title: The TOHU framework: Sensing and interpreting tohu to heal from trauma

authors: McLachlan, A

subjects: Environment

abstract: This hypotheses article presents understandings and practices of tohu (signs) in the personal, eco-environmental, and spiritual wellbeing of Māori. Tohu can be observed in the natural, social, physical, or spiritual environment, and within a Māori worldview provide important ways of understanding and responding to phenomena. Wānanga (shared dialogue and debate) were held with seven Māori clinical psychologists from He Paiaka Tōtara (Māori Psychologist Network) and two mātauranga Māori specialists to explore their experiences, knowledge, and perspectives about tohu, with their insights collected through online information sharing. Our wānanga goals were to inform the creation of a therapeutic framework to address patu ngākau, psychological and spiritual trauma experienced by Māori. The results identified that tohu are located within the person and their environment, and the importance of exploring how tohu are interpreted. We propose a TOHU acronym as a framework for understanding and addressing the multifaceted impacts of patu ngākau.

text: The TOHU framework: Sensing and interpreting tohu to heal from trauma This hypotheses article presents understandings and practices of tohu (signs) in the personal, eco-environmental, and spiritual wellbeing of Māori. Tohu can be observed in the natural, social, physical, or spiritual environment, and within a Māori worldview provide important ways of understanding and responding to phenomena. Wānanga (shared dialogue and debate) were held with seven Māori clinical psychologists from He Paiaka Tōtara (Māori Psychologist Network) and two mātauranga Māori specialists to explore their experiences, knowledge, and perspectives about tohu, with their insights collected through online information sharing. Our wānanga goals were to inform the creation of a therapeutic framework to address patu ngākau, psychological and spiritual trauma experienced by Māori. The results identified that tohu are located within the person and their environment, and the importance of exploring how tohu are interpreted. We propose a TOHU acronym as a framework for understanding and addressing the multifaceted impacts of patu ngākau.

year: 2024

title: Indigenous knowledges in health policy in Aotearoa New Zealand and Saskatchewan Canada: A comparative study

authors: Green, Jane Alison

subjects: Indigenous

abstract: For more than two decades, components of Māori knowledges in the form of Māori words and concepts have been part of health policy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Health policy that engages Māori words and concepts resonates with Māori community values and aspirations and is thought to contribute to the revitalisation of Māori knowledges. Absent from the literature is an examination of this phenomenon; specifically, the socio-political factors that facilitate and limit the engagement of Māori knowledges with health policy. Of the four settler states, only in Aotearoa New Zealand are the knowledges of the Indigenous peoples engaged with health policy. In Saskatchewan, Canada, the First Nations and Métis peoples have engaged their knowledges with federal and provincially funded health programmes and services but not health policy. This study adopts a two-country comparative policy framework to investigate and theorise the historical and contemporary socio-political factors associated with the engagement of Indigenous knowledges in health policy in Aotearoa New Zealand and Saskatchewan, Canada. An adaption is made to the Kaupapa Māori approach so that the complexities of a two-country case study approach are addressed and engagement in health policy as a strategy for knowledge revitalisation is theorised. The study also takes a path less travelled which is to investigate the impact that engagement with health policy has upon the intangible or the ontological aspects of Māori knowledges. Māori describe their knowledges as comprised of tangible and intangible elements, both of which are important. Another adaption is made to the Kaupapa Māori theoretical approach which is to add speculative inquiry. The study argues that speculative inquiry in the form of contemplative, analytical, relational and viscerally aware practices are commonplace in Māori communities. Adding speculative inquiry to an already rich theoretical body that is Kaupapa Māori research provides an opening for other Kaupapa Māori researchers to expand non-empirical inquiry. The study concludes that government policies have had a decimating effect upon Māori, First Nations and Métis knowledges. Moreover, recent reports from commissions and inquiries indicate these knowledges and associated languages continue to decline for a number of reasons, including the impact of contemporary government policies. Health policy, this study asserts, is an uncertain site from which to revitalise Māori, First Nations and Métis knowledges.

text: Indigenous knowledges in health policy in Aotearoa New Zealand and Saskatchewan Canada: A comparative study For more than two decades, components of Māori knowledges in the form of Māori words and concepts have been part of health policy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Health policy that engages Māori words and concepts resonates with Māori community values and aspirations and is thought to contribute to the revitalisation of Māori knowledges. Absent from the literature is an examination of this phenomenon; specifically, the socio-political factors that facilitate and limit the engagement of Māori knowledges with health policy. Of the four settler states, only in Aotearoa New Zealand are the knowledges of the Indigenous peoples engaged with health policy. In Saskatchewan, Canada, the First Nations and Métis peoples have engaged their knowledges with federal and provincially funded health programmes and services but not health policy. This study adopts a two-country comparative policy framework to investigate and theorise the historical and contemporary socio-political factors associated with the engagement of Indigenous knowledges in health policy in Aotearoa New Zealand and Saskatchewan, Canada. An adaption is made to the Kaupapa Māori approach so that the complexities of a two-country case study approach are addressed and engagement in health policy as a strategy for knowledge revitalisation is theorised. The study also takes a path less travelled which is to investigate the impact that engagement with health policy has upon the intangible or the ontological aspects of Māori knowledges. Māori describe their knowledges as comprised of tangible and intangible elements, both of which are important. Another adaption is made to the Kaupapa Māori theoretical approach which is to add speculative inquiry. The study argues that speculative inquiry in the form of contemplative, analytical, relational and viscerally aware practices are commonplace in Māori communities. Adding speculative inquiry to an already rich theoretical body that is Kaupapa Māori research provides an opening for other Kaupapa Māori researchers to expand non-empirical inquiry. The study concludes that government policies have had a decimating effect upon Māori, First Nations and Métis knowledges. Moreover, recent reports from commissions and inquiries indicate these knowledges and associated languages continue to decline for a number of reasons, including the impact of contemporary government policies. Health policy, this study asserts, is an uncertain site from which to revitalise Māori, First Nations and Métis knowledges.

year: 2018

title: Systematic review of metal-based alloys with autogenous antibacterial capability

authors: Alshammari, Y

abstract: Pathogenic bacterial infection, especially in surgical and nosocomial settings, is an outstanding and long-lasting challenge due to the ability of microorganisms to evolve and develop mechanisms to become drug-resistant (i.e., superbugs). Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to develop metal-based alloys with autogenous antibacterial capability and to comprehend their mechanism of action, which are systematically reviewed in this work. To comprehensively understand current developments, antibacterial mechanisms (e.g., cell wall/membrane disruption), resistance mechanisms (e.g., permeability barrier), and the primary standardized techniques used to assess the antibacterial response (e.g., plate-count method) are initially introduced. Subsequently, metallic elements with intrinsic antibacterial response are presented alongside a brief discussion of the effects that manufacturing methods have on the ability to achieve metal-based alloys with autogenous antibacterial properties. The several antibacterial metal-based alloys currently being developed, which include Co-, Fe-, Mg-, Ti-, and Zn-based alloys, and some few other metal-based alloy systems, were analyzed in detail, and an effort to comparatively evaluate the antibacterial and mechanical response of the different alloys developed so far was made. Generally, the incorporation of Cu or Ag, which are well-known antibacterial metallic elements, shows remarkable effectiveness against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, some few other elements like Ca, Ce, and rare earths have been investigated, and some of them show antibacterial capability. The work is complemented with some challenges to be addressed and opportunities to be taken.

text: Systematic review of metal-based alloys with autogenous antibacterial capability Pathogenic bacterial infection, especially in surgical and nosocomial settings, is an outstanding and long-lasting challenge due to the ability of microorganisms to evolve and develop mechanisms to become drug-resistant (i.e., superbugs). Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to develop metal-based alloys with autogenous antibacterial capability and to comprehend their mechanism of action, which are systematically reviewed in this work. To comprehensively understand current developments, antibacterial mechanisms (e.g., cell wall/membrane disruption), resistance mechanisms (e.g., permeability barrier), and the primary standardized techniques used to assess the antibacterial response (e.g., plate-count method) are initially introduced. Subsequently, metallic elements with intrinsic antibacterial response are presented alongside a brief discussion of the effects that manufacturing methods have on the ability to achieve metal-based alloys with autogenous antibacterial properties. The several antibacterial metal-based alloys currently being developed, which include Co-, Fe-, Mg-, Ti-, and Zn-based alloys, and some few other metal-based alloy systems, were analyzed in detail, and an effort to comparatively evaluate the antibacterial and mechanical response of the different alloys developed so far was made. Generally, the incorporation of Cu or Ag, which are well-known antibacterial metallic elements, shows remarkable effectiveness against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, some few other elements like Ca, Ce, and rare earths have been investigated, and some of them show antibacterial capability. The work is complemented with some challenges to be addressed and opportunities to be taken.

year: 2025-04-07