title: An application of data mining to fruit and vegetable sample identiﬁcation using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

authors: Holmes, Geoffrey

subjects: computer science

abstract: One of the uses of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) is in the detection of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables. In a high throughput laboratory there is the potential for sample swaps or mislabelling, as once a sample has been pre-processed to be injected into the GC-MS analyser, it is no longer distinguishable by eye. Possible consequences of such mistakes can be the destruction of large amounts of actually safe produce or pesticide-contaminated produce reaching the consumer. For the purposes of food safety and traceability, it can also be extremely valuable to know the source (country of origin) of a food product. This can help uncover fraudulent attempts of trying to sell food originating from countries deemed unsafe. In this study, we use the workflow environment ADAMS to examine whether we can determine the fruit/vegetable, and the country of origin of a sample from a GC-MS chromatogram. A workflow is used to generate data sets using different data pre-processing methods, and data representations from a database of over 8000 GC-MS chromatograms, consisting of more than 100 types of fruit and vegetables from more than 120 countries. A variety of classification algorithms are evaluated using the WEKA data mining workbench. We demonstrate excellent results, both for the determination of fruit/vegetable type and for the country of origin, using a histogram of ion counts, and Classification by Regression using Random Regression Forest with PLS-transformed data.

text: An application of data mining to fruit and vegetable sample identiﬁcation using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry One of the uses of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) is in the detection of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables. In a high throughput laboratory there is the potential for sample swaps or mislabelling, as once a sample has been pre-processed to be injected into the GC-MS analyser, it is no longer distinguishable by eye. Possible consequences of such mistakes can be the destruction of large amounts of actually safe produce or pesticide-contaminated produce reaching the consumer. For the purposes of food safety and traceability, it can also be extremely valuable to know the source (country of origin) of a food product. This can help uncover fraudulent attempts of trying to sell food originating from countries deemed unsafe. In this study, we use the workflow environment ADAMS to examine whether we can determine the fruit/vegetable, and the country of origin of a sample from a GC-MS chromatogram. A workflow is used to generate data sets using different data pre-processing methods, and data representations from a database of over 8000 GC-MS chromatograms, consisting of more than 100 types of fruit and vegetables from more than 120 countries. A variety of classification algorithms are evaluated using the WEKA data mining workbench. We demonstrate excellent results, both for the determination of fruit/vegetable type and for the country of origin, using a histogram of ion counts, and Classification by Regression using Random Regression Forest with PLS-transformed data.

year: 2012

title: 'Cripping' care in disability sport: an autoethnographic study of a highly impaired high-performance athlete

authors: Lowry, Amanda

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: In this article we combine the fields of critical disability studies and the sociology of sport to disrupt and extend current understandings of athlete welfare and care. A focus on athlete welfare is producing heightened awareness of the need for institutional, structural and personal support for athletes. Notions of ‘care’ are proliferating in sport discourse, with sport organisations routinely described as having a ‘duty of care’ towards athletes. In high performance disability sport, however, the provision and arrangement of care is often based on a view of the disabled athlete as high functioning, autonomous and independent. This perspective is further complicated when considering the provision of care for people with high support needs. Drawing on cripistemology, we argue that a politics of knowledge confirms a certain squeamishness around care practices and care knowledge in disability sport. One of us – a high performance, highly impaired athlete in Aotearoa New Zealand, offers an autoethnographic account of her experiences of training and competing, illustrating the embodied and intimate care needed for her continued engagement in high performance sporting practices. In keeping with wider calls in critical disability studies to bring the study of the body and therefore impairment back into disability discourse, we offer this personal narrative to ‘crip’ care knowledge, focusing on the materiality of bodies as they intersect with sport. Finally, we argue that sport scholars, practitioners and governing bodies must consider the embodied care politics of disabled athletes in order to deepen understandings of impairment, inequalities, and social inclusion.

text: 'Cripping' care in disability sport: an autoethnographic study of a highly impaired high-performance athlete In this article we combine the fields of critical disability studies and the sociology of sport to disrupt and extend current understandings of athlete welfare and care. A focus on athlete welfare is producing heightened awareness of the need for institutional, structural and personal support for athletes. Notions of ‘care’ are proliferating in sport discourse, with sport organisations routinely described as having a ‘duty of care’ towards athletes. In high performance disability sport, however, the provision and arrangement of care is often based on a view of the disabled athlete as high functioning, autonomous and independent. This perspective is further complicated when considering the provision of care for people with high support needs. Drawing on cripistemology, we argue that a politics of knowledge confirms a certain squeamishness around care practices and care knowledge in disability sport. One of us – a high performance, highly impaired athlete in Aotearoa New Zealand, offers an autoethnographic account of her experiences of training and competing, illustrating the embodied and intimate care needed for her continued engagement in high performance sporting practices. In keeping with wider calls in critical disability studies to bring the study of the body and therefore impairment back into disability discourse, we offer this personal narrative to ‘crip’ care knowledge, focusing on the materiality of bodies as they intersect with sport. Finally, we argue that sport scholars, practitioners and governing bodies must consider the embodied care politics of disabled athletes in order to deepen understandings of impairment, inequalities, and social inclusion.

year: 2022-02-18

title: Exploring inequity in access to medications for Type 2 Diabetes in primary care in the Waikato region: Final report

authors: Lawrenson, Ross

abstract: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing health issue in New Zealand (NZ) that disproportionately affects twice as many Māori as non-Māori and an increasing number of younger people. T2D is associated with a range of microvascular and macrovascular complications, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the latter being the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient group. However, complications are reduced in patients that have improved glycaemic control. To achieve optimal outcomes and reduce the chance of diabetes-related complications, patients should aim to have their glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement less than 53 mmol/mol if possible.

Diabetes is primarily managed in primary care, and a number of recent publications suggest that there is considerable inequity in the management of diabetes in New Zealand, particularly for Māori. In an earlier piece of work we have shown that Maori are significantly less likely than non-Maori to be prescribed metformin, but that once prescribed it they are equally likely to have the medication dispensed. This suggests that there may be issues that can be addressed within primary care that are influencing the use of diabetes medications.
Thus, the aim of this small piece of work was to characterise diabetes medication use in a Waikato primary care population, and to report on medication adherence and association with HbA1c levels.

text: Exploring inequity in access to medications for Type 2 Diabetes in primary care in the Waikato region: Final report Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing health issue in New Zealand (NZ) that disproportionately affects twice as many Māori as non-Māori and an increasing number of younger people. T2D is associated with a range of microvascular and macrovascular complications, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the latter being the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient group. However, complications are reduced in patients that have improved glycaemic control. To achieve optimal outcomes and reduce the chance of diabetes-related complications, patients should aim to have their glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement less than 53 mmol/mol if possible.

Diabetes is primarily managed in primary care, and a number of recent publications suggest that there is considerable inequity in the management of diabetes in New Zealand, particularly for Māori. In an earlier piece of work we have shown that Maori are significantly less likely than non-Maori to be prescribed metformin, but that once prescribed it they are equally likely to have the medication dispensed. This suggests that there may be issues that can be addressed within primary care that are influencing the use of diabetes medications.
Thus, the aim of this small piece of work was to characterise diabetes medication use in a Waikato primary care population, and to report on medication adherence and association with HbA1c levels.

year: 2021-08-17