Civilised men -- members of the craft : Freemasonry in Auckland to the formation of the Grand Lodge of New Zealandin 1890 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History at Massey University

The public's fascination with freemasonry seems endless. Freemasons are variously believed to be members of a mysterious brotherhood of enormous influence, a secret society believed to have its roots in the order of the Knights Templar or the Egyptian pyramids and a sect involved in sacrilegious rites. Most will know of the periodic attacks upon freemasonry - claims that it is a secret society of men who conspire to help each other against the rest of the world, that they recognise each other by secret signs and then extend favours, even though this may be in conflict with their public duties - and the response of freemasons that their overriding duty is to obey the law. Their meetings, at which the rich symbolism of freemasonry is displayed in the course of the ceremonies, which are inspiring rituals to their members, may seem to be silly nonsense and play-acting to laymen. Freemasonry was one of the earliest social institutions to appear in Auckland and its members were active and influential. Whenever freemasons are mentioned in Auckland today, almost everyone claims to have had a predecessor who was a freemason. Many people recall seeing a father, grandfather or uncle going to lodge meetings carrying a thin case and wearing a dark suit and wondering what happened when the door of the lodge building closed behind them. On 7th October 1769 Sir Joseph Banks, who paid for his passage on Captain Cook's first voyage, was the first freemason to sight New Zealand. It was inevitable that those who chose to seek a new life in the colony would include a number of masonic brethren who saw themselves as enlightened, peace-loving and the practitioners of social equity, whose purpose was to exert the influence of freemasonry in this new colony which had been claimed for civilisation. As one of the first organised social institutions in the new colony, freemasonry had the benefit of being an already established fraternity with a tried and tested constitution. While the instigators of the first masonic lodges in New Zealand were men of means and influence (early members included lawyers, engineers, architects, civil servants and merchants) they struggled in the first fifteen years to attract members to their fraternity as men used their energy to build homes and businesses. From about 1850, freemasonry enjoyed a period of rapid expansion, and they attracted a new type of membership. Occupations were then recorded as shopkeeper, school teacher, shipping clerk, butcher, carrier and gardener. In the 1870s occupational changes of political or economic origin saw less of the workforce involved in defence and a rising proportion concerned with commerce, transport, trades and services. Local activities began to provide private rather than public services in the processing and distribution of food and clothing and businesses were started by people with very little capital. 1 R.C. J. Stone, Makers of Fortune: A Colonial Business Community And its Fall, Auckland: Auckland University Press, Oxford University Press, 1973, p.3

The Impact of the Number of Dual Enrollment Credits on Racial Minority Students’ Completion Time at Five Virginia Community Colleges

The five-year college completion rate for students of color can be 15-20% lower than it is for White students (Fink, Jenkins, & Yanaglura, 2017). Dual enrollment courses have been researched as a predictor of college completion (Taylor, 2015), but fewer racial minority students enroll in dual enrollment courses; this enrollment disparity affects their college preparedness skills and may lead to lower college persistence and graduation rates (Evenbeck & Johnson, 2012). Despite the benefits dual enrollment courses could provide to racial minority students, few studies have examined the differences in college completion outcomes between racial minority and majority dual enrollment students (An, 2013; Pretlow & Wathington, 2014). Participants in the current study included 292 dual enrollment students who attended one of five Virginia community colleges and completed an associate’s degree or certificate. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression to calculate the impact that the number of dual enrollment credits had on racial minorities’ college completion time. Control variables included gender, socioeconomic status, rural or urban college location, first-generation college status, and college degree program. Dual enrollment students expedited their completion time by 1.706% for every dual enrollment credit completed. Students completed an average of 10.817 credits which decreased their college completion time by 18.45%. There was a not a significant difference in completion time between the racial majority students (White and Asian students) and racial minority students (Black, Hispanic, and students of more than one race) who dual enrolled (b = 19.600, p = .111)

Experiences With Peace Corps’ Third Goal: Perspectives Of Peace Corps Mali Volunteers

When asked what the best part of their service was, the large majority of Peace Corps Volunteers will light up as they describe a cross-cultural experience or relationship. Peace Corps Volunteers want to share these sentiments with Americans. I conducted a qualitative case study by interviewing three fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and evaluating 35 survey responses, in order to explore Peace Corps Volunteers’ perceptions of Peace Corps’ Third Goal- to share a host country culture with Americans. The interviews were transcribed and then compared and contrasted. From the interviews and survey findings, it has been found that the Peace Corps Mali training program and interactions with Peace Corps Staff gives the impression that Goal 3 is not as important to meet as Goal 1- skills exchange and project development; Volunteers are not trained on techniques to share their experiences responsibly; Volunteers do not consider cultural exchanges as satisfying “work” due to its perceived, abstract nature in measuring the outcomes; and that the frustrations related to Goal 3 are also contributing to Volunteers carrying out unsustainable projects. It is concluded that the implementation of the recommendations of this study would put an action to Peace Corps Director Aaron William’s words of Goal 3 as one of his top priorities, showing Volunteers in the best way that Peace Corps believes all their goals carry equal weight of importance. Additionally, the lack in promotion of the importance of Goal 3 does not start in Peace Corps training, it comes from the culture of “Development” and American values, leaving Volunteers at a loss for how to meet Goal 3 successfully

Proteolytic processing of platelet receptors

Platelets have a major role in hemostasis and an emerging role in biological processes including inflammation and immunity. Many of these processes require platelet adhesion and localization at sites of tissue damage or infection and regulated platelet activation, mediated by platelet adheso-signalling receptors, glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V and GPVI. Work from a number of laboratories has demonstrated that levels of these receptors are closely regulated by metalloproteinases of the A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAM) family, primarily ADAM17 and ADAM10. It is becoming increasingly evident that platelets have important roles in innate immunity, inflammation, and in combating infection that extends beyond processes of hemostasis. This overview will examine the molecular events that regulate levels of platelet receptors and then assess ramifications for these events in settings where hemostasis, inflammation, and infection processes are triggered.This work was supported by funds from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the National Blood Authority and ACT Health

Commentary: Matrix metalloproteinase-13 unlucky for the forming thrombus

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are calcium‐dependent zinc‐containing endoproteases involved in extracellular matrix and non‐matrix protein degradation.1 In the latest issue of Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Howes and colleagues2 investigated the role of MMP‐13 in platelet aggregation and thrombus formation and identified that MMP‐13 could engage important platelet receptors and influence platelet function in vitro. MMP‐13 is of great cardiovascular interest as expression of this metalloproteinase is significantly upregulated in a host of atherothrombotic and inflammatory conditions.

Narratiewe pastorale terapie met broodwinners tydens 'n rasionaliseringsproses

Text in AfrikaansHierdie navorsing is gerig op die aanwending van narratiewe pastorale terapie met breadwinners wat werksonsekerheid tydens 'n rasionaliseringsproses ervaar. Die studie is kwalitatief van aard en is gebaseer op narratiewe pastorale gesprekvoerlng esook die proses van meervoudige refleksie waardeur die navorsing gerig en aangepas word. As navorser was ek deelnemer in die proses van verandering waarin veralgemening genegeer is en die rol van persoonlike kennis beklemtoon is. Die terapie is gerig op proaktiewe optrede tydens die rasionaliseringsproses en is ten opsigte van elkeen van die deelnemers aangewend in pasmaakgesprekke waartydens hul unieke behoefles aandag geniet het. Deur die metode van eksternalisering is die invloed van werksonsekerheid op die deelnemers geeksploreer en is hulie aangemoedig om in 'n ander verhouding tot die probleem van werksonsekerheid le staan. Namate die deelnemers tydens hierdie proses belangrike skuiwe op die vlak van identiteit gemaak het, ken hulie die toekoms met nuwe hoop bejeen.The research was directed at the application of narrative pastoral therapy with breadwinners experiencing job insecurity during a process of rationalisation. This qualitative study was based on narrative pastoral conversations as well as the process of multiple reflection through which the research was directed and adapted. As researcher, I was a participant in the process of change in which generalisations were negated and the role of personal knowledge emphasised. The therapy was directed at proactive action during the rationalisation process and was applied in respect of each of the participants in a customised conversation. The influence of job insecurity on the participants was explored through the method of externalisation and they were encouraged to adopt a new relationship to the problem of job insecurity. In the process, as each participant made important shifts on the level of identity, they wera able to view the future with new hope.Philosophy, Practical and Systematic TheologyM. Th. (Praktiese Teologie (Pastorale Terapie)

Development of a method for the simultaneous detection of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) in exhaled breath condensate samples using μLC-ICP-MS

The method described in this study is a robust and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of trivalent and hexavalent chromium (Cr(III) and Cr(VI)) in an exhaled breath condensate (EBC) sample and drinking water proficiency testing material sample. The method uses a hyphenated micro liquid chromatography (mLC) system coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The optimised method incorporates a pH adjusted EDTA complexation step to stabilise Cr(VI) and Cr(III). Separation was achieved using an anion exchange micro-sized column. The limits of quantification were 0.040 mg L-1 and 0.013 mg L-1 for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) respectively. EBC is the non-invasive collection of condensate from cooled exhaled breath during regular tidal breathing. We propose that EBC may be a suitable alternative biological matrix to give a more comprehensive picture of exposure to Cr(VI) following an inhalation exposure. This study shows that water samples and EBC samples containing Cr(III) and Cr(VI) can be stored in the fridge (~4 C) for up to 6 weeks when they have been diluted 10 fold with an EDTA solution, and that EBC samples must not be frozen after collection if the integrity of Cr(VI) is to be maintained. This study has demonstrated a practical approach to collecting EBC samples from workers potentially occupationally exposed to hexavalent chromium and that the integrity of the chromium species will be maintained prior to analysis

The simultaneous detection of trivalent & hexavalent chromium in exhaled breath condensate: A feasibility study comparing workers and controls

The analytical method outlined in this feasibility study has been used to show that trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) can be detected and measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples. EBC samples and urine samples were collected from a cohort of 58 workers occupationally exposed to hexavalent chromium compounds and 22 unexposed volunteers (control group). Levels of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were determined in EBC samples and total chromium levels were determined in urine samples. Pre and post working week samples for both EBC and urine were collected in tandem. Total chromium in urine samples was analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Analysis of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in EBC samples used a hyphenated micro liquid chromatography (μLC) system coupled to an ICP-MS. Separation was achieved using an anion exchange micro-sized column. The results showed that the occupationally exposed workers had significantly higher levels of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in their EBC samples than the control group, as well as higher levels of total chromium in their urine samples. However, for the exposed workers no significant difference was found between pre and post working week EBC samples for either Cr(III) or Cr(VI). This study has established that Cr(III) and Cr(VI) can simultaneously be detected and measured in 'real' EBC samples and will help in understanding inhalation exposure