title: Facile syntheses of four-membered aurathietane dioxide [Au–CHR-SO₂-CHR] ring systems, and the first isonitrile insertion reaction into a gold(III)–carbon bond

authors: Henderson, William

subjects: Gold

abstract: The reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with excess PbBr₂ or PbI₂ in methanolic suspension result in the formation of the neutral lead(II) halide adducts [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbX₂] (X = Br, I). The X-ray structure determination of the lead iodide adduct reveals an essentially tetrahedral lead(II) centre, which is a rare coordination geometry for lead(II), which almost invariably is hemidirected, with a stereochemically active lone pair. In contrast, the structure of the PbBr₂ adduct, although suffering from some disorder, shows a more typical, distorted arrangement of ligands; these results are discussed in terms of the tendency for soft, bulky ligands to promote symmetric, holodirected geometries. The ESI mass spectra of the adducts are reported, and yield [M−halide]⁺ ions.

text: Facile syntheses of four-membered aurathietane dioxide [Au–CHR-SO₂-CHR] ring systems, and the first isonitrile insertion reaction into a gold(III)–carbon bond The reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with excess PbBr₂ or PbI₂ in methanolic suspension result in the formation of the neutral lead(II) halide adducts [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbX₂] (X = Br, I). The X-ray structure determination of the lead iodide adduct reveals an essentially tetrahedral lead(II) centre, which is a rare coordination geometry for lead(II), which almost invariably is hemidirected, with a stereochemically active lone pair. In contrast, the structure of the PbBr₂ adduct, although suffering from some disorder, shows a more typical, distorted arrangement of ligands; these results are discussed in terms of the tendency for soft, bulky ligands to promote symmetric, holodirected geometries. The ESI mass spectra of the adducts are reported, and yield [M−halide]⁺ ions.

year: 2005-11-01

title: Mothers, kids, and COVID: Suburban geographies of the COVID-19 pandemic

authors: Arnott, Elizabeth Charlotte

subjects: Mothers

abstract: This thesis extends pandemic, health, and maternal geographies by examining how the emotions and actions of seven mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic influence the health outcomes of their children. The research seeks to explain mothers’ responses to, and lived experiences during, the COVID-19 pandemic in a coastal Bay of Plenty suburb in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research addresses three main questions: first, how have COVID-19 public health requirements altered mothers’ relationship with their homes and suburban communities? Second, how have mothers understood COVID-19 scientific knowledge and mis/dis information in relation to the vaccine for 5 to 11-year-old children? Third, how do mothers with their vaccinated and unvaccinated children navigate their suburban movements during COVID-19 public health requirements? The thesis aims to promote awareness of the influence and impact mothers can have on geographies of disease management.

Discussion around COVID-19 has been wide-ranging and varied on the geographical consequences of the pandemic, however, there is little that accounts for the role of mothers, children and their disrupted everyday geographies. Current discourses marginalise mothers in their role as caregiver and this research seeks to re-image mothers and make space for their alternative ways of generating and sharing knowledge. Seven mothers, with at least one child aged 5 to 11-years-old, participated in semi-structured interviews with an emotional mapping activity. The methodology is theoretically and empirically innovative and seeks to open up creative ways of conducting pandemic and health research.

My findings are organised into three areas: the idea of home as being both ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ for mothers during the pandemic; the consequence of ‘bubble’ living on the mobility of mothers and their children; and, how mothers’ behaviours changed over the course of the pandemic in relation to the rise of mis/dis information, with particular focus on information towards the vaccine for young children. I assert that the lived experiences of mothers during the pandemic have created space for increased confidence when making health-related decisions for their children. Some mothers have challenged the public health advice. The consequences of which are visible through the low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. Ultimately, this thesis shows how mothers can be at the forefront of disease management. Mothers who combine science and emotion to make decisions add to complex geographies of disease management. Understanding this may help frame effective strategies of preparedness and response to future pandemics.

text: Mothers, kids, and COVID: Suburban geographies of the COVID-19 pandemic This thesis extends pandemic, health, and maternal geographies by examining how the emotions and actions of seven mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic influence the health outcomes of their children. The research seeks to explain mothers’ responses to, and lived experiences during, the COVID-19 pandemic in a coastal Bay of Plenty suburb in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research addresses three main questions: first, how have COVID-19 public health requirements altered mothers’ relationship with their homes and suburban communities? Second, how have mothers understood COVID-19 scientific knowledge and mis/dis information in relation to the vaccine for 5 to 11-year-old children? Third, how do mothers with their vaccinated and unvaccinated children navigate their suburban movements during COVID-19 public health requirements? The thesis aims to promote awareness of the influence and impact mothers can have on geographies of disease management.

Discussion around COVID-19 has been wide-ranging and varied on the geographical consequences of the pandemic, however, there is little that accounts for the role of mothers, children and their disrupted everyday geographies. Current discourses marginalise mothers in their role as caregiver and this research seeks to re-image mothers and make space for their alternative ways of generating and sharing knowledge. Seven mothers, with at least one child aged 5 to 11-years-old, participated in semi-structured interviews with an emotional mapping activity. The methodology is theoretically and empirically innovative and seeks to open up creative ways of conducting pandemic and health research.

My findings are organised into three areas: the idea of home as being both ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ for mothers during the pandemic; the consequence of ‘bubble’ living on the mobility of mothers and their children; and, how mothers’ behaviours changed over the course of the pandemic in relation to the rise of mis/dis information, with particular focus on information towards the vaccine for young children. I assert that the lived experiences of mothers during the pandemic have created space for increased confidence when making health-related decisions for their children. Some mothers have challenged the public health advice. The consequences of which are visible through the low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. Ultimately, this thesis shows how mothers can be at the forefront of disease management. Mothers who combine science and emotion to make decisions add to complex geographies of disease management. Understanding this may help frame effective strategies of preparedness and response to future pandemics.

year: 2023

title: Māori whānau experiences of a neonatal intensive care unit: Waikato hospital

authors: Thompson, Keri

subjects: Maori whanau narratives

abstract: This thesis topic emerged from my personal experience of having a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Waikato hospital.  My whānau and I felt like aliens; culturally inept, and totally alone during our time in the NICU.  It was not until I spoke to other Māori mothers that I realised our stories were similar.   

I sought to understand how other Māori whānau members made sense of their own experiences, how they coped/adjusted to the experience of having a premature baby in an NICU and at home, and the sources of support they utilised. This study did not seek to delineate parents' experiences but attempted to allow whānau members to share their stories and explore their experiences of having a premature or special-care baby in an NICU.

The event of childbirth and the placing of a natural event into a pathological illness model through necessity has repercussions for the ways in which women experience and make sense of the event.  Knowing this, six whānau stories were collected comprising of four individual interviews with the mothers and two whānau hui (focus groups).  My use of a narrative methodology and kaupapa Māori approach enabled all the participants the opportunity to share their stories on how they make sense of their own experiences without the frame of pathological illness. 

The findings present each whānau story autonomously, to highlight the key events that   occur once the birth of a premature/special-care infant is admitted into an NICU. The participants' narratives followed their transitions through an NICU and return home. The narrative analysis and discussion confirmed that this research had been successful in creating a space for the mothers and their whānau members to share their stories.  The discussion combined their narratives to reveal that the effective coping strategies did not remove the sources of stress but rather lessened the impact of the stresses.  In situations where sources of stress were unable to be removed or reduced, participants perceptions of ineffective coping translated into narratives of negative perceptions of the NICU, and birthing experience. 

The importance of positive relationships within an NICU, and in particular, the role of the nurse as a key facilitator, highlighted that efficacious communication resulted in positive experiences for Māori whānau.  Whānau support was identified as one of the most important coping strategies for mothers in the NICU.  Those participants who were encouraged to maintain connections with whānau members reported more positive experiences overall.

Three levels of implications were identified in this research. Firstly, that the participants'narratives provided a range of coping strategies for future Māori parents and their whānau who enter an NICU.  Secondly, there are implications for NICU policy, and best practice particularly when supporting Māori in an NICU environment.  Lastly, the narratives provided meaningful insights that contribute to gaps in local, national, and international literature.  Overall, I realised that just like me, these mothers, and other whānau members, constructed narratives that are meaningful accounts to be shared with others.

text: Māori whānau experiences of a neonatal intensive care unit: Waikato hospital This thesis topic emerged from my personal experience of having a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Waikato hospital.  My whānau and I felt like aliens; culturally inept, and totally alone during our time in the NICU.  It was not until I spoke to other Māori mothers that I realised our stories were similar.   

I sought to understand how other Māori whānau members made sense of their own experiences, how they coped/adjusted to the experience of having a premature baby in an NICU and at home, and the sources of support they utilised. This study did not seek to delineate parents' experiences but attempted to allow whānau members to share their stories and explore their experiences of having a premature or special-care baby in an NICU.

The event of childbirth and the placing of a natural event into a pathological illness model through necessity has repercussions for the ways in which women experience and make sense of the event.  Knowing this, six whānau stories were collected comprising of four individual interviews with the mothers and two whānau hui (focus groups).  My use of a narrative methodology and kaupapa Māori approach enabled all the participants the opportunity to share their stories on how they make sense of their own experiences without the frame of pathological illness. 

The findings present each whānau story autonomously, to highlight the key events that   occur once the birth of a premature/special-care infant is admitted into an NICU. The participants' narratives followed their transitions through an NICU and return home. The narrative analysis and discussion confirmed that this research had been successful in creating a space for the mothers and their whānau members to share their stories.  The discussion combined their narratives to reveal that the effective coping strategies did not remove the sources of stress but rather lessened the impact of the stresses.  In situations where sources of stress were unable to be removed or reduced, participants perceptions of ineffective coping translated into narratives of negative perceptions of the NICU, and birthing experience. 

The importance of positive relationships within an NICU, and in particular, the role of the nurse as a key facilitator, highlighted that efficacious communication resulted in positive experiences for Māori whānau.  Whānau support was identified as one of the most important coping strategies for mothers in the NICU.  Those participants who were encouraged to maintain connections with whānau members reported more positive experiences overall.

Three levels of implications were identified in this research. Firstly, that the participants'narratives provided a range of coping strategies for future Māori parents and their whānau who enter an NICU.  Secondly, there are implications for NICU policy, and best practice particularly when supporting Māori in an NICU environment.  Lastly, the narratives provided meaningful insights that contribute to gaps in local, national, and international literature.  Overall, I realised that just like me, these mothers, and other whānau members, constructed narratives that are meaningful accounts to be shared with others.

year: 2009