The variation in pressures exerted by commercially available compression garments

Commercially available compression garments (CGs) demonstrate the enhanced recovery from exercise in some, but not all studies. It is possible that in some cases the degree of compression pressure (ComP) exerted is not sufficient to produce any physiological benefit. The aim of this investigation was to identify the levels of ComP exerted by commercially available CGs. This study was composed of two parts. In part A 50 healthy, physically active individuals (n=26 male, n=24 female) were fitted with CGs according to manufacturer’s guidelines. ComP was measured in participants standing in the anatomical position with a pressure measurement device inserted between the skin and the garment. Data were compared to ‘ideal’ pressure values proposed in the literature. In part B ComP in three different brands of CG were compared in a population of 29 men who all wore a medium sized garment. A one way ANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference (P0.05) between observed and ideal pressures in the calf of the male population. No significant differences in pressure (P>0.05) were observed between CG brands at the quadriceps or calf. In conclusion a large number of individuals may not be experiencing an adequate ComP from CG, and this is true for all 3 of the major brands of CGs tested in this investigation

Finnish Developmental Work Research (Dwr) – A Powerful Research Paradigm With Policy Possibilities?

Finnish Developmental Work Research (DWR) has been used in New Zealand by WEB Research, who have been world leading exponents of the approach. Over a twenty year period they used the approach in such varied research locales as the public sector (IRD, Immigration, NZQA), public/private organizations (Dutch Rail; the New Zealand Pip Fruit and Dairy Industries), and the private sector (a furniture manufacturer, two meat companies; and in the Wool and Meat Industries).However, the requirements of the approach, and of Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) on which it is based, often did not sit comfortably with the New Zealand research environment at the end of the twentieth century. Consequently, sometimes research was foreclosed early before full results were apparent.This presentation will review the original DWR research approach and WEB’s use of it. It will then contrast two recent New Zealand primary industry applications in the Pip Fruit and Dairy Industries. The former led to spectacular policy success with the development and adoption of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme. The latter’s research component has been terminated. Application of the research results now rests with DairyNZ, the sponsors of the project, who have taken the extension of the research into their own hands. Conclusions are drawn on the key components of a successful application of the approach

Microscopic heat from the energetics of stochastic phenomena

The energetics of the stochastic process has shown the balance of energy on the mesoscopic level. The heat and the energy defined there are, however, generally different from their macroscopic counterpart. We show that this discrepancy can be removed by adding to these quantities the reversible heat associated with the mesoscopic free energy.Comment: 4 pages, 0 figur

The use of ‘country of origin’ to develop a brand image by companies operating in the Canadian defence sector

The study explored how and why companies in the Canadian defence sector make use of country of origin (COO) in their print advertising to develop a brand image. Using an interpretive method, the research methodology consisted on a content analysis of 1229 print advertisements supported by a series of semi-structured interviews with the resulting transcripts analysed using a hermeneutic approach. The study indicated that over 40 percent of print advertisements used at least one facet of COO, with Country of Brand (COB) having the highest occurrence. It was found that firms used COO to appeal to their customer, create brand awareness and to assist in exports and did not use COO as it was not deemed required, there were better communication channels to promote COO and that readers of the subject magazines knew which firms were Canadian. As this is the first study into the use of COO in a Business to Government (B2G) sector, specifically the Canadian defence sector, the study provides new information to the body of literature. The study also provides practical contributions to firms operating in this sector including a framework model that can be used to assist in creating a marketing strategy

A Developmental Work Research (DWR) Study of Team and Organisational Learning at DHL Worldwide Express

The environment in which New Zealand businesses and public agencies operate is volatile, complex and uncertain. Organisations face a wide and competing range of demands. Managers and employees need to collaborate across functions, business units and teams. Practical research approaches are needed to help support them.This paper illustrates how a developmental work research (DWR) approach can support business process improvements and organisational/earning in continuously-changing, complex environments. We present findings from a PGSF study of cross-functional team problem-solving and learning at DHL Worldwide Express in Christchurch between April1997 and June 1998. The study used DWR methods, including analysis of videotaped meetings, developed at the University of Helsinki and the University of California San Diego by Engestrom and his colleagues (1996b).We describe how DWR was used to: analyse a process improvement initiative, or 'problem-trajectory', and how disturbances and tensions within this work activity reveal the underlying contradictions in DHL's operational and training systems; and identify opportunities for comprehensive system innovations that have a marked impact on productivity, efficiency and customer service

Assessment of the Potential Changes in Wellbeing of Key Interest Groups in the Fitzroy River Catchment Under Alternative Development Scenarios: Traditional Owners' workshop

This report presents the preliminary results of a workshop held on 10 and 11 September 2019 with Traditional Owner groups in Fitzroy Crossing, aiming to develop a way to identify and assess the positive and negative effects of different future scenarios on the wellbeing of Traditional Owners across the Fitzroy River catchment. Participants discussed how several categories of wellbeing are currently satisfied in the Fitzroy catchment; and then assessed scenarios 1, 2 and 4 against those categories. Participants’ ratings generally had scenario 1 with the most positive ratings and scenarios 2 and 4 with mostly negative ratings. The negative ratings seem to be linked with an aversion to large-scale irrigated agriculture and its perceived potential impacts, especially the withdrawal of water, pollution, and limited access to Country. Participants perceived positively an increase in ranger jobs and the potential for Indigenous-owned enterprises in scenarios 1 and 2. However, many emphasised that making these jobs satisfactory required training initiatives to build Traditional Owners' capacity. The next steps include a more comprehensive analysis of participants' comments, reporting back to participants and to a broader audience

Finnish Developmental Work Research (Dwr) – A Powerful Research Paradigm With Policy Possibilities?

Finnish Developmental Work Research (DWR) has been used in New Zealand by WEB Research, who have been world leading exponents of the approach. Over a twenty year period they used the approach in such varied research locales as the public sector (IRD, Immigration, NZQA), public/private organizations (Dutch Rail; the New Zealand Pip Fruit and Dairy Industries), and the private sector (a furniture manufacturer, two meat companies; and in the Wool and Meat Industries).However, the requirements of the approach, and of Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) on which it is based, often did not sit comfortably with the New Zealand research environment at the end of the twentieth century. Consequently, sometimes research was foreclosed early before full results were apparent.This presentation will review the original DWR research approach and WEB’s use of it. It will then contrast two recent New Zealand primary industry applications in the Pip Fruit and Dairy Industries. The former led to spectacular policy success with the development and adoption of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme. The latter’s research component has been terminated. Application of the research results now rests with DairyNZ, the sponsors of the project, who have taken the extension of the research into their own hands. Conclusions are drawn on the key components of a successful application of the approach