Quality local government : the implementation and application of quality strategies in Rotorua District Council : a case study : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy at Massey University

This report is a critical analysis of Quality Initiatives, which have been implemented by the Rotorua District Council. It covers Total Quality Management theories and framework, which have been developed within the framework of existing literature and publications, both in New Zealand and on the international scene. The purpose of this research is to define the term Quality, and its relevance in respect to Territorial Local Authorities in New Zealand. The author intends to ultimately provide Rotorua District Council with an integrated approach to lead the organisation down a path of Quality, and in so doing address both legislative and community requirements and needs. The research proposes a conceptual framework and process superstructure for enacting Theme F of the organisation's strategic framework (Appendix A). In order to achieve the above, the case study method has been adopted, while the literature of quality management theory, and quality management within public sector organisations, was used as the framework for analysis and discussion. Examples of quality initiatives undertaken at the Rotorua District Council are critically analysed, including additional information that was collated using informal interviews of existing staff to supplement the study. The relevance of legislative requirements is also discussed, using the new Local Government Act 2OO2 as the major cornerstone to emphasise the requirement of Local Government to follow the quality path

Responsible conduct of research: Do we need training in fraud-science?

In this evidence-based opinion piece on responsible conduct of research a short overview of the most prominent recent cases of sanctioned scientific misconduct, developments in the field of responsible conduct of research, definitions of types of scientific misconduct, and questionable research practices is given. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of scientists to publish and perform research is discussed, as well as the perception of fraud, its acceptability and infl uence on science and the scientific (public) record, with a special emphasis on the frequency of sanctioned and discovered fraudulent research. Data on (self)reported willingness to perform misconduct and questionable research practices are analyzed and discussed. An extensive overview on recent publications concerning topics of responsible conduct of research is presented. Finally, some suggestions to what the stakeholders could do are given, as well as easy (self)checks against scientific misconduct

Navigating the Use of ChatGPT in Classrooms: A Study of Student Experiences

Amidst growing concerns about ChatGPT-facilitated academic misconduct, universities are grappling with laying out clear guidelines, leaving students and academics in a state of confusion. In this milieu, the study delves into students\u27 perspectives to investigate their engagement with ChatGPT thus far, using Grounded Theory Method to analyze their behavior. Our findings reveal that ChatGPT can significantly enhance learning experiences when used appropriately. The tool\u27s conversational abilities allow students to tailor their interactions, fostering personalized learning and promoting inclusivity. However, a multitude of factors, including sociocultural influences, academic context-driven skepticism, and the tool\u27s limitations, shape students\u27 interactions with ChatGPT. Our study highlights the opportunities ChatGPT presents for technology-enhanced learning while acknowledging the challenges it poses to the academic landscape, paving the way for better-informed policies on the use of AI in higher education

Oil bodies isolated from Brassica napus mature seed

Abstract only availablePlants store seed triacylglycerols in discrete lipid monolayer storage organelles called oil bodies. Only two proteins have been characterized from oil bodies, namely oleosin and caleosin, which are both integral membrane proteins. To better understand the protein composition this organelle, oil bodies were isolated from Brassica napus (cultivar westar) mature seed. Oil bodies were isolated using two published methods that utilize phase separation in aqueous media. Method 1 employed iterative washes in aqueous media containing sucrose, and 2M NaCl while method 2 made use of only one type of aqueous media (minus NaCl) put through multiple washes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed method 1 to yield isolated oil bodies with higher purity based on the absence of the storage protein napin that was present in the total protein of isolated oil bodies from method 2. The oil bodies isolated with method 1 were subjected to washes in 2M NaCl or 8M urea to determine the nature of protein association to oil bodies. The isolated oil bodies were fractionated through petroleum ether to extract neutral lipids (triacylglycerols) that are contained by the monolayer membrane. Polar lipids were then extracted with chloroform/methanol. The interfacial pad which contained the associated proteins was suspended in water, sonicated, and subjected to acetone precipitation. Analysis of salt and urea washed oil body proteins by SDS-PAGE revealed abundant bands of the proper molecular weight for oleosins as well as at least 10 other additional proteins. Identification of these proteins by mass spectrometry will reveal novel proteins associated with oil bodies.Plant Genomics Internship @ M

Gaining insight into the role of serine 282 in B. napus FAE1 condensing enzyme

AbstractTo gain some insight whether there is an absolute requirement for the serine 282 to yield a functional fatty acid elongase 1 condensing enzyme we have introduced point mutations in the FAE1 coding sequence which led to the substitution of serine 282 with several aliphatic or aromatic amino acids. The mutated FAE1 polypeptides were expressed in yeast. Gas chromatography analyses of the fatty acid methyl esters from yeast lysates and fatty acid elongase activity assays demonstrated that there is not an absolute requirement for serine at position 282 to yield a functional FAE1 condensing enzyme

Wear resistance improvement of thermal plant fan mill impact plates based on numerical flow simulation

Numerical simulation of 3D multiphase flow is performed to determine the velocity field in the fan mill. The mixture model of the Euler-Euler approach is used. Recirculating gas is a primary phase that carries granular phases including the coal powder and sand. The latter causes heavy wear of mill impact plates. The optimal form of hardfacing geometry and technology has an impact both on velocity magnitude and direction of flow in such a way as to reduce plate wear. This paper presents results of surface modification (based on numerical simulation), implemented on impact plates of the fan mill in the Kostolac B power plant in Serbia. Fishbone hardfacing is made in order to increase the lifetime of impact plates and extend the period between overhauls of fan mills. The experimental tests of fishbone surfacing plates, in exploitation conditions, show that the applied modification, hardfacing technologies and coating materials, give expected results. The application of this hardfacing in the form of a fishbone is simpler, faster and more economical compared to complete overlaying and honeycomb impact plate surfacing. The relative weight loss of base plate after an 1440-hour period of exploitation is 8%, while the weight losses for the hard-faced plate is below 7%

Chemoecological studies on marine natural products: terpene chemistry from marine mollusks

Some species of nudibranchs (Mollusca) protect themselves from predatory attacks by storing defensive terpene chemicals acquired from dietary sponges (Porifera) in specialized body parts called MDFs (mantle dermal formations), often advertising their unpalatability to potential predators by means of bright coloration patterns. Consequently, the survival of these trophic specialist species is closely related to the possibility of obtaining the defensive tools from sponges that live in their immediate vicinity; therefore, it is important to determine as precisely as possible the chemical composition of nudibranch extracts prior to any ecological studies addressing issues that involve their alimentary behavior and their defensive strategies, including the significance of their color patterns. Some of our recent studies on the chemical composition of terpene extracts from nudibranchs belonging to the genera Chromodoris and Hypselodoris are summarized. We also report the development of a method to assay extracts and purified metabolites for their feeding deterrent activity against co-occurring generalist predators. In a recent chemoecological study, showing that repugnant terpene chemicals are accumulated at extremely high concentrations in exposed parts of the nudibranchs' bodies, the feeding deterrence assays were carried out on the generalist marine shrimp Palaemon elegans, very common in the Mediterranean. We have modified this assay for use with the Australian shrimp species P. serenus, and confirmed the ecological validity of the assay by analysis of extracts from species of sponges and mollusks that live in the same habitat as P. serenus. The deterrent properties of haliclonacyclamine alkaloids isolated from the sponge Haliclona sp. were demonstrated, with the alkaloid mixture demonstrating palatability deterrence at concentrations as low as 0.05 mg/mL, and complete deterrence at 0.75 mg/mL. In contrast, the diterpene thuridillin metabolites from the sacoglossan mollusk Thuridilla splendens did not deter feeding by P. serenus

Wear resistance improvement of thermal plant fan mill impact plates based on numerical flow simulation

Numerical simulation of 3D multiphase flow is performed to determine the velocity field in the fan mill. The mixture model of the Euler-Euler approach is used. Recirculating gas is a primary phase that carries granular phases including the coal powder and sand. The latter causes heavy wear of mill impact plates. The optimal form of hardfacing geometry and technology has an impact both on velocity magnitude and direction of flow in such a way as to reduce plate wear. This paper presents results of surface modification (based on numerical simulation), implemented on impact plates of the fan mill in the Kostolac B power plant in Serbia. Fishbone hardfacing is made in order to increase the lifetime of impact plates and extend the period between overhauls of fan mills. The experimental tests of fishbone surfacing plates, in exploitation conditions, show that the applied modification, hardfacing technologies and coating materials, give expected results. The application of this hardfacing in the form of a fishbone is simpler, faster and more economical compared to complete overlaying and honeycomb impact plate surfacing. The relative weight loss of base plate after an 1440-hour period of exploitation is 8%, while the weight losses for the hard-faced plate is below 7%

Manipulating resource allocation in plants

The distribution of nutrients and assimilates in different organs and tissues is in a constant state of flux throughout the growth and development of a plant. At key stages during the life cycle profound changes occur, and perhaps one of the most critical of these is during seed filling. By restricting the competition for reserves in Arabidopsis plants, the ability to manipulate seed size, seed weight, or seed content has been explored. Removal of secondary inflorescences and lateral branches resulted in a stimulation of elongation of the primary inflorescence and an increase in the distance between siliques. The pruning treatment also led to the development of longer and larger siliques that contained fewer, bigger seeds. This seems to be a consequence of a reduction in the number of ovules that develop and an increase in the fatty acid content of the seeds that mature. The data show that shoot architecture could have a substantial impact on the partitioning of reserves between vegetative and reproductive tissues and could be an important trait for selection in rapid phenotyping screens to optimize crop performance