title: Experiences of women returning to work after maternity leave

authors: Sriram, Divya

subjects: maternity leave

abstract: With an increase in the number of women in the workforce, numerous studies have looked at the importance of parental leave and benefits of cash, predictors of postpartum depression, and how they affect women, handling work-family conflict, family friendly policies and many more. Of particular interest for many working women is research looking at working mothers and the issues that have an impact on mothers. Longer duration of leave has been shown to have numerous physical and mental health benefits for the mother and the child, such as mother-infant attachment. Similarly, workplace support and work-life balance were found beneficial for working mothers. This study investigates factors such as work-life balance, social support, length of maternity leave and mental health. It explores both the positive and negative impacts these factors have on mothers and their babies once mothers return to work. The study used a qualitative methodology, interviewing 11 working mothers. The participants had returned to work within the last three years, some as recent as four weeks, at the time of the interview. Participants had at least one child under the age of four. The sample of working mothers included most of the mothers working full-time, some working part-time and one mother working as self-employed. Template analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Analysis revealed that working mothers returned to work for myriad reasons after having been on government aided maternity leave. Work-life balance policies like reduced hours and returning part-time initially for some mothers were found along with an understanding supervisor and supportive colleagues. In conclusion, working mothers desired longer leave citing their need to bond with the baby as one of the reason. Mothers had satisfactory support from family, friends and workplace. In addition to the government mandated parental leave policies, working mothers found a lack of information on any additional policies offered by their organizations and preferred more communication on them.

text: Experiences of women returning to work after maternity leave With an increase in the number of women in the workforce, numerous studies have looked at the importance of parental leave and benefits of cash, predictors of postpartum depression, and how they affect women, handling work-family conflict, family friendly policies and many more. Of particular interest for many working women is research looking at working mothers and the issues that have an impact on mothers. Longer duration of leave has been shown to have numerous physical and mental health benefits for the mother and the child, such as mother-infant attachment. Similarly, workplace support and work-life balance were found beneficial for working mothers. This study investigates factors such as work-life balance, social support, length of maternity leave and mental health. It explores both the positive and negative impacts these factors have on mothers and their babies once mothers return to work. The study used a qualitative methodology, interviewing 11 working mothers. The participants had returned to work within the last three years, some as recent as four weeks, at the time of the interview. Participants had at least one child under the age of four. The sample of working mothers included most of the mothers working full-time, some working part-time and one mother working as self-employed. Template analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Analysis revealed that working mothers returned to work for myriad reasons after having been on government aided maternity leave. Work-life balance policies like reduced hours and returning part-time initially for some mothers were found along with an understanding supervisor and supportive colleagues. In conclusion, working mothers desired longer leave citing their need to bond with the baby as one of the reason. Mothers had satisfactory support from family, friends and workplace. In addition to the government mandated parental leave policies, working mothers found a lack of information on any additional policies offered by their organizations and preferred more communication on them.

year: 2017

title: Proof of concept of diffuse optical tomography using time-of-flight range imaging cameras

authors: Hassan, Ahmad

subjects: diffuse optical tomography

abstract: Diffuse optical tomography is an optical technique to create 3-dimensional images of the inside of highly scattering material. Research groups around the world have been developing imaging systems using various source-detector arrangements to determine optical properties of biological tissue with a focus on medical applications. In this paper we investigate whether a range imaging camera can be used as a detector array. We used time-of-flight range imaging cameras instead of the conventional source-detector array used by others. The results provided in this paper show reconstructed images of absorption and reduced scattering of an object submerged in a tissue simulating phantom. Using the ranging camera XZ422 Demonstrator and the NIRFAST software package, we reconstructed 2D images of a 6 mm metal rod submerged in the centre of a 5 cm deep tank filled with 1% IntralipidTM. We have shown for the first time that range imaging cameras can replace the traditional detectors in diffuse optical tomography.

text: Proof of concept of diffuse optical tomography using time-of-flight range imaging cameras Diffuse optical tomography is an optical technique to create 3-dimensional images of the inside of highly scattering material. Research groups around the world have been developing imaging systems using various source-detector arrangements to determine optical properties of biological tissue with a focus on medical applications. In this paper we investigate whether a range imaging camera can be used as a detector array. We used time-of-flight range imaging cameras instead of the conventional source-detector array used by others. The results provided in this paper show reconstructed images of absorption and reduced scattering of an object submerged in a tissue simulating phantom. Using the ranging camera XZ422 Demonstrator and the NIRFAST software package, we reconstructed 2D images of a 6 mm metal rod submerged in the centre of a 5 cm deep tank filled with 1% IntralipidTM. We have shown for the first time that range imaging cameras can replace the traditional detectors in diffuse optical tomography.

year: 2010

title: Here to stay: Reshaping the regions through mana Māori

authors: Simmonds, Naomi Beth

abstract: Situated 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton, Putāruru (population 3747 in the 2013 Census) is typical of the many farming service towns scattered across rural Aotearoa New Zealand. Bakeries, op shops, a sports bar and a farm equipment supplier occupy the main street. Unlike nearby Tirau, which transformed from a one-stop shop into a vibrant boutique village in the late 1990s, Putāruru township remains largely indistinguishable from other rural centres. There are few clues to the substantial farming-based and water-generated wealth that lies beyond the town.

text: Here to stay: Reshaping the regions through mana Māori Situated 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton, Putāruru (population 3747 in the 2013 Census) is typical of the many farming service towns scattered across rural Aotearoa New Zealand. Bakeries, op shops, a sports bar and a farm equipment supplier occupy the main street. Unlike nearby Tirau, which transformed from a one-stop shop into a vibrant boutique village in the late 1990s, Putāruru township remains largely indistinguishable from other rural centres. There are few clues to the substantial farming-based and water-generated wealth that lies beyond the town.

year: 2016