1,444 research outputs found

    Novel Actuation Methods for High Force Haptics

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    Moving backwards, moving forward: the experiences of older Filipino migrants adjusting to life in New Zealand

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    Purpose: To explore the experiences of older Filipino migrants adjusting to living perma- nently in New Zealand. Method: The qualitative descriptive approach taken in this study involved 17 individual face- to-face interviews of older Filipino migrants in New Zealand. Results: Three main themes emerged from the data. The first theme was ā€œmoving backwards and moving forwardā€, which described how these older Filipino migrants adjusted to chal- lenges they experienced with migration. The second theme was ā€œengaging with health servicesā€ and presented challenges relating to the New Zealand healthcare system, including a lack of knowledge of the nature of health services, language barriers, and differences in cultural views. The third theme, ā€œnew-found homeā€, highlighted establishing a Filipino identity in New Zealand and adjusting to the challenges of relocation. Conclusion: Adjustment to life in New Zealand for these older Filipino migrants meant starting over again by building new values through learning the basics and then moving forward from there

    Barriers to implement a smoke free hospital : What action should be taken?

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    Objective: Tobacco is leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Hospitals have a key role to play in the effective control of tobacco. The aim of this survey was to identify the barriers in implementing a smoke free hospital. Methods: The tool used was a modified Fagerstrom questionnaire. These questionnaires were distributed to all employees at the main state hospital. The data obtained was analysed using SPSS software using frequency tables, univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The response rate was 55.1%. The findings showed that 27.1% of male staff and 24.8% of female staff are active smokers. 22.2% of smokers refrain from smoking in hospital. The highest percentage of smokers was in the youngest age group (18-25 years). The highest prevalence of smoking was found in nurses (23.6%), followed by doctors (10.4%). A positive finding was that 25.7% of current non-smokers were ex- smokers with the greatest incentive to quit being for health reasons. Most members of staff were aware of the adverse effects of smoking and a number had symptoms suggestive of smoking-related pathology. Conclusion: Hospital staff mirror the general population with respect to smoking prevalence, habits and co morbidities. This indicates that further initiatives are required to decrease the number of health professionals who smoke, as these should ideally be role models for patients, and hence be able to effectively support patients in quitting smoking.peer-reviewe

    Nothing about us without us : research methods enabling participation for aged care residents who have dementia

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    The voices of people living with dementia are rarely included in primary data collection due to cognitive challenges and the concerns of researchers and others about limitations associated with informed consent. This article presents a successfully implemented, step-by-step process enabling effective participation of aged care residents with dementia using a case study approach. Three methodological and critical steps in data collection were identified that led to the successful participation of residents with dementia in research. The process corresponds with, yet is uniquely different from the common elements in the qualitative research process. These are active participation during data collection, researcher familiarization with participants, and their set interval and time-lapse considerations (timeline). The process of involvement of people with dementia in research should proceed at a pace that is guided by the participants. It is important to consider participant interview pace, pattern, and the conversation time points when interruptions occur, to restart the whole interview process. Researchers need to facilitate active engagement by building and maintaining authentic relationships with the participants

    The Domestication of Voice Activated -Technology & EavesMining: Surveillance, Privacy and Gender Relations at Home

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    This thesis develops a case study analysis of the Amazon Echo, the first-ever voice-activated smart speaker. The domestication of the devices feminine conversational agent, Alexa, and the integration of its microphone and digital sensor technology in home environments represents a moment of radical change in the domestic sphere. This development is interpreted according to two primary force relations: historical gender patterns of domestic servitude and eavesmining (eavesdropping + datamining) processes of knowledge extraction and analysis. The thesis is framed around three pillars of study that together demonstrate: how routinization with voice-activated technology affects acoustic space and ones experiences of home; how online warm experts initiate a dialogue about the domestication of technology that disregards and ignores Amazons corporate privacy framework; and finally, how the technologys conditions of use silently result in the deployment of ever-intensifying surveillance mechanisms in home environments. Eavesmining processes are beginning to construct a new world of media and surveillance where every spoken word can potentially be heard and recorded, and speaking is inseparable from identification

    X-ray photoelectron and infrared spectroscopies of quartz samples of contrasting toxicity

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    An exploratory XPS and FTIR investigation of the surfaces of bulk quartz powders widely used in toxicological studies (DQ12 and Min-U-Sil 5) was carried with the aim of correlating surface features with toxicity as reflected by indicators of biological response. Some patches of amorphous silica were identified as well as varying amounts of calcium but none of these features correlated with biological response. No evidence of widely-quoted surface silanol (SiOH) structures was found in this investigation and the possibility that FTIR artefacts have been previously misidentified as silanol structures is discussed

    Social identification and risk dynamics : how perceptions of (inter)personal and collective risk impact the adoption of COVID-19 preventative behaviors

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    This work was supported by the UK Research and Innovation/Economic and Social Research Council (grant reference number ES/V005383/1).Public adoption of preventative behaviors to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 is crucial to managing the pandemic, and so it is vital to determine what factors influence the uptake of those behaviors. Previous studies have identified COVID-19 risk perceptions as a key factor, but this work has typically been limited both in assuming that risk means risk to the personal self, and in being reliant on self-reported data. Drawing on the social identity approach, we conducted two online studies in which we investigated the effects of two different types of risk on preventative measure taking: risk to the personal self and risk to the collective self (i.e., members of a group with which one identifies). Both studies involved behavioral measures using innovative interactive tasks. In Study 1 (n = 199; data collected 27 May 2021), we investigated the effects of (inter)personal and collective risk on physical distancing. In Study 2 (n = 553; data collected 20 September 2021), we investigated the effects of (inter)personal and collective risk on the speed at which tests are booked as COVID-19 symptoms develop. In both studies, we find that perceptions of collective risk, but not perceptions of (inter)personal risk, influence the extent to which preventative measures are adopted. We discuss the implications both conceptually (as they relate to both the conceptualization of risk and social identity processes) and also practically (in terms of the implications for public health communications).Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

    Knowledge of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among immigrant Asian gay men living in New Zealand

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    INTRODUCTION: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a new bio-medical means of reducing the risk of HIV infection. It's use by individuals at high risk of HIV acquisition is recommended. Aims: This study identifies the ways immigrant Asian gay men living in New Zealand talk about and understand issues related to PrEP. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive methodology was used. Individual interviews were conducted with 18 immigrant Asian gay men who were not users of PrEP. Participants were aged 21-36 years and one-third had arrived in New Zealand within 3 years of completing the interview. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes evident across the men's talk in relation to pre-exposure prophylaxis were identified: 'I'm not sure what PrEP is'*'PrEP is not proven'*and 'PrEP is for others, not me'. DISCUSSION: PrEP is necessary for working towards the elimination of HIV. To improve uptake among Asian gay men, improved literacy around HIV and pre-exposure prophylaxis is required. This knowledge needs to be improved at both the individual level in primary care services and collectively through health promotion initiatives. These services and health promotion initiatives need to be provided in ways that encourage engagement by Asian gay men
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