title: Determination of total potentially available nucleosides in bovine milk

authors: Gill, Brendon D.

subjects: milk

abstract: Bovine colostrum and milk samples were collected from two herds over the course of the first month post-partum, pooled for each herd by stage of lactation and total potentially available nucleosides were determined. Sample analysis consisted of parallel enzymatic treatments, phenylboronate clean-up, and liquid chromatography to quantify contributions of nucleosides, monomeric nucleotides, nucleotide adducts, and polymeric nucleotides to the available nucleosides pool. Bovine colostrum contained high levels of nucleosides and monomeric nucleotides, which rapidly decreased as lactation progressed into transitional milk. Mature milk was relatively consistent in nucleoside and monomeric nucleotide concentrations from approximately the tenth day post-partum. Differences in concentrations between summer-milk and winter-milk herds were largely attributable to variability in uridine and monomeric nucleotide concentrations.

text: Determination of total potentially available nucleosides in bovine milk Bovine colostrum and milk samples were collected from two herds over the course of the first month post-partum, pooled for each herd by stage of lactation and total potentially available nucleosides were determined. Sample analysis consisted of parallel enzymatic treatments, phenylboronate clean-up, and liquid chromatography to quantify contributions of nucleosides, monomeric nucleotides, nucleotide adducts, and polymeric nucleotides to the available nucleosides pool. Bovine colostrum contained high levels of nucleosides and monomeric nucleotides, which rapidly decreased as lactation progressed into transitional milk. Mature milk was relatively consistent in nucleoside and monomeric nucleotide concentrations from approximately the tenth day post-partum. Differences in concentrations between summer-milk and winter-milk herds were largely attributable to variability in uridine and monomeric nucleotide concentrations.

year: 2010

title: Validation of the comprehensive inventory of mindfulness experiences using Rasch methodology

authors: Wilkinson, Samuel

subjects: Mindfulness

abstract: Although mindfulness has now been studied for multiple decades, the field of psychometric research has yet to agree upon the optimal way to measure the mindfulness construct. Prior research has identified eight distinct aspects of mindfulness, which were not adequately captured by any available measures until the development of the Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences (CHIME). The CHIME contains 37 items and has demonstrated excellent psychometric properties in both the German and Dutch languages, but an English version for adults has not been validated to date. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the psychometric characteristics of the translated English CHIME scale using Rasch 
methodology. The current study utilized the unrestricted Partial Credit Rasch model to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the English CHIME. The sample included 620 participants from the general population. The validity of the English CHIME was examined by correlating its scores with various measures of mindfulness and psychological functioning. Initial Rasch analysis of the English CHIME showed poor model fit, local dependency, and evidence against the assumption of unidimensionality. Several minor modifications, which involved creating Super-Items, were required to achieve good fit to the Rasch model (ꭕ²45)=31.99, p=0.93). The modified scale displayed evidence of unidimensionality, invariance across personal factors, and ahigh reliability (PSI=0.92). The developed Rasch algorithm permitted the transformation of ordinal responses into interval scale scores, increasing the English CHIME’s precision of measurement. The English CHIME’s external validity was established by moderate–high correlations with other measures of mindfulness and various measures of psychological functioning. The results of this study provide evidence for the validity of the English CHIME scale, which can be used to assess the overarching construct of mindfulness.

text: Validation of the comprehensive inventory of mindfulness experiences using Rasch methodology Although mindfulness has now been studied for multiple decades, the field of psychometric research has yet to agree upon the optimal way to measure the mindfulness construct. Prior research has identified eight distinct aspects of mindfulness, which were not adequately captured by any available measures until the development of the Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences (CHIME). The CHIME contains 37 items and has demonstrated excellent psychometric properties in both the German and Dutch languages, but an English version for adults has not been validated to date. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the psychometric characteristics of the translated English CHIME scale using Rasch 
methodology. The current study utilized the unrestricted Partial Credit Rasch model to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the English CHIME. The sample included 620 participants from the general population. The validity of the English CHIME was examined by correlating its scores with various measures of mindfulness and psychological functioning. Initial Rasch analysis of the English CHIME showed poor model fit, local dependency, and evidence against the assumption of unidimensionality. Several minor modifications, which involved creating Super-Items, were required to achieve good fit to the Rasch model (ꭕ²45)=31.99, p=0.93). The modified scale displayed evidence of unidimensionality, invariance across personal factors, and ahigh reliability (PSI=0.92). The developed Rasch algorithm permitted the transformation of ordinal responses into interval scale scores, increasing the English CHIME’s precision of measurement. The English CHIME’s external validity was established by moderate–high correlations with other measures of mindfulness and various measures of psychological functioning. The results of this study provide evidence for the validity of the English CHIME scale, which can be used to assess the overarching construct of mindfulness.

year: 2022

title: Environmentalism for the environment's sake: Towards an understanding of the influence of the Māori worldview on Western environmental management perspectives in Aotearoa New Zealand through a lens of nature connectivity

authors: Jones, Haley

subjects: Nature connectedness

abstract: Individual perceptions of the natural world may be influenced by place, culture, and value systems. In exploring these perceptions through measures of environmental connectedness, this study considers the uniqueness of the socio-cultural systems of Aotearoa New Zealand in shaping individual environmental engagement. This research examines the implications of the inclusion of Māori values in environmental management policies dominated by Western environmental conceptualisations. Through semi-structured interviews of five participants who work in environmental fields in the Hamilton, Waikato Region of Aotearoa New Zealand, this research explores conceptualisations of identity and environmental discourses, interpretations of the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga and the Western concept of stewardship, career connectedness, and place attachment to Aotearoa New Zealand. Additionally, results from an online survey questionnaire of twelve respondents compare measures of connectedness to nature of respondents from California, United States of America, with those from the Waikato Region, Aotearoa New Zealand. Key findings highlight how anthropogenic worldviews can be unconscious, how understandings of cultural values may be a key factor of a strengthened environmental commitment, how expressions of Indigeneity are of value in the sciences, and how there is importance in the link between conservation values and the Māori worldview. This study exposes the importance of the implementation of improved training about, and inclusion of, Indigenous knowledge within environmental organisations in order to develop conscious awareness of how Indigenous information is being translated, applied, and respected.

text: Environmentalism for the environment's sake: Towards an understanding of the influence of the Māori worldview on Western environmental management perspectives in Aotearoa New Zealand through a lens of nature connectivity Individual perceptions of the natural world may be influenced by place, culture, and value systems. In exploring these perceptions through measures of environmental connectedness, this study considers the uniqueness of the socio-cultural systems of Aotearoa New Zealand in shaping individual environmental engagement. This research examines the implications of the inclusion of Māori values in environmental management policies dominated by Western environmental conceptualisations. Through semi-structured interviews of five participants who work in environmental fields in the Hamilton, Waikato Region of Aotearoa New Zealand, this research explores conceptualisations of identity and environmental discourses, interpretations of the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga and the Western concept of stewardship, career connectedness, and place attachment to Aotearoa New Zealand. Additionally, results from an online survey questionnaire of twelve respondents compare measures of connectedness to nature of respondents from California, United States of America, with those from the Waikato Region, Aotearoa New Zealand. Key findings highlight how anthropogenic worldviews can be unconscious, how understandings of cultural values may be a key factor of a strengthened environmental commitment, how expressions of Indigeneity are of value in the sciences, and how there is importance in the link between conservation values and the Māori worldview. This study exposes the importance of the implementation of improved training about, and inclusion of, Indigenous knowledge within environmental organisations in order to develop conscious awareness of how Indigenous information is being translated, applied, and respected.

year: 2022