title: Creating digital library collections with Greenstone

authors: Witten, Ian H.

subjects: computer science

abstract: The Greenstone digital library software is a comprehensive system for building and distributing digital library collections. It provides a way of organizing information based on metadata and publishing ti on the Internet. This paper introduces Greenstone and explains how librarians use it to create and customize digital library collections. Through an end-user interface, they add documents and metadata to collections, create new collections whose structure mirrors existing ones, and build collections and put them in place for users to view. More advanced users can design and customize new collection structures.

text: Creating digital library collections with Greenstone The Greenstone digital library software is a comprehensive system for building and distributing digital library collections. It provides a way of organizing information based on metadata and publishing ti on the Internet. This paper introduces Greenstone and explains how librarians use it to create and customize digital library collections. Through an end-user interface, they add documents and metadata to collections, create new collections whose structure mirrors existing ones, and build collections and put them in place for users to view. More advanced users can design and customize new collection structures.

year: 2005

title: The cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to watchful waiting and radical prostatectomy for low risk localised prostate cancer

authors: Lao, Chunhuan

subjects: Active surveillance

abstract: Background: Radical prostatectomy is the most common treatment for localised prostate cancer in New Zealand. Active surveillance was introduced to prevent overtreatment and reduce costs while preserving the option of radical prostatectomy. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to watchful waiting and radical prostatectomy.
Methods: Markov models were constructed to estimate the life-time cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to watchful waiting and radical prostatectomy for low risk localised prostate cancer patients aged 45–70 years, using national datasets in New Zealand and published studies including the SPCG-4 study. This study was from the perspective of the Ministry of Health in New Zealand.
Results: Radical prostatectomy is less costly than active surveillance in men aged 45–55 years with low risk localised prostate cancer, but more costly for men aged 60–70 years. Scenario analyses demonstrated significant uncertainty as to the most cost-effective option in all age groups because of the unavailability of good quality of life data for men under active surveillance. Uncertainties around the likelihood of having radical prostatectomy when managed with active surveillance also affect the cost-effectiveness of active surveillance against radical prostatectomy.
Conclusions: Active surveillance is less likely to be cost-effective compared to radical prostatectomy for younger men diagnosed with low risk localised prostate cancer. The cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to radical prostatectomy is critically dependent on the ‘trigger’ for radical prostatectomy and the quality of life in men on active surveillance. Research on the latter would be beneficial.

text: The cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to watchful waiting and radical prostatectomy for low risk localised prostate cancer Background: Radical prostatectomy is the most common treatment for localised prostate cancer in New Zealand. Active surveillance was introduced to prevent overtreatment and reduce costs while preserving the option of radical prostatectomy. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to watchful waiting and radical prostatectomy.
Methods: Markov models were constructed to estimate the life-time cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to watchful waiting and radical prostatectomy for low risk localised prostate cancer patients aged 45–70 years, using national datasets in New Zealand and published studies including the SPCG-4 study. This study was from the perspective of the Ministry of Health in New Zealand.
Results: Radical prostatectomy is less costly than active surveillance in men aged 45–55 years with low risk localised prostate cancer, but more costly for men aged 60–70 years. Scenario analyses demonstrated significant uncertainty as to the most cost-effective option in all age groups because of the unavailability of good quality of life data for men under active surveillance. Uncertainties around the likelihood of having radical prostatectomy when managed with active surveillance also affect the cost-effectiveness of active surveillance against radical prostatectomy.
Conclusions: Active surveillance is less likely to be cost-effective compared to radical prostatectomy for younger men diagnosed with low risk localised prostate cancer. The cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to radical prostatectomy is critically dependent on the ‘trigger’ for radical prostatectomy and the quality of life in men on active surveillance. Research on the latter would be beneficial.

year: 2017

title: Adolescent Māori mothers experiences with social support during pregnancy, birth and motherhood and their participation in education

authors: Rawiri, Casey

subjects: social support

abstract: The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of social support in helping
adolescent Māori mothers cope with pregnancy, birth and motherhood, with a
particular emphasis on its role in enabling them to continue at school. The aim of this
research is to understand and make sense of these experiences and to perhaps identify
gaps within an individual's social network. The analysis and methodology of the
research was underpinned by a community psychology framework.
Nine interviews were conducted with young Māori women who had become pregnant
and continued with their pregnancy, all before the age of 20. The in depth interviews
included questions focusing on the young women learning of pregnancy, the
pregnancy, birth, caring for their child and their experiences with education and future
plans.
Negative experiences were usually those which involved unsupportive people.
Positive interactions were those where support, of all types, was offered and useful to
my participants and their children. Education was highlighted as the most effective
way of providing a better life for adolescent mothers and their children.
The research highlights the importance of social support and the continuation of
education. Combining the efforts of positive social networks and social support
services can improve the lives of adolescent Māori mothers and their children.

text: Adolescent Māori mothers experiences with social support during pregnancy, birth and motherhood and their participation in education The purpose of this research was to investigate the role of social support in helping
adolescent Māori mothers cope with pregnancy, birth and motherhood, with a
particular emphasis on its role in enabling them to continue at school. The aim of this
research is to understand and make sense of these experiences and to perhaps identify
gaps within an individual's social network. The analysis and methodology of the
research was underpinned by a community psychology framework.
Nine interviews were conducted with young Māori women who had become pregnant
and continued with their pregnancy, all before the age of 20. The in depth interviews
included questions focusing on the young women learning of pregnancy, the
pregnancy, birth, caring for their child and their experiences with education and future
plans.
Negative experiences were usually those which involved unsupportive people.
Positive interactions were those where support, of all types, was offered and useful to
my participants and their children. Education was highlighted as the most effective
way of providing a better life for adolescent mothers and their children.
The research highlights the importance of social support and the continuation of
education. Combining the efforts of positive social networks and social support
services can improve the lives of adolescent Māori mothers and their children.

year: 2007