title: Improving road safety and health: Understandng kava's impact on driver fitness.

authors: Aporosa, S. 'Apo'

abstract: Kava (Piper methysticum) is a traditional and culturally significant Pacific Island beverage that produces a soporific relaxant effect. Kava’s psychopharmacological action is similar to the anti-anxiety drug Benzodiazepine. Traditional users often consume the kava drink at volumes as much as 30 times greater than pharmacologically recommended doses. Prompted by concerns regarding driver impairment post kava drinking, a study was undertaken replicating traditional kava sessions in terms of duration and kava consumption, to investigate the effects of kava on driving capability.
Kava consumers (n=20) attended two six-hour kava sessions, each participant drinking an average 3.52 litres of kava. A non-kava consuming control group (n=20) was included in the study. At baseline all the participants completed computerised industry standard driver safety assessment tests (Vienna Test System: Traffic WAFA Alertness and WAFG Divided Attention) to measure reaction time, perception and attention. Re-testing was conducted at hourly intervals over the six-hour period. Pre/post analysis compared person to person and between groups change. Statistical modeling was based on ANOVA, independent t-tests and Bayesian analysis.
Data analysis indicated no statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between reaction time and divided attention, both within individuals and between groups, at any measurement point over the six-hour testing period. The mean reaction time and divided attention time at the baseline measurement was 249.95msec (milliseconds) and 583.58msec respectively. The control and active group mean reaction time at the final test was 256.70msec and 271.8msec respectively. The mean divided attention times for the control and active groups at the final test were 499.75msec and 568.32msec.
Kava at traditional consumption volumes was not correlated to response latency or impairment on perception and attention tasks, when measured using authoritative driver assessment tests. From this it could be inferred that kava use at traditionally influenced consumption volumes does not compromise driver safety. However, it can be argued that current industry standard accepted cognitive measures of driver safety, assess impairment from the use of euphoric and hallucinogenic drug substances (such as alcohol and marijuana), and fail to account for kava’s unique form of ‘intoxication’. Further research beyond the assessment of these two cognitive functions is, it seems, desirable to better understand if kava has any effect on driver ability.
The study was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (16/462) and the University of Waikato, and the test battery was generously donated by Vienna Tests Systems, Germany.

text: Improving road safety and health: Understandng kava's impact on driver fitness. Kava (Piper methysticum) is a traditional and culturally significant Pacific Island beverage that produces a soporific relaxant effect. Kava’s psychopharmacological action is similar to the anti-anxiety drug Benzodiazepine. Traditional users often consume the kava drink at volumes as much as 30 times greater than pharmacologically recommended doses. Prompted by concerns regarding driver impairment post kava drinking, a study was undertaken replicating traditional kava sessions in terms of duration and kava consumption, to investigate the effects of kava on driving capability.
Kava consumers (n=20) attended two six-hour kava sessions, each participant drinking an average 3.52 litres of kava. A non-kava consuming control group (n=20) was included in the study. At baseline all the participants completed computerised industry standard driver safety assessment tests (Vienna Test System: Traffic WAFA Alertness and WAFG Divided Attention) to measure reaction time, perception and attention. Re-testing was conducted at hourly intervals over the six-hour period. Pre/post analysis compared person to person and between groups change. Statistical modeling was based on ANOVA, independent t-tests and Bayesian analysis.
Data analysis indicated no statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between reaction time and divided attention, both within individuals and between groups, at any measurement point over the six-hour testing period. The mean reaction time and divided attention time at the baseline measurement was 249.95msec (milliseconds) and 583.58msec respectively. The control and active group mean reaction time at the final test was 256.70msec and 271.8msec respectively. The mean divided attention times for the control and active groups at the final test were 499.75msec and 568.32msec.
Kava at traditional consumption volumes was not correlated to response latency or impairment on perception and attention tasks, when measured using authoritative driver assessment tests. From this it could be inferred that kava use at traditionally influenced consumption volumes does not compromise driver safety. However, it can be argued that current industry standard accepted cognitive measures of driver safety, assess impairment from the use of euphoric and hallucinogenic drug substances (such as alcohol and marijuana), and fail to account for kava’s unique form of ‘intoxication’. Further research beyond the assessment of these two cognitive functions is, it seems, desirable to better understand if kava has any effect on driver ability.
The study was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (16/462) and the University of Waikato, and the test battery was generously donated by Vienna Tests Systems, Germany.

year: 2018

title: Exploring consumer’s preferences for farmed sea bream

authors: Stefani, Gianluca

subjects: Consumer preferences

abstract: Sea bream (Sparus aurata) production plays a significant part in Italian aquaculture, contributing to almost 18% of national pisciculture sales revenue. In recent years, Italian firms faced higher competition from countries with lower production costs. This prompted responses toward both cost reduction and product differentiation. The objective of this study was to investigate the preferences of Italian consumers for sea bream from fish farms, with a focus on aspects of product differentiation as gleaned from the analysis of the market situation: price, product origin, type and place of fish farming, and, in particular, type of feed. Data were collected with a consumers' survey using personal interviews conducted on a questionnaire that included a choice experiment. Consumer preferences were analyzed with choice models based on stated preference data. The models made it possible to evaluate the potential of products with different combinations of attributes for which there is currently no market information available. In particular, the country of origin emerged as an important element of consumer choice, and to a lesser degree, organic certification and fish farming in marine cages also play a relevant role and may command a price premium

text: Exploring consumer’s preferences for farmed sea bream Sea bream (Sparus aurata) production plays a significant part in Italian aquaculture, contributing to almost 18% of national pisciculture sales revenue. In recent years, Italian firms faced higher competition from countries with lower production costs. This prompted responses toward both cost reduction and product differentiation. The objective of this study was to investigate the preferences of Italian consumers for sea bream from fish farms, with a focus on aspects of product differentiation as gleaned from the analysis of the market situation: price, product origin, type and place of fish farming, and, in particular, type of feed. Data were collected with a consumers' survey using personal interviews conducted on a questionnaire that included a choice experiment. Consumer preferences were analyzed with choice models based on stated preference data. The models made it possible to evaluate the potential of products with different combinations of attributes for which there is currently no market information available. In particular, the country of origin emerged as an important element of consumer choice, and to a lesser degree, organic certification and fish farming in marine cages also play a relevant role and may command a price premium

year: 2012

title: My tūpuna were houseless once too: Aspirations of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori in transitional housing

authors: Manuirirangi, Kayla

abstract: This research explores the concept of ‘home' for rangatahi Māori experiencing housing insecurity and residing within a transitional housing service in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. Conducted in partnership with Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust (KFST), a kaupapa Māori community housing provider, this study aimed to identify rangatahi perceptions of ‘home’ and aspirations of 'home’ to contribute towards strategies for better housing supports and brighter rangatahi futures. A cohort of seven rangatahi Māori participants were involved in this study (all who identified as female; aged 15-19 years old). At the time of this study, rangatahi participants were residing in Kirikiriroa, experiencing housing insecurity and were living within a transitional house provided by KFST, either with whānau or independently. Guided by Kaupapa Māori methodology, there were a mixture of qualitative methods used to capture rangatahi voices, including Whakawhanaungatanga, Sticky Notes Brainstorms, Rangatahi Wānanga and Thematic Analysis. Through this data analysis process, a visual mind map was generated to draw out the key findings from the three main research areas: rangatahi aspirations for home; the current realities of home; and how to build a bridge to a better future. Key findings from this research conclude that: (1) Rangatahi need strength-based support; (2) Rangatahi need a permanent and stable place to call ‘home’; (3) Rangatahi need supportive adults in their life who they can trust; (4) Rangatahi need encouragement to realise their aspirations; (5) Rangatahi opinions matter; (6) Rangatahi experience contradictions; and, the need to (7) Prioritise intervention over punishment. For policy and decision-makers, these findings suggest that rangatahi Māori voices should be included in urban design process and that more Māori solutions should be utilised within this urban context. For researchers, the study highlights the importance of advancing Māori housing aspirations and deepening understandings of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori living independent of their whānau.

text: My tūpuna were houseless once too: Aspirations of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori in transitional housing This research explores the concept of ‘home' for rangatahi Māori experiencing housing insecurity and residing within a transitional housing service in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. Conducted in partnership with Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust (KFST), a kaupapa Māori community housing provider, this study aimed to identify rangatahi perceptions of ‘home’ and aspirations of 'home’ to contribute towards strategies for better housing supports and brighter rangatahi futures. A cohort of seven rangatahi Māori participants were involved in this study (all who identified as female; aged 15-19 years old). At the time of this study, rangatahi participants were residing in Kirikiriroa, experiencing housing insecurity and were living within a transitional house provided by KFST, either with whānau or independently. Guided by Kaupapa Māori methodology, there were a mixture of qualitative methods used to capture rangatahi voices, including Whakawhanaungatanga, Sticky Notes Brainstorms, Rangatahi Wānanga and Thematic Analysis. Through this data analysis process, a visual mind map was generated to draw out the key findings from the three main research areas: rangatahi aspirations for home; the current realities of home; and how to build a bridge to a better future. Key findings from this research conclude that: (1) Rangatahi need strength-based support; (2) Rangatahi need a permanent and stable place to call ‘home’; (3) Rangatahi need supportive adults in their life who they can trust; (4) Rangatahi need encouragement to realise their aspirations; (5) Rangatahi opinions matter; (6) Rangatahi experience contradictions; and, the need to (7) Prioritise intervention over punishment. For policy and decision-makers, these findings suggest that rangatahi Māori voices should be included in urban design process and that more Māori solutions should be utilised within this urban context. For researchers, the study highlights the importance of advancing Māori housing aspirations and deepening understandings of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori living independent of their whānau.

year: 2025