A descriptive study of two community projects for the coordination of services for the aged

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Quantification of channel planform change on the lower Rangitikei River, New Zealand, 1949-2007: response to management?

The Rangitikei River, a large gravel‐bed wandering river located in the North Island of New Zealand, has outstanding scenic characteristics, recreational, fisheries and wildlife habitat features. Recently concerns have been raised over the potential negative impact that perceived channel changes in the latter part of the 20th century may be having on the Rangitikei River recreational fishery. This study describes and quantifies the large‐scale morphological changes that have occurred in selected reaches of the lower Rangitikei River between 1949 and 2007. This research utilised historical aerial photography and analysis in ArcGIS® to quantify channel planform change in three reaches, encompassing ~18 km of the lower Rangitikei River. This showed that the lower Rangitikei was transformed from a multi‐channelled planform to a predominantly single‐thread wandering planform, with an associated reduction in morphological complexity and active channel width of up to 74%, between 1949 and 2007. Bank protection measures instigated under the Rangitikei River Scheme have primarily driven these changes. Gravel extraction has also contributed by enhancing channel‐floodplain disconnection and exacerbating sediment deficits. The findings of this study have implications for future management of the Rangitikei. Previous lower Rangitikei River management schemes have taken a reach‐based engineering approach with a focus on bank erosion protection and flood mitigation. This study has confirmed the lower river has responded geomorphologically to these goals of river control. However questions as to the economic and ecological sustainability of this management style may encourage river managers to consider the benefits of promoting a self‐adjusting fluvial system within a catchment‐framed management approach

A descriptive study of two community projects for the coordination of services for the aged

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Neoformalism : an approach to teaching film studies in New Zealand secondary schools : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Media Studies at Massey University, New Zealand

Noting the lack of subject material available in New Zealand for the teaching of film studies in secondary school, this thesis attempts to describe a framework which is designed to introduce particular concepts and provide a base for different ways of thinking about film. It endeavours to bridge the gap between those texts that do not have enough theory and those that have too much, lacking easy application to the secondary school classroom. The objective of this study is to reduce the generalisation that cinema is of little cultural value, and to bring the genuine love that individual's have for film, into an educational context. This has been done through the use and adaptation of Kristin Thompson's Neoformalist approach. The first part of this study discusses the differences between an approach and a method, and the benefits of the neoformalist approach. This includes an investigation of available literature and how applicable it is to the practical teaching of film studies. The second part deals with the academic principles of the Neoformalist approach, the tools of analysis, and foregrounds the fact that film is a constructed medium in which spectators have an active role. The third part involves the breaking down of the academic terms of the Neoformalist approach and the demonstration of how they can be applied in an educational context. It does this by foregrounding film studies within the paradigm of the Classical Narrative, or mainstream, popular film. The final section offers two brief analyses of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and Once Were Warriors, because the only way for a student to gain ability to analyse films is through practice in viewing films critically and reading analyses by other critics. Essentially it is argued that, Neoformalism is merely one approach to teaching film studies and does not preclude any other reasonable approach. It is based on the assumption that one must understand what one is studying (the film) before one can go to the next stage and search out wider notions such as ideology, meaning and so on. Therefore it is beneficial for students that a formal analysis precede any cultural or other form of analysis, under the assumption that certain skills need to be developed before the ideological and cultural are able to be effectively isolated from the formal. Neoformalism does not preclude such concerns, but grounds them in some contextual, concrete base

Ethical Challenges in Digital Public Archaeology

This paper focuses specifically on the ethical challenges to the field of digital archaeology and the concerns of the digital public archaeologist. It considers the notions of digital research and ethical data collection, the social and political tensions implicit in digital communications on archaeological topics, and the possible effects on ethical concerns through post-processual approaches to participatory forms of digital media. Through an unpicking of these framings of professional and public interaction with archaeology and archaeologists in digital spaces, this paper proposes several future directions for ethical research, codes of conduct, and practice in digital archaeology

Establishing the (extra)ordinary in chronic widespread pain

Sufferers of chronic illness face delegitimation of their condition and threats to their identities. One way of establishing the legitimacy of their position is for sufferers of chronic illness to emphasize the ‘ordinary’ in their accounts. Sufferers of conditions which are chronic, invisible and contested, such as chronic widespread pain, have the same, and possibly greater, need to legitimize their condition and refute allegations of ‘malingering’ or psychological instability. The article uses interviews with women with chronic widespread pain to illustrate the ways in which the invisible, subjective and everyday nature of chronic pain leads to sufferers experiencing delegitimation of their condition. It suggests that the accounts of women suffering from chronic widespread pain are constructed to portray a positive identity in the face of this experience, particularly through the emphasis on the ‘extraordinary’

The effects of concentrate composition and sequence of allocation on the metabolism and performance of growing sheep

Four experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of concentrate composition and sequence of allocation on the metabolism and performance of growing lambs. In the first experiment five feed ingredients were characterised using the in situ incubation technique. The degradability constants determined were then used in the construction of a spreadsheet which enabled prediction of hourly nitrogen and organic matter release from the diets to be used in subsequent experiments. In the second experiment 48 lambs were fed at a restricted level diets containing either barley or sugar beet pulp as the main energy source. Within each energy source the sequence of allocation of the individual ingredients was altered to give a pattern of nitrogen and organic matter release within the rumen which was synchronous, intermediate or asynchronous. Lambs fed the barley based diets deposited significantly more fat in the whole body than lambs on the sugar beet based diets (p<0.001) and lambs on the asynchronous diets tended to deposit less fat in the whole body than lambs on the synchronous or intermediate diets (p<0.1). There were significant differences between energy sources and degree of synchrony in the pattern of rumen and plasma nitrogen metabolites. In the third experiment the same diets were fed to 24 lambs and the effects on nutrient digestibility and microbial protein supply were assessed. Lambs on the sugar beet based diet showed significantly higher digestibilities of organic matter and neutral detergent fibre than lambs on the barley based diet, however the Iambs on the barley based diet had a significantly higher level of purine derivative excretion (pad libitum to 24 lambs. No significant effects on growth rate or carcass characteristics were seen and there were few significant differences in rumen or plasma metabolites. Overall, energy source within the diet had a greater effect on growth and metabolism of lambs than degree of synchronisation of nitrogen and organic matter supply to the rumen

Discussion and Measurement of Soil Erosion in Iceland

Soil erosion has occurred since the beginning of time. It is a natural process, but one that has been increasing at an alarming rate. Once soil is eroded--whether it is blown out to sea or washed down a river to sedimentize a lake--it is lost. It is almost impossible to reestablish similar soil components and characteristics in a given system. Since soil and vegetation reestablishment is expensive, the prevention of soil erosion by controlling its causes has become the most cost-effective reclamation effort. After spending six months in Iceland, I wrote this paper on the unique erosion problems facing that country. It is based on my observations, conversations, experiences, and studies while working and studying with Icelandic people

Dietary Advice Provided to Those Undergoing Pelvic Radiotherapy

In those receiving radiotherapy for pelvic cancers, up to 80% develop gastrointestinal symptoms, with dietary interventions recommended to reduce these symptoms. However, research outlining the current dietary support provided to patients undergoing radiotherapy for pelvic cancer is lacking. To identify the gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by those undergoing pelvic radiotherapy and to identify the dietary support provided to these patients. A service evaluation was undertaken in one NHS Trust hospital whereby patients undergoing radical pelvic radiotherapy during a 15-week recruitment period were invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling and the data were analysed descriptively using SPSS. In total, 31 patients responded achieving a response rate of 48%. The most frequent reported gastrointestinal symptoms were gas and flatulence followed by diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pain. The main dietary changes implemented by the respondents and recommended by health care professionals included reducing fibre intake, reducing certain vegetables, reducing caffeine and increasing water. The results illustrate the impact of gastrointestinal side effects on patients’ dietary intake. The results highlight that nutritional guidance need to be standardised, especially for the management of diarrhoea and gas and flatulence as these were the most common occurring side effects. With radiographers most frequently giving nutritional advice they must be provided with guidance to support those undergoing pelvic radiotherapy