title: Occupational stress: A study of the New Zealand Reserve Bank

authors: Kelley, Karen

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Employees in many countries increasingly complain about high and rising levels of stress at work. As stress levels have increased, employers have faced rising medical bills, more accident insurance claims, increased absenteeism, and declining morale. Most corporate efforts to handle the problem have focused on the symptoms of stress, with, for example, therapy, counselling, gym memberships, and in-house exercise facilities. Professor Robert Karasecc recommends a different approach based on work re-design for greater job enrichment. He argues that stress is caused by heavy work demands in the job itself, which the unskilled employees with little control over how the work is done cannot adapt to or modify. Our study tests Karaseck’s theory using a sample of employees from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. In general, we find that some stress symptoms decline as skill discretion and decision authority increase, even if work demands are light. We also find that some stress symptoms decline as work demands decrease, even if authority and skill levels are high. As a result, we argue that managers could reduce stress in the workplace by enriching jobs, as Karasek advises, but also by reducing work demands.

text: Occupational stress: A study of the New Zealand Reserve Bank Employees in many countries increasingly complain about high and rising levels of stress at work. As stress levels have increased, employers have faced rising medical bills, more accident insurance claims, increased absenteeism, and declining morale. Most corporate efforts to handle the problem have focused on the symptoms of stress, with, for example, therapy, counselling, gym memberships, and in-house exercise facilities. Professor Robert Karasecc recommends a different approach based on work re-design for greater job enrichment. He argues that stress is caused by heavy work demands in the job itself, which the unskilled employees with little control over how the work is done cannot adapt to or modify. Our study tests Karaseck’s theory using a sample of employees from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. In general, we find that some stress symptoms decline as skill discretion and decision authority increase, even if work demands are light. We also find that some stress symptoms decline as work demands decrease, even if authority and skill levels are high. As a result, we argue that managers could reduce stress in the workplace by enriching jobs, as Karasek advises, but also by reducing work demands.

year: 2001

title: Investigation of failure patterns of desktop computer power supplies using a lightning surge simulator and the generation of a database for a comprehensive surge propagation study

authors: James, Sisira

subjects: International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors

abstract: According to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) future VLSI devices of gigahertz capability are expected to have feature sizes below 45 nm with DC power supply requirements with sub 1V and the equivalent noise voltages close to the DC rail values. This scenario makes the surge resist capability of processor type loads and the associated power conversion interfaces with lot of power semiconductors, seriously vulnerable to lightning and other power transients. In a major research project to predict the propagation of transients within the power conversion interfaces using wavelet transform, it was necessary to develop an experimental database of surge failures in power electronic subsystems. This paper highlights the results of destructive testing of desk top PC power supplies using a lightning surge simulator which will be used for comparing experimental data with analytical/simulated results.

text: Investigation of failure patterns of desktop computer power supplies using a lightning surge simulator and the generation of a database for a comprehensive surge propagation study According to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) future VLSI devices of gigahertz capability are expected to have feature sizes below 45 nm with DC power supply requirements with sub 1V and the equivalent noise voltages close to the DC rail values. This scenario makes the surge resist capability of processor type loads and the associated power conversion interfaces with lot of power semiconductors, seriously vulnerable to lightning and other power transients. In a major research project to predict the propagation of transients within the power conversion interfaces using wavelet transform, it was necessary to develop an experimental database of surge failures in power electronic subsystems. This paper highlights the results of destructive testing of desk top PC power supplies using a lightning surge simulator which will be used for comparing experimental data with analytical/simulated results.

year: 2010

title: Mā Muri Ko Mua: An introduction to the issues associated with the translation of the Pene Haare manuscript

authors: Tipene, Jillian

subjects: translation

abstract: Keywords: translation; translation theory; translation practice; Ngakuru Pene Haare; Te Rarawa; manuscript; Māori-English translation; ethically grounded translation.

In September 2007, a copy of a typewritten transcript of a manuscript dated 1923 and written by Ngakuru Pene Hare was given to a member of staff of the University of Waikato by Stephen Burke and Bella Wade, descendants of the author, who requested that the University provide a scholarly treatment and translation into English of the text. Also provided later were copies of letters written by the author and a copy of the original handwritten manuscript. The original manuscript, written in the Te Rarawa ki Hokianga dialect of te reo Māori of the author's time, consists of 239 leaves and contains accounts of at least 62 Ngāpuhi battles, most of which took place between 1820 and 1840. 

The research reported here seeks to identify issues and problems that must be addressed if a competent and ethically-grounded translation is to be produced.  Among the issues and problems identified are a number of critical ones. These include the paucity of information that is publicly available about the author, the context in which he lived and worked and the events about which he wrote. Also identified as being problematic are aspects of the text itself. Thus, for example, many of the conventions associated with contemporary writing in Māori (such as paragraphing and the signalling of word and sentence boundaries) are applied only sporadically. Some of the words and expressions used are archaic and/or esoteric, and symbolism that is deeply culturally-embedded characterises much of the text. Also of significance is the impact of writing on conventions associated with the oral transmission of information. The author's intention in producing the text is also identified as being of fundamental importance in relation to the process and product of translation, as are issues associated with the putative readership of that translation. Of paramount importance is the sacred and sensitive nature of the text itself and much of its content. 

In addressing these issues, a wide range of sources are drawn upon. These include the text itself and the transcription of the text, letters and other material written by, or directly influenced by the author, photographs that reveal important information about him, and a wide range of sources of information and opinion (written and oral) about the author and/ or the times and places in which he lived and the events about which he wrote. Also drawn upon is literature in the areas of linguistics and discourse analysis and the theory and practice of translation, including literature written by the growing number of Māori scholars who have focused on issues associated with translation involving Māori and English.

Among the recommendations made are that the translation, a gloss translation that includes explanatory notes, be undertaken, with tikanga Māori as guiding principles, under the mentorship of knowledgeable elders and in consultation with those to whom the manuscript belongs.

text: Mā Muri Ko Mua: An introduction to the issues associated with the translation of the Pene Haare manuscript Keywords: translation; translation theory; translation practice; Ngakuru Pene Haare; Te Rarawa; manuscript; Māori-English translation; ethically grounded translation.

In September 2007, a copy of a typewritten transcript of a manuscript dated 1923 and written by Ngakuru Pene Hare was given to a member of staff of the University of Waikato by Stephen Burke and Bella Wade, descendants of the author, who requested that the University provide a scholarly treatment and translation into English of the text. Also provided later were copies of letters written by the author and a copy of the original handwritten manuscript. The original manuscript, written in the Te Rarawa ki Hokianga dialect of te reo Māori of the author's time, consists of 239 leaves and contains accounts of at least 62 Ngāpuhi battles, most of which took place between 1820 and 1840. 

The research reported here seeks to identify issues and problems that must be addressed if a competent and ethically-grounded translation is to be produced.  Among the issues and problems identified are a number of critical ones. These include the paucity of information that is publicly available about the author, the context in which he lived and worked and the events about which he wrote. Also identified as being problematic are aspects of the text itself. Thus, for example, many of the conventions associated with contemporary writing in Māori (such as paragraphing and the signalling of word and sentence boundaries) are applied only sporadically. Some of the words and expressions used are archaic and/or esoteric, and symbolism that is deeply culturally-embedded characterises much of the text. Also of significance is the impact of writing on conventions associated with the oral transmission of information. The author's intention in producing the text is also identified as being of fundamental importance in relation to the process and product of translation, as are issues associated with the putative readership of that translation. Of paramount importance is the sacred and sensitive nature of the text itself and much of its content. 

In addressing these issues, a wide range of sources are drawn upon. These include the text itself and the transcription of the text, letters and other material written by, or directly influenced by the author, photographs that reveal important information about him, and a wide range of sources of information and opinion (written and oral) about the author and/ or the times and places in which he lived and the events about which he wrote. Also drawn upon is literature in the areas of linguistics and discourse analysis and the theory and practice of translation, including literature written by the growing number of Māori scholars who have focused on issues associated with translation involving Māori and English.

Among the recommendations made are that the translation, a gloss translation that includes explanatory notes, be undertaken, with tikanga Māori as guiding principles, under the mentorship of knowledgeable elders and in consultation with those to whom the manuscript belongs.

year: 2009