title: Preteens’ concepts and development of privacy, and the relationship to decisions and actions undertaken in online social environments and with digital devices.

authors: Webster, Angela

subjects: preteens

abstract: A concern for privacy, the development of this, and how it becomes interpreted in offline and complex online environments has potential implications on young people’s wellbeing and safety.  Media often bring to attention more negative aspects of young people’s privacy in relation to their online pursuits, which raises questions about perceived risks to one’s privacy and actual risks encountered online and any subsequent implications.  This study looks at preteens’ broad concepts and development of privacy, and any relationship(s) these may have on their use of digital technologies and decisions and actions in online social contexts.  A review of literature related to preteens’ involvement in online social networks and issues of privacy presents a growing body of information, however, a scarcity of literature related to preteens’ concern for privacy, and the development of privacy concern, suggests this study offers new insights in this particular area.

Students (N=60) aged between 11 and under 13 years from three provincial New Zealand schools participated in this qualitative study, and key data were gathered through a survey.  Preteens indicated they valued privacy and specified its importance across dimensions of self.  Furthermore, a desire for autonomy and control in managing aspects of privacy in their offline and online worlds was evident.  However, concerns were raised regarding preteens’ perceived capabilities and their actual competencies and knowledge of the technical, social, and ethical complexities presented online and in the use of devices.  Also evident were inconsistencies in the types of support needed to care for the safety and wellbeing of young people.  This suggests young people continue to need regular and robust support from agencies they themselves identified as important, and included caregivers, schools, and peers. 

Opportunities to further develop caregivers’ skills and knowledge is recommended, so they may better understand the crucial role they have in supporting the safety and wellbeing of their child in their exploration of complex digital environments.  Their role is essential in positively contributing to the development of a concern for privacy.  Recommendations are made, for schools, educators, and education policy makers in their role in this development.  These include sustained teaching and learning opportunities across all learning levels in building related skills and competencies.  Sourcing perspectives from preteens themselves as the experts of their ideas, experiences and knowledge, is integral to understanding how they navigate privacy issues when living lives both offline and online.

text: Preteens’ concepts and development of privacy, and the relationship to decisions and actions undertaken in online social environments and with digital devices. A concern for privacy, the development of this, and how it becomes interpreted in offline and complex online environments has potential implications on young people’s wellbeing and safety.  Media often bring to attention more negative aspects of young people’s privacy in relation to their online pursuits, which raises questions about perceived risks to one’s privacy and actual risks encountered online and any subsequent implications.  This study looks at preteens’ broad concepts and development of privacy, and any relationship(s) these may have on their use of digital technologies and decisions and actions in online social contexts.  A review of literature related to preteens’ involvement in online social networks and issues of privacy presents a growing body of information, however, a scarcity of literature related to preteens’ concern for privacy, and the development of privacy concern, suggests this study offers new insights in this particular area.

Students (N=60) aged between 11 and under 13 years from three provincial New Zealand schools participated in this qualitative study, and key data were gathered through a survey.  Preteens indicated they valued privacy and specified its importance across dimensions of self.  Furthermore, a desire for autonomy and control in managing aspects of privacy in their offline and online worlds was evident.  However, concerns were raised regarding preteens’ perceived capabilities and their actual competencies and knowledge of the technical, social, and ethical complexities presented online and in the use of devices.  Also evident were inconsistencies in the types of support needed to care for the safety and wellbeing of young people.  This suggests young people continue to need regular and robust support from agencies they themselves identified as important, and included caregivers, schools, and peers. 

Opportunities to further develop caregivers’ skills and knowledge is recommended, so they may better understand the crucial role they have in supporting the safety and wellbeing of their child in their exploration of complex digital environments.  Their role is essential in positively contributing to the development of a concern for privacy.  Recommendations are made, for schools, educators, and education policy makers in their role in this development.  These include sustained teaching and learning opportunities across all learning levels in building related skills and competencies.  Sourcing perspectives from preteens themselves as the experts of their ideas, experiences and knowledge, is integral to understanding how they navigate privacy issues when living lives both offline and online.

year: 2016

title: A process for melt grafting itaconic anhydride onto polyethylene

authors: Hanipah, Suhaiza Hanim

subjects: itaconic anhydride

abstract: Currently, extensive research in using bio‐derived polymers is being done, highlighting the
importance of sustainable, green polymeric materials. Some sustainable alternatives to
synthetic polymers include lignin, starch, cellulose or blends of these with petroleum‐based
polymers.
In New Zealand, large quantities of animal derived proteins are available at very low cost,
making it ideal as a sustainable alternative to petroleum‐derived polymers. However, the
processability of most proteins is very difficult, but can be improved by blending with synthetic
polymers, such as polyolefins. To improve, the compatibility between these substances, a
functional monomer could be grafted onto the polyolefin chain. Using an appropriate functional
group, the polyolefin could then react with certain amino acids residues in the protein. Lysine
and cystein are the two most appropriate amino acid residues because of their reactivity and
stability at a wide pH range.
In this study, free radical grafting of itaconic anhydride (IA) onto polyethylene was investigated.
IA was selected because it is capable of reacting with polyethylene and amino acid residues,
such as lysine. The objective of the research was to identify and investigate the effect of
reaction parameters on grafting. These were: residence time, temperature, initial monomer
concentration as well as peroxide concentration and type. Grafting was characterized in terms
of the degree of grafting (DOG), percentage reacted and the extent of side reactions.
The reaction temperature was taken above the melting point of the polyethylene, monomer
and decomposition temperature of the initiator. It was found that above 160 C polymer
degradation occurred, evident from sample discolouration. A higher degree of grafting can be
achieved by increasing the initial monomer concentration up to a limiting concentration. The
highest DOG achieved was about 1.2 mol IA per mol PE, using 2 wt% DCP. When using 2 wt %
peroxide, the limiting concentration was found to be 6 wt% IA, above which no improvement in
DOG was achieved. It was found that DCP is much more effective at grafting, compared to DTBP
because DTBP is more prone to lead to side reactions than DCP.
iv
It was found that a residence time of 168 seconds resulted in the highest DOG, corresponding to
4 extrusions in series. However, it was also found that an increase in residence time resulted in
an increase in polymer degradation. The tensile strength of PE decreased after two extrusions
when using DTBP, and three extrusions, when using DCP. Young's modulus decreased only
slightly, while all samples showed a dramatic decrease in ductility, even after one extrusion. It
was concluded that degradation had a more pronounced effect on mechanical properties than
cross‐linking, and residence time should therefore not exceed three extrusions in series, which
corresponded to about 126 seconds.
It can be concluded that a high reaction temperature and high initiator concentration lead to a
low degree of grafting, accompanied by high cross‐linking and increased degradation. On the
other hand, high monomer concentration and high residence time lead to a high degree of
grafting.
Optimising grafting is therefore a trade off between maximal DOG and minimising side reactions
such as cross‐linking and degradation and optimal conditions do not necessarily correspond to a
maximum DOG. Other factors, such as the use of additives to prevent degradation should also
be investigated and may lead to different optimum conditions.

text: A process for melt grafting itaconic anhydride onto polyethylene Currently, extensive research in using bio‐derived polymers is being done, highlighting the
importance of sustainable, green polymeric materials. Some sustainable alternatives to
synthetic polymers include lignin, starch, cellulose or blends of these with petroleum‐based
polymers.
In New Zealand, large quantities of animal derived proteins are available at very low cost,
making it ideal as a sustainable alternative to petroleum‐derived polymers. However, the
processability of most proteins is very difficult, but can be improved by blending with synthetic
polymers, such as polyolefins. To improve, the compatibility between these substances, a
functional monomer could be grafted onto the polyolefin chain. Using an appropriate functional
group, the polyolefin could then react with certain amino acids residues in the protein. Lysine
and cystein are the two most appropriate amino acid residues because of their reactivity and
stability at a wide pH range.
In this study, free radical grafting of itaconic anhydride (IA) onto polyethylene was investigated.
IA was selected because it is capable of reacting with polyethylene and amino acid residues,
such as lysine. The objective of the research was to identify and investigate the effect of
reaction parameters on grafting. These were: residence time, temperature, initial monomer
concentration as well as peroxide concentration and type. Grafting was characterized in terms
of the degree of grafting (DOG), percentage reacted and the extent of side reactions.
The reaction temperature was taken above the melting point of the polyethylene, monomer
and decomposition temperature of the initiator. It was found that above 160 C polymer
degradation occurred, evident from sample discolouration. A higher degree of grafting can be
achieved by increasing the initial monomer concentration up to a limiting concentration. The
highest DOG achieved was about 1.2 mol IA per mol PE, using 2 wt% DCP. When using 2 wt %
peroxide, the limiting concentration was found to be 6 wt% IA, above which no improvement in
DOG was achieved. It was found that DCP is much more effective at grafting, compared to DTBP
because DTBP is more prone to lead to side reactions than DCP.
iv
It was found that a residence time of 168 seconds resulted in the highest DOG, corresponding to
4 extrusions in series. However, it was also found that an increase in residence time resulted in
an increase in polymer degradation. The tensile strength of PE decreased after two extrusions
when using DTBP, and three extrusions, when using DCP. Young's modulus decreased only
slightly, while all samples showed a dramatic decrease in ductility, even after one extrusion. It
was concluded that degradation had a more pronounced effect on mechanical properties than
cross‐linking, and residence time should therefore not exceed three extrusions in series, which
corresponded to about 126 seconds.
It can be concluded that a high reaction temperature and high initiator concentration lead to a
low degree of grafting, accompanied by high cross‐linking and increased degradation. On the
other hand, high monomer concentration and high residence time lead to a high degree of
grafting.
Optimising grafting is therefore a trade off between maximal DOG and minimising side reactions
such as cross‐linking and degradation and optimal conditions do not necessarily correspond to a
maximum DOG. Other factors, such as the use of additives to prevent degradation should also
be investigated and may lead to different optimum conditions.

year: 2008

title: Māori language resources and Māori initiatives for teaching and learning te reo Māori

authors: Greensill, Hineitimoana

abstract: As the most southerly member of the Polynesian languages, a sub-group of the widespread Austronesian language family (Harlow, 2007), te reo Māori has been the subject of substantial analysis, documentation, and analyses of its structure since first contact with Captain Cook in 1769 (Whaanga & Greensill, 2014). The history, trials and tribulations of te reo Māori in Aotearoa have been well documented (see, for example, Reedy, 2000; Spolsky, 2005; Waitangi Tribunal, 1986, 2011). The various reasons for the language’s decline has been an area of ongoing debate and critique by academics, researchers, linguists, language activists, parliamentarians and Māori in recent times (see, for example, Bauer, 2008; Benton, 2015; Higgins, Rewi, & Olsen-Reeder, 2014; Rata, 2007; Winitana, 2011).

text: Māori language resources and Māori initiatives for teaching and learning te reo Māori As the most southerly member of the Polynesian languages, a sub-group of the widespread Austronesian language family (Harlow, 2007), te reo Māori has been the subject of substantial analysis, documentation, and analyses of its structure since first contact with Captain Cook in 1769 (Whaanga & Greensill, 2014). The history, trials and tribulations of te reo Māori in Aotearoa have been well documented (see, for example, Reedy, 2000; Spolsky, 2005; Waitangi Tribunal, 1986, 2011). The various reasons for the language’s decline has been an area of ongoing debate and critique by academics, researchers, linguists, language activists, parliamentarians and Māori in recent times (see, for example, Bauer, 2008; Benton, 2015; Higgins, Rewi, & Olsen-Reeder, 2014; Rata, 2007; Winitana, 2011).

year: 2017