Factors affecting the establishment of Leptospermum scoparium J.R. et G. Forst. (manuka) : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Massey University

L. scoparium is one of New Zealand's most important weeds of unploughable infertile hill country. The plant is an indigenous shrub, characteristic of the early stages of succession to forest in a wide range of habitats (Cockayne, 1928). In the eight years prior to 1959/60 nearly 40,000 acres of unimproved grassland reverted to scrub, fern and second growth each year. L. scoparium is one of the most important components of the scrub, fern and second growth category. By 1959/60 the total area of reverted land in New Zealand was 5.7 million acres of which 3.65 million were in the North Island. (Rigg, 1962). Control of L. scoparium on unploughable hill country has been limited to pulling, cutting, or cutting and burning, depending on stage of growth. Chemical methods and standing burns have generally proved unsuccessful. Most methods are expensive. Levy (1932, 1940, 1946) postulated that establishment of L. scoparium in pasture could be prevented by good farming techniques. Today there is a growing body of practical evidence to support this hypothesis (Suckling, 1959; New Zealand Farmer 83 (42, 43, 45)). This study was carried out to determine what intrinsic factors favour the establishment of L. scoparium, and the quantitative effect of farm management techniques on this process

Traction for low back pain, the evidence is flawed : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters of Health Science (MHlthSci) in Environmental Health at Massey University Campus, Wellington, New Zealand

Research suggests the burden of low back pain is growing despite recent advances in investigative technology and the explosion in research. Evidence based practice is necessary within physiotherapy. However, the best evidence component must be clinically appropriate, accurate, and grounded within pertinent research. The selection of participants and the methodological designs of the studies must be appropriate to provide results valid to everyday clinical practice. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses consider primary research to critically analyse research questions, and formulate scientific conclusions on the efficacy of interventions. These research derived conclusions then inform clinical practice guidelines which are envisioned to improve clinical practice. These guidelines are also utilised by educational facilities to flavour their curriculum, and by insurance and governmental policy writers in accrediting specific interventions. Information from today will dictate the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of future graduates, and determine approved treatment options. The reported negative conclusions on the efficacy of traction as an intervention for low back pain have resulted in traction no longer being recommended within clinical practice guidelines, any remaining sporadic use questioned by professional colleagues and policy writers, and it no longer taught at undergraduate level. This is despite its long history, popularity amongst some practitioners, anecdotal evidence supporting its use in the clinical setting, and its demonstrable effects in scientific studies. This masters project argues that the cause of the disparity lies within incongruous study designs, which are not valid to clinical practice. Specifically, caused by the misappropriation of historical definitions and classifications vis-à-vis low back pain cohorts. This has resulted in substantial heterogeneity within study populations themselves, both between groups and between studies, which along with other methodological flaws and inappropriate reporting, has given rise to unwarranted conclusions. These fundamental errors have made the conclusions of scientific trials, systematic reviews, and clinical practice guidelines erroneous, and inapplicable to everyday clinical practice. The ‘evidence based’ recommendations of th

A physiological investigation of the adaptive significance of juvenility in Pennantia corymbosa Forst : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Botany at Massey University

The responses of the juvenile and adult growth forms of Pennantia corymbosa Forst. to a range of light intensities, leaf temperatures, shoot water potentials and wind velocities were investigated. Results tend to indicate that the small-leafed divaricating juvenile is better adapted to open habitats than the adult. Responses to light intensity were similar for both growth forms. Measurements of photosynthetic rates at various light intensities after pretreatment at low and high irradiances revealed little difference in response between juvenile and adult, with both showing a similar increase in photosynthetic rates and light saturation points after the pretreatment light intensity was increased. Granal stacking in chloroplasts from juvenile and adult leaf palisade was reduced after growth at the higher pretreatment light intensity to the same extent in juveniles and adults. Solarization, despite the presence of a hypodermis, was greater in the adult, while the activity of Ribulose -1,5- diphosphate carboxylase was greater in the juvenile. The indication that the juvenile is better adapted to open habitats is also supported by the results of experiments into the response of photosynthetic rates to a range of temperatures. The data revealed a higher mean temperature optimum for the juvenile than for the adult leaves (21°C c.f. 18°C). The hypothesis that the juvenile might be better adapted to edaphic water stress was tested by withholding water for 14 days and measuring the rates of photosynthesis and transpiration as shoot water potential decreased. Rates of photosynthesis and transpiration declined in both juvenile and adult leaves as shoot water potential decreased. However, the juvenile was able to maintain a higher rate of photosynthesis at comparable low water potentials than the adult which indicates that the juvenile is the more drought tolerant of the two. Leaves of the juvenile also retain water better than those of the adult under moderately windy conditions. When plants were grown in a wind tunnel at wind speeds of up to 12 m secˉ¹ stomatal closure (as measured using a leaf diffusion resistance meter) occurred at lower wind speeds in the juvenile than the adult leaves. The results obtained during this investigation thus support the hypothesis that the small-leafed divaricating juvenile of Pennantia is better adapted to a dry, exposed habitat than is the large-leafed orthotropic adult

Managing sustainability risks in fashion supply chains

Paper presented at Logistics Research Network Annual Conference 2014, 3rd-5th September 2014, Huddersfield. Abstract: Much has been written about fashion supply chains in recent years pertaining to the offshoring of production and sourcing by UK retailers to other countries including inter alia Asia as well as the attendant risks to such activities. There is ample evidence suggesting that businesses can experience disruptions from sustainability issues that are pertaining in their supply chains. Also, there is an increasing focus on sustainability issues in global businesses and fashion supply chains are not immune to these issues, particularly when wider issues of corporate and social responsibility are included. And yet, the consideration of sustainability and its impact on risk pertaining to the fashion supply chains have not been actively pursued. Moreover little is known about how sustainability issues manifest themselves as risks. Further, the lack of sustainability risk conceptualization hinders the development of sustainability risk management framework which is critical to all but specifically to the global fashion supply chains to survive and compete in a volatile and demand driven sector. This paper presents a proposal for a PhD research study at the Logistics Institute, Hull University Business School investigating this interaction

Exploring quantitative skills provision in European logistics and supply chain education

Paper presented at 20th ISL, 5th – 8th July 2015, Bologna Italy Abstract: Logistics comprises functional ‘stop’ and ‘go’ activities such as warehousing, inventory management and transport, and logistics strategy has focussed on making these activities more efficient, effective and relevant (Grant, 2012). Techniques for doing so require quantitative skills for logistical system design and analysis and hence logisticians should possess a degree of quantitative skills to undertake these tasks. The broader concept of supply chain management (SCM) includes developing and managing relationships with stakeholders, internally and externally, along the supply chain– such stakeholders include shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and possibly even competitors in collaborative opportunities. Accordingly, both logisticians and supply chain managers should also embrace ‘softer’ management and less quantitative skills in order to achieve these functions. However, this is not to say that both types of skills are not required at all levels

A planned study of the impact of B2C logistics service quality on shopper satisfaction and loyalty

Purpose of the paper: This paper reports on an in-progress study of the impact of business to consumer (B2C) logistics service quality (LSQ) on in-store shopper satisfaction and loyalty. Methodology: A comparative research approach is being used across the UK, France and Germany to also investigate country-specific differences of consumer shopping behaviour and channel strategies. The first stage, in-line with a deliberate integrated supply chain approach, consists of structured in-depth interviews conducted with managers at the producer/retailer interface, e.g. producer category captains and retail category managers. This qualitative stage will be followed-up by a quantitative survey stage targeting consumers as shoppers to determine how their expectations of retail LSQ and associated activities influence their satisfaction and ongoing loyalty. Findings: A broad literature review has generated over 40 variables of interest for both LSQ and loyalty, and almost 10 variables of satisfaction. This study will contribute theoretically by considering a B2C setting for LSQ, which is the final aspect of point of origin to point-of-consumption, whereas most general LSQ literature and LSQ’s impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty has been dominated by business to business (B2B) designs from point-of-origin to point of sale, that is they assume consumer expectations are a given or a different domain. Research limitations: Although covering three major European grocery retail markets, this study might not be considered as representative, especially when adopting a world-wide perspective. Practical implications: As this study emphasises consequences of B2C LSQ on downstream or consumer satisfaction and loyalty, rather than considering the upstream origins of related problems that dominate extant research, it will contribute practically by providing managers with an understanding of the components of LSQ considered critical by consumers

Trends in the Health of Young Children in California

Analyzes trends in key health indicators for California's 0- to 5-year-olds -- including health insurance status and type, source of care, and percentage of overweight children -- by family income and race/ethnicity. Makes recommendations

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations: A Commentary (Part Two)

Second in a series of articles examining the ConsumerProtection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and their impact upon the travel industry in the UK