title: Categorisation and Discrimination of Automotive Glass Fragments by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for Forensic Purposes

authors: Grainger, Megan N.C.

subjects: LA-ICP-MS

abstract: Glass is one of the most common types of trace evidence found at crime scenes and on suspects. Refractive index is presently used for matching recovered and control samples of glass. However, increased quality control in manufacture has substantially reduced the spread of RI values and many samples can no longer be distinguished. Therefore analysis of glass by elemental techniques is required if samples are to be distinguished. This research project was carried out on behalf of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), Auckland. The aim was to develop a method to analyse automotive glass fragments by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and create a database which can be used to categorise samples into country of origin and to distinguish samples. 244 glass samples were obtained from ESR which contained 162 laminated and 82 toughened samples from a range of vehicle makes and models manufactured between 2002 and 2006. Two calibration standards (NIST 612 and FGS 2) were compared for their ability to calibrate float glass. FGS 2 is a better standard due to its closer composition to float glass and was used for this research. 23 elements were initially analysed and assessed for accuracy, precision and long term stability. This was cut down to 15 elements for the final method. The relative accuracy and precision of these elements was less than 5 % when compared to the literature values. An inter-laboratory comparison study showed most elements had less than 10 % bias between laboratories when analysing float glass. However, Sn had over 25 % bias between the two laboratories. A homogeneity study of three panes showed no spatial variation for most elements. However, the three Pb isotopes showed spatial variation in the windscreen. In addition, outliers were found for replicates of some database samples and the pooled standard deviation for the database was very large, indicating Pb is not homogeneous in glass. Multivariate analysis was used to investigate the natural splitting of the data. The splitting was influenced by the country of origin from which the raw materials were sourced from for glass manufacture. Australian samples had a clear separation from all samples originating from the Northern Hemisphere. A multiclass classifier correctly categorised 86.87 % of samples into the vehicles‟ country of origin. Correct classification was not higher due to importation of some glass. For example, Australia imports glass from Thailand for the Falcon and Commodore ranges. Statistical methods were compared in their ability to discriminate fragments. The elemental composition range overlap method allowed 80.39 % (164/204) discrimination between samples. Only small elemental variation between Australian samples was observed. With Australian data removed, 93.59 % (146/156) of samples could be distinguished. A three-step method was created to increase the distinguishing power; this used a combination of elemental composition and RI. This procedure was able to distinguish 84.31 % (172/204) samples from the entire database and 94.87 % (148/156) samples with Australian data removed. This method decreased the occurrence of type II errors.

text: Categorisation and Discrimination of Automotive Glass Fragments by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for Forensic Purposes Glass is one of the most common types of trace evidence found at crime scenes and on suspects. Refractive index is presently used for matching recovered and control samples of glass. However, increased quality control in manufacture has substantially reduced the spread of RI values and many samples can no longer be distinguished. Therefore analysis of glass by elemental techniques is required if samples are to be distinguished. This research project was carried out on behalf of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), Auckland. The aim was to develop a method to analyse automotive glass fragments by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and create a database which can be used to categorise samples into country of origin and to distinguish samples. 244 glass samples were obtained from ESR which contained 162 laminated and 82 toughened samples from a range of vehicle makes and models manufactured between 2002 and 2006. Two calibration standards (NIST 612 and FGS 2) were compared for their ability to calibrate float glass. FGS 2 is a better standard due to its closer composition to float glass and was used for this research. 23 elements were initially analysed and assessed for accuracy, precision and long term stability. This was cut down to 15 elements for the final method. The relative accuracy and precision of these elements was less than 5 % when compared to the literature values. An inter-laboratory comparison study showed most elements had less than 10 % bias between laboratories when analysing float glass. However, Sn had over 25 % bias between the two laboratories. A homogeneity study of three panes showed no spatial variation for most elements. However, the three Pb isotopes showed spatial variation in the windscreen. In addition, outliers were found for replicates of some database samples and the pooled standard deviation for the database was very large, indicating Pb is not homogeneous in glass. Multivariate analysis was used to investigate the natural splitting of the data. The splitting was influenced by the country of origin from which the raw materials were sourced from for glass manufacture. Australian samples had a clear separation from all samples originating from the Northern Hemisphere. A multiclass classifier correctly categorised 86.87 % of samples into the vehicles‟ country of origin. Correct classification was not higher due to importation of some glass. For example, Australia imports glass from Thailand for the Falcon and Commodore ranges. Statistical methods were compared in their ability to discriminate fragments. The elemental composition range overlap method allowed 80.39 % (164/204) discrimination between samples. Only small elemental variation between Australian samples was observed. With Australian data removed, 93.59 % (146/156) of samples could be distinguished. A three-step method was created to increase the distinguishing power; this used a combination of elemental composition and RI. This procedure was able to distinguish 84.31 % (172/204) samples from the entire database and 94.87 % (148/156) samples with Australian data removed. This method decreased the occurrence of type II errors.

year: 2010

title: Investigating the effects of an ACT-based mobile application on stress, anxiety, and burnout in the workplace

authors: Lobo, Deborah Ann

subjects: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

abstract: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-generation therapy that teaches individuals to accept their internal thoughts and feelings instead of modifying or challenging them. The main aim of ACT is to encourage individuals to develop cognitive flexibility when faced with challenging situations. ACTcompanion® application is based on the principles of ACT. The app has a number of exercises to help develop skills that would benefit the user in effective coping during stressful times. I used a single subject A-B-A design with 10 participants to examine the effectiveness of the ACTcompanion® app in reducing stress, anxiety, and burnout at workplaces. Most participants showed a noticeable decrease in their daily anxiety levels. Participants also showed improvements in their level of stress, mindfulness, exhaustion, affect, and depression. Overall, the results of the current study support the ACTcompanion® app as a good option for reducing anxiety and improving wellbeing in the workplace.

text: Investigating the effects of an ACT-based mobile application on stress, anxiety, and burnout in the workplace Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-generation therapy that teaches individuals to accept their internal thoughts and feelings instead of modifying or challenging them. The main aim of ACT is to encourage individuals to develop cognitive flexibility when faced with challenging situations. ACTcompanion® application is based on the principles of ACT. The app has a number of exercises to help develop skills that would benefit the user in effective coping during stressful times. I used a single subject A-B-A design with 10 participants to examine the effectiveness of the ACTcompanion® app in reducing stress, anxiety, and burnout at workplaces. Most participants showed a noticeable decrease in their daily anxiety levels. Participants also showed improvements in their level of stress, mindfulness, exhaustion, affect, and depression. Overall, the results of the current study support the ACTcompanion® app as a good option for reducing anxiety and improving wellbeing in the workplace.

year: 2018

title: An examination of DHB climate change policy and implementation: Responsiveness to Māori health

authors: Powell, Elisha

abstract: The impacts of climate change have become increasingly evident throughout the world and in Aotearoa. Frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as flooding, coastal erosion, wildfires, and droughts are notably increasing. Climate-related disasters have devastating effects on human health, as is well documented in literature. These effects include cardiovascular disease, poorer mental health, food insecurity and water borne disease. 

Due to pre-existing health disparities, Māori are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. Further, Māori have unique relationships with whenua wherein destruction of the natural environment will have a negative impact on the health of Māori people and communities. The health sector has an obligation to respond to Māori health in a way that honours Māori relationships with the environment and prioritises equitable health outcomes for Māori in climate change policy. 

Although Māori face potentially severe health impacts due to climate change, there is limited literature that considers health sector climate change policy and its responsiveness to Māori health. In an effort to address this gap in literature, this thesis aims to examine whether there is existing District Health Board (DHB) policy focused on implementing institutional responses to climate change. Further, this research seeks to understand the extent to which any identified DHB climate change policy responds to Māori health. 

At the time of study, DHBs were responsible for providing and funding health services throughout Aotearoa. During the late stages of this research, the health sector underwent reform, and two health authorities have replaced DHBs. The implications of this research have important ramifications within the newly established health authorities. A dedicated Māori health authority will provide the health sector with the chance to advance health equity by acting on holistic understandings of health for Māori. These actions would establish health policy that recognises Māori health as fundamentally linked to the environment and therefore uniquely impacted by climate change. 

To achieve the aims of this thesis, two research methods were implemented. Initially, an environmental scan of 17 DHB websites was completed to identify climate change and Māori health policies. This was followed by qualitative interviews with three DHB staff from diverse localities. Additionally, tāngata whenua interviews from the wider research project named Haumanu Hauora, were analysed to ensure Māori understandings of climate change were included in this research (Masters-Awatere et al., 2022). 

Research findings provide insights that point to highly fragmented climate change policies across the health sector. There is a glaring lack of direction in the health sector's response to climate change throughout existing policy. Māori health policies were in place across all DHBs, however, lacked recognition of the interconnection between Māori health and the natural environment, and therefore the impacts of climate change. 

Although policy was fragmented across regions, there is potential to enhance both climate change and Māori health policies by recognising the interconnected nature of Māori health and climate change. This will necessitate a significant change in the health systems policy response to climate change that prioritises mātauranga Māori and addresses the ongoing impacts of colonisation.

text: An examination of DHB climate change policy and implementation: Responsiveness to Māori health The impacts of climate change have become increasingly evident throughout the world and in Aotearoa. Frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as flooding, coastal erosion, wildfires, and droughts are notably increasing. Climate-related disasters have devastating effects on human health, as is well documented in literature. These effects include cardiovascular disease, poorer mental health, food insecurity and water borne disease. 

Due to pre-existing health disparities, Māori are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. Further, Māori have unique relationships with whenua wherein destruction of the natural environment will have a negative impact on the health of Māori people and communities. The health sector has an obligation to respond to Māori health in a way that honours Māori relationships with the environment and prioritises equitable health outcomes for Māori in climate change policy. 

Although Māori face potentially severe health impacts due to climate change, there is limited literature that considers health sector climate change policy and its responsiveness to Māori health. In an effort to address this gap in literature, this thesis aims to examine whether there is existing District Health Board (DHB) policy focused on implementing institutional responses to climate change. Further, this research seeks to understand the extent to which any identified DHB climate change policy responds to Māori health. 

At the time of study, DHBs were responsible for providing and funding health services throughout Aotearoa. During the late stages of this research, the health sector underwent reform, and two health authorities have replaced DHBs. The implications of this research have important ramifications within the newly established health authorities. A dedicated Māori health authority will provide the health sector with the chance to advance health equity by acting on holistic understandings of health for Māori. These actions would establish health policy that recognises Māori health as fundamentally linked to the environment and therefore uniquely impacted by climate change. 

To achieve the aims of this thesis, two research methods were implemented. Initially, an environmental scan of 17 DHB websites was completed to identify climate change and Māori health policies. This was followed by qualitative interviews with three DHB staff from diverse localities. Additionally, tāngata whenua interviews from the wider research project named Haumanu Hauora, were analysed to ensure Māori understandings of climate change were included in this research (Masters-Awatere et al., 2022). 

Research findings provide insights that point to highly fragmented climate change policies across the health sector. There is a glaring lack of direction in the health sector's response to climate change throughout existing policy. Māori health policies were in place across all DHBs, however, lacked recognition of the interconnection between Māori health and the natural environment, and therefore the impacts of climate change. 

Although policy was fragmented across regions, there is potential to enhance both climate change and Māori health policies by recognising the interconnected nature of Māori health and climate change. This will necessitate a significant change in the health systems policy response to climate change that prioritises mātauranga Māori and addresses the ongoing impacts of colonisation.

year: 2025