines careful experimental measurements upon a sound theoretical framework, and utilizes a 'toolbox' of techniques developed in recent years, such as bi-analyte SERS (BiASERS) techniques for single-molecule (SM) detection, and isotopic editing. In experimental work, we measure the bare Raman cross-sections of five common probes used in SERS as a first step in measuring the analytical enhancement factor (AEF) and single-molecule enhancement factor (SMEF). The methodology in measuring these EFs involved the use of a reference standard of known cross-section along with a careful characterization of the scattering volume through beam profiling experiments. As a guide to validating the reference cross-section we make extensive use of density functional theory (DFT) calculations to obtain estimates for the intrinsic Raman cross-sections of small, non-resonant probes. The results of this work showed that previous upper limits for the EF reported in the literature of 1014 were based on a faulty normalization of the EF. In fact, EFs of 108 were sufficient to see single molecules, which is much lower than previously expected; under optimum conditions, even lower EFs, possibly down to 105 could be sufficient for the SM detection of resonant probes. As a valuable extension of BiASERS, we elaborate on the synthesis of isotopic analogues of a rhodamine dye as ideal partners for SM experiments. The synthesis and definitive characterization of these probes enable their use in an experiment to determine the SM regime in a liquid colloidal sample. Isotopically edited dyes such as these, in combination with the methodologies of EF quantification outlined herein, set the standard for those interested in accurate quantification of the SERS effect. This approach is useful in terms of both basic theoretical questions and applications such as the effective comparison of SERS substrates. Finally, we extend the techniques developed over the thesis to a long-standing and largely unresolved question in SERS: What is the minimum intrinsic Raman cross-section that can be measured as a single molecule in standard SERS conditions. In this work, we explore the SM detection non-resonant probes, which are the molecules of interest for many practical applications such as forensics and biological assays. Specifically, we demonstrate the successful SM detection of isotopically edited adenine probes.
Contemporary Sediment Delivery Ratios for Small Catchments Subject to Shallow Rainfall Triggered Earthflows in the Waipaoa Catchment, North Island, New Zealand
Authors:   , Jones Katie Elizabeth
Published: November 2021

The Waipaoa catchment is generally considered to have high hill slope channel coupling due to the large volumes of sediment output at the river mouth. Yet the percentage of sediment that is transported within the fluvial system is low when considered in terms of the total volume of sediment mobilised during episodic failure events. Clearly, there is a discrepancy between generation of sediment and its delivery to the fluvial network. Previous research has suggested there is a strong decrease in catchment connectivity as catchment size increases. However, little research has been undertaken to understand the changes in hillslope-channel coupling over time. This study focuses on the connectivity of shallow rainfall triggered earthflows located in small catchments located within three different land systems in the Waipaoa Catchment. A multiple regression model was developed to predict the sediment delivery ratio for individual earthflows based on an empirical dataset of earthflows which occurred during a storm event in 2002. The results from this modelling were applied to five larger sub-catchments where sequential aerial photograph analysis (1940s to 2004) was used to determine connectivity. From this, spatial and temporal patterns in the catchment sediment delivery ratios were identified. The expected decrease in sediment delivery ratios was observed as catchment size increased. However, the temporal pattern to sediment delivery is not so clear. It appears that catchment evolution, referring specially to the Terrain Event Resistance Model developed by Crozier and Preston (1999), does not have a significant influence on sediment delivery ratios within the six decades examined in this thesis. Furthermore, while earthflows are considered the ultimate source of sediment during storm events, they are not always the mechanism by which this sediment enters the fluvial network. It is also vital to consider rates of gullying, sheet erosion and riparian erosion.
The Contribution of Complexity Theory to Understanding and Explaining Policy Processes: A Study of Tertiary Education Policy Processes in New Zealand
Authors:   , Eppel Elizabeth Anne
Published: November 2021

The thesis examines how policy processes occur in practice over time, and advances a theory for understanding and explaining them using a complexity analytical lens. This lens provides a different way of 'seeing' policy processes holistically, in comparison with dominant alternative actor-focused, institutions-focused or idea-focused perspectives. The overall aims of the thesis are achieved through four phases. First, to construct the complexity lens, the thesis analyses the potential contribution of complexity theory, particularly as it relates to social systems and organisations. Second, existing theories of policy processes are scrutinised to identify areas where a complexity lens could provide new perspectives for their understanding, through a focus on: - 'wholes' of policy processes - policy problems and solutions - multiple participants -  interactions within policy processes - dynamics within policy processes. Third, a study of New Zealand's tertiary education policy processes provides new empirical data. Data collected in unstructured interviews is represented in three differently-themed narratives, corresponding to three well-theorised analytical emphases: (1) participants; (2) institutions; and (3) ideas. The selection of three different perspectives takes into account the socially complex nature of policy processes. Fourth, the narrative data are examined through the complexity analytical lens and the results are compared with the views of policy processes obtained using the single lenses in the themed narratives. The four phases come together by demonstrating that viewing tertiary education policy processes through the complexity analytical lens provides a new perspective on policy processes which has implications for designing and intervening in policy processes. From this new perspective, policy processes are understood as complex social systems in interaction with other complex social systems. These systems consist of large numbers of interdependent and self-referencing participants, interacting with each other in ways that are nonlinear, influenced by prior experiences, and unpredictable in any precise sense.
Shaping More Sustainable Communities: a Case Study in Urban Water Management
Authors:   , Moore Robyn
Published: November 2021

The motivation for this study was to consider how communities might take a more integrated and systematic approach to meeting the challenges of water management in New Zealand, and achieve more sustainable systems. The specific challenges facing a community pursuing sustainable urban water management objectives were examined and solutions sought and tested. Urban water systems, in particular, are under increasing pressure to meet the expectations of communities, with water managers required to articulate sensible management initiatives that secure water supplies and protect water for its intended use, now and in the future. Despite policy and regulation intended to advance outcomes and integrate efforts within the complex area of urban water management, fragmented approaches persist, while a pattern of decline in the quality of New Zealand's water resources remains a cause for concern. Nearly half of urban rates collected in New Zealand apply to water and wastewater management. Thus, this study is concerned with understanding the critical constraints to achieving healthier, more sustainable urban water systems that are affordable for New Zealand communities. The thesis demonstrates the methodology by focusing on Kapiti, a settlement north of Wellington, which has been debating and responding to water quality and security issues for more than a decade. Subsequent to a piloted investigation, a methodological framework was proposed, based on integrating three near complementary perspectives. The Theory of Constraints (TOC) was used with a Stakeholder Typology to identify system stakeholders, capturing and representing their perspectives with Intermediate Objective (IO), Current Reality Tree (CRT) and Prerequisite Trees (PRT), while Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) from Systems Dynamics were constructed with some participants to explore and circumvent potential negative outcomes. The combined framework provided a source of deep insights into the challenges, dilemmas, potential solutions and side effects facing resource managers and other stakeholders in an urban water system under pressure from population growth and climatic/topographical conditions. It is possible that the combined theoretical framework can be applied to other resource management cases. The use of the Stakeholder Typology to complement TOC provided a tactical element not routinely evident in systems studies, valuing the experiential and historical perspectives of those who might otherwise be treated as being outside the system, their perspectives marginalised or ignored. The TOC framework offered a logic-based means to identify and invalidate a critical assumption that peak demand would reduce to a level predicted by system managers. Further, the TOC tools were used to focus on and agree the set of conditions necessary to deal with the demand constraint and meet the system goal agreed by the stakeholder participants.
Multifunctionality as a Strategy to Decrease Resource Use in Building Envelopes
Authors:   , Gerhardt Clara H.
Published: November 2021

The growing use of renewable and non-renewable resources by human society is increasingly seen as one of the root causes of the occurring imbalance in the global ecosystem. The effects are inter alia made responsible for a severe disruption in climate, loss of biodiversity, water shortage and a looming energy crisis that combined threaten human prosperity and livelihood. As a response to the occurring problems, global commitment to sustainable development is envisaged. In this context the building industry has a great responsibility as it's leverage as one of the biggest stakeholders in global material flows is significant. It will increasingly have to provide credible solutions and strategies to not only qualitatively change the composition of the triggered material flows, but to reduce the absolute consumption of raw and refined materials and generation of material flows to a sustainable level. The research presented in this thesis therefore analyses different strategies that can lead to the reduction of resource use in architecture, focussing on multifunctionality. A discussion of constructional principles of the building envelope analyses how multifunctionality can be achieved. A material intensity analysis using the material input per service unit concept (MIPS) quantifies the potential of multifunctionality to reduce resource use by comparing the material flows of a conventional and a multifunctional envelope. The case study shows that multifunctionality has the potential to reduce the resource use of building envelopes, if synergistic effects are created and if life-cycle wide resource flows are taken into account at the design stage. Both the theoretical first part and the case study in the second part of the thesis underline that the success of multifunctionality in contributing to resource flow reductions is highly dependent on the designer's awareness of the importance of material flows in the built environment and willingness to approach the topic with flexible design solutions. Furthermore it is underlined that only a combination of different strategies which address the topic at different leverage points will lead to the necessary absolute reduction in material flows.
'I Thought It Was Just a Pimple': A Study Examining the Parents of Pacific Children's Understanding and Management of Skin Infections in the Home
Authors:   , Ete-Rasch Elaine
Published: November 2021

Hospital admissions of young children due to serious skin infections have increased throughout the Greater Wellington Region over the years. Pacific children make up a high proportion of these hospital admissions. While the literature suggests that these admissions are highly preventable through proper care and management of skin sores at home, little is known about parents' knowledge and practices at home when a child is known to have a skin sore. This descriptive exploratory study explored the management of skin sores and wound care in the homes of 11 Pacific children from the Greater Wellington region prior to being admitted with skin infections. Mothers of 11 children who were aged between three months and 15 years were interviewed using a semi-structure interview schedule that was designed to understand parents' knowledge, understanding and perceptions of wound care, how the early signs of infections were recognised and where and when to seek medical help. The availability of first aid kits and their utilisation by families in their homes as simple preventative measures were also explored. The interviews were transcribed and a descriptive qualitative content analysis process undertaken. Overall the study found that parents engaged in active roles in an effort to maintain and sustain the wellbeing of their children once the signs and symptoms of skin infections were identified. The key findings are categorised under four main themes, 1) Parents in action; 2) The search for healing and cure; 3) Household activities; and 4) Health information for parents. Implications and recommendations for health professionals centre on the need for improved information for parents and for a review of practice surrounding skin infections in primary health care settings. Relevant information on skin infections on children to be addressed in the Well Child Tamariki Ora booklet is also recommended.
The Design and Verification of Dynamic-sized Nonblocking Data Structures
Authors:   , Doherty Simon
Published: November 2021

Modern computer systems often involve multiple processes or threads of control that communicate through shared memory. However, the implementation of correct and efficient data structures that can be shared by several processes is frequently challenging. This thesis is concerned with the design and verification of a class of shared memory algorithms known as nonblocking algorithms, which are implementations of shared data structures that provide strong progress guarantees. Nonblocking algorithms offer an appealing alternative to traditional techniques for the implementation of shared memory data structures, but they are difficult to design, and extant algorithms can often be applied in only a limited range of systems. Furthermore, because of their subtlety, it is notoriously difficult to determine whether a given nonblocking algorithm is correct. This thesis addresses these difficulties in two ways. First, we present techniques for the verification of nonblocking algorithms that dynamically allocate memory. These techniques allow the construction of formal and complete proofs of correctness, so that each proof may be checked by a mechanical proof assistant. Applying techniques first developed for the verification of distributed algorithms, we use labelled-transition systems to model algorithms and their specifications, and simulation relations to prove that an implementation meets its specification. Nonblocking algorithms often require a particular notion of simulation, called backward simulation, that is rarely necessary in other contexts. This thesis contributes to the relatively limited collective experience in the use of backward simulation. The second set of contributions addresses the limitations of many extant nonblocking algorithms. While many nonblocking algorithms allocate memory dynamically, it is difficult to determine in a nonblocking context when it is safe to free memory. We present techniques to accomplish this. Furthermore, many nonblocking algorithms depend on the availability of two powerful synchronisation primitives, known as load-linked and store-conditional, which are not normally provided by hardware. We present implementations of these primitives that work on commonly available platforms.
Non-Radiative Processes and Vibrational Pumping in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors:   , Galloway Christopher
Published: November 2021

The main focus of this thesis was the physical interpretation of the pumping cross-section. This was achieved by performing a statistical analysis of single molecule vibrational pumping events in which both the SERS and pumping cross-sections could be measured simultaneously. Samples were constructed in which small aggregates of silver colloids were evenly distributed on a dry surface.

The sample was then cooled to 77K so that the main mechanism for creating a vibrational population was through Stokes scattering. Spatial mappings were then performed which measured how the SERS spectrum varied with positionon the sample and the single molecule events were identified. The SERS cross-sections were determined from the Stokes intensity while the pumping cross-sections were determined from the ratio of the anti-Stokes and Stokes peaks. It was observed that the pumping cross-section was often significantly larger than the SERS cross-section, as much as four orders of magnitude in some cases. Several attempts were made to explain this discrepancy including the possibility ofthe surface plasmon resonance favouring anti-Stokes scattering, underestimated lifetimes for the vibrational modes, and additional pumping from fluorescence. However, the most likely candidate was non-radiative Stokes scattering by the observed molecule which would increase the vibrational population but would not increase the Stokes intensity. To estimate the proportion of scattered light that is radiative or non-radiative,single molecule measurements were performed under both surface-enhanced and unmodified conditions. By comparing the fluorescence and Raman intensities under these scenarios, it was possible to estimate the radiative and non-radiative enhancement factors. It was found that the non-radiative SERS cross-section was typically much larger than the radiative cross-section for samples consisting of aggregated silver colloids. The discrepancy between the pumping and SERS cross-section (which is the radiative cross-section) could therefore be explained by non-radiative scattering dominating the creation of the vibrational population, along with an additional contribution due to the plasmon resonance favouring certain vibrational modes. Furthermore, the lifetime of a molecule after it has been excited to the first electronic state was estimated to be as short as 25 fs. It would be impossible to measure lifetimes of this order of magnitude in single molecules using time-resolved techniques. Furthermore, to the very best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an experimental determination of the non-radiative SERS cross-section has been made.
New Zealand Building Code Clause G7 Compliance Assessment Tool: Development and Implementation
Authors:   , Stewart Krystle
Published: November 2021

The New Zealand Building Code Clause G7 (NZBC G7) minimum requirement for natural light is not being met in around half of New Zealand apartments post-construction. The main reasons for this are an acceptable solution that is not effective for apartment buildings and a lack of tools for Territorial Authorities to assess accurately whether an apartment will meet the minimum requirement. This report outlines the process involved in developing a simplified tool to assess quickly natural light compliance in apartments and preparing it for implementation. The tool was developed through simulation of factors that affect daylight performance at the point in the room specified in the Code: the back of habitable rooms. From these simulations statistical analysis was used to develop mathematical relationships between building features and light levels. These relationships were used to create a tool that specifies whether an apartment would require simulation to prove compliance with NZBC G7. Calibration measurements were performed, comparing simulated and real measurements in 97 apartments with the predictions of the tool. These demonstrated that the tool provides reliable results, hence determining the accuracy of the predictions provided by the tool. The final step in the research was for potential end-user groups to evaluate the usability and functionality of the tool. The conclusion of this process is that a tool has been developed that is simple and easy to use, is sufficiently accurate for application by Territorial Authorities as a decision tool and can be easily implemented.
Exploring Cyber-Bullying: a Retrospective Study of First Year University Students
Authors:   , Parsonson Katrina
Published: November 2021

This was a retrospective study of cyber-bullying. Students enrolled in a first year course were selected to provide opinions on the issue of cyber-bullying as it pertained to social networking sites and young people. A mixed methods approach was applied to this study. Questionnaires provided quantitative data, and a focus group provided data for qualitative analysis. It was evident that students felt that cyber-bullying was not as prevalent as traditional bullying; however, it was identified as a serious issue. In relation to gender, traditional bullying was considered to be a problem for boys, more than cyber-bullying, whereas for girls cyber-bullying was considered to be a problem, more than traditional bullying. Social networking sites, solely, were not common tools used in cyber-bullying. Generally cell phones or a combination of cell phones and social networking sites were used. It was determined the age group at most risk from cyber-bullying to be early high school. Raising awareness of cyber-bullying was considered essential for prevention.
A Signal Detection Approach to the Perception of Affective Prosody in Anxious Individuals: A Developmental Study
Authors:   , Humphrey Megan
Published: November 2021

The present study used a Signal Detection approach to the study of prosody perception in children and adults who self-reported high levels of anxiety. Seventy-one children aged eight and nine years, and 85 adults listened to filtered speech and were required to discriminate angry, fearful and happy tones of voice. Anxiety levels were not associated with perception of affective prosody in adults. Levels of anxiety were related to children's criterion but not sensitivity to prosody. Highly anxious children were significantly more liberal in reporting fearful prosody compared to low anxious children. Analyses of total responses suggest that this criterion is reflective of an interpretation bias as opposed to a response bias. Given that the interpretation bias was observed in children and not adults, it is possible that the bias may mark a vulnerability to develop further anxiety. This is consistent with previous experimental findings in other modalities as well as integrative models of anxiety development that identify such cognitive biases as predisposing factors. Furthermore, regardless of anxiety level, children were comparable to adults in their accuracy for fearful prosody, yet were significantly poorer than adults in their accuracy for angry and happy prosody. This suggests that fear may be one of the first emotions children learn to identify.
Persistence of Illusion: Using Spatial Illusion as a Visual Performance Mechanism
Authors:   , Nortje Johann
Published: November 2021

This thesis presents the design of a real-time visual performance system for live performances. Building on a research analysis of historical context and precedents, it is evident that software systems currently available to Live Cinema and VJ performers are often complex to navigate and counter intuitive to perform with. An alternative approach to visual performance system design is investigated in this thesis, where the spatial zone of the physical performance is used as the basis for the design, rather than purely placing the focus on software architecture. The investigation focuses on how the creation of live visual content can be achieved through the virtual and physical spatial relationships within the performance and how the performer then interacts with these relationships through bodily response and navigation. This is achieved through combining the successes of contemporary visual performances, the interaction techniques used in pre-cinema instrumentation and the use of projection mapping as a means of visually addressing the entire space of the performance. These investigations are demonstrated through a series of experiments and theoretical studies culminating in a set of design criteria, put together in a final system design accompanied by a demonstrative performance. The significance of this research is to provide the design basis for a successfully intuitive visual performance instrument, which can provide immediate results yet still require skill and experience to master. This will move the skill base of visual performance away from software navigation and more towards the physical ability to create and perform complex visual compositions in real time.
Irish Music in Wellington: a Study of a Local Music Community
Authors:   , Thurston Donna
Published: November 2021

The Irish session is a musical, social and cultural experience that has emerged from international popularisation and globalisation. In New Zealand today, communities of Irish music enthusiasts maintain links to an international arena, and the session is valued as a context for musical enjoyment and the affirmation of Irish identity. Throughout my research I immersed myself in Wellington's vibrant Irish music scene with fieldwork techniques that included participant observation, sound recordings, and performance. The major part of this study took place in two local Wellington pubs - Molly Malone's and Kitty O'Shea's - but I also observed sessions in other New Zealand cities and in Ireland. The similarities and differences between the two Wellington sessions were examined in detail and my research included extensive interviews with the participants. In addition to exploring Irish essions in the context of two Wellington pubs, this thesis explores session instrumentation and repertoire, and aspects of cultural identity that include the participant's experiences with Irish music. This thesis also examines how individual session members actively contribute and link their musical training and background to a transnational Irish music community. By studying the individual and musical identities of those actively involved in the community, this thesis reveals that Irish music in Wellington is an active and dynamic scene made up of enthusiasts with a variety of musical and cultural backgrounds. With music as its heart, the Wellington session community, is simultaneously localised in New Zealand but extends outward and connects with Irish communities globally.
What's Left? - an Exploration of Social Movements, the Left and Activism in New Zealand Today
Authors:   , Taylor Dylan
Published: November 2021

Surveys of the situation and prospects of the contemporary Left over the past three decades have frequently underscored themes of fragmentation, decline, even terminal demise. This thesis explores the question of the contemporary Left through interviews conducted with participants in New Zealand social movements. The general theoretical literature around the Left and social movements has consistently highlighted a number of social changes and challenges facing the Left today: the split between old and new Lefts following the rise of the new social movements; economic transformation (for instance, post-Fordism), and changes in class composition; the rise of neo-liberalism, and the dislocating effects of globalization; intellectual challenges, such as the demise of Marxism and the rise of post-modern philosophy; challenges to the state, and the arrival of a "post-political" condition. Analysis of the New Zealand literature around the Left and social movements shows congruent arguments and themes, as well as suggesting Antipodean specificities. To examine these contentions, a series of interviews were conducted with participants in "Left" social movements. These interviews suggest both congruence with some of the arguments in the literature and complexities that do not confirm these generalizations. In particular, the suggestion that a third phase of the Left is emerging, characterized by the joining of culturalist and materialist emphases, appears somewhat confirmed. In addition, a number of the challenges signalled in the literature were singled out by interviewees as pressing - for instance, neo-liberalism and the mediatisation of politics. With respect to the modes of action of social movements connected to the Left, there was here too some confirmation of themes from the literature - for instance, the importance of networking. On the other hand, the widespread theme of the wholesale decline of collective actions was put into question by those interviewed. While no definitive conclusions can be drawn from such a study, the interviews suggest the Left may be entering a period of renewal.
RemoteME: Experiments in Thin-Client Mobile Computing
Authors:   , Delwadia Vipul
Published: November 2021

Mobile phones are ubiquitous, however they are vastly underpowered compared to their desktop counterparts. We propose a technique to play potentially resource intensive games over a network, and provide a prototype system called RemoteME which implements this technique. We also explore the responsiveness requirement for systems of this nature, establish benchmarks for responsiveness via user studies. We evaluate our implementation by measuring its responsiveness and comparing it to this benchmark.