title: Examining Professional Identity: The Views of New Zealand Chartered Accountants

authors: Blake, Emma

subjects: New Zealand Chartered Accountants

abstract: The purpose of this thesis was to examine the professional identity of New Zealand chartered accountants. A perusal of prior literature indicated that professional identity is integral to a profession, yet the concept has not been well defined. This study attempts to gain a greater understanding of this term. 
Specifically, semi structured interviews were conducted with 60 New Zealand chartered accountants. These participants were categorised by both their areas of employment and level of experience. The areas of employment included: top tier, midtier, rural, industrial, and academic categories, while their level of experience was segmented into 0-2, 3-5, 6-10 and 10+ years of experience. These interviews were transcribed and run through Leximancer 4.0, a computer textual analysis program. This software produced conceptual maps, key themes, and concepts which were used in the data analysis process.
The findings of this thesis were specific to the New Zealand accounting body: NZICA. Consistent with prior studies, this paper found that the term “professional identity” was not well understood. Indeed, terms such as stereotypes, traits, characteristics, attributes, and branding were used interchangeably for the term. Furthermore, there was a misalignment between the professional identity portrayed by NZICA and the interpretation of its members. Members identified a weak relationship between themselves and their institute. This was a consistent finding across the entirety of the sampled population. 
This study has practical implications for future research. NZICA passed a vote as recently as October 2013 to become “One New Institute”, thus it is currently undertaking a rebranding process. This study identifies weaknesses in current branding that may, in future, be able to be remedied. Furthermore, this study is replicable and can provide other institutes with an opportunity to gain insight into their respective organisations.
As no prior accounting literature has undertaken to define professional identity, this investigation also provides an insight into the term. As a result, this insight can be applied to wider academic literature.

text: Examining Professional Identity: The Views of New Zealand Chartered Accountants The purpose of this thesis was to examine the professional identity of New Zealand chartered accountants. A perusal of prior literature indicated that professional identity is integral to a profession, yet the concept has not been well defined. This study attempts to gain a greater understanding of this term. 
Specifically, semi structured interviews were conducted with 60 New Zealand chartered accountants. These participants were categorised by both their areas of employment and level of experience. The areas of employment included: top tier, midtier, rural, industrial, and academic categories, while their level of experience was segmented into 0-2, 3-5, 6-10 and 10+ years of experience. These interviews were transcribed and run through Leximancer 4.0, a computer textual analysis program. This software produced conceptual maps, key themes, and concepts which were used in the data analysis process.
The findings of this thesis were specific to the New Zealand accounting body: NZICA. Consistent with prior studies, this paper found that the term “professional identity” was not well understood. Indeed, terms such as stereotypes, traits, characteristics, attributes, and branding were used interchangeably for the term. Furthermore, there was a misalignment between the professional identity portrayed by NZICA and the interpretation of its members. Members identified a weak relationship between themselves and their institute. This was a consistent finding across the entirety of the sampled population. 
This study has practical implications for future research. NZICA passed a vote as recently as October 2013 to become “One New Institute”, thus it is currently undertaking a rebranding process. This study identifies weaknesses in current branding that may, in future, be able to be remedied. Furthermore, this study is replicable and can provide other institutes with an opportunity to gain insight into their respective organisations.
As no prior accounting literature has undertaken to define professional identity, this investigation also provides an insight into the term. As a result, this insight can be applied to wider academic literature.

year: 2014

title: SCG3 transcript in peripheral blood Is a prognostic biomarker for REST-deficient small cell lung cancer

authors: Moss, Adrian C.

subjects: SCLC

abstract: Purpose: Specific markers of circulating tumor cells may be informative in managing lung cancer. Because the RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST/NRSF) is a transcriptional repressor that is inactivated in neuroendocrine lung cancer, we identified REST-regulated transcripts (CHGA, CHGB, SCG3, VGF, and PCSK1) for evaluation as biomarkers in peripheral blood.

Experimental Design: Transcripts were screened across lung cancer and normal cell lines. Candidates were assessed by reverse transcription-PCR and hybridization of RNA extracted from the peripheral blood of 111 lung cancer patients obtained at clinical presentation and from 27 cancer-free individuals.

Results: Expression profiling revealed multiple chromogranin transcripts were readily induced on REST depletion, most notably SCG3 was induced >500-fold. The SCG3 transcript was also overexpressed by 12,000-fold in neuroendocrine compared with nonneuroendocrine lung cancer cells. In peripheral blood of lung cancer patients and cancer-free individuals, we found that SCG3 was more tumor-specific and more sensitive than other chromogranin transcripts as a biomarker of circulating tumor cells. Overall, 36% of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 16% of non-SCLC patients scored positively for normalized SCG3 transcript. This correlated with worse survival among SCLC patients with limited disease (n = 33; P = 0.022) but not extensive disease (n = 29; P = 0.459). Interestingly, the subcohort of 6 SCLC patients with resistance to platinum/etoposide chemotherapy all scored positively for peripheral blood SCG3 transcript (P = 0.022).

Conclusions: SCG3 mRNA, a component of the REST-dependent neurosecretory transcriptional profile, provides a sensitive prognostic biomarker for noninvasive monitoring of neuroendocrine lung cancer.

text: SCG3 transcript in peripheral blood Is a prognostic biomarker for REST-deficient small cell lung cancer Purpose: Specific markers of circulating tumor cells may be informative in managing lung cancer. Because the RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST/NRSF) is a transcriptional repressor that is inactivated in neuroendocrine lung cancer, we identified REST-regulated transcripts (CHGA, CHGB, SCG3, VGF, and PCSK1) for evaluation as biomarkers in peripheral blood.

Experimental Design: Transcripts were screened across lung cancer and normal cell lines. Candidates were assessed by reverse transcription-PCR and hybridization of RNA extracted from the peripheral blood of 111 lung cancer patients obtained at clinical presentation and from 27 cancer-free individuals.

Results: Expression profiling revealed multiple chromogranin transcripts were readily induced on REST depletion, most notably SCG3 was induced >500-fold. The SCG3 transcript was also overexpressed by 12,000-fold in neuroendocrine compared with nonneuroendocrine lung cancer cells. In peripheral blood of lung cancer patients and cancer-free individuals, we found that SCG3 was more tumor-specific and more sensitive than other chromogranin transcripts as a biomarker of circulating tumor cells. Overall, 36% of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 16% of non-SCLC patients scored positively for normalized SCG3 transcript. This correlated with worse survival among SCLC patients with limited disease (n = 33; P = 0.022) but not extensive disease (n = 29; P = 0.459). Interestingly, the subcohort of 6 SCLC patients with resistance to platinum/etoposide chemotherapy all scored positively for peripheral blood SCG3 transcript (P = 0.022).

Conclusions: SCG3 mRNA, a component of the REST-dependent neurosecretory transcriptional profile, provides a sensitive prognostic biomarker for noninvasive monitoring of neuroendocrine lung cancer.

year: 2009

title: Kaumtua Mana Motuhake: A study protocol for a peer education intervention to help Māori elders work through later-stage life transitions

authors: Oetzel, John G.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background
The Aotearoa/New Zealand population is ageing and numerous studies demonstrate with this phenomenon comes increases in non-communicable diseases, injuries and healthcare costs among other issues. Further, significant inequities exist between Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand) and non-Māori around poor ageing and health. Most research addressing these issues is deficit oriented; however, the current research project takes a strengths-based approach that highlights the potential of kaumātua (elders) by asserting mana motuhake (autonomy, identity and self-actualisation). We believe that the esteem of elders in Māori culture signals transformative potential. Specifically, this project utilises a ‘tuakana-teina’ (older sibling/younger sibling) peer-educator model, where kaumātua work with other kaumātua in relation to health and wellbeing. The objectives of the project are (a) to develop the capacity of kaumātua as peer educators, whilst having positive impacts on their sense of purpose, health and wellbeing; and (b) to enhance the social and health outcomes for kaumātua receiving the intervention.

Methods
The research is grounded in principles of Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research, and brings together an Indigenous community of kaumātua, community health researchers, and academic researchers working with two advisory boards. The project intervention involves an orientation programme for tuakana peer educators for other kaumātua (teina). The research design is a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. All participants will complete a baseline assessment of health and wellbeing consistent with Māori worldviews (i.e., holistic model). The tuakana and teina participants will be divided into two groups with the first group completing the intervention during the first half of the project and the second group during the second half of the project. All participants will complete post-test assessments following both interventions allowing comparison of the two groups along with repeated measures over time.

Discussion
The findings will provide an evidence base for the importance and relevancy of kaumātua knowledge to create contextually based and culturally safe age-friendly environments that facilitate engagement and participation by kaumātua for kaumātua. If the model is effective, we will seek to facilitate the dissemination and scalability of the intervention.

Trial registration
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001396314); Date Registered: 3 October 2017 (retrospectively registered).

text: Kaumtua Mana Motuhake: A study protocol for a peer education intervention to help Māori elders work through later-stage life transitions Background
The Aotearoa/New Zealand population is ageing and numerous studies demonstrate with this phenomenon comes increases in non-communicable diseases, injuries and healthcare costs among other issues. Further, significant inequities exist between Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand) and non-Māori around poor ageing and health. Most research addressing these issues is deficit oriented; however, the current research project takes a strengths-based approach that highlights the potential of kaumātua (elders) by asserting mana motuhake (autonomy, identity and self-actualisation). We believe that the esteem of elders in Māori culture signals transformative potential. Specifically, this project utilises a ‘tuakana-teina’ (older sibling/younger sibling) peer-educator model, where kaumātua work with other kaumātua in relation to health and wellbeing. The objectives of the project are (a) to develop the capacity of kaumātua as peer educators, whilst having positive impacts on their sense of purpose, health and wellbeing; and (b) to enhance the social and health outcomes for kaumātua receiving the intervention.

Methods
The research is grounded in principles of Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research, and brings together an Indigenous community of kaumātua, community health researchers, and academic researchers working with two advisory boards. The project intervention involves an orientation programme for tuakana peer educators for other kaumātua (teina). The research design is a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. All participants will complete a baseline assessment of health and wellbeing consistent with Māori worldviews (i.e., holistic model). The tuakana and teina participants will be divided into two groups with the first group completing the intervention during the first half of the project and the second group during the second half of the project. All participants will complete post-test assessments following both interventions allowing comparison of the two groups along with repeated measures over time.

Discussion
The findings will provide an evidence base for the importance and relevancy of kaumātua knowledge to create contextually based and culturally safe age-friendly environments that facilitate engagement and participation by kaumātua for kaumātua. If the model is effective, we will seek to facilitate the dissemination and scalability of the intervention.

Trial registration
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001396314); Date Registered: 3 October 2017 (retrospectively registered).

year: 2019