title: Operation early-bird: Investigating altered light exposure in military barracks on sleep and performance-a placebo-controlled study.

authors: Edgar, David Thomas

subjects: blue-light wavelength

abstract: The manipulation of light exposure in the evening has been shown to modulate sleep, and may be beneficial in a military setting where sleep is reported to be problematic. This study investigated the efficacy of low-temperature lighting on objective sleep measures and physical performance in military trainees. Sixty-four officer-trainees (52 male/12 female, mean ± SD age: 25 ± 5 years) wore wrist-actigraphs for 6 weeks during military training to quantify sleep metrics. Trainee 2.4-km run time and upper-body muscular-endurance were assessed before and after the training course. Participants were randomly assigned to either: low-temperature lighting (LOW, n = 19), standard-temperature lighting with a placebo "sleep-enhancing" device (PLA, n = 17), or standard-temperature lighting (CON, n = 28) groups in their military barracks for the duration of the course. Repeated-measures ANOVAs were run to identify significant differences with post hoc analyses and effect size calculations performed where indicated. No significant interaction effect was observed for the sleep metrics; however, there was a significant effect of time for average sleep duration, and small benefits of LOW when compared with CON (d = 0.41-0.44). A significant interaction was observed for the 2.4-km run, with the improvement in LOW (Δ92.3 s) associated with a large improvement when compared with CON (Δ35.9 s; p = 0.003; d = 0.95 ± 0.60), but not PLA (Δ68.6 s). Similarly, curl-up improvement resulted in a moderate effect in favour of LOW (Δ14 repetitions) compared with CON (Δ6; p = 0.063; d = 0.68 ± 0.72). Chronic exposure to low-temperature lighting was associated with benefits to aerobic fitness across a 6-week training period, with minimal effects on sleep measures.

text: Operation early-bird: Investigating altered light exposure in military barracks on sleep and performance-a placebo-controlled study. The manipulation of light exposure in the evening has been shown to modulate sleep, and may be beneficial in a military setting where sleep is reported to be problematic. This study investigated the efficacy of low-temperature lighting on objective sleep measures and physical performance in military trainees. Sixty-four officer-trainees (52 male/12 female, mean ± SD age: 25 ± 5 years) wore wrist-actigraphs for 6 weeks during military training to quantify sleep metrics. Trainee 2.4-km run time and upper-body muscular-endurance were assessed before and after the training course. Participants were randomly assigned to either: low-temperature lighting (LOW, n = 19), standard-temperature lighting with a placebo "sleep-enhancing" device (PLA, n = 17), or standard-temperature lighting (CON, n = 28) groups in their military barracks for the duration of the course. Repeated-measures ANOVAs were run to identify significant differences with post hoc analyses and effect size calculations performed where indicated. No significant interaction effect was observed for the sleep metrics; however, there was a significant effect of time for average sleep duration, and small benefits of LOW when compared with CON (d = 0.41-0.44). A significant interaction was observed for the 2.4-km run, with the improvement in LOW (Δ92.3 s) associated with a large improvement when compared with CON (Δ35.9 s; p = 0.003; d = 0.95 ± 0.60), but not PLA (Δ68.6 s). Similarly, curl-up improvement resulted in a moderate effect in favour of LOW (Δ14 repetitions) compared with CON (Δ6; p = 0.063; d = 0.68 ± 0.72). Chronic exposure to low-temperature lighting was associated with benefits to aerobic fitness across a 6-week training period, with minimal effects on sleep measures.

year: 2023-02-15

title: An integrated site and device selection methodology for the ocean wave energy sector

authors: Bertram, Danielle Valerie

subjects: Renewable energy

abstract: The ocean covers approximately 70 % of the earth’s surface and contains an immense source of renewable energy, in terms of ocean waves. However, this resource is unevenly distributed throughout the world, and so, therefore, converting waves into a useful form of energy will require the identification of potential Wave Energy Farm (WEF) locations. This should be undertaken in tandem with selecting an appropriate Wave Energy Converter (WEC), as the characteristics of these devices are critical in capturing the available wave power. 
This thesis presents a novel integrated methodology to select and assess potential installation sites for WEFs, identify appropriate WECs, and overcome the limitations of current methods. Original contributions of this thesis include: (i) a robust method for identifying generic WEF sites based on the dimensions of sustainability, which includes a cultural dimension, and utilises limiting conditions to reduce large study areas; (ii) a suite of MATLAB tools—which thoroughly assesses potential WEF sites, in terms of the available resource as well as temporal, directional, and spectral characteristics; (iii) a WEC database which identifies all devices currently in development; and (iv) a WEC classification scheme that classifies devices in a practical and meaningful manner in order to streamline the selection process of WECs for wave energy projects.
Several of the developed methods have been applied to a New Zealand (NZ) case study. Results confirm that with the application of the proposed site selection method, that 12 suitable WEF sites, clustered within four regions along the west and south coast of NZ, were identified from the initial study area of approximately 4.1 million km². In terms of site assessment, the utilisation of the MATLAB tools established that a higher-energy area comprised the south of NZ and that as expected, the available resource at all sites was subjected to seasonal variability, with a maximum and minimum wave power available in the winter and summer months, respectively. Furthermore, it was determined that due to the westerly wind flow that dominates the wave generation and direction of wave propagation in NZ, that the prevailing wave approach direction at all the sites was between South-South-West and West-North-West. With regards to the spectral characteristics, it was further determined that a wide range of wave conditions were experienced at each site.
The development of the WEC database identified that 116 companies were actively developing 130 devices. These devices were then classified according to five main categories, which included a technology maturity class. Moreover, 41 devices were identified as being at an advanced technology level.

text: An integrated site and device selection methodology for the ocean wave energy sector The ocean covers approximately 70 % of the earth’s surface and contains an immense source of renewable energy, in terms of ocean waves. However, this resource is unevenly distributed throughout the world, and so, therefore, converting waves into a useful form of energy will require the identification of potential Wave Energy Farm (WEF) locations. This should be undertaken in tandem with selecting an appropriate Wave Energy Converter (WEC), as the characteristics of these devices are critical in capturing the available wave power. 
This thesis presents a novel integrated methodology to select and assess potential installation sites for WEFs, identify appropriate WECs, and overcome the limitations of current methods. Original contributions of this thesis include: (i) a robust method for identifying generic WEF sites based on the dimensions of sustainability, which includes a cultural dimension, and utilises limiting conditions to reduce large study areas; (ii) a suite of MATLAB tools—which thoroughly assesses potential WEF sites, in terms of the available resource as well as temporal, directional, and spectral characteristics; (iii) a WEC database which identifies all devices currently in development; and (iv) a WEC classification scheme that classifies devices in a practical and meaningful manner in order to streamline the selection process of WECs for wave energy projects.
Several of the developed methods have been applied to a New Zealand (NZ) case study. Results confirm that with the application of the proposed site selection method, that 12 suitable WEF sites, clustered within four regions along the west and south coast of NZ, were identified from the initial study area of approximately 4.1 million km². In terms of site assessment, the utilisation of the MATLAB tools established that a higher-energy area comprised the south of NZ and that as expected, the available resource at all sites was subjected to seasonal variability, with a maximum and minimum wave power available in the winter and summer months, respectively. Furthermore, it was determined that due to the westerly wind flow that dominates the wave generation and direction of wave propagation in NZ, that the prevailing wave approach direction at all the sites was between South-South-West and West-North-West. With regards to the spectral characteristics, it was further determined that a wide range of wave conditions were experienced at each site.
The development of the WEC database identified that 116 companies were actively developing 130 devices. These devices were then classified according to five main categories, which included a technology maturity class. Moreover, 41 devices were identified as being at an advanced technology level.

year: 2021

title: Te Puni Rumaki – Strengthening Māori medium initial teacher education

authors: Tamatea, Karaitiana

abstract: The delivery of initial teacher education for Māori medium contexts in Aotearoa seeks to support the revitalization of the indigenous language and practices in collaboration with the current education system. This presentation introduces a research project begun early in 2013 with providers, student teachers, schools and communities involved in respective Māori medium programmes. This research project has a "positive output approach" where fundamental elements to the success of these various programmes are shared. The wide range of Māori medium initial teacher education settings is investigated. Consequences from the research findings will also be discussed.

text: Te Puni Rumaki – Strengthening Māori medium initial teacher education The delivery of initial teacher education for Māori medium contexts in Aotearoa seeks to support the revitalization of the indigenous language and practices in collaboration with the current education system. This presentation introduces a research project begun early in 2013 with providers, student teachers, schools and communities involved in respective Māori medium programmes. This research project has a "positive output approach" where fundamental elements to the success of these various programmes are shared. The wide range of Māori medium initial teacher education settings is investigated. Consequences from the research findings will also be discussed.

year: 2014