The application of network analysis to assess the structure and function of aquatic food webs : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

The health of aquatic communities is under threat globally by anthropogenic impacts. A healthy ecological community is one that maintains its structure and function over time in the face of disturbance (i.e., they are stable). If we are to effectively monitor change in ecological health and instigate appropriate environmental management responses, then we first need to measure ecological health appropriately. Most methods of indicating ecological health in rivers measure structural aspects of a community, with little attention given to functional aspects. Ecological network analysis (ENA) provides a range of food web metrics that can measure both structural and functional aspects of ecological communities. The aim of this thesis was to apply ENA metrics to assess the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems and explore how they may change with habitat. In a general comparison of aquatic ecosystems, I found that rivers, lakes and estuaries have structurally similar food webs, except have lower neighbourhood connectivity which is reminiscent of unstable habitats. Through species extinction simulations of aquatic energy flow networks, I showed that aquatic food webs were most stable when trophic cascades were weak and average trophic levels were small. In examining the effects of riparian deforestation in Taranaki rivers, dietary changes altered the structure of riverine macroinvertebrate communities considerably and drove greater community respiration. In the Hutt River, I modelled changes in the biomass of trout (exotic predator) and periphyton, and showed that more periphyton, but not more trout, can result in greater community temporal variability. Furthermore, increased trout and periphyton can drive more interspecific competition. I also demonstrated the need for managers to consider the impacts of decisions on adjacent ecosystems as well as target ecosystem by showing that the Hutt River and Wellington Harbour respond substantially different to increases in algal biomass. Finally in rivers differing in nutrient enrichment the Manawatu, I showed that food webs in enriched rivers may be more stable to random species loss but more susceptible to species loss from floods. Similarly to riparian deforestation, highly enriched rivers had greater community respiration (excluding microbial activity), which may exacerbate hypoxic conditions and drive the loss of sensitive species

IIMI style guide

Documentation / Style manuals / Communication

Transport innovation and areal association in the Manawatu dairy industry : the role of transport from before 1880 to the present day and the impact of innovation in the areal association between supplier and factory and between factory and factory : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University

For the New Zealand dairy industry, "the principal - one might say the only important disadvantage - was the obstacle of distance...." (Philpott, 1937:11) Although concerned here with the difficulties of overseas transport, (he suggested that time and invention had largely overcome the obstacles of distance) the comment is equally applicable to the difficulties of internal transport. Transport is an important element in dairying but appears to have attracted little attention from researchers. A review of the history of dairying reveals a series of development phases, each of which appears related to transport developments. The first part of this thesis, then, is an historical review of the period from before 1880 to the present day with particular emphasis upon transport methods and innovations. Emphasis has been given, however, to developments at tho factory rather than the farm level. From a consideration of these historical developments, it becomes increasingly evident that each phase has been associated with distinctive patterns of land use and the development of specialised dairying "regions"

The reasons why women with small for gestational age babies stop breastfeeding : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Midwifery at Massey University

There has been a multitude of research literature on breastfeeding benefits, incidence and duration of breastfeeding, characteristics of women who breastfeed and formula feed, and variables associated with breastfeeding initiation and success in the 'general' breastfeeding population. Unfortunately there has been very little written about breastfeeding in women who deliver small for gestational age (SGA) babies. The literature has demonstrated that women with SGA babies have different characteristics to women in the general breastfeeding population as illustrated in the adjacent literature review. The literature review, which accompanies this thesis, has highlighted the multiple advantages associated with breastfeeding, which may be particularly beneficial for SGA babies. Whether women delivering SGA babies have different breastfeeding experiences, or reasons for discontinuing breastfeeding, however has never been investigated. The research presented in this thesis is part of a randomised-controlled trial entitled "The effect of educational information on the duration of breastfeeding in small for gestational age babies". Only one arm of this larger study has been analysed due to the restraints of a 75-point thesis. The full program of study is in progress. The primary aim of this arm was to determine why women with small for gestation age babies stop breastfeeding. Other influences on breastfeeding success were also investigated to determine if these external influences were statistically significant. The findings from this research project have demonstrated that women with SGA babies have the same breastfeeding concerns as women in the general breastfeeding population. The most commonly cited reason for stopping breastfeeding were concerns about 'not enough milk'. Forty four percent of the women cited the midwife as being the most 'valuable' support with their breastfeeding experience. Overall the women with SGA babies had very good breastfeeding rates at 3 and 6 months postnatally compared with the general breastfeeding population statistics. This is a credit to the midwives caring for these women and babies and may also be related to the fact that term SGA babies have been undernourished in utero and can often be hungry babies with 'catching up' to do. These research findings also support the idea that the introduction of supplementary bottles administered on the postnatal wards can have a detrimental effect on future breastfeeding success. However, small for gestational age infants are at increased risk of hypoglycaemia and supplemental feeding may be necessary if the infant is feeding poorly or shows evidence of hypoglycaemia. Any strategies that can improve the breastfeeding duration for SGA infants can result in a wide range of health benefits. The adjacent literature review demonstrates that breastfeeding is the best form of infant feeding and may be even more so for small term babies

Coping with and adjusting to mastectomy and widowhood : a comparative study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

A comparison of two cross-sectional surveys of thirty women who had undergone mastectomy with thirty widows established that both losses were met with a similar initial grief reaction which moved through the stages of denial, alarm reaction, realisation and resolution, and manifesting most of the features of the normal acute grief reaction as outlined by Lindemann (1944). Significant differences between the samples in the duration of the reaction were established however. Fantasies of rejection and stigmatisation on the part of the women who had had mastectomies were not realised. Women in supportive primary relationships who regained and maintained physical health reported that they quickly re-established a normal outward lifestyle. Breast loss was not found to affect all other aspects of the woman's life in the same way as the loss of a husband does. Many women reported combinations of complex feelings in their intimate relationships, and attributed their being able to manage these emotions and confine them mainly to the physical realm, to the acceptance and support of their husbands. Most of the mastectomy sample reported that the threat of a recurrence of cancer and its possible consequences was sufficient to be the focus of long periods of intense and painful preoccupation, and remained with them to some degree, but so long as they remained physically well they were usually able to employ a denial strategy and not dwell upon the matter. Widows and those in less supportive marriage situations within the mastectomy sample coped least well with their loss, were prone to prolonged invalidism, were less satisfied with their breast prostheses, seemed to be less motivated to resume a normal life-style and were less able to control their emotions. For widows mastectomy reactivated and intensified their reaction to the loss of their husband. Women confronting mastectomy appeared to be able to make some use of forewarning as indicated by a reported absence of emotional numbing at the time of the actual loss on the part of half of the sample. Widows did not appear to be able to similarly guard against initial emotional numbing. Forewarning could not be demonstrated to influence subsequent adjustment to loss in either circumstances

A modular methodology for converting large, complex books into usable, accessible and standards-compliant ebooks

This report describes the methodology used for ebook creation for the Glasgow Digital Library (GDL), and provides detailed instructions on how the same methodology could be used elsewhere. The document includes a description and explanation of the processes for ebook creation followed by a tutorial

Holy pharma! : healthism discourses in a pharmaceutical advertising website : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

Pages 123 and 143 are missing from the original copy.Modern changes in the public health philosophy and government legislation reflect a desire of health for all. The changes support a new healthism ideology that controls the experience and definition of health. Scholars parallel the function of healthism to that of a religion that meets the needs of a modern secular culture. This study examines a pharmaceutical advertising website, taking a social constructionist stance to investigate dominant representations of healthism and any parallels to the values and practices of Western religion. The website selected is published by a pharmaceutical marketing group that has been disseminating health and product information for l0 years. The installment of March-April 2009 was examined in its entirety. A critical discourse analytic approach drawing on Durkheim and Foucault was adopted to analyse texts, images, and videos. Particular attention was given to the similarities and differences of healthism and religion in terms, meanings, subject positioning and function. Results show healthism to parallel religion in its construction as information, instruction and ritual practice. The expert discourse within healthism promotes a morality that parallels and deviates from religious values with a turn toward the value of the self. This expert discourse informs healthism discourses, constructing a doctrine of unquestionable behaviours that legitimate ritualized health practices. When viewed as an integral entity, the form, content, and function of healthism in pharmaceutical advertising takes on the religious connectivity of values, beliefs and practices that underlies all social life. The website is an intense concentration of coercive and symbolic power to inform the institutionalized social system ofs healthism

The eighteenth-century review journal as allegory: Smollett’s <i>Critical Review</i> and the work of criticism

One way to read an eighteenth-century review journal would be for the critical judgments that it contains. This essay argues, instead, that it should be read as allegory. The essay focuses on the Critical Review, established by Tobias Smollett in 1756, with the (impossible) aim to review everything, and explores how it appears both as what it is and in what it is not. Placed alongside Smollett’s other works of instalment and translation, what is disclosed by the Critical Review is a new work: the work of criticism itself