title: Production of soya milk containing low flatulence-causing oligosaccharides in a packed bed reactor using immobilised α-galactosidase

authors: Rajan, Anila

subjects: flatulence

abstract: Peanut α-galactosidase was immobilised in calcium alginate beads and used to hydrolyse the flatulence-causing oligosaccharides, raffinose and stachyose, in soya milk in batch and in packed bed reactor with recycle. The immobilised enzyme exhibited a slightly lower activity than the free enzyme. The activity yield of immobilised  -galactosidase was 75.1% and the immobilisation yield was 82.6%. Batch hydrolysis using immobilised enzyme at 55 °C resulted in 96% reduction in the oligosaccharides after 12 h. For the continuous process, a packed bed reactor with recycle was used. More than 98% of the oligosaccharides were hydrolysed after 6 h of reaction at 55 °C. The immobilised enzyme also proved to be stable up to three repeated hydrolysis reactions.

text: Production of soya milk containing low flatulence-causing oligosaccharides in a packed bed reactor using immobilised α-galactosidase Peanut α-galactosidase was immobilised in calcium alginate beads and used to hydrolyse the flatulence-causing oligosaccharides, raffinose and stachyose, in soya milk in batch and in packed bed reactor with recycle. The immobilised enzyme exhibited a slightly lower activity than the free enzyme. The activity yield of immobilised  -galactosidase was 75.1% and the immobilisation yield was 82.6%. Batch hydrolysis using immobilised enzyme at 55 °C resulted in 96% reduction in the oligosaccharides after 12 h. For the continuous process, a packed bed reactor with recycle was used. More than 98% of the oligosaccharides were hydrolysed after 6 h of reaction at 55 °C. The immobilised enzyme also proved to be stable up to three repeated hydrolysis reactions.

year: 2010-08

title: A framework for evaluating presence  in VR narrative games

authors: Pan, Xin

abstract: This research develops a framework that unveils how players feel present in Virtual Reality (VR) narrative games. In 2017, there were over 2.2 billion active video gamers, and VR is a future game platform because VR provides immersive gaming experiences where players experience presence. Slater and & Wilbur (1997, p. 14) define presence as the “sense of being in the virtual environment.” Previous research demonstrated that narrative could improve presence in VR games but left open the discussion on the causal relationship. Therefore, understanding how game narrative contributes to presence could further improve VR gaming experiences. 
This research reviews Wei, Bizzocchi & Calvert’s (2010) and Ryan’s (2015) frameworks that evaluate narrative games and presence in VR narratives respectively. Wei et al. and Ryan's frameworks are combined to propose The Augmented Framework which is then used to evaluate the self-produced VR narrative game, Caillte. The evaluation yields insights which improve the usage of The Augmented Framework for analysing other VR narrative games.

text: A framework for evaluating presence  in VR narrative games This research develops a framework that unveils how players feel present in Virtual Reality (VR) narrative games. In 2017, there were over 2.2 billion active video gamers, and VR is a future game platform because VR provides immersive gaming experiences where players experience presence. Slater and & Wilbur (1997, p. 14) define presence as the “sense of being in the virtual environment.” Previous research demonstrated that narrative could improve presence in VR games but left open the discussion on the causal relationship. Therefore, understanding how game narrative contributes to presence could further improve VR gaming experiences. 
This research reviews Wei, Bizzocchi & Calvert’s (2010) and Ryan’s (2015) frameworks that evaluate narrative games and presence in VR narratives respectively. Wei et al. and Ryan's frameworks are combined to propose The Augmented Framework which is then used to evaluate the self-produced VR narrative game, Caillte. The evaluation yields insights which improve the usage of The Augmented Framework for analysing other VR narrative games.

year: 2019

title: Exploring inequity in access to medications for Type 2 Diabetes in primary care in the Waikato region: Final report

authors: Lawrenson, Ross

abstract: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing health issue in New Zealand (NZ) that disproportionately affects twice as many Māori as non-Māori and an increasing number of younger people. T2D is associated with a range of microvascular and macrovascular complications, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the latter being the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient group. However, complications are reduced in patients that have improved glycaemic control. To achieve optimal outcomes and reduce the chance of diabetes-related complications, patients should aim to have their glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement less than 53 mmol/mol if possible.

Diabetes is primarily managed in primary care, and a number of recent publications suggest that there is considerable inequity in the management of diabetes in New Zealand, particularly for Māori. In an earlier piece of work we have shown that Maori are significantly less likely than non-Maori to be prescribed metformin, but that once prescribed it they are equally likely to have the medication dispensed. This suggests that there may be issues that can be addressed within primary care that are influencing the use of diabetes medications.
Thus, the aim of this small piece of work was to characterise diabetes medication use in a Waikato primary care population, and to report on medication adherence and association with HbA1c levels.

text: Exploring inequity in access to medications for Type 2 Diabetes in primary care in the Waikato region: Final report Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing health issue in New Zealand (NZ) that disproportionately affects twice as many Māori as non-Māori and an increasing number of younger people. T2D is associated with a range of microvascular and macrovascular complications, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the latter being the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient group. However, complications are reduced in patients that have improved glycaemic control. To achieve optimal outcomes and reduce the chance of diabetes-related complications, patients should aim to have their glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement less than 53 mmol/mol if possible.

Diabetes is primarily managed in primary care, and a number of recent publications suggest that there is considerable inequity in the management of diabetes in New Zealand, particularly for Māori. In an earlier piece of work we have shown that Maori are significantly less likely than non-Maori to be prescribed metformin, but that once prescribed it they are equally likely to have the medication dispensed. This suggests that there may be issues that can be addressed within primary care that are influencing the use of diabetes medications.
Thus, the aim of this small piece of work was to characterise diabetes medication use in a Waikato primary care population, and to report on medication adherence and association with HbA1c levels.

year: 2021-08-17