title: Nutritionism and the construction of 'poor choices' in families facing food insecurity

authors: Graham, Rebekah Sarah

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: The dominant research approach to both food insecurity and charitable meal provision is nutritionistic, deficit-orientated and ignores wider socio-economic issues. This reinforces existing power dynamics and overlooks the agency of people living food-insecure lives. We critique this dominant approach and draw on the everyday experiences of families facing food insecurity to ground an alternative approach that emphasises food as a social determinant of health.

text: Nutritionism and the construction of 'poor choices' in families facing food insecurity The dominant research approach to both food insecurity and charitable meal provision is nutritionistic, deficit-orientated and ignores wider socio-economic issues. This reinforces existing power dynamics and overlooks the agency of people living food-insecure lives. We critique this dominant approach and draw on the everyday experiences of families facing food insecurity to ground an alternative approach that emphasises food as a social determinant of health.

year: 2018

title: Flow Cytometric Enumeration of the Blood Cells of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and New Zealand Freshwater Crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons)

authors: Taylor, Sean Charles

subjects: flow cytometry

abstract: The aim of this study was to develop flow cytometric (FC) methods to enumerate rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) whole blood cells and New Zealand freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons) haemocytes as non-lethal endpoints in the evaluation of physiological status.
In the FC method development for rainbow trout, heparin was found to be superior to neutralised EDTA as a blood anticoagulant, because the use of EDTA resulted in significant lysis and shrinkage of erythrocytes. Leishman's-Giemsa and May Grunwald-Giemsa yielded comparable differential staining of leukocytes, and were superior to Wright-Giemsa staining. Morphological ambiguity between thrombocytes and lymphocytes in smears could not be resolved using Romanowsky or cytochemical staining. Use of FC was demonstrated to be a rapid, more accurate alternative to manual total cell counting procedures. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was found to be superior to IsoTon  II as a FC sheath fluid; IsoTon II induced lysis of erythrocytes. Characterisation of fish blood cell types and differentiation of leukocytes using FC could be achieved using 50 nM concentrations of the fluorescent lipophilic dye dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3)), but inconsistent fluorescent behaviour exhibited by thrombocytes between specimens prevented clear resolution of these cells from erythrocytes and lymphocytes. Higher concentrations of DiOC6(3) did not enhance resolution and became cytotoxic, particularly to leukocytes. Resolution between thrombocytes and lymphocytes could only be achieved with a fluorescent-labelled thrombocyte monoclonal antibody (mAb). The results suggest that the application of FC and mAb to fish blood cells is the most accurate approach to differential counting of leukocytes. 
The second FC method objectively characterised and enumerated New Zealand freshwater crayfish haemocytes. Haemocyte populations were isolated by FC sorting based on differential light scatter properties, followed by morphological characterisation by light microscopy and software image analysis. Cells were identified as hyaline, semi-granular and granular haemocytes based on established invertebrate haemocyte classification. A characteristic decrease in nuclear size and increase in granularity between the hyaline and granular cells, and the eccentric location of nuclei in granular cells were also observed. The granulocyte subpopulations were observed to possess varying degrees of granularity. The developed methodology was used to perform total and differential haemocyte counts from three lake crayfish populations and between wild and captive specimens. Differences in total and differential haemocyte counts were not observed between wild populations. However, specimens held in captivity for 14 d exhibited a significant 63% reduction in total haemocyte count, while the relative haemocyte proportions remained the same. These results demonstrate the utility of this method for the investigation of sub-acute stressor effects in selected decapod crustacea.

text: Flow Cytometric Enumeration of the Blood Cells of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and New Zealand Freshwater Crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons) The aim of this study was to develop flow cytometric (FC) methods to enumerate rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) whole blood cells and New Zealand freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons) haemocytes as non-lethal endpoints in the evaluation of physiological status.
In the FC method development for rainbow trout, heparin was found to be superior to neutralised EDTA as a blood anticoagulant, because the use of EDTA resulted in significant lysis and shrinkage of erythrocytes. Leishman's-Giemsa and May Grunwald-Giemsa yielded comparable differential staining of leukocytes, and were superior to Wright-Giemsa staining. Morphological ambiguity between thrombocytes and lymphocytes in smears could not be resolved using Romanowsky or cytochemical staining. Use of FC was demonstrated to be a rapid, more accurate alternative to manual total cell counting procedures. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was found to be superior to IsoTon  II as a FC sheath fluid; IsoTon II induced lysis of erythrocytes. Characterisation of fish blood cell types and differentiation of leukocytes using FC could be achieved using 50 nM concentrations of the fluorescent lipophilic dye dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3)), but inconsistent fluorescent behaviour exhibited by thrombocytes between specimens prevented clear resolution of these cells from erythrocytes and lymphocytes. Higher concentrations of DiOC6(3) did not enhance resolution and became cytotoxic, particularly to leukocytes. Resolution between thrombocytes and lymphocytes could only be achieved with a fluorescent-labelled thrombocyte monoclonal antibody (mAb). The results suggest that the application of FC and mAb to fish blood cells is the most accurate approach to differential counting of leukocytes. 
The second FC method objectively characterised and enumerated New Zealand freshwater crayfish haemocytes. Haemocyte populations were isolated by FC sorting based on differential light scatter properties, followed by morphological characterisation by light microscopy and software image analysis. Cells were identified as hyaline, semi-granular and granular haemocytes based on established invertebrate haemocyte classification. A characteristic decrease in nuclear size and increase in granularity between the hyaline and granular cells, and the eccentric location of nuclei in granular cells were also observed. The granulocyte subpopulations were observed to possess varying degrees of granularity. The developed methodology was used to perform total and differential haemocyte counts from three lake crayfish populations and between wild and captive specimens. Differences in total and differential haemocyte counts were not observed between wild populations. However, specimens held in captivity for 14 d exhibited a significant 63% reduction in total haemocyte count, while the relative haemocyte proportions remained the same. These results demonstrate the utility of this method for the investigation of sub-acute stressor effects in selected decapod crustacea.

year: 2009

title: Examining the effects of Ki-o-Rahi on the development of fundamental movement skills by children in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Daveta, Wiliame

subjects: fundamental movement skills

abstract: Children with poor fundamental movement skills might have challenges when engaging in activities that require specific skills to help them perform effectively. Development of those skills through targeted training has the potential to build the foundation for fundamental movement skills. This study examined whether Ki-o-Rahi can enhance learning fundamental movement skills (FMS) and cognitive and social skills in Aotearoa New Zealand children. A quasi-experimental pre-post design was conducted over 8 weeks with 86 primary school children from five separate classes that were allocated to treatment conditions via cluster sampling: two classes to the intervention group, two to the control group, and one to the legend-only control group. The intervention group learned the legend and played Ki-o-Rahi over 8 sessions, whereas the control groups continued with their regular physical activities, but only one of the control groups learned the legend. FMS were measured using the Test of Gross Motor Development—Third Edition (TGMD-3) and the Motor Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2). Cognitive skills were measured using the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders test (HTKS), forward and backward digit span, and forward and backward corsi block. Researchers measured social skills using the Early Childhood Social Relationship with Peers (ECSRP) teacher-proxy questionnaire. The results demonstrated that the intervention and control group gained improvements in the FMS and social skills but not cognitive skills. The legend-only group showed no significant changes. The findings suggest that Ki-o-rahi can contribute to developing FMS, cognitive, and social skills in Aotearoa New Zealand children. Future research should consider extending the duration of the study to assess long-term effects and include a larger cohort of Pacific or Māori children to explore potential benefits of Ki-o-Rahi in greater depth.

text: Examining the effects of Ki-o-Rahi on the development of fundamental movement skills by children in Aotearoa New Zealand Children with poor fundamental movement skills might have challenges when engaging in activities that require specific skills to help them perform effectively. Development of those skills through targeted training has the potential to build the foundation for fundamental movement skills. This study examined whether Ki-o-Rahi can enhance learning fundamental movement skills (FMS) and cognitive and social skills in Aotearoa New Zealand children. A quasi-experimental pre-post design was conducted over 8 weeks with 86 primary school children from five separate classes that were allocated to treatment conditions via cluster sampling: two classes to the intervention group, two to the control group, and one to the legend-only control group. The intervention group learned the legend and played Ki-o-Rahi over 8 sessions, whereas the control groups continued with their regular physical activities, but only one of the control groups learned the legend. FMS were measured using the Test of Gross Motor Development—Third Edition (TGMD-3) and the Motor Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2). Cognitive skills were measured using the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders test (HTKS), forward and backward digit span, and forward and backward corsi block. Researchers measured social skills using the Early Childhood Social Relationship with Peers (ECSRP) teacher-proxy questionnaire. The results demonstrated that the intervention and control group gained improvements in the FMS and social skills but not cognitive skills. The legend-only group showed no significant changes. The findings suggest that Ki-o-rahi can contribute to developing FMS, cognitive, and social skills in Aotearoa New Zealand children. Future research should consider extending the duration of the study to assess long-term effects and include a larger cohort of Pacific or Māori children to explore potential benefits of Ki-o-Rahi in greater depth.

year: 2024