Testing nine critical success factors for tribal self-governance in health care in the United States : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health at the Research Centre for Māori Health & Development, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

This study examines a Critical Success Factor (CSF) Framework for Tribal Self-Governance (TSG) in health care, drawing on the experiences of Native American and Alaska Native Tribes in the United States. The research aims to validate, refine and critique this framework to support Indigenous development, including Tribal Self-Governance and self-determination in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, comprising documentary analysis, observation, literature review, and expert interviews (n=10). Member-checking interviews with U.S. Tribal Self-Governance practitioners provided additional validation. A deductive analytical framework based on the author’s original CSFs guided the analysis, which broadly followed the U.K. National Centre for Social Research’s Framework Analysis Model. Results confirm the validity of the nine-factor CSF Framework, with refinements to sequence, content and structure. The factors were reorganized into three sets/stages: commitment and initiation, operationalization, and sustainability to suggest a preferred order for those embarking on the Tribal self-governance developmental journey. The research process led to redefining the factors and prioritizing them based on assessment of their relative importance and member feedback. While no major omissions were identified by the research process, a critical analysis of study data provided some cautions and contextual issues for practitioners and governors to be aware of when implementing the framework. The refined CSF Framework aligns favourably with Kaupapa Māori principles, and an implementation plan for the New Zealand context is proposed. This research contributes to our understanding of effective Tribal Self-Governance models and their potential application in diverse Indigenous contexts, including for indigenous Māori in New Zealand

Faithful subjectivities : narrative portrayals of a Christian social imaginary : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English at Massey University, Manawatū campus, New Zealand

This thesis argues that the novel has provided a means of expressing Christian social imaginaries, or models of reality, through attempts to give narrative form to the identity and experience of individual believers that I term faithful subjectivity. Faithful subjectivity refers to the portrayal of individual self-understanding and behaviour that is rooted in the Christian metanarrative and participates simultaneously in the material and spiritual dimensions of its understanding of the world and the cosmos. This thesis thereby highlights the seeming paradox whereby writers turn to fiction to articulate and explore theological verities. It considers three novels from different literary periods, which each conform to different genre norms and are shaped by different theological traditions: John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), C. S. Lewis’s Perelandra (1943), and Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead (2004). My central contention is that these novelistic expressions of faithful subjectivity are each centred around distinctive organising metaphors: Bunyan famously presents faith as a journey in Pilgrim’s Progress, whereas Lewis frames it in terms of total war in Perelandra, and Robinson expresses faith as a matter of perception in Gilead. The analysis of each novel is situated in its historical and cultural contexts, as well as in light of its author’s theological dispositions, in order to better grasp the particular metaphor that it employs as a model of faithful subjectivity. I then consider the affordances and limitations of each structuring metaphor. This inquiry provides cultural and historical depth for broader conversations about the articulation of a Christian social imaginary alongside and in tension with the emergence of secular western subjectivity that has long been associated with the rise of the novel

First report of a papillomavirus-induced viral plaque in the mouth of a dog

Canis familiaris papillomavirus type 16 was amplified from a mass in the mouth of a dog. The mass was histologically consistent with a pigmented viral plaque. This is the first report of an oral viral plaque in a dog. Histological investigation is essential to allow differentiation from an oral melanoma.fals

Supporting wellbeing: Perspectives of university work-integrated learning students

The health of students engaging in work-integrated learning (WIL) should be a key focus of universities. WIL students encounter various personal, social, and financial pressures which impact their wellbeing, which are often different from those of an on-campus student or a workplace employee. The aim of the research was to explore student perspectives of the impact of WIL on their wellbeing, and strategies for supporting wellbeing. Using a qualitative approach, data was collected from 16 students across four disciplines and three New Zealand universities. Wellbeing is a visible construct, and this was illustrated in the participants’ ability to articulate their understanding of wellbeing. Students also emphasized that WIL experiences impact wellbeing both positively and negatively. Multiple strategies contribute to enhancing their wellbeing and these are summarized as recommendations for students, host organizations, universities, and the government. Clearly, WIL wellbeing is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the WIL enterprise.fals

Metabarcoding captures genetic diversity and links cases in outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis in New Zealand.

Cryptosporidiosis is a disease caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium. Globally, it is a leading cause of diarrhoea and a notifiable disease in New Zealand. Molecular analyses of Cryptosporidium isolated from notified cases do not always provide support for epidemiological links between individuals. We hypothesised this could be due to undetected diversity and the use of consensus Sanger sequence analyses. Here, we analysed 105 Cryptosporidium samples from outbreaks and sporadic cases occurring between 2010 and 2018 in New Zealand using both Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing of the glycoprotein 60 (gp60) locus. NGS metabarcoding at the gp60 locus uncovered significant intra- and inter-sample genotypic diversity in outbreaks and identified subtypes shared by epidemiologically linked cases, along with rare subtypes, suggesting it may be a useful tool for epidemiological investigations.fals

Reassessing the sustainability promise of cultured meat: a critical review with new data perspectives

There are currently over 170 companies in the field of cultured meat (CM) which have attracted over US$3 Billion in investments since 2019. The CM industry owes much of this success to the many claims around environmental benefits and alleviating animal welfare concerns, while being equally nutritious and as acceptable as conventional meat. This review aims to provide a much needed discussion on the latest research findings concerning the nutritional and environmental sustainability of CM and provide an evidence-based discussion around some of the challenges that the industry faces today. Recent developments in the field have revealed that some of the sustainability claims of the CM industry are overly ambitious and not supported by evidence. Environmental assessments have revealed that CM production is highly energy intensive and its environmental footprint can only be improved if renewable energy sources are used. In terms of nutritional quality of CM, there are many unknowns and gaps in the knowledge that require investigation.fals

Mutations in the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway confer resistance to furazolidone and abolish the synergistic interaction between furazolidone and vancomycin in Escherichia coli.

The combined application of furazolidone and vancomycin has previously been shown to be synergistic against Gram-negative pathogens, with great therapeutic promise. However, the emergence and mechanism of resistance to this antibiotic combination have not been characterized. To fill this gap, we here selected Escherichia coli progeny for growth on the furazolidone-vancomycin combination at the concentration where the parent was sensitive. We show that selected clones were associated with increased resistance to neither, only one drug, or both furazolidone and vancomycin, but in all cases were associated with a decrease in the growth inhibition synergy. Using whole-genome sequencing, we identified various gene mutations in the resistant mutants. We further investigated the mechanism behind the most frequently arising mutations, those in the riboflavin biosynthesis genes ribB and ribE, that represent novel mutations causing furazolidone resistance and diminished vancomycin-furazolidone synergy. It was found that these ribB/ribE mutations act predominantly by decreasing the activity of the NfsA and NfsB nitroreductases. The emergence of the ribB/ribE mutations imposes a significant fitness cost on bacterial growth. Surprisingly, supplementing the medium with riboflavin, which compensates for the affected riboflavin biosynthesis pathway, could restore the normal growth of the ribB/ribE mutants while having no effects on the furazolidone resistance phenotype. Searching the ribB/ribE mutations in the public sequencing database detects the presence of the furazolidone-resistance-conferring ribE mutations (TKAG131-134 deletion or duplication) in clinical isolates from different countries. Hypotheses explaining why these ribE mutations were found in clinical isolates despite having poor fitness were further discussed.fals

Pathogenicity assessment of seven RYR1 variants in patients with confirmed susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia in the Netherlands.

Background Malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility is associated with variants in RYR1, the gene encoding the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor-1 (RyR1), in 70–75% of patients. Functional characterisation demonstrating an increased sensitivity to RyR1 agonists is necessary among other criteria for inclusion in the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group list of MH susceptibility diagnostic variants. Methods Seven variants in the RYR1 gene, p.Glu342Lys, p.Leu2288Ser, p.Phe2340Leu, p.Arg2676Trp, p.Val3324Ala, p.Phe4076Leu, and p.Trp5020Cys, identified in MH-susceptible individuals were introduced into the cDNA for the human RYR1 gene. These variants were tested in cultured human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells for their effect on calcium release in response to the RyR1 agonist 4-chloro-m-cresol. Calcium release of each variant was compared with wild-type and benign and pathogenic controls. Each variant was subjected to curation using the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group scoring matrix and ClinGen RYR1 Variant Curation Expert Panel guidelines. Results Six of seven RYR1 variants (p.Glu342Lys, p.Leu2288Ser, p.Phe2340Leu, p.Arg2676Trp, p.Val3324Ala, p.Phe4076Leu) showed hypersensitivity to 4-chloro-m-cresol compared with wild-type. The p.Trp5020Cys variant did not release calcium in response to 4-chloro-m-cresol. All variants had minor allele frequencies 0.85, supporting pathogenicity. Conclusions The variants p.Glu342Lys, p.Leu2288Ser p.Phe2340Leu, and p.Arg2676Trp are pathogenic or likely pathogenic for MH and can be used for presymptomatic testing for MH susceptibility. As current knowledge on the p.Val3324Ala, p.Phe4076Leu, and p.Trp5020Cys variants remains insufficient, they are still classified as variants of uncertain significance.fals

The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): A screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite the last decade's significant development in the scientific study of work addiction/workaholism, this area of research is still facing a fundamental challenge, namely the need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that shows cross-cultural invariance and, as such, allows for worldwide studies on this phenomenon. METHODS: An initial 16-item questionnaire, developed within an addiction framework, was administered alongside job stress, job satisfaction, and self-esteem measures in a total sample of 31,352 employees from six continents and 85 cultures (63.5% females, mean age of 39.24 years). RESULTS: Based on theoretical premises and psychometric testing, the International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS) was developed as a short measure representing essential features of work addiction. The seven-item version (IWAS-7), covering all seven components of work addiction, showed partial scalar invariance across 81 cultures, while the five-item version (IWAS-5) showed it across all 85 cultures. Higher levels of work addiction on both versions were associated with higher job stress, lower job satisfaction, and lower self-esteem across cultures. The optimal cut-offs for the IWAS-7 (24 points) and IWAS-5 (18 points) were established with an overall accuracy of 96% for both versions. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The IWAS is a valid, reliable, and short screening scale that can be used in different cultures and languages, providing comparative and generalizable results. The scale can be used globally in clinical and organizational settings, with the IWAS-5 being recommended for most practical and clinical situations. This is the first study to provide data supporting the hypothesis that work addiction is a universal phenomenon worldwide.fals

Relationship between the three dimensions of paternalistic leadership, cognitive and affective trust and organizational citizenship behavior: a multilevel mediational pathway

Purpose The current study aims to explore the three dimensions of paternalistic leadership (i.e. moral leadership, benevolent leadership and authoritarian leadership) and their dual pathways of positive and negative influences on employees’ organizational citizenship behavior through the two aspects of trust (i.e. cognitive and affective trust). Design/methodology/approach Given that trust is pertinent in any human relationship, especially in Asian countries where bonding plays an important role, the current study investigated the relationship of each leadership style within paternalistic leadership on employees’ cognitive and affective trust in their leaders, employees’ organizational citizenship behavior and the processes involved. The current study employed a cross-sectional multilevel approach with 435 employees from 85 workgroups participating in the study. Findings As hypothesized, benevolent and moral leadership styles (but not the authoritarian leadership style) had a positive effect on employees’ cognitive and affective trust in their leaders and on employees’ organizational citizenship behavior. Cognitive and affective trust also mediated the relationships of benevolent and moral leadership styles with organizational citizenship behavior. Originality/value The study’s findings urge practitioners and human resources personnel to be aware of the dual effects that a paternalistic leader has on employees. To be specific, benevolent and moral leadership styles are conducive to employees’ work outcomes, whereas the authoritarian leadership style has a non-significant role in employees’ work outcomes.fals