title: Okun’s law, asymmetries and jobless recoveries in the United States: A Markov-switching approach

authors: Holmes, Mark J.

subjects: Okun’s law

abstract: This paper offers a new perspective on Markov regime-switching approaches to asymmetries in Okun’s law by modeling the existing approaches as special cases. Prevailing models assume either asymmetry between unemployment and output across regimes or asymmetry within a single regime. Our specification combines both approaches. Our empirical results give an insight into the apparent ‘jobless recovery’ experiences that began in the United States in 1991 and 2001.

text: Okun’s law, asymmetries and jobless recoveries in the United States: A Markov-switching approach This paper offers a new perspective on Markov regime-switching approaches to asymmetries in Okun’s law by modeling the existing approaches as special cases. Prevailing models assume either asymmetry between unemployment and output across regimes or asymmetry within a single regime. Our specification combines both approaches. Our empirical results give an insight into the apparent ‘jobless recovery’ experiences that began in the United States in 1991 and 2001.

year: 2005-12

title: An evaluation of current and potential technology for the treatment of farm dairy effluent in New Zealand - Assessing the potential to use anaerobic digestion and sequencing batch reactor technology as an alternative method of treatment of  farm dairy effluent

authors: Buchanan, Kendal

subjects: Farm Dairy Effluent

abstract: In order to keep up with social and consumer demands the regulations surrounding nutrient losses from dairy farms in New Zealand are becoming harsher. A way in which dairy farms can reduce the loss of nutrients is to improve the management of farm dairy effluent (FDE). FDE management can be improved by adding a treatment. This treatment may be chemical or biological.
The objective of this research was to develop a method of biological removal of nutrients from farm dairy effluent that enables more efficient management of those nutrients. The system that resulted (BioClean) was a five-stage system including; solids separation, anaerobic digestion, an enhanced biological nutrient removal sequencing batch reactor, sand filtration and UV disinfection.
Modelling of the BioClean system and current methods of FDE handling and treatment, found that BioClean outperformed all current technologies (two pond treatment, land application and ClearTech) in the removal of nitrogen from the liquid fraction (average removal of 98%). The removal of phosphorus and potassium from the liquid fraction were not found to be sufficient for discharge to waterways with average residuals of 13 mg/L and 772 mg/L (Table 32) respectively. Removal of Escherichia coli by BioClean was found to be vary significantly with scenario variation (from a mean of 0 cfu/100ml to 16,260 cfu/100ml).
Analysis of the model found that variation in results could potentially be explained by the model simulation. Therefore, even though scenario and treatment variation were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) in most cases, the cause of that variation can not confidently be linked to either the treatment change or variable that changed with regards to scenario differences.
Economic analysis of the addition of the BioClean system to a New Zealand dairy farm found that if the desired levels of nutrient removal could be achieved the addition of the BioClean system to a dairy farm was to be viable. The system was found to reduce daily running costs in comparison to the typical land application system due to pumping only the liquid fraction of FDE after solid separation a short distance.

Future research into the BioClean method through a lab-scale trial was recommended to improve the accuracy of the model and optimise the operating system.

text: An evaluation of current and potential technology for the treatment of farm dairy effluent in New Zealand - Assessing the potential to use anaerobic digestion and sequencing batch reactor technology as an alternative method of treatment of  farm dairy effluent In order to keep up with social and consumer demands the regulations surrounding nutrient losses from dairy farms in New Zealand are becoming harsher. A way in which dairy farms can reduce the loss of nutrients is to improve the management of farm dairy effluent (FDE). FDE management can be improved by adding a treatment. This treatment may be chemical or biological.
The objective of this research was to develop a method of biological removal of nutrients from farm dairy effluent that enables more efficient management of those nutrients. The system that resulted (BioClean) was a five-stage system including; solids separation, anaerobic digestion, an enhanced biological nutrient removal sequencing batch reactor, sand filtration and UV disinfection.
Modelling of the BioClean system and current methods of FDE handling and treatment, found that BioClean outperformed all current technologies (two pond treatment, land application and ClearTech) in the removal of nitrogen from the liquid fraction (average removal of 98%). The removal of phosphorus and potassium from the liquid fraction were not found to be sufficient for discharge to waterways with average residuals of 13 mg/L and 772 mg/L (Table 32) respectively. Removal of Escherichia coli by BioClean was found to be vary significantly with scenario variation (from a mean of 0 cfu/100ml to 16,260 cfu/100ml).
Analysis of the model found that variation in results could potentially be explained by the model simulation. Therefore, even though scenario and treatment variation were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) in most cases, the cause of that variation can not confidently be linked to either the treatment change or variable that changed with regards to scenario differences.
Economic analysis of the addition of the BioClean system to a New Zealand dairy farm found that if the desired levels of nutrient removal could be achieved the addition of the BioClean system to a dairy farm was to be viable. The system was found to reduce daily running costs in comparison to the typical land application system due to pumping only the liquid fraction of FDE after solid separation a short distance.

Future research into the BioClean method through a lab-scale trial was recommended to improve the accuracy of the model and optimise the operating system.

year: 2020

title: Breaking the Barrier: Maori religious and spiritual entanglements at Aotea

authors: Klink, Kelly Moanna

subjects: Ngati Rehua

abstract: In 1889, Ngāti Rehua converted en masse to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). This surprising conversion is remarkable for various reasons.  Māori across the country had not only converted to Christianity several decades earlier but by the late nineteenth century had already established their own religious denominations that renegotiated Judeao Christian teachings in new ways.  The proximity of Aotea to the Bay of Islands and their own converted kin on the mainland made this very late conversion all the more remarkable. This was the first time that any Christian organisation found any meaningful success with native peoples on the island, despite the widespread impact of Anglican, Catholic, Wesleyan, and Presbyterian missionaries throughout the region. With so many converted iwi at their doorstep, and the widespread influence of early missionaries and Māori agents of conversion, why did Ngāti Rehua take so long to convert to Christianity? While other iwi were converting in large numbers to Christianity or renegotiating Christianity on their own terms, Ngāti Rehua remained isolated and aloof for much of the nineteenth century, maintaining traditional beliefs and practices that had disappeared or been significantly modified in other tribal regions.  This thesis explores this question in three main chapters. Chapter One explores early Aotea history, beliefs and practices and examines how those on the island remained elusive from the onslaught of missionaries during the formative years of the establishment of Christianity.  Chapter Two highlights the many Aotea inter-tribal connections, the ongoing isolated history of Aotea and early missionary influences. Chapter Three turns its attention to the arrival of Mormon missionaries in 1889 and discusses the ‘moments’ of conversion that have been maintained in successive generations.

text: Breaking the Barrier: Maori religious and spiritual entanglements at Aotea In 1889, Ngāti Rehua converted en masse to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). This surprising conversion is remarkable for various reasons.  Māori across the country had not only converted to Christianity several decades earlier but by the late nineteenth century had already established their own religious denominations that renegotiated Judeao Christian teachings in new ways.  The proximity of Aotea to the Bay of Islands and their own converted kin on the mainland made this very late conversion all the more remarkable. This was the first time that any Christian organisation found any meaningful success with native peoples on the island, despite the widespread impact of Anglican, Catholic, Wesleyan, and Presbyterian missionaries throughout the region. With so many converted iwi at their doorstep, and the widespread influence of early missionaries and Māori agents of conversion, why did Ngāti Rehua take so long to convert to Christianity? While other iwi were converting in large numbers to Christianity or renegotiating Christianity on their own terms, Ngāti Rehua remained isolated and aloof for much of the nineteenth century, maintaining traditional beliefs and practices that had disappeared or been significantly modified in other tribal regions.  This thesis explores this question in three main chapters. Chapter One explores early Aotea history, beliefs and practices and examines how those on the island remained elusive from the onslaught of missionaries during the formative years of the establishment of Christianity.  Chapter Two highlights the many Aotea inter-tribal connections, the ongoing isolated history of Aotea and early missionary influences. Chapter Three turns its attention to the arrival of Mormon missionaries in 1889 and discusses the ‘moments’ of conversion that have been maintained in successive generations.

year: 2019