title: The role of brief mindfulness meditation instruction and practice in changing biophysical indicators in pregnant women and their babies

authors: Clark, Mary Rosanne

subjects: Mindfulness

abstract: Pregnancy is a time of change that has the potential to be a stressful experience for some women. There is evidence from animal and human studies that longterm exposure to maternal stress can be detrimental to the unborn baby, both before and after birth. Non-pharmacological interventions that are aimed at assisting pregnant women to mediate the way they respond to stress are particularly relevant for the pregnant population, due to the potential teratogenic risks associated with drug therapy. Mindfulness-based therapies have the potential to be beneficial for pregnant women. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a brief biofeedback-assisted mindfulness meditation procedure on the physiological responses of pregnant women and their babies. Six women in the last trimester of pregnancy completed a brief mindfulness meditation procedure. Each participant’s physiological responses (heart rate, respiration rate and galvanic skin response), and her baby’s heart rate, were measured across baseline, teaching and practice conditions. The results indicated that the procedure was associated with a physiological change in at least one of the variables for all of the participants. The procedure was not, however, associated with a change in all of the variables for any of the participants. The procedure was associated with a decrease in the mean fetal heart rate in four of the six babies. There was no clear association between maternal physiological responses and fetal responses for five of the six participants. The findings suggest that biofeedback is helpful in assisting participants to learn and practice a brief mindfulness meditation procedure.

text: The role of brief mindfulness meditation instruction and practice in changing biophysical indicators in pregnant women and their babies Pregnancy is a time of change that has the potential to be a stressful experience for some women. There is evidence from animal and human studies that longterm exposure to maternal stress can be detrimental to the unborn baby, both before and after birth. Non-pharmacological interventions that are aimed at assisting pregnant women to mediate the way they respond to stress are particularly relevant for the pregnant population, due to the potential teratogenic risks associated with drug therapy. Mindfulness-based therapies have the potential to be beneficial for pregnant women. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a brief biofeedback-assisted mindfulness meditation procedure on the physiological responses of pregnant women and their babies. Six women in the last trimester of pregnancy completed a brief mindfulness meditation procedure. Each participant’s physiological responses (heart rate, respiration rate and galvanic skin response), and her baby’s heart rate, were measured across baseline, teaching and practice conditions. The results indicated that the procedure was associated with a physiological change in at least one of the variables for all of the participants. The procedure was not, however, associated with a change in all of the variables for any of the participants. The procedure was associated with a decrease in the mean fetal heart rate in four of the six babies. There was no clear association between maternal physiological responses and fetal responses for five of the six participants. The findings suggest that biofeedback is helpful in assisting participants to learn and practice a brief mindfulness meditation procedure.

year: 2012

title: The opportunities and risks of the 20 Minute City

authors: White, Iain

abstract: "20 Minute City" is a political project, not just a policy one. Success is not just about ‘the plan’ and implementation is   not just about policy.

text: The opportunities and risks of the 20 Minute City "20 Minute City" is a political project, not just a policy one. Success is not just about ‘the plan’ and implementation is   not just about policy.

year: 2021-03-30

title: Assessment of effects of proposed treated wastewater discharge to the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua)

authors: Dada, Ayokunle Christopher

abstract: After 2019, irrigation operations at the Land Treatment System (LTS) in the Whakarewarewa Forest are scheduled to cease. A number of options and locations have been considered for the discharge of the treated wastewater when the current discharge consent ceases. Following consultations and technical assessments, the preferred option of Rotorua Lakes Council is to upgrade the existing plant to a full Membrane Bioreactor Plant with the addition of an Ultraviolet Disinfection System (or alternative treatment to achieve an equivalent performance in terms of treated wastewater quality). Under this arrangement, wastewater would be subjected to biological, chemical and physical treatment processes, and the treated wastewater discharged through Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel to Sulphur Bay. Rotorua Lakes Council is thus undertaking an environmental impact assessment study to determine the effects of discharging treated wastewater to the thermal channel and Puarenga Bay (Lake Rotorua), with particular reference to aesthetic, water quality and ecological considerations. These considerations include potential effects related to faecal indicator bacteria, nutrient concentrations, metals, dissolved oxygen, and taonga species (native species of cultural significance).
The assessment focused on:
(i)	The projected treated wastewater characteristics;

(ii)	Existing conditions of the receiving water;

(iii)	The sensitivity of the receiving water and the impact of the proposed discharge on water quality and taonga species (native species of cultural significance) in Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay.

The main techniques used to inform the assessment in this study were:
1) Analysis of historical water quality data, 2011-2014;
2) Collection of additional water quality data at Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay and along a transect to quantify spatial variability (sampling in 2016 and 2017);
3) Mass balance dilution modelling to predict water quality in the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua), at a site outside of the assumed mixing zone;
4) Lake ecosystem modelling conducted by Abell et al. (2015) to assess effects related to eutrophication;
5) Background review of biological information and field investigations for taonga species at Sulphur Bay and Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel (2017).

text: Assessment of effects of proposed treated wastewater discharge to the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua) After 2019, irrigation operations at the Land Treatment System (LTS) in the Whakarewarewa Forest are scheduled to cease. A number of options and locations have been considered for the discharge of the treated wastewater when the current discharge consent ceases. Following consultations and technical assessments, the preferred option of Rotorua Lakes Council is to upgrade the existing plant to a full Membrane Bioreactor Plant with the addition of an Ultraviolet Disinfection System (or alternative treatment to achieve an equivalent performance in terms of treated wastewater quality). Under this arrangement, wastewater would be subjected to biological, chemical and physical treatment processes, and the treated wastewater discharged through Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel to Sulphur Bay. Rotorua Lakes Council is thus undertaking an environmental impact assessment study to determine the effects of discharging treated wastewater to the thermal channel and Puarenga Bay (Lake Rotorua), with particular reference to aesthetic, water quality and ecological considerations. These considerations include potential effects related to faecal indicator bacteria, nutrient concentrations, metals, dissolved oxygen, and taonga species (native species of cultural significance).
The assessment focused on:
(i)	The projected treated wastewater characteristics;

(ii)	Existing conditions of the receiving water;

(iii)	The sensitivity of the receiving water and the impact of the proposed discharge on water quality and taonga species (native species of cultural significance) in Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay.

The main techniques used to inform the assessment in this study were:
1) Analysis of historical water quality data, 2011-2014;
2) Collection of additional water quality data at Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay and along a transect to quantify spatial variability (sampling in 2016 and 2017);
3) Mass balance dilution modelling to predict water quality in the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua), at a site outside of the assumed mixing zone;
4) Lake ecosystem modelling conducted by Abell et al. (2015) to assess effects related to eutrophication;
5) Background review of biological information and field investigations for taonga species at Sulphur Bay and Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel (2017).

year: 2018