bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Reinforcing Properties of Orally Administered MDMA ('Ecstasy') in Rats
Authors:   , Hely Lincoln S. 
Published: November 2021

<p>The so-called “party drug” 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or ecstasy) may share many of the addictive properties common to other CNS stimulants. In humans MDMA is primarily consumed orally in one more pills per session. However, animal research has mostly focused on examining the effects of MDMA as a function of other routes of administration. Route of administration can have profound effects on the subjective and reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse. This thesis assessed the locomotor-activating and reinforcing properties of MDMA when delivered orally. MDMA-induced hyperlocomotion was used to examine magnitude of response and onset of action as a function of ip, sc and oral administration. Significant route-dependant effects were found with ip producing higher locomotor activity than sc and oral respectively. Onset of action was slower for subcutaneous administration compared with both ip and oral administration. The reinforcing properties of MDMA were examined by use of the self-administration procedure. Oral MDMA self-administration was firstly examined using simple schedules of reinforcement as a function of two different vehicle substrates, water (under water deprivation) and saccharin. Oral MDMA maintained responding and reliable dose-response curves were obtained under both water and saccharin vehicle conditions. However, both saccharin and water vehicle conditions also acted as strong reinforcers in these studies. Further studies utilising a behavioural economic approach were conducted in order to delineate the reinforcing effects of MDMA from that of its parent vehicle. In addition, demand-curve analysis using both the Linear-Elasticity model (Hursh et al., 1988, 1989) and the Exponential Model of Demand (Hursh & Silberberg, 2008) were compared in order to evaluate each model and assess the relative reinforcing efficacy of oral MDMA. Demand curves for the oral self-administration of MDMA revealed that responding for MDMA was more elastic (lower Pmax) than responding for saccharin-alone indicating that saccharin functioned as stronger reinforcer than did MDMA+saccharin. The results of these studies provide evidence for the positive-reinforcing effects of MDMA when it is delivered via the oral route of administration, however, the relative reinforcing efficacy of orally delivered MDMA appears to be low.</p>
Reactivating Dynamic Architecture: A Strategy to Inject Relevant Bodily Imagery Back into Architecture
Authors:   , Gesterkamp Claire 
Published: November 2021

<p>The building-body analogy, which used to be crucial in the designing of buildings, to the exception of a few, is fading. This broken link leaves us with a melancholic yearning; a sense of loss. Reactivating Dynamic Architecture readdresses the use of the body in architecture by the application of an intervening design process. The processes we undertake in order to design architecture are too often assumed, and go unchallenged. In this thesis the design process is seen as a protagonist for change. Representation, both architectural and artistic, is a central theme as the thesis guides images of the human body through abstraction. Both the dynamic body and fragmented body are investigated for their potential to create a relevant expression for the human condition. Dalibor Vesely’s theory of the positive fragment is identified as a way forward for bodily fragmentation, and Analytical Cubism, which resonated with this theory, is explored. The thesis initially moves through the investigation of historical interpretations of the body before drawing on contemporary theory. Past depictions of the fragmented and dynamic body are assessed in order to establish what they can offer us for future analysis. A representational mode is established, based on Cubism’s methods, from here the transition from drawings to architecture begins. Rowe and Slutzky’s text Transparency: Literal and Phenomenal is used to unravel the intricacies of Le Corbusier’s Villa at Garches, and their reading of this building is used to channel a successful conversion process. The resulting architecture was created as a trial of the strategy and is posed as an expression, or speculation, for what can be achieved through this method. Three different scale interventions are explored within the chosen site of Ava Train Station, Wellington. Carlo Scarpa’s techniques guide the last transition to architecture, as his processes are recognised for their ability to fold meaning into design. The described design process gathers complexity as it gains momentum; there is much to negotiate through the realms of bodily perception, modern art and architectural representation. However, the architectural expression carries that density of meaning in a simple expression</p>
Tailorizing Taylorism: to Investigate the Principles of Taylorism and How They Can Inform the Design of a Contemporary Movement Efficient Dwelling
Authors:   , Gasson Lauren Maire 
Published: November 2021

<p>Despite contemporary social activities changing drastically at the turn of the twenty-first century, residential layouts have not changed. This thesis takes the position that dwellings should be designed to facilitate movement efficiency and be moulded around our daily routine. This study seeks to investigate how the contemporary dwelling can adopt Taylorism’s principals from the commercial industry, to facilitate movement efficiency in the home. The research will further look at micro architecture as a contemporary manifestation of Taylorism and use it as an architectural precedent. From the investigation, this research helped formulate a brief for a contemporary method of designing, in which the architect views the individual’s routine as a production process to be refined and optimized. The study preformed ethnographic studies on a three individuals whom wanted their home to be an instrument for their living. One study was chosen to analyze. From the study of the individual’s inhabitation, a prototype was designed around the ecology of objects used in their routine. This became a fundamental step in the brief. Once the prototype is created it was revealed that the architect would have an excellent understanding of how their individual dwelled, and therefore could use the prototype to design an efficient routine. Through the method of interrogating and stripping back the individual’s inhabitation, this process helped redefine the architect’s role and approach to designing contemporary dwelling. The dwelling created using the brief was entirely customized and facilitates every aspect of the client’s contemporary routine.</p>
Reconciling Amenity and Intensification in New Zealand's Coastal Suburbs: An Island Bay Case Study
Authors:   , Raynes Andrew James Robert 
Published: November 2021

<p>With the global and national populations predicted to increase, the location of new residences provides a planning challenge. Intensification of existing areas has been identified as an alternative to urban sprawl (constant development at the edges of cities), but it has been suggested that opposition to intensification is greatest in desirable locations. As a result, this thesis examines how the tension between amenity and intensification can be overcome to allow for future growth in New Zealand’s coastal suburbs. A review of the existing research indicates a gap exists in the literature regarding the suburban coast, so a study of national and international coastal suburbs was conducted in order to develop an understanding of patterns and relationships within these areas. A survey of international suburbs examines the relationships between housing types and density, in order to identify the potential that different housing types offer to an intensification project. A design case study located in Wellington’s Island Bay applies and tests the findings of the previous chapters. The research finds that rather than an inherent tension existing between amenity and intensification, intensification has significant potential to increase amenity when planned at an urban scale, and that this may be best applied around a public waterfront. While the research presents a set of design guidelines to assist in the reconciliation of amenity and intensification, further research needs to be conducted into the mechanics of implementing such a scheme, especially with regard to its economic and community acceptance aspects.</p>
Integrating Urban Wind Power in Wellington
Authors:   , Crabbe Collin 
Published: November 2021

<p>The aim of my research is to show that a wind powered, environmentally responsive, energy producing building can be integrated in Wellington’s city centre and produce enough electricity to be economically and environmentally feasible. The building should serve as a positive icon for wind energy and allow a high degree of public interaction to promote and educate the public about the benefits of wind produced energy. With enough energy producing buildings the energy grid can be created directly inside the very cities which require the energy, leaving the picturesque untouched landscapes wind farm free. A building which has the ability to create its own energy also bears the responsibility to maximise its energy efficiency and environmental performance. The building must be environmentally responsive allowing it to respond and adapt to changing weather conditions to maximise performance. The main design goal will be environmental performance, which is the quantity of energy exchanged from external sources required to keep a building at a desirable temperature and allow all of the building’s services to operate fully. These include heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing and lighting.</p>
Determining the Dynamics of HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing Uptake among the Rural and Urban Communities of Nakuru District, Kenya
Authors:   , Muchiri Joseph 
Published: November 2021

<p>Globally, it is estimated that over 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS with 67% of these coming from Sub Sahara Africa. While the epidemic has been receiving increasing attention towards and more emphasis placed on access to care and treatment, these efforts are bound to become unsustainable due to a high rate of new infections. In 2007, for every HIV patient who was put on drugs six others became infected with the virus. Voluntary testing and counselling (VCT) has been suggested as the most effective intervention that could reverse this rate of infection. Its utilization in Africa and many parts of the world has however, been at an all time low. In Kenya where populations of over 1.4 million people are living with the HIV/AID virus, less than 20% of the total population knows their status. The aim of this study is, therefore, to establish and document the dynamics of VCT uptake in Nakuru district of Kenya with a view to suggesting measures to increase this uptake. The main objectives of the study were to identify factors that influence VCT uptake and determine the levels of knowledge and prevailing attitudes on HIV testing. The role that gender plays in VCT utilization was also explored. This was a cross sectional study in which a mixed research method methodology employing quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was used. Quantitative data was collected using a structured questionnaire while qualitative data was collected using focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The target population was residents of Nakuru aged 16-60. 480 distributed completed the structured questionnaire out which 422 were completed and returned. Six focus group discussions and five key informant interviews were carried out. The research found that the awareness regarding HIV and VCT among the community members is relatively high. However, there are still a significant proportion of people who hold misconceptions about the disease and the testing service. This may partially explain why people opted not to take the test for the virus. Further, a majority of the people wanted to take up the test but both social and health system barriers such as gender inequality, the cost of taking the service, service operational hours, accessibility; misconceptions about the disease are barriers to the utilization of the service. The study recommends the adoption of more pro-active model of testing which could include mobile and home-based testing to help remove most of these barriers and therefore lead to an increased uptake. Moreover promotional activities targeting couples, providing the service beyond the current normal working hours weekdays and weekends, strengthening the general public health facility to help win back the trust of the service consumer and provision of youth-friendly voluntary counselling and testing for HIV (VCT) service are recommended.</p>
Phylogeny, Phylogeography and Population Connectivity of Lessonia (Phaeophyceae)
Authors:   , Martin Peter 
Published: November 2021

<p>The brown algal genus Lessonia is distributed in the Southern Hemisphere where it can form dominant kelp beds on the exposed rocky shores of New Zealand, South America and Tasmania. Its disjunct distribution within the West Wind Drift contrasts with the view that it is a poor disperser. Apart from studies in Chile, where it is an economically important genus, little is known about Lessonia and in some areas even the number of species is unknown. Using different genetic markers I examined the phylogeny, phylogeography, and the connectivity of populations in Lessonia. Using the literature, species affiliations and nomenclatural problems have been investigated. Combining the sequences of three mitochondrial, one chloroplast and two nuclear markers, a supermatrix approach was used to investigate the phylogenetic relationship and the timing of speciation for all known Lessonia species. The Australasian Lessonia species form a clade within a paraphyletic grouping of South American species. Radiation in Lessonia occurred about 5 Mya at the beginning of the Pliocene and rapid radiation took place in Australasia 3.5 Mya. The data also revealed cryptic species within a L. variegata species complex. Further analysis within the Australasian clade, using mitochondrial (atp8-sp) and chloroplast (rbc-sp) markers and wider sampling (469 individuals from 57 sample sites) supported four cryptic species and revealed localized distribution for all Australasian lineages. Genetic breaks between Lessonia lineages corresponded well to known biogeographic regions and could be correlated to the geographic structure of New Zealand at the end of the Pliocene. The Cook Strait region was analysed more closely with newly developed microsatellite markers to test the influence of geographic breaks (Cook Strait and Palliser Bay) on the connectivity of populations. The results suggested that connectivity depends on the width of unsuitable habitat, and within inner Cook Strait it is facilitated by sometimes strong tidal flows that create turbulences and unique current patterns. The results implied that rafting is an important mean of dispersal. The study of the early literature on Lessonia supported the new lectotypification of L. flavicans but revealed that L. frutescens and possibly L. ovata (supported by images of rediscovered herbarium material) are synonymous to L. searlesiana and as the older epithets they should have priority. Suggestions have been made for the lectotypification of L. fuscescens and L. ovata. In general Lessonia shows non-overlapping distribution in Australasia but overlapping distribution in South America. Despite being a poor disperser, indicated by fine scale genetic structure, Lessonia is also able to connect populations over wide areas of unsuitable habitats.</p>
Neuroadaptive Changes in 5-HT1A Autoreceptor Sensitivity Following High-Dose MDMA Treatment
Authors:   , Fisher Simon David 
Published: November 2021

<p>Rationale: There is evidence that the serotonin (5-HT) deficits and related cognitive and mood impairments caused by +/-3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) may be mediated by neuroadaptations of the 5-HT1A autoreceptor. Objectives: The increase in sensitivity of the 5-HT1A autoreceptor caused by highdose, repeated MDMA treatment was assessed neurochemically, by measuring 5- HTP accumulation, and physiologically, via changes in body temperature. Methods: Experiment 1 confirmed the effects of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-npropylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) (0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 mg/kg s.c.) on 5- hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) accumulation following 3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine dihydrochloride (NSD-1015) administration as a valid measure of 5-HT synthesis and hence 5-HT1A autoreceptor sensitivity in rats. Experiment 2 performed these procedures in additional animals, with half receiving MDMA (4x 10 mg/kg i.p. at 2 hour intervals) two weeks before testing. Body temperature changes due to the 8-OH-DPAT hypothermic response were tested using a rectal probe. Experiment 2b repeated the procedures in additional groups with lower doses of 8-OH-DPAT (0.0125 and 0.00625 mg/kg s.c.). Results: No significant changes in 5-HTP accumulation levels or changes in the hypothermic response to 8-OH-DPAT were found between MDMA pretreated rats and controls in Experiments 2 and 2b. Moreover, there was no substantial evidence of expected 5-HT deficits due to high-dose MDMA treatment. Conclusion: The results do not indicate an increase in sensitivity of the 5-HT1A autoreceptor, and hence the original hypothesis is not supported. However, there were a number of methodological issues, as indicated by the lack of MDMAinduced 5-HT deficits, which prevent a firm conclusion from being drawn. Future research is outlined to overcome these issues.</p>
Investigations into the H-D Exchange of Malonganenone B
Authors:   , Clark Peter G K 
Published: November 2021

<p>H-D exchange at the formyl residue of the natural product malonganenone B was investigated. Models of the system were synthesised and displayed the same exchange. Kinetic studies, performed using NMR spectroscopy, found the exchange was first order with respect to base whilst displaying acid inhibition, in opposition to existing research. Cyclic species, including an N-heterocyclic carbene precursor, were formed that, in conjunction with the previous findings, suggested a carbene-based mechanism was in operation. Further synthetic studies were performed to demonstrate the existence of a carbene. With use of silver oxide, a fulvalene dimer and an organopalladium complex of this carbene were obtained, which provide further support towards a carbene-based mechanism being involved in the H-D exchange of malonganenone B.</p>
Approaches to Modelling Heterogeneity in Longitudinal Studies
Authors:   , Li Xiaomei 
Published: November 2021

<p>This thesis is about estimation bias of longitudinal data when there is correlation between the explanatory variable and the individual effect. In our study, we firstly introduce what is longitudinal data, then we introduce the commonly used estimation methods for the general linear model: the least squares method and maximum likelihood method. We apply these estimation methods to three simple general models which are commonly used to analyse longitudinal data. Secondly, we use frequentist and Bayesian analysis to explore the estimation bias theoretically and empirically, with an emphasis on the heterogeneity bias. This bias occurs where random effect estimation is used to analyse data with nonzero correlation between explanatory variables and the individual effect. We then empirically compare the estimated value with the true value. In this way, we demonstrate and verify the theoretical formulation which can be used to determine the size of the bias [Mundlak, 1978]. In order to avoid the estimation bias, the fixed effect estimation should be used to get the better solution under nonzero correlation situation. The Hausman test is used to confirm this. However, the bias not only occurs when we use frequentist analysis, but also exist by using the Bayesian estimation of random effect model. Finally, we follow the Mundlak [1978] idea, then define the special Bayesian model which can be used as Hausman test and as a comparable model. We also prove that it is best fit model among the random effect, fixed effect and pooled model if there is correlation between explanatory variables and individual effect. Throughout this thesis, we illustrate this ideas using examples based on real and simulated data.</p>
Barriers to Māori Usage of University Libraries: an Exploratory Study in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors:   , Tuhou Troy Mana Paul 
Published: November 2021

<p>There is a large body of work on the barriers that Māori, other indigenous peoples and minorities encounter at educational institutions, there is also research into the barriers that these groups encounter within the health sector and a smaller body of work pertaining to these same barriers within public and school libraries. This research combines the findings from these bodies of literature with the results from two focus groups of university students to explore the possibility that there are barriers which they may have encountered at their university library. The results showed that there were barriers within the university library, and like other barrier research these were many and varied and were dependant on a number of factors including, institution (library system) size, and individual expectations of the student. These findings are discussed in terms of the implications that they have for Māori university students, and suggestions are made for further research, as well as ways that these barriers may be countered.</p>
Just a Hunch: Reading, Writing, ... and Architecture
Authors:   , Simms Elspeth Jane 
Published: November 2021

<p>Victor Hugo’s character, Claude Frollo, expressed Hugo’s linguistic analogy for architecture in his novel of 1831, Notre-Dame de Paris. Frollo directs the eyes of his companions from the book resting on his desk to the shadow of the nearby Notre-Dame cathedral, stating: ‘This will kill that’. Hugo expressed the belief that prior to the printing press, the communication of mankind occurred through architecture. His concern was for the fate of architecture following the invention of a new form of communication; the printed text. This thesis questions the concern that print will ‘kill’ architecture through an exploration of architectural research and design led by text. A validity of print as an experimental tool for architectural design is established through a range of output; visual and physical expression, creative writing, and formal writing. These design modes reveal unique architecture from within Hugo’s Notre-Dame de Paris. The outcomes of this research draw attention to the imaginative possibilities that text provides for architecture. It finds that architecture exists within text and allows for interpretation and conversion, into both real and imagined space. It provides a framework through which this can occur within other text, not just Notre-Dame de Paris. The conclusion is reached that text is a design tool which offers significant opportunities to the experimentation and design of architecture.</p>