title: Evaluating the impacts of an international phytosanitary standard for wood packaging material: Global and United States trade implications

authors: Strutt, Anna

subjects: Forest loss

abstract: Wood packaging material (WPM) is a significant pathway by which bark- and wood-boring insects move between countries. Recognising this threat, an international standard for the treatment of WPM (ISPM 15) is being implemented by many countries. In addition, the United States has considered application of similar requirements to WPM used in domestic and bilateral trade with Canada. We use a domestic margin-inclusive version of the Global Trade Analysis model to estimate the economic and trade impacts of ISPM 15, along with alternatives of varying stringency. We also estimate the economic impacts of one of the benefits of ISPM 15; averted United States forest owner timber losses. ISPM 15 is likely to have a small, negative effect on exports and economic welfare for most countries. However, there is significant regional and sectoral variation, depending on the product mix traded. If ISPM 15 requirements are extended to United States domestic trade, the impacts on the United States are stronger. Inclusion of averted United States timber losses partly, but not completely, offset welfare and trade impacts of the ISPM 15 treatment. These results must be tempered with the additional benefits of ISPM 15 in terms of potential averted household and environmental damages.

text: Evaluating the impacts of an international phytosanitary standard for wood packaging material: Global and United States trade implications Wood packaging material (WPM) is a significant pathway by which bark- and wood-boring insects move between countries. Recognising this threat, an international standard for the treatment of WPM (ISPM 15) is being implemented by many countries. In addition, the United States has considered application of similar requirements to WPM used in domestic and bilateral trade with Canada. We use a domestic margin-inclusive version of the Global Trade Analysis model to estimate the economic and trade impacts of ISPM 15, along with alternatives of varying stringency. We also estimate the economic impacts of one of the benefits of ISPM 15; averted United States forest owner timber losses. ISPM 15 is likely to have a small, negative effect on exports and economic welfare for most countries. However, there is significant regional and sectoral variation, depending on the product mix traded. If ISPM 15 requirements are extended to United States domestic trade, the impacts on the United States are stronger. Inclusion of averted United States timber losses partly, but not completely, offset welfare and trade impacts of the ISPM 15 treatment. These results must be tempered with the additional benefits of ISPM 15 in terms of potential averted household and environmental damages.

year: 2013

title: The influence of velocity-based resistance training on strength and power development

authors: Peta, Henare Te Ura Ote Ra

subjects: Technology

abstract: Sports that require high levels of strength and power typically employ traditional percentage-based training methods (%1RM). However, a major flaw to this form of training is that it does not take into account the athletes daily biological status and readiness to train. Therefore, movement velocity has been proposed as a viable method of resistance training to enhance performance. The purpose of this thesis was firstly, to examine literature on the adaptations and current practices of traditional based training (TT, %1RM) and velocity-based training methods (VBT). Secondly, to investigate the reliability of the bar mode application (band attached to the bar) of the PUSH band accelerometer in measuring peak velocity (PV) during the barbell squat jump exercises (SJ), and finally, to investigate the effects of VBT training on neuromuscular strength (back squat [BS], bench press, [BP]) and power (squat jump PV using the PUSH band) in comparison to TT (%1RM). The PUSH band showed high to perfect reliability in PVmax and PVmean across four trials (mean ICC 0.91 & 0.90). The results are in agreement with previous research conducted on the PUSH band accelerometer (when attached to the subject's forearm). No significant differences were found between groups in strength and power measures (p > 0.05). Furthermore, between-group effect sizes were deemed trivial for BS and BP (d = 0.00 and 0.03, respectively), while the effects for PVmax (d = 0.23 ±0.73) and PVmean (d = -0.38 ±0.59) were deemed unclear. Future research should focus on assessing the reliability of the bar mode application on other traditional exercises (BP, BS, deadlifts) at various intensities (20 – 90%1RM). Additionally, future research should utilise a larger sample size and a more homogenous strength/training group in order to determine any potential effects.

text: The influence of velocity-based resistance training on strength and power development Sports that require high levels of strength and power typically employ traditional percentage-based training methods (%1RM). However, a major flaw to this form of training is that it does not take into account the athletes daily biological status and readiness to train. Therefore, movement velocity has been proposed as a viable method of resistance training to enhance performance. The purpose of this thesis was firstly, to examine literature on the adaptations and current practices of traditional based training (TT, %1RM) and velocity-based training methods (VBT). Secondly, to investigate the reliability of the bar mode application (band attached to the bar) of the PUSH band accelerometer in measuring peak velocity (PV) during the barbell squat jump exercises (SJ), and finally, to investigate the effects of VBT training on neuromuscular strength (back squat [BS], bench press, [BP]) and power (squat jump PV using the PUSH band) in comparison to TT (%1RM). The PUSH band showed high to perfect reliability in PVmax and PVmean across four trials (mean ICC 0.91 & 0.90). The results are in agreement with previous research conducted on the PUSH band accelerometer (when attached to the subject's forearm). No significant differences were found between groups in strength and power measures (p > 0.05). Furthermore, between-group effect sizes were deemed trivial for BS and BP (d = 0.00 and 0.03, respectively), while the effects for PVmax (d = 0.23 ±0.73) and PVmean (d = -0.38 ±0.59) were deemed unclear. Future research should focus on assessing the reliability of the bar mode application on other traditional exercises (BP, BS, deadlifts) at various intensities (20 – 90%1RM). Additionally, future research should utilise a larger sample size and a more homogenous strength/training group in order to determine any potential effects.

year: 2019

title: The Application of Critical Discourse Theory: A Criterion-Referenced Analysis of Reports Relating to Language Revitalisation in Australia and New Zealand

authors: Lewis, Roger Brian

subjects: te reo Māori

abstract: The discipline of language policy and planning (LPP) is often proposed as a viable tool for language revitalisation. However, the conventional paradigm upon which LPP is based is inadequate for such an inherently political, contentious and problematic area of social policy, and does not address the hegemonic and counter-hegemonic discourse that is at the very core of language revitalisation efforts. It is therefore argued here that LPP needs to be explicitly underpinned by critical discourse theory (CDT) if it is to be of genuine use to those involved in language revitalisation efforts, particularly to grass roots language activists. Following an introductory chapter which provides a background to the research and a rationale for it (Chapter 1), there is a critical review of selected literature on LPP and CDT, a review which ends by proposing a list of criteria which, it is argued, can be used to determine the extent to which discourse that is intended to be counter-hegemonic adheres to the principles of effective counter-hegemonic discourse as outlined in the literature on CDT (Chapter 2). In the following three chapters (Chapters 3, 4 & 5), these criteria are applied to the analysis of three recent reports that have a direct bearing on indigenous language revitalisation in Australia (Our Land Our Languages) and New Zealand (Ko Aotearoa Tēnei and Te Reo Mauriora). The first of these reports is found to adhere very closely to the criteria; the second less so; the third almost not at all. The different ways in which each of these reports has been received would tend to support the hypothesis that, other things being equal, the more closely a text of this type conforms to the criteria - that is, the more closely it is aligned to the fundamental principles of effective counter-hegemonic discourse as outlined in CDT - the more likely it is to be positively received and, therefore, to represent an effective challenge to the existing hegemony. The overall conclusion is that CDT can not only assist language activists by providing a basis for determining how successful counter-hegemonic discourse is likely to be in achieving its aims but has the potential to provide LPP with a secure theoretical foundation (Chapter 6).

text: The Application of Critical Discourse Theory: A Criterion-Referenced Analysis of Reports Relating to Language Revitalisation in Australia and New Zealand The discipline of language policy and planning (LPP) is often proposed as a viable tool for language revitalisation. However, the conventional paradigm upon which LPP is based is inadequate for such an inherently political, contentious and problematic area of social policy, and does not address the hegemonic and counter-hegemonic discourse that is at the very core of language revitalisation efforts. It is therefore argued here that LPP needs to be explicitly underpinned by critical discourse theory (CDT) if it is to be of genuine use to those involved in language revitalisation efforts, particularly to grass roots language activists. Following an introductory chapter which provides a background to the research and a rationale for it (Chapter 1), there is a critical review of selected literature on LPP and CDT, a review which ends by proposing a list of criteria which, it is argued, can be used to determine the extent to which discourse that is intended to be counter-hegemonic adheres to the principles of effective counter-hegemonic discourse as outlined in the literature on CDT (Chapter 2). In the following three chapters (Chapters 3, 4 & 5), these criteria are applied to the analysis of three recent reports that have a direct bearing on indigenous language revitalisation in Australia (Our Land Our Languages) and New Zealand (Ko Aotearoa Tēnei and Te Reo Mauriora). The first of these reports is found to adhere very closely to the criteria; the second less so; the third almost not at all. The different ways in which each of these reports has been received would tend to support the hypothesis that, other things being equal, the more closely a text of this type conforms to the criteria - that is, the more closely it is aligned to the fundamental principles of effective counter-hegemonic discourse as outlined in CDT - the more likely it is to be positively received and, therefore, to represent an effective challenge to the existing hegemony. The overall conclusion is that CDT can not only assist language activists by providing a basis for determining how successful counter-hegemonic discourse is likely to be in achieving its aims but has the potential to provide LPP with a secure theoretical foundation (Chapter 6).

year: 2014