title: Planning new infrastructure: Some issues

authors: Grimes, Arthur

subjects: economics

abstract: Infrastructure investments are mostly long-lived, service multiple (current and future) users, and interact with other public infrastructures and private investments. Empirical examples cited in the companion article in this issue, ‘Infrastucture: new findings for New Zealand’, include long-lived road, rail and port investments, telecommunications networks (fibre), water infrastructure and local social amenities. Much of this infrastructure is provided by central or local government, but some is also provided by public (state-owned enterprises) and private commercial enterprises.

text: Planning new infrastructure: Some issues Infrastructure investments are mostly long-lived, service multiple (current and future) users, and interact with other public infrastructures and private investments. Empirical examples cited in the companion article in this issue, ‘Infrastucture: new findings for New Zealand’, include long-lived road, rail and port investments, telecommunications networks (fibre), water infrastructure and local social amenities. Much of this infrastructure is provided by central or local government, but some is also provided by public (state-owned enterprises) and private commercial enterprises.

year: 2010

title: Speed control of small motors through the Ćuk Converter Topology

authors: Hutchins, Michael

subjects: motor speed control

abstract: The Ćuk Converter offers simultaneous buck-boost operation, but requires careful design owing to its having a fourth-order transfer function and numerous practical design constraints. We exploit a serendipitous overlap between the converter circuit and the equivalent circuit of a dc motor to design a motor controller that can operate with supply voltage that is lower than the motor full-speed requirement. We examine the transfer function when such a topology is used to control the speed of a small motor. We conclude that the approach is relatively straightforward owing to the impact of the motor’s inductance. Measurements agree with theory.

text: Speed control of small motors through the Ćuk Converter Topology The Ćuk Converter offers simultaneous buck-boost operation, but requires careful design owing to its having a fourth-order transfer function and numerous practical design constraints. We exploit a serendipitous overlap between the converter circuit and the equivalent circuit of a dc motor to design a motor controller that can operate with supply voltage that is lower than the motor full-speed requirement. We examine the transfer function when such a topology is used to control the speed of a small motor. We conclude that the approach is relatively straightforward owing to the impact of the motor’s inductance. Measurements agree with theory.

year: 2016

title: Mental health of people of diverse genders and sexualities in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Findings from the New Zealand Mental Health Monitor

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Issues addressed: To examine mental health inequities, and social exclusion and isolation and protective factor differences between people of diverse genders and sexualities (lesbian/gay, bisexual, gender diverse, and takatāpui) and cisgender and heterosexual people in Aotearoa/New Zealand.  Methods: We employed data from the pooled probability sample of 2016 and 2018 New Zealand Mental Health Monitor. The sample comprised of 2,938 people at least 15 years old, of which 93 had diverse gender and sexuality identities. Generalised linear models were used to test for differences in mental health (current and lifetime mental distress, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide), social exclusion and isolation, and friend and family support for people of diverse genders and sexualities. We also conducted exploratory linear regression analyses to examine whether mental health difficulties were associated with social exclusion and isolation and friend/family support.  Results: People of diverse genders and sexualities had high rates of mental health difficulties across all variables we examined. For example, people identifying as diverse genders and sexualities had three times the risk of considering self-harm and suicide than their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (22% vs 5%; RR = 3.12). People of diverse genders and sexualities also scored an average of 6.08 points higher on the 27-point PHQ-9 depression scale when they had experienced social isolation, and 4.01 points higher when they experienced social exclusion. Conclusion: Our results are consistent with current literature on the large mental health inequities faced by people of diverse genders and sexualities.  So what?: Policy makers and healthcare providers in Aotearoa/New Zealand should consider the negative mental health consequences of social exclusion and isolation for people of diverse genders and sexualities.

text: Mental health of people of diverse genders and sexualities in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Findings from the New Zealand Mental Health Monitor Issues addressed: To examine mental health inequities, and social exclusion and isolation and protective factor differences between people of diverse genders and sexualities (lesbian/gay, bisexual, gender diverse, and takatāpui) and cisgender and heterosexual people in Aotearoa/New Zealand.  Methods: We employed data from the pooled probability sample of 2016 and 2018 New Zealand Mental Health Monitor. The sample comprised of 2,938 people at least 15 years old, of which 93 had diverse gender and sexuality identities. Generalised linear models were used to test for differences in mental health (current and lifetime mental distress, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide), social exclusion and isolation, and friend and family support for people of diverse genders and sexualities. We also conducted exploratory linear regression analyses to examine whether mental health difficulties were associated with social exclusion and isolation and friend/family support.  Results: People of diverse genders and sexualities had high rates of mental health difficulties across all variables we examined. For example, people identifying as diverse genders and sexualities had three times the risk of considering self-harm and suicide than their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (22% vs 5%; RR = 3.12). People of diverse genders and sexualities also scored an average of 6.08 points higher on the 27-point PHQ-9 depression scale when they had experienced social isolation, and 4.01 points higher when they experienced social exclusion. Conclusion: Our results are consistent with current literature on the large mental health inequities faced by people of diverse genders and sexualities.  So what?: Policy makers and healthcare providers in Aotearoa/New Zealand should consider the negative mental health consequences of social exclusion and isolation for people of diverse genders and sexualities.

year: 2021-10-03