title: Classification of pathology in diabetic eye disease

authors: Jelinek, H.F.

subjects: engineering

abstract: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that can eventually lead to blindness. Early identification of this complication reduces the risk of blindness by initiating timely treatment. We report the utility of pattern analysis tools linked with a simple linear discriminant analysis that not only identifies new vessel growth in the retinal fundus but also localises the area of pathology. Ten fluorescein images were analysed using seven feature descriptors including area, perimeter, circularity, curvature, entropy, wavelet second moment and the correlation dimension. Our results indicate that traditional features such as area or perimeter measures of neovascularisation associated with proliferative retinopathy were not sensitive enough to detect early proliferative retinopathy (SNR = 0.76, 0.75 respectively). The wavelet second moment provided the best discrimination with a SNR of 1.17. Combining second moment, curvature and global correlation dimension provided a 100% discrimination (SNR = 1).

text: Classification of pathology in diabetic eye disease Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that can eventually lead to blindness. Early identification of this complication reduces the risk of blindness by initiating timely treatment. We report the utility of pattern analysis tools linked with a simple linear discriminant analysis that not only identifies new vessel growth in the retinal fundus but also localises the area of pathology. Ten fluorescein images were analysed using seven feature descriptors including area, perimeter, circularity, curvature, entropy, wavelet second moment and the correlation dimension. Our results indicate that traditional features such as area or perimeter measures of neovascularisation associated with proliferative retinopathy were not sensitive enough to detect early proliferative retinopathy (SNR = 0.76, 0.75 respectively). The wavelet second moment provided the best discrimination with a SNR of 1.17. Combining second moment, curvature and global correlation dimension provided a 100% discrimination (SNR = 1).

year: 2005

title: Additive manufacturing of hygromorphic structures using regenerated cellulose/PLA biocomposites

authors: Gauss, Christian

abstract: Three-dimensional printing technologies are at the forefront of the current industrial revolution, enabling the production of complex shapes using a wide range of materials without relying on large production facilities. Increasing it further, 4D printing is a new concept in which printed objects respond to environmental stimuli and change shape or other characteristics with time in a controlled and predicted manner. However, the development of bio-based material alternatives that can be integrated into a circular economy is limited if compared with other non-renewable polymers traditionally used for these applications. Bioderived and/or biodegradable thermoplastics reinforced with bioderived fibres have compelling attributes in this context; they can be recycled, can be used in smart materials (4D printing), and, if necessary, can biodegrade at the end of their life cycle, leaving no harmful waste in the environment. In this work, we demonstrate the potential of PLA-based biocomposites with high content of regenerated cellulose fibres (lyocell) for 3D printed structures produced by fused deposition modelling (FDM) that change shape in response to moisture (hygromorphic). The main mechanism involved in this behaviour is related to the anisotropic swelling of the cellulose fibres that are preferentially aligned in the composite during printing. Using a bi-layered architecture of passive and active layers, we developed different prototypes with 2D to 3D transformation capability triggered by moisture with a high degree of shape change.

text: Additive manufacturing of hygromorphic structures using regenerated cellulose/PLA biocomposites Three-dimensional printing technologies are at the forefront of the current industrial revolution, enabling the production of complex shapes using a wide range of materials without relying on large production facilities. Increasing it further, 4D printing is a new concept in which printed objects respond to environmental stimuli and change shape or other characteristics with time in a controlled and predicted manner. However, the development of bio-based material alternatives that can be integrated into a circular economy is limited if compared with other non-renewable polymers traditionally used for these applications. Bioderived and/or biodegradable thermoplastics reinforced with bioderived fibres have compelling attributes in this context; they can be recycled, can be used in smart materials (4D printing), and, if necessary, can biodegrade at the end of their life cycle, leaving no harmful waste in the environment. In this work, we demonstrate the potential of PLA-based biocomposites with high content of regenerated cellulose fibres (lyocell) for 3D printed structures produced by fused deposition modelling (FDM) that change shape in response to moisture (hygromorphic). The main mechanism involved in this behaviour is related to the anisotropic swelling of the cellulose fibres that are preferentially aligned in the composite during printing. Using a bi-layered architecture of passive and active layers, we developed different prototypes with 2D to 3D transformation capability triggered by moisture with a high degree of shape change.

year: 2022

title: School leadership for Māori succeeding as Māori: A Mataatua perspective

authors: Barrett, Te Arani

subjects: tribal leadership

abstract: This thesis recounts how Ngāti Awa leadership principles from the past became evident in Te Kotahitanga schools. The thesis discusses Principals’ actions and reflections of fostering Māori students’ success as Māori in secondary schooling. Through case studies, it identifies the strategies engaged by these effective leaders and explores their undertakings in achieving successful outcomes for Māori with whom they have worked.
This study is an imperative to addressing the long-term levels of education under-achievement for Māori as indigenous people of New Zealand. The nexus for the study comes from Robinson (2007) who identified that ‘in many ways the question of how much impact [school] leaders have on student outcomes is a flawed one, because the answer surely depends on what it is that leaders do’. Marzano et al  (2005) also identifies ‘the relative paucity of empirical studies’ and ‘little specific guidance as to effective practices in school leadership’.
The purpose of this study is to identify the contribution effective leaders have made towards realising Durie’s (2001) landmark goals for Māori advancement, that is, for self-determining prosperity, good health and global participation. Identifying exceptional outcomes for Māori in a range of contexts establishes the criteria for selecting the case studies and therefore the foundation for the study. Successful outcomes include increased participation, better retention, improved academic achievement results and lesser disparities within the selected education sites.

text: School leadership for Māori succeeding as Māori: A Mataatua perspective This thesis recounts how Ngāti Awa leadership principles from the past became evident in Te Kotahitanga schools. The thesis discusses Principals’ actions and reflections of fostering Māori students’ success as Māori in secondary schooling. Through case studies, it identifies the strategies engaged by these effective leaders and explores their undertakings in achieving successful outcomes for Māori with whom they have worked.
This study is an imperative to addressing the long-term levels of education under-achievement for Māori as indigenous people of New Zealand. The nexus for the study comes from Robinson (2007) who identified that ‘in many ways the question of how much impact [school] leaders have on student outcomes is a flawed one, because the answer surely depends on what it is that leaders do’. Marzano et al  (2005) also identifies ‘the relative paucity of empirical studies’ and ‘little specific guidance as to effective practices in school leadership’.
The purpose of this study is to identify the contribution effective leaders have made towards realising Durie’s (2001) landmark goals for Māori advancement, that is, for self-determining prosperity, good health and global participation. Identifying exceptional outcomes for Māori in a range of contexts establishes the criteria for selecting the case studies and therefore the foundation for the study. Successful outcomes include increased participation, better retention, improved academic achievement results and lesser disparities within the selected education sites.

year: 2018