title: Vehicle lead-acid battery state-of-charge meter

authors: Scott, Jonathan B.

subjects: state-of-charge meter

abstract: We describe a state-of-charge, or “residual-capacity” meter for lead-acid batteries that intelligently synthesizes coulometric and terminal-voltage methods in a new algorithm to provide reliable, continuous readout of remaining capacity. Novel electronic circuit design eliminates the need to install a shunt in the vehicle. The meter learns the characteristics of a battery to which it is attached, removing the need for setup, customisation, programming or calibration at time of installation or battery replacement. The meter can thus be installed by unqualified personnel. Initial measurements suggest the design to be robust and accurate.

text: Vehicle lead-acid battery state-of-charge meter We describe a state-of-charge, or “residual-capacity” meter for lead-acid batteries that intelligently synthesizes coulometric and terminal-voltage methods in a new algorithm to provide reliable, continuous readout of remaining capacity. Novel electronic circuit design eliminates the need to install a shunt in the vehicle. The meter learns the characteristics of a battery to which it is attached, removing the need for setup, customisation, programming or calibration at time of installation or battery replacement. The meter can thus be installed by unqualified personnel. Initial measurements suggest the design to be robust and accurate.

year: 2011

title: Perpetrators’ perspectives on family violence: What happens, and why, during a family violence event?

authors: Stairmand, Meghan

subjects: Family violence,Offence process model

abstract: Family violence (FV) is a significant social issue in many countries around the world, and New Zealand is no exception. In recent years, significant advances have been made in the development of FV theories and in our empirical understanding of risk factors implicated in these theories. However, from both a theoretical and empirical standpoint, we continue to have a limited understanding of what happens, and why it happens, during a FV event (FVE). The current research developed and tested a descriptive theoretical model of a FVE from the perpetrator’s perspective. Event narratives were gathered from 14 men and 13 women completing community-based FV perpetrator treatment programmes. All narratives were gathered during individual semi-structured interviews and were systematically analysed using grounded theory methods (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). The resulting event process model of FV (FVEPM) contains four sections arranged temporally from the most distal to the most proximal factors in relation to the FVE described: Background factors (Section 1), Event build-up (Section 2), Event (Section 3), and Post-event (Section 4; Chapter 5). The FVEPM provides a descriptive temporal outline of a FVE, including its cognitive, behavioural, social, and motivational components. It highlights the dynamic nature of FVEs, and the salient role of situational and interpersonal factors in contributing to FV perpetration. Further analysis of the FVEPM revealed three distinct pathways to FV: Conflict escalation (Pathway 1), Automated violence (Pathway 2), and Compliance (Pathway 3; Chapter 6). Each pathway describes distinct patterns of cognition, affect, motivation, and behaviour that characterise a FVE. Next, the generalisability of the FVEPM and its pathways was tested with an incarcerated sample of eight men with extensive histories of violent and other offending (Chapter 7). Overall, participants’ event narratives were consistent with the phenomena and processes set out in the FVEPM. However, event narratives were better represented by splitting Pathway 1 into two subtypes, and no event narratives were assigned to Pathway 3. Finally, drawing on Section 3 (‘Event’) of the FVEPM, a conceptual framework of motives for FV was proposed (Chapter 8). The proposed framework advances existing conceptual models by differentiating motives from the contextual factors that may influence their selection, and by providing an organising framework from which to consider multiple and changing motives during a FVE. The current research represents a novel attempt to develop an inclusive theoretical model of a FVE, and to examine distinct pathways to FV perpetration. Theoretical and clinical implications of the current research are discussed, including the need to consider how dyadic interaction patterns may contribute to FV perpetration and the role of perpetrators’ dissociative experiences during a FVE. Finally, limitations of the current research and suggestions for future research are proposed.

text: Perpetrators’ perspectives on family violence: What happens, and why, during a family violence event? Family violence (FV) is a significant social issue in many countries around the world, and New Zealand is no exception. In recent years, significant advances have been made in the development of FV theories and in our empirical understanding of risk factors implicated in these theories. However, from both a theoretical and empirical standpoint, we continue to have a limited understanding of what happens, and why it happens, during a FV event (FVE). The current research developed and tested a descriptive theoretical model of a FVE from the perpetrator’s perspective. Event narratives were gathered from 14 men and 13 women completing community-based FV perpetrator treatment programmes. All narratives were gathered during individual semi-structured interviews and were systematically analysed using grounded theory methods (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). The resulting event process model of FV (FVEPM) contains four sections arranged temporally from the most distal to the most proximal factors in relation to the FVE described: Background factors (Section 1), Event build-up (Section 2), Event (Section 3), and Post-event (Section 4; Chapter 5). The FVEPM provides a descriptive temporal outline of a FVE, including its cognitive, behavioural, social, and motivational components. It highlights the dynamic nature of FVEs, and the salient role of situational and interpersonal factors in contributing to FV perpetration. Further analysis of the FVEPM revealed three distinct pathways to FV: Conflict escalation (Pathway 1), Automated violence (Pathway 2), and Compliance (Pathway 3; Chapter 6). Each pathway describes distinct patterns of cognition, affect, motivation, and behaviour that characterise a FVE. Next, the generalisability of the FVEPM and its pathways was tested with an incarcerated sample of eight men with extensive histories of violent and other offending (Chapter 7). Overall, participants’ event narratives were consistent with the phenomena and processes set out in the FVEPM. However, event narratives were better represented by splitting Pathway 1 into two subtypes, and no event narratives were assigned to Pathway 3. Finally, drawing on Section 3 (‘Event’) of the FVEPM, a conceptual framework of motives for FV was proposed (Chapter 8). The proposed framework advances existing conceptual models by differentiating motives from the contextual factors that may influence their selection, and by providing an organising framework from which to consider multiple and changing motives during a FVE. The current research represents a novel attempt to develop an inclusive theoretical model of a FVE, and to examine distinct pathways to FV perpetration. Theoretical and clinical implications of the current research are discussed, including the need to consider how dyadic interaction patterns may contribute to FV perpetration and the role of perpetrators’ dissociative experiences during a FVE. Finally, limitations of the current research and suggestions for future research are proposed.

year: 2020

title: Kaumatua Mana Motuhake: peer education intervention to help Maori elders during later-stage life transitions

authors: Oetzel, John G.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background
Aotearoa/New Zealand has a population that is ageing and there are challenges to health and social outcomes related to related to key life transitions (e.g., retirement, change in health conditions, loss of spouse). Further, there are significant inequities between Māori (Indigenous people) and non-Māori in ageing outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test the impacts and cost effectiveness of a tuakana/teina (peer education) intervention on kaumātua (elders) receiving the intervention. This study was framed by a strengths-based approach based on the key cultural concept of mana motuhake (autonomy and self-actualisation).

Methods
This study was grounded in principles of Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to co-develop and co-evaluate the intervention. The intervention had tuakana (peer educators) having conversations with up to six teina (recipients) and providing information related to health and social services. The research design was a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. Participants completed a baseline assessment of health and mana motuhake measures consistent with Māori worldviews along with two follow-up assessments (one after the first intervention group completed its activities and a second after the second intervention group completed its activities). Additionally, five focus groups and open-ended questions on the assessments were used to provide qualitative evaluation.

Findings
A total of 180 kaumātua were recruited to the intervention with 121 completing it. The analysis revealed improvements over time in the expected direction on most of the variables. However, only three of the variables had statistically significant intervention effects: received support, tribal identity, and trouble paying bills. Qualitative results supported impacts of the intervention on mana motuhake, social connectedness, and tangible/information support related to services. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the intervention is cost effective, with a cost per QALY of less than the conventional threshold of three times gross domestic product per capita.

Conclusions
The findings support the relevancy and importance of kaumātua knowledge to create a strengths-based approach to improve health and social outcomes. This study demonstrates that a contextually based and culturally safe age-friendly environments can facilitate engagement and participation by kaumātua for kaumātua.

Trial registry
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001396314); Date Registered: 3 October 2017 (retrospectively registered); https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373733&isClinicalTrial=False

text: Kaumatua Mana Motuhake: peer education intervention to help Maori elders during later-stage life transitions Background
Aotearoa/New Zealand has a population that is ageing and there are challenges to health and social outcomes related to related to key life transitions (e.g., retirement, change in health conditions, loss of spouse). Further, there are significant inequities between Māori (Indigenous people) and non-Māori in ageing outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test the impacts and cost effectiveness of a tuakana/teina (peer education) intervention on kaumātua (elders) receiving the intervention. This study was framed by a strengths-based approach based on the key cultural concept of mana motuhake (autonomy and self-actualisation).

Methods
This study was grounded in principles of Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to co-develop and co-evaluate the intervention. The intervention had tuakana (peer educators) having conversations with up to six teina (recipients) and providing information related to health and social services. The research design was a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. Participants completed a baseline assessment of health and mana motuhake measures consistent with Māori worldviews along with two follow-up assessments (one after the first intervention group completed its activities and a second after the second intervention group completed its activities). Additionally, five focus groups and open-ended questions on the assessments were used to provide qualitative evaluation.

Findings
A total of 180 kaumātua were recruited to the intervention with 121 completing it. The analysis revealed improvements over time in the expected direction on most of the variables. However, only three of the variables had statistically significant intervention effects: received support, tribal identity, and trouble paying bills. Qualitative results supported impacts of the intervention on mana motuhake, social connectedness, and tangible/information support related to services. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the intervention is cost effective, with a cost per QALY of less than the conventional threshold of three times gross domestic product per capita.

Conclusions
The findings support the relevancy and importance of kaumātua knowledge to create a strengths-based approach to improve health and social outcomes. This study demonstrates that a contextually based and culturally safe age-friendly environments can facilitate engagement and participation by kaumātua for kaumātua.

Trial registry
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001396314); Date Registered: 3 October 2017 (retrospectively registered); https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373733&isClinicalTrial=False

year: 2020