title: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain: An Evaluation of the Self-Help Book, Living Beyond Your Pain

authors: Johnston, Marnie Ruth

subjects: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

abstract: The current research was a randomised two group (control and treatment) study that evaluated the effectiveness of an ACT-based self-help book for people with chronic pain.  Over a 6-week period, 6 participants read the book and completed exercises from it with weekly telephone support while 8 others waited.  Five of these others began the intervention after a 6-week control period.  Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires for acceptance, values illness, quality of life, satisfaction with life, depression, anxiety and pain.  Initial outcome data were collected for 8 control participants and 6 intervention participants.  A total of 11 participants completed pre- and post-intervention measures.  Participants' who read the book, rated the content of the book each week according to reading level and usefulness, and their comprehension of the content was also assessed.  Original group data showed statistically significant improvement in acceptance and quality of life for those who completed the intervention.  Once the data were pooled, statistically significant improvements in acceptance, quality of life, satisfaction with life, and values illness were found.  In general, using the self-help book did not result in reduced pain, depression or anxiety, although for some individuals gains were made in these areas.  Individual perceptions of the book components were varied but findings suggest that cognitive defusion and mindfulness were parts of the book that participants found hard.  The current findings support the hypothesis that using the self-help book would add value to the lives of people who experience chronic pain.  Thus, the book may be a useful tool for people who experience chronic pain.

text: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain: An Evaluation of the Self-Help Book, Living Beyond Your Pain The current research was a randomised two group (control and treatment) study that evaluated the effectiveness of an ACT-based self-help book for people with chronic pain.  Over a 6-week period, 6 participants read the book and completed exercises from it with weekly telephone support while 8 others waited.  Five of these others began the intervention after a 6-week control period.  Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires for acceptance, values illness, quality of life, satisfaction with life, depression, anxiety and pain.  Initial outcome data were collected for 8 control participants and 6 intervention participants.  A total of 11 participants completed pre- and post-intervention measures.  Participants' who read the book, rated the content of the book each week according to reading level and usefulness, and their comprehension of the content was also assessed.  Original group data showed statistically significant improvement in acceptance and quality of life for those who completed the intervention.  Once the data were pooled, statistically significant improvements in acceptance, quality of life, satisfaction with life, and values illness were found.  In general, using the self-help book did not result in reduced pain, depression or anxiety, although for some individuals gains were made in these areas.  Individual perceptions of the book components were varied but findings suggest that cognitive defusion and mindfulness were parts of the book that participants found hard.  The current findings support the hypothesis that using the self-help book would add value to the lives of people who experience chronic pain.  Thus, the book may be a useful tool for people who experience chronic pain.

year: 2008

title: The integration of heat pumps with biomass boiler flue gas for generating hot water

authors: Muldoon, Catherine

subjects: Biomass boiler

abstract: Achieving the goal of net zero greenhouse gases by 2050 requires reducing demand and switching from fossil fuels to renewables. Process heat in New Zealand is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to biomass boilers could lower emissions and offer opportunities for waste heat recovery by integrating heat pumps with the flue gas.
This thesis evaluates heat pump integration for hot water production, supplying low temperature process heat. Using an industrial case study, a boiler model is developed and confirmed against industrial measurements. Flue gas composition is modelled to determine temperature-enthalpy profiles, and therefore the heat available for recovery and upgrade. Combustion is modelled for different biomass fuels and varying flue gas oxygen levels. The higher moisture fuels showed increased availability of heat for utilisation, which decreased as flue gas oxygen levels increased.
Three heat pump cycles are explored to maximise efficiency. Refrigerant selection is considered with respect to environmental factors and thermodynamic suitability. Using a basic cycle heat pump the three most promising refrigerants, ammonia, propane and cyclopropane, were identified and considered in more detail for the industrial case. Subcooling improved efficiency and should be maximised. An internal heat exchanger also improves efficiency and reliability and should be considered. Two zeotropic mixtures were investigated to take advantage of the temperature glide. The propane-pentane (50wt%-50wt%) blend matched the temperature profile more closely and provided increases in COP.
To make the most of the latent heat in the flue gas, the evaporator temperature must be much lower than the dew point. However, absorbing heat from low source temperatures results in lower COPs, but higher volumes of hot water generated.

text: The integration of heat pumps with biomass boiler flue gas for generating hot water Achieving the goal of net zero greenhouse gases by 2050 requires reducing demand and switching from fossil fuels to renewables. Process heat in New Zealand is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to biomass boilers could lower emissions and offer opportunities for waste heat recovery by integrating heat pumps with the flue gas.
This thesis evaluates heat pump integration for hot water production, supplying low temperature process heat. Using an industrial case study, a boiler model is developed and confirmed against industrial measurements. Flue gas composition is modelled to determine temperature-enthalpy profiles, and therefore the heat available for recovery and upgrade. Combustion is modelled for different biomass fuels and varying flue gas oxygen levels. The higher moisture fuels showed increased availability of heat for utilisation, which decreased as flue gas oxygen levels increased.
Three heat pump cycles are explored to maximise efficiency. Refrigerant selection is considered with respect to environmental factors and thermodynamic suitability. Using a basic cycle heat pump the three most promising refrigerants, ammonia, propane and cyclopropane, were identified and considered in more detail for the industrial case. Subcooling improved efficiency and should be maximised. An internal heat exchanger also improves efficiency and reliability and should be considered. Two zeotropic mixtures were investigated to take advantage of the temperature glide. The propane-pentane (50wt%-50wt%) blend matched the temperature profile more closely and provided increases in COP.
To make the most of the latent heat in the flue gas, the evaporator temperature must be much lower than the dew point. However, absorbing heat from low source temperatures results in lower COPs, but higher volumes of hot water generated.

year: 2024

title: Re-creating legal space for the first law of Aotearoa-New Zealand

authors: Joseph, Robert

subjects: law

abstract: Some of the historic and contemporary statutory and case law examples of a hybrid Maori-British common law legal system in Aotearoa-New Zealand are discussed. The importance and role performed by the First Law, the tikanga Maori customary law is highlighted.

text: Re-creating legal space for the first law of Aotearoa-New Zealand Some of the historic and contemporary statutory and case law examples of a hybrid Maori-British common law legal system in Aotearoa-New Zealand are discussed. The importance and role performed by the First Law, the tikanga Maori customary law is highlighted.

year: 2009