title: The integration of queer-related curriculum in psychology training in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A survey with programme directors

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

subjects: LGBT

abstract: As a key profession within the mental health workforce, psychologists can offer affirmative services that lead to positive therapeutic outcomes for queer clients. This study examined how training programmes to become a registered psychologist in Aotearoa New Zealand currently provide content on working with queer clients. In 2022, all (N = 17) programme directors of psychology training were invited to participate in a survey that assessed the cultural responsiveness of their training programmes and 15 responded. One-fifth (19%) classified their programme as containing at least ‘a moderate amount’ of queer content. Four-fifths (79%) reported that knowledge of caring for queer clients would be ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important in psychology practice and/or thought more time should be dedicated to such content. Over half (57%) adopted an ‘add on’ approach to deliver queer content (e.g. guest lectures). During a time when queer communities experience drastically high rates of mental health issues and high exposure to minority stressors, there is a critical gap in the meaningful threading of queer content across the psychology curriculum. We have outlined ten points for reflection on developing this aspect.

text: The integration of queer-related curriculum in psychology training in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A survey with programme directors As a key profession within the mental health workforce, psychologists can offer affirmative services that lead to positive therapeutic outcomes for queer clients. This study examined how training programmes to become a registered psychologist in Aotearoa New Zealand currently provide content on working with queer clients. In 2022, all (N = 17) programme directors of psychology training were invited to participate in a survey that assessed the cultural responsiveness of their training programmes and 15 responded. One-fifth (19%) classified their programme as containing at least ‘a moderate amount’ of queer content. Four-fifths (79%) reported that knowledge of caring for queer clients would be ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important in psychology practice and/or thought more time should be dedicated to such content. Over half (57%) adopted an ‘add on’ approach to deliver queer content (e.g. guest lectures). During a time when queer communities experience drastically high rates of mental health issues and high exposure to minority stressors, there is a critical gap in the meaningful threading of queer content across the psychology curriculum. We have outlined ten points for reflection on developing this aspect.

year: 2024-08-13

title: Identifying causes of high pH in lamb meat

authors: Hontiveros, Garrianne Fatima

subjects: meat

abstract: Lamb meat export is a multi-billion-dollar New Zealand industry. Therefore, strategies to maintain and improve quality have immediate commercial benefit. Consumers judge quality by colour, tenderness, and flavour, all of which are affected by ultimate pH (pHu). Ideal meat pHu is 5.5 and is influenced by muscle glycogen concentration. Insufficient muscle glycogen at slaughter results in high pHu (>5.8) which results in tough meat, dark colour, and shorter storage life. The decrease in meat pH post-slaughter is caused by the build-up of H+ ions as a consequence of anaerobic glycolysis of glycogen for ATP formation. Physical stress depletes muscle glycogen, prompting consumers to conclude animal mistreatment. However, stress, does not necessarily equate to abuse as all animals experience some level of pre-slaughter stress and any negative effects depend on duration, type, intensity, and susceptibility. Studies have focused on post-farm-gate stressors (e.g. transport and lairage) but less clear is the role of on-farm stressors on the incidence of high pHu. The aim of this study was to investigate the variation of muscle glycogen of lambs on-farm, examine the use of heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) as a marker for physiological stress, and determine any relationship between residual glycogen level and meat quality attributes such as water binding capacity (WBC), drip loss, microbial abundance, fat, protein, and water content.  

Two observations were conducted. Firstly, 60 animals from 2 farms with different production systems: wethers (castrated males) were raised with ewes in Farm 1, whereas, intact rams, wethers, cryptorchids, and ewes were all together and introduced at different times to the group in Farm 2.  These animals were biopsied two months before slaughter, a month before, and post-rigor. On-farm, large inter-individual variation in muscle glycogen was observed in both farms but no significant difference in true glycogen between farms. Muscle glycogen levels seemed to fluctuate from one biopsy to another, contrary to previous belief that it remains constant throughout. There was no significant difference in HSP20 between farms and no correlation between muscle glycogen and HSP20 was observed. Post-rigor, 66% of carcasses from Farm 2 had high pHu (≥5.8), compared to none from Farm 1. This may be due to stress brought about by exaggerated behaviours of rams (e.g. aggression and chasing) during close confinement at lairage. However, more observations on-farm and at lairage are needed. Lastly, 69 loin samples of varying levels of residual glycogen were tested for drip loss, (WBC), fat, protein, and microbial content a day post-rigor (Day 1) and again after eight weeks (Week 8). Results showed no correlation between residual glycogen content and any of the parameters tested at either time points. A decrease in total glycosyl units at Week 8 was observed but no decrease in true glycogen levels. This was likely due to microbes use of free glucose as a food source. 

To conclude, the results of this study suggests that the co-habitation of intact rams and ewes on-farm causes stress, which is compounded by the close confinement at lairage, leading to high pHu of their carcasses. It is, therefore, recommended that, although intact rams have higher saleable weight, these rams be castrated before mixing with other rams and ewes to avoid high pHu and, hence, provide good quality meat and less stressed animals (better animal welfare). The fluctuation in muscle glycogen levels over time does also need closer scrutiny.

text: Identifying causes of high pH in lamb meat Lamb meat export is a multi-billion-dollar New Zealand industry. Therefore, strategies to maintain and improve quality have immediate commercial benefit. Consumers judge quality by colour, tenderness, and flavour, all of which are affected by ultimate pH (pHu). Ideal meat pHu is 5.5 and is influenced by muscle glycogen concentration. Insufficient muscle glycogen at slaughter results in high pHu (>5.8) which results in tough meat, dark colour, and shorter storage life. The decrease in meat pH post-slaughter is caused by the build-up of H+ ions as a consequence of anaerobic glycolysis of glycogen for ATP formation. Physical stress depletes muscle glycogen, prompting consumers to conclude animal mistreatment. However, stress, does not necessarily equate to abuse as all animals experience some level of pre-slaughter stress and any negative effects depend on duration, type, intensity, and susceptibility. Studies have focused on post-farm-gate stressors (e.g. transport and lairage) but less clear is the role of on-farm stressors on the incidence of high pHu. The aim of this study was to investigate the variation of muscle glycogen of lambs on-farm, examine the use of heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) as a marker for physiological stress, and determine any relationship between residual glycogen level and meat quality attributes such as water binding capacity (WBC), drip loss, microbial abundance, fat, protein, and water content.  

Two observations were conducted. Firstly, 60 animals from 2 farms with different production systems: wethers (castrated males) were raised with ewes in Farm 1, whereas, intact rams, wethers, cryptorchids, and ewes were all together and introduced at different times to the group in Farm 2.  These animals were biopsied two months before slaughter, a month before, and post-rigor. On-farm, large inter-individual variation in muscle glycogen was observed in both farms but no significant difference in true glycogen between farms. Muscle glycogen levels seemed to fluctuate from one biopsy to another, contrary to previous belief that it remains constant throughout. There was no significant difference in HSP20 between farms and no correlation between muscle glycogen and HSP20 was observed. Post-rigor, 66% of carcasses from Farm 2 had high pHu (≥5.8), compared to none from Farm 1. This may be due to stress brought about by exaggerated behaviours of rams (e.g. aggression and chasing) during close confinement at lairage. However, more observations on-farm and at lairage are needed. Lastly, 69 loin samples of varying levels of residual glycogen were tested for drip loss, (WBC), fat, protein, and microbial content a day post-rigor (Day 1) and again after eight weeks (Week 8). Results showed no correlation between residual glycogen content and any of the parameters tested at either time points. A decrease in total glycosyl units at Week 8 was observed but no decrease in true glycogen levels. This was likely due to microbes use of free glucose as a food source. 

To conclude, the results of this study suggests that the co-habitation of intact rams and ewes on-farm causes stress, which is compounded by the close confinement at lairage, leading to high pHu of their carcasses. It is, therefore, recommended that, although intact rams have higher saleable weight, these rams be castrated before mixing with other rams and ewes to avoid high pHu and, hence, provide good quality meat and less stressed animals (better animal welfare). The fluctuation in muscle glycogen levels over time does also need closer scrutiny.

year: 2018

title: Materials for enhancing denitrification performance in partially saturated vertical flow wetlands for marae

authors: Liu, Lucian XiaoRan

abstract: There are upwards of 773 marae in New Zealand which are responsible for many key events for the indigenous people, Māori, many of which are located rurally and have inadequate on-site wastewater treatment mostly comprising of a septic tank followed by land application. Māori have many strong beliefs about water and subsequently criteria surround the treatment of wastewater due to the effects it can have on people and environment. One proposed solution that meets criteria are treatment wetlands, more specifically partially saturated vertical flow wetlands which require a smaller footprint and produce better effluent than traditional wetland designs. NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) has experimented with mesocosm scale versions of this design and has encountered issues with denitrification in the saturated zone.

This research is therefore directed at enhancing denitrification in the saturated zone with materials that are able to supplement organic carbon for denitrification. Several woodchip materials (Eastern Cottonwood, Mahogany, Manuka, Eucalyptus, Crack Willow, Princess Tree and Pine) along with two industry by-product materials (Brewers Spent Grain and Slum gum) and Coir (Coconut derivative) were examined for denitrification capabilities and to serve in producing a leachate for dosing the proposed system to supplement organic carbon for denitrification.

The research is split into three phases; the first examines the ability of materials to release organic carbon into water over 60 days, the second examines the same but over three 10 day cycles, and the third quantifies denitrification performance of the materials at lab scale.

Results showed that producing a suitable leachate is not possible without the use of fresh material for each batch. By-product materials had great capacity for releasing organic carbon into water and denitrification (up to 85.5% nitrate removal) but had limited lifespans as media. While woodchip materials did not exhibit as great carbon release, they achieved comparable denitrification (74.2-74.5% nitrate removal) with long lifespans. Therefore, a woodchip and industry by-product mix could be the solution. Alternatively, there are many woodchip species, some which could have better denitrification capacity or suitable industry by-products with longer useful lifespans.

text: Materials for enhancing denitrification performance in partially saturated vertical flow wetlands for marae There are upwards of 773 marae in New Zealand which are responsible for many key events for the indigenous people, Māori, many of which are located rurally and have inadequate on-site wastewater treatment mostly comprising of a septic tank followed by land application. Māori have many strong beliefs about water and subsequently criteria surround the treatment of wastewater due to the effects it can have on people and environment. One proposed solution that meets criteria are treatment wetlands, more specifically partially saturated vertical flow wetlands which require a smaller footprint and produce better effluent than traditional wetland designs. NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) has experimented with mesocosm scale versions of this design and has encountered issues with denitrification in the saturated zone.

This research is therefore directed at enhancing denitrification in the saturated zone with materials that are able to supplement organic carbon for denitrification. Several woodchip materials (Eastern Cottonwood, Mahogany, Manuka, Eucalyptus, Crack Willow, Princess Tree and Pine) along with two industry by-product materials (Brewers Spent Grain and Slum gum) and Coir (Coconut derivative) were examined for denitrification capabilities and to serve in producing a leachate for dosing the proposed system to supplement organic carbon for denitrification.

The research is split into three phases; the first examines the ability of materials to release organic carbon into water over 60 days, the second examines the same but over three 10 day cycles, and the third quantifies denitrification performance of the materials at lab scale.

Results showed that producing a suitable leachate is not possible without the use of fresh material for each batch. By-product materials had great capacity for releasing organic carbon into water and denitrification (up to 85.5% nitrate removal) but had limited lifespans as media. While woodchip materials did not exhibit as great carbon release, they achieved comparable denitrification (74.2-74.5% nitrate removal) with long lifespans. Therefore, a woodchip and industry by-product mix could be the solution. Alternatively, there are many woodchip species, some which could have better denitrification capacity or suitable industry by-products with longer useful lifespans.

year: 2023