bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Time-Varying Market Leverage and the Market Risk Premium in New Zealand
Authors:   , Bao Danyi 
Published: November 2021

<p>This paper applies the Ibbotson and Sinquefield (1976) method and the Lally (2002) method to New Zealand data over the period 1960-2005 in order to estimate the market risk premium (MRP) in two versions of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM). With respect to the standard CAPM, the resulting Ibbotson estimate of the MRP for New Zealand was 6.11%. The resulting Lally estimate of the MRP ranged from 5.52% (in 1970) to 18.40% (in 1990), with an average of 7.95%, and was 6.40% for 2005. With respect to the simplified Brennan-Lally CAPM, the resulting Ibbotson estimate of the MRP for New Zealand was 8.49%. The resulting Lally estimate of the MRP ranged from 7.91% (in 1970) to 20.79% (in 1990), with an average of 10.33%, and was 8.78% for 2005. The Lally and the Ibbotson estimates of the MRP are similar in general. However, when market leverage is unusually high or low, they diverge significantly. In future, practitioners may need to choose between the estimates from the two methods when market leverage goes beyond the normal level.</p>
Integrating Renewable Energy in Pacific Island Countries
Authors:   , Marconnet Marie 
Published: November 2021

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the entry of renewable energy technologies into Pacific Islands' electricity markets, with particular focus on a new technology: the Pelamis, a wave energy converter. Pacific Islands are endowed with various types of renewable energy resources, yet they remain highly dependent on expensive fuel imports for their energy requirements, using little renewable energy. This paradox is investigated by studying the characteristics of Pacific Islands' electricity markets, including a case study on the entry of a new renewable energy technology, the Pelamis, into the electricity market of Hawaii. The integration of renewable energy technologies into Pacific Islands' electricity systems is then analysed from the point of view of an energy planner. The recent application of portfolio analysis to energy planning has provided a new framework to evaluate the different electricity generating options available to energy planners. Taking both the generating cost and financial risk of each technology into account, portfolio theory has been applied to various European countries, by comparing actual generation portfolios to an efficient frontier showing the trade-off between energy security and the cost of electricity generation. This framework has clear relevance to Pacific Island Countries. However, the characteristics inherent to Pacific Island Countries have important implications on the operation of their electricity systems, which are not necessarily taken into account in portfolio analysis. In particular, geographical isolation inhibits these countries from connecting to larger intercontinental grids, which emphasizes the importance of reliability of supply. This thesis presents a mathematical model which establishes a method for computing an optimal intertemporal path for introducing renewable energy into a pre-existing electricity system. The model explicitly allows for the cost of maintaining reliability of supply as intermittent generators are integrated. The framework also incorporates concepts from Integrated Resource Planning and portfolio analysis. Finally, policies for accelerating renewable energy development are reviewed, and a discussion is provided on the policies which are likely to be most suitable to Pacific Islands. One of the main conclusions of this thesis is that the amount of backup capacity for renewable energy can be optimally minimized by diversifying the mix of renewable energy resources in each island. In practice, this would require studying the complementarities and loading curves of the various renewable resources available, and comparing their total potential production, and the variability of this production, to electricity demand. This would allow energy planners to model the inclusion of a maximum amount of renewable energy using a minimum of backup capacity to maintain system reliability, potentially leading to a more efficient implementation and formulation of policies aimed at developing renewable energy generation in Pacific Islands.</p>
I'll Get by with a Little Help from my Friends: Young People's Help-Seeking for Depression
Authors:   , Peacocke Phillipa Mary 
Published: November 2021

<p>The present research involved two studies examining the impact of severity on the process of help-seeking for depression. The first study included a survey of 316 New Zealand Adolescents (14-18 years) help-seeking, their inclination to seek help from a friend, parent, medical person and mental health professional for each scenario, and barriers to seeking help from these sources. Young females were more likely to identify depressive symptoms as a problem, and reported higher help-seeking, as well as lower barriers to seeking help. Age and ethnicity impacted on the process of seeking help, and inclination to seek help from different sources, supporting a complex multi-stage process, which both individual and contextual variables impact on the different stages. Correspondence Analysis was conducted on participant barriers to seeking help, which revealed that the severity of symptoms and source of help were reflected in participants' selection of barriers. It was suggested that young people perceive formal sources of help as more appropriate for severe symptoms of depression than informal sources such as friends and family. To examine this further, twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with similar aged young people in the second study. Through thematic analysis, two overarching themes were identified. The expected response from a helper, and their relationship with a helper, were found to influence seeking help from different sources. The severity of depressive symptoms was found to overlap with these themes, to influence the perceived appropriateness of different helpers. This research contributes to understanding the reasons young people prefer informal sources of help. That is, they are more trusted, the response is more predictable, and help is considered more relevant from informal sources, particularly friends. The importance of utilising and strengthening already established help-seeking pathways of friends and family is encouraged to improve help-seeking from professionals.</p>
A Study in Splitting the Ant Complex Monomorium antarcticum (Fr. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors:   , Dann Michael J 
Published: November 2021

<p>This work provides new information about the native Southern Ant complex Monomorium antarcticum. In the first experimental chapter (chapter two) the diversity of species within the complex, the utility of DNA barcode molecular data in such taxonomic work and how DNA barcode data combines with traditional morphological and morphometric data is investigated. The second experimental chapter (chapter three) explores the genetic structuring of the complex and how that relates to the complexs recent biogeographic history and the dispersal potential, both natural and human mediated. The two experimental chapters (chapters two and three) in this thesis have overlap of portions of the methods and results as they have been written as a pair of papers so as they can be read independently from each other.</p>
A Contemporary Interpretation of Mayavada: Advaita Vedanta and the Affirmation of the Material Universe
Authors:   , Parkin Nicholas 
Published: November 2021

<p>Mayavada (the doctrine of maya) is the Advaitin explanation of how the infinite Brahman is manifested as the finite material world. Brahman is unchanging and perfect; the locus of the changing and imperfect world. This paper has two aims. The first is to show that mayavada affirms the reality of the material world, despite the claims of Paul Deussen and Prabhu Dutt Sharstri to the contrary. To achieve this end a world-affirming mayavada is formulated based on the metaphysics of Swami Vivekananda, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and Sri Aurobindo. The second aim is to show that world-affirming mayavada is a plausible metaphysical position which should be taken seriously in contemporary metaphysical debate. To achieve this some pluralist arguments against nondualism are rejected, and it is explained how world-affirming mayavada is preferable to pluralism when accounting for the ontological problems that arise from limitless decomposition and emergence due to quantum entanglement. Hence the conclusion of this paper will be that mayavada is a plausible metaphysical position which affirms the reality of the material world.</p>
Phylogeography Of Southern New Zealand: Implications Of Pliocene And Pleistocene Processes And Evolutionary Concordance Across Independent Loci
Authors:   , O'Neill Shay B. 
Published: November 2021

<p>The endemic fauna of the South Island has proven to be an ideal taxonomic group to examine the impact of climatic and geological processes on the evolution of New Zealand's biota since the Pliocene. This thesis examines the phylogeography of McCann's skink (Oligosoma maccanni) in order to provide insight into the relative contribution of Pliocene and Pleistocene processes on patterns of genetic structure in South Island biota. This thesis also investigates the phylogeography of the brown skink (O. zelandicum) to examine whether Cook Strait landbridges facilitated gene flow between the North and South Island in the late-Pleistocene. This thesis also investigates the presence of genealogical concordance across independent loci for the endemic alpine stick insect, Niveaphasma. I obtained mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data (ND2 and ND4; 1284 bp) from across the range of both skink species and mtDNA (COI; 762 bp) and nuclear sequence data (EF1 ; 590 bp) from across the range of Niveaphasma. I used DGGE in order to resolve nuclear EF1 alleles and examined phylogeographic patterns in each species using Neighbour-Joining, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian methods. Substantial phylogeographic structure was found within O. maccanni, with divergences among clades estimated to have occurred during the Pliocene. Populations in the Otago/Southland region formed a well-supported lineage within O. maccanni. A genetic break was evident between populations in east and west Otago, while north-south genetic breaks were evident within the Canterbury region. There was relatively minor phylogeographic structure within O. zelandicum. Our genetic data supports a single colonization of the North Island by O. zelandicum from the South Island, with the estimated timing of this event (0.46 Mya) consistent with the initial formation of Cook Strait. There was substantial genetic structuring identified within Niveaphasma, with a well-supported lineage present in the Otago/Southland region. There was also a genetic break between populations in Canterbury and eastern Otago with those in central Otago and Southland. The genetic data provided strong genealogical concordance between mtDNA haplotypes and nuclear alleles suggesting an accurate depiction of the historical isolation identified between the major clades of Niveaphasma. This finding offers compelling evidence for the use of nuclear gene phylogeography alongside mtDNA for future evolutionary studies within New Zealand.</p>
Care in Collaboration: Preventing Secondary Victimisation Through a Holistic Approach to Pre-Court Sexual Violence Interventions
Authors:   , Beckett Linda Louise 
Published: November 2021

<p>Although men's sexual violence is well known as a problem of epidemic proportions and a cause of significant harm, effective prevention strategies have yet to be developed and the effectiveness of services for victims cannot be guaranteed. Most victims of sexual violence choose not to report, but those who do may still incur exacerbation of rape's destructive effects by those who are meant to help. Interested to know how responsiveness could be improved, I began this study by examining the literature on services for victims in order to identify the ingredients of good practice. Integrated specialist services which include support and advocacy with legal/forensic services emerged as the ideal. Finding that such systems had been positively evaluated in their real-life applications, New Zealand' s responsiveness was analysed with reference to this multi-agency model. I was particularly interested to know what supported the development of such a model and what the impediments might be to its development in New Zealand. Since literature indicated that government input was vital to implementation of specialist holistic practice, examination of New Zealand government and its Police responsiveness became the primary goal of data-gathering. With Police Districts as the units of study, data was collected from site visits and semi-structured interviews with police in each District. This data was triangulated through prolonged participant observation and interviews with medical/forensic and support/advocacy personnel. I found that specialist holistic services were regularly available for child sexual abuse victims. In contrast, for adult sexual violence victims these were rare and service gaps were rife. This was due to governance bodies failing to coordinate nationally or locally in funding and supporting service development. Explanations for this failure are found in feminist critiques of the patriarchal systems which privilege men' s needs over women's safety. I argue that with women's movement into public life and with the political will, nationally-based reform of services is now possible. Given its small size, New Zealand is particularly well-placed to achieve this reform if current governance structures are employed in constructing a national framework for nationwide development of specialist multi-agency practice.</p>
Light Scattering in Glass Ceramic X-ray Imaging Plates
Authors:   , Winch Nicola Maree 
Published: November 2021

<p>Glass ceramic materials have been suggested as a possible high resolution replacement for current commercial storage phosphor imaging plates. The low spatial frequency of the current plates is caused by strong scattering of the laser light incident on the plate during the read-out process. Glass ceramic materials show very small scattering due to their transparent nature, which should lead to a higher resolution. However, a competing argument is the small amount of scattering that does occur travels a much greater distance in the plate, limiting the resolution. The aim of this thesis was to simulate the scattering of light in imaging plates and use this to optimise the trade-off between resolution, sensitivity and transparency which is implicit in plate design. Additionally, experiments were performed to determine the resolution of glass ceramic and commercial imaging plates. Simulations show that high resolution can be achieved in both the strong and weak scattering limits, corresponding to opaque and transparent materials. Increasing the absorption of the laser light increases the resolution, as does decreasing the laser beam diameter and power. An increase in the resolution almost always comes at a cost of a decrease in the sensitivity. The resolutions of an Agfa MD30 and glass ceramic imaging plate were found to be 4:5 line pairs/mm and 6:5 - 8:0 line pairs/mm respectively for an MTF equal to 0:2.</p>
Maori Language Use in New Zealand Secondary Schools: What Are the Issues for Teachers and Students?
Authors:   , Tito Janie 
Published: November 2021

<p>The aim of this study was to examine the issues surrounding Maori language use in secondary schools. This was to test the hypothesis that the learning experience for Maori students is influenced by a school's responsiveness to Maori needs. In particular the focus was on the use of te reo Maori e.g. pronunciation. It was found that when features of te ao Maori are reflected positively in secondary school practices, values and environment, the overall learning experience may be enhanced and become more positive for Maori students. Ultimately such practice has the potential to reduce the disparity between Maori and non-Maori educational achievement. The prevalence and quality of Maori language learning opportunities during and after teacher training, is currently not meeting the needs of students and teachers. This shortcoming requires further research and investigation. This mixed method qualitative study followed kaupapa Maori research principles and ethics. It incorporated interviews, repeated focus groups and surveys. Participants were teachers and Maori students from selected Wellington secondary schools. The sixty-four student participants raised issues around teachers and their teaching practice. They saw teachers as important role models for positive attitudes and behaviours towards te reo and tikanga Maori. In particular, correct language use and pronunciation was important. The small sample of teachers reported a variety of concerns. One frequent complaint was their lack of knowledge in using te reo and few chances to learn and improve. This study identified a need for more professional development programmes and educational policy to be introduced in secondary schools, which include aspects of Maori language and tikanga learning. This would help address some of the difficulties faced by teachers when using te reo in the classroom and improve overall teaching and learning for Maori students.</p>
Towards a Total Synthesis of Peloruside A and the Preparation of Selected Inositol Derivatives
Authors:   , Baars Sylvia Myrna 
Published: November 2021

<p>This thesis covers two broad areas of work under the general theme of the synthesis of bioactive and/or synthetically useful compounds based on natural products or deriving from the chiral pool. Chapters one, two and three focus on the marine secondary metabolite peloruside A (1), which has been shown to stabilise microtubules during mitosis and hence cause apoptosis (cell death) in a similar manner to the very successful anticancer drug Taxol. A synthetic program with the aim of devising a total synthesis was initiated at Victoria University of Wellington after peloruside A's discovery in 1999. Four synthetic disconnects were identified in the retrosynthetic analysis of peloruside A: to give the C-l to C-2 fragment; the C-3 to C-7 fragment; the C-8 to C-11 fragments; and the C-12 to C-24 fragment. The C-7 to C-8 bond was to be formed via an asymmetric aldol reaction to give the pyranose ring fragment (highlighted in blue). In this thesis, the synthesis of the C-3 to C-7 fragment is described. A1do1 reactions with the C-8 to C- 11 ketone have been investigated, and subsequent progress towards the assembly of the pyranose ring fragment is presented. Chapters four, five, six and seven describe the preparation of selected synthetically and biologically useful derivatives of the commercially available inositols, quebrachitol (L-chiro-inositol-2-methyl ether) and myo-inositol. The butane di-acetal (BDA) derivatives 293, 300, and 301 (as well as acetylated and methylated derivatives thereof) were prepared during work directed towards the synthesis of the inositol core of a phosphatidylinositol manno-oligosaccharide (PIM-6) isolated from Mycobacterium bovis and M. smegmatis. Quebrachitol derivatives 305, 306 and 307 were prepared and subsequently tested against myoinositol (the optimal competitor) in biological uptake assays of the microorganisms, Candida albicans and Leishmania donovani. For both microorganisms, the mono- and di-O-methylated L-chiro-inositol derivatives 307 and 305, as well as quebrachitol, gave significant inhibition results, with P values from P < 0.001 to P < 0.05 for paired-sample t-test analyses, i.e.99.9% to 95% confidence for significant inhibition, respectively. The benzoylated derivative 306 did not induce any inhibition of myo-inositol uptake. Myo-inositol is the most abundant of the inositols in nature and is readily available. However, as it is a meso compound, one of the key challenges in the use of myoinositol as a synthetic precursor is an efficient resolution method. The formation of myo-inositol camphanylidene acetal 269a is one successful solution, and work done in an attempt to better understand the selectivity of the reaction is reported here. Also, process development work was done to adapt the preparation so that it was suitable for scale-up, and a subsequent large scale synthesis of the acetal was undertaken. Previously unpublished X-ray crystal structures were obtained for 269a and, for two of the diastereomeric impurities of the reaction.</p>
An Overview of Post-Publication Peer Review
Authors: O’Sullivan Lydia , Ma Lai , Doran Peter 
Published: November 2021

The increasing demand for swift dissemination of research findings, combined with the drive towards transparency and open science has challenged the established approach to peer review in the journal publication system. Post-publication peer review (PPPR) takes place when an article is published before peer reviewers are sought, and takes a number of forms, including Letters to the Editor, blogs, social media and online platforms such as F1000 Research. Aside from the speed at which information can be shared with the research community, PPPR also has the potential advantage of facilitating a dynamic discussion between researchers and gaining insights from a wider range of contributors. While pre-publication peer review is still regarded as the ‘gold standard’, the merits of PPPR are increasingly being recognised. PPPR has the potential to enable dissemination, promote meaningful discussions and collaboration between researchers and be an efficient engine of open science. However, there remains some significant concerns that expedited publication without prior peer review may result in the dissemination of poor-quality data and findings from badly designed studies. Whilst this risk is also present in traditional prepublication peer review, it is heightened in its absence. This is particularly true where media can disseminate findings which have not yet been interrogated closely and distinction is not easily drawn between peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed findings. There is also the need for an integrated and accessible system so that both authors and readers can easily benefit from PPPR. This narrative literature review explores some of the platforms which facilitate PPPR in the field of academic publishing, including journals which carry out all of their peer review post-publication, Letters to the Editor/Commentaries and academic social networks. Policy highlightsThe changing landscape of scholarly publishing, including open science and preprint publications demands changes in peer review mechanisms including open peer review and post-publication peer review.Post-publication peer review enhances and encourages timely dissemination of research findings but can also be vulnerable to trolling and distribution of incomplete and inconclusive research findings.Post-publication peer review encourages good faith collaboration, especially for tackling crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when every minute counts and when solving problems for common/public good are of utmost importance.Research evaluation policy should consider the contributions of post-publication peer review by, for example, establishing a verified reviewer system to acknowledge the contributions, which can overcome some unresolved problems and issues of open peer review.