A critical analysis of New Zealand's Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 and its implementation process : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Listed in 2017 Dean's List of Exceptional ThesesIntroduction: In July 2013, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Psychoactive Substances Act (PSA), the world’s first law to regulate the availability of new psychoactive substances (NPS, “legal highs”, LH). Under the “interim PSA regime” 47 products were permitted to be sold subject to new retail and other regulations. In May 2014, the Government abruptly ended the interim regime following public protests. This thesis aims to critically evaluate the PSA and its implementation. Methods: A mixed methods approach combined qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. Legal analysis of the PSA and related legislation, and content analysis of parliamentary debates and public submissions were completed. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with key informants (KI) including politicians, government officials, health professionals, and LH industry actors (n=30). Questions about health perceptions and social acceptability of approved products were added to an annual survey of police arrestees (n=834). Analyses of primary data included thematic analysis of interview transcripts and statistical analysis of data from the arrestee survey. Results: The legal definition of “psychoactive substance” (s. 8, 9(1) PSA) overlaps with other regulatory regimes (e.g. medicines, dietary supplements) resulting in an unclear legal status for some products. Interviewed KIs identified a number of issues with the “interim regime”, including the safety of interim products, speed and efficiency of withdrawing problem products, the lack of regulations on price and retail opening hours, slowness of developing regulations for the full PSA regime, and the effectiveness of communicating the new policy to stakeholders and the public. As the market commercialised, the LH industry adopted business and lobbying strategies previously attributed to the alcohol and tobacco sectors, including targeting vulnerable customers. Surveyed police arrestees considered approved synthetic cannabis (SC) products higher health risk and less socially acceptable than alcohol, tobacco and many illegal drugs, reflecting problems with interim product approvals. The ban on animal testing of prospective products is likely to prevent further implementation of the PSA, unless a new political consensus is achieved. Conclusions: The issues experienced during PSA implementation highlight the significant challenges of establishing a legal market for psychoactive products. The time, resources and planning required to successfully implement the PSA may have been underestimated

The effect of temperature change on metabolism: separating biological and chemical reactions

Life-detection experiments carried out in extraterrestrial locations provided inconclusive results whether processes observed were biological or chemical. In this study, the typical effect of temperature on metabolic rates is described and a life-detection method that is easy to perform is proposed. The method comprises observing changes in microbial metabolic rates after temperature shift. The method was demonstrated by experiments on aquatic microorganisms in the Gulf of Gdansk (Baltic Sea). First experiment, in which temperature was shifted within the temperature range encountered at the sampling site, demonstrated a typical Q10 coefficient (2.84). The experiment in which temperature was shifted beyond the environmental temperature range provided an unexpectedly low Q10 coefficient (1.44), which indicated that excessive temperature exerted an inhibitory effect on metabolism. This response is not expected for chemical reactions, but it is typical for biological processes. In summary, a pair of properly-tailored experiments permitted separating biological and chemical reactions

BROADBAND ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS OF A CONTROLLED SEEP WITH MULTIPLE GASES FOR VERIFICATION OF FLUX ESTIMATES THROUGH BUBBLE DISSOLUTION AND TARGET STRENGTH MODELS

To verify existing models for conversion of acoustic target strength to estimates of the total volume of methane gas released from the seafloor through the water column, a synthetic seep system was designed and fabricated. This system creates individual bubbles of the sizes most commonly found in gaseous methane seeps, \u3c1 to 5mm radii, which can be released at any interval at depths up to 200m. The synthetic seep system was deployed off the coast of New Hampshire adjacent to the Isles of Shoals to a depth of 55m. Acoustic backscatter from 16-24kHz was collected by steaming over the synthetic seep multiple times with a suite of broadband splitbeam sonar systems. Each iteration ensonified a predetermined and calibrated bubble size created by the system at depth. These data represent a direct field measurement which was used to test models describing bubble evolution and acoustic scattering during the ascent through the water column for bubbles of different sizes and gasses. Validating these models directly tests the ability of broadband sonar systems to estimate the transport of gas from the seabed to the ocean and atmosphere. Acoustic data from 2.35mm radii argon bubbles, and 2.45mm radii nitrogen bubbles are consistent with bubble evolution and target strength models which validates spherical approximations made in both the mass transfer and acoustic scattering assumptions. Based on the similar uncertainty values for these bubble sizes, these data add confidence to the claims of previous studies which use similar methods for methane flux approximations

Referendum Campaigns in Hybrid Media Systems: Insights From the New Zealand Cannabis Legalisation Referendum

During New Zealand’s 2020 cannabis legalisation referendum, advocacy groups on both sides widely debated the issue, utilising "older" and "newer" media channels to strategically influence voters, including through appearances in traditional media and paid advertising campaigns on Facebook. Comparatively little is known about the campaign strategies used by each camp and how they leveraged the hybrid media environment to advocate for their positions. We analyse the cannabis legalisation referendum campaigns using primary data from our digital ethnographic study on Facebook, a systematic quantitative content analysis of legacy media websites, and a review of published reports from other authors. We show how positive sentiment towards cannabis law reform in the traditional media was amplified via referendum campaigners’ activity on Facebook. While campaign expenses on both sides were similar, money was spent in different ways and via different mediums. The pro-legalisation campaign focused more on new digital media channels, while the anti-legalisation campaign diversified across a range of mediums, with greater attention paid to traditional political advertising strategies, such as leaflets and billboards. The New Zealand case study illustrates how greater engagement with the "newer" media logics may not necessarily secure a favourable outcome during a national referendum campaign. We discuss how the broader media and political environment may have influenced campaigners' choices to engage (or not) with the different media channels

Dynamics of oxygen consumption during the formation of the anoxic zone in aquatic environment

Anoxic environments and communities of anaerobic organisms are encountered in aquatic environments and biotechnological reactors. Because of their importance, they are continuously studied. In this study, the dynamics of oxygen removal were observed during experiments reproducing the formation of the anoxic zone. Seven experiments were performed in an aquarium (volume: 60 l) with bottom sediments and water collected from different aquatic environments (river, pond, eutrophic lake, sea). To exclude reaeration, the water was isolated from the air by a layer of liquid paraffin. Below the paraffin layer the water was periodically mixed with a stirrer and sampled for oxygen concentration. Initially, a high rate of oxygen consumption was observed. Later, at low oxygen concentrations, the oxygen removal rate switched to a much lower one. Anoxic conditions were observed after 4-20 days of incubation, depending on the experiment. The point at which the microbial community converted from aerobic respiration to anaerobic metabolism was distinct and was observed at an oxygen concentration of 0.26-1.41 mg/l, depending on the experiment. The experiments were accompanied by bacterial counts and analyses of ciliate communities. The study indicates how the disappearance of oxygen during anoxic zone formation should be modeled, and provides data on the oxygen removal rates associated with aerobic and anaerobic communities of microorganisms. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.144357

Seismic imaging of a mid-lithospheric discontinuity beneath Ontong Java Plateau

Ontong Java Plateau (OJP) is a huge, completely submerged volcanic edifice that is hypothesized to have formed during large plume melting events ?90 and 120 My ago. It is currently resisting subduction into the North Solomon trench. The size and buoyancy of the plateau along with its history of plume melting and current interaction with a subduction zone are all similar to the characteristics and hypothesized mechanisms of continent formation. However, the plateau is remote, and enigmatic, and its proto-continent potential is debated. We use SS precursors to image seismic discontinuity structure beneath Ontong Java Plateau. We image a velocity increase with depth at 28±4 km consistent with the Moho. In addition, we image velocity decreases at 80±5 km and 282±7 km depth. Discontinuities at 60–100 km depth are frequently observed both beneath the oceans and the continents. However, the discontinuity at 282 km is anomalous in comparison to surrounding oceanic regions; in the context of previous results it may suggest a thick viscous root beneath OJP. If such a root exists, then the discontinuity at 80 km bears some similarity to the mid-lithospheric discontinuities (MLDs) observed beneath continents. One possibility is that plume melting events, similar to that which formed OJP, may cause discontinuities in the MLD depth range. Plume–plate interaction could be a mechanism for MLD formation in some continents in the Archean prior to the onset of subduction

Joint inversion of teleseismic and ambient noise Rayleigh waves for phase velocity maps, an application to Iceland

We present a method for joint inversion of teleseismic and ambient noise Rayleigh wave data for phase velocity maps from 18 to 50?s period. We adapt the two-plane wave method for teleseismic data to include ambient noise phase data. We apply the method to data from Iceland's ICEMELT and HOTSPOT arrays. Checkerboard tests show that the joint inversion improves phase velocity model recovery over methods that use the data sets independently, particularly at 18?s period. The addition of ambient noise data also extends resolution to shallower depths and shorter periods in comparison to previous teleseismic results beneath Iceland. We show there are significant differences in the phase velocity maps from the joint approach in comparison to other approaches, for instance, using only teleseismic data, only ambient noise data, or the mean of the two. The difference in phase velocities in turn affects the resulting shear velocity models. The advantage of the joint inversion is that it produces a single phase velocity map that satisfies both data sets simultaneously. Our phase velocity maps show a transition from low velocities centered beneath the main volcanic centers in Iceland at 18–25?s period, primarily crustal depths, to a low-velocity region that traces the rift zones from the Reykjanes Ridge in the south to the Kolbeinsey Ridge in the north at 29–50?s period, greater depths. These results are consistent with previous studies, although with an extended and improved region of resolution, which extends further into the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean

Dynamics of oxygen consumption during the formation of the anoxic zone in aquatic environment

Anoxic environments and communities of anaerobic organisms are encountered in aquatic environments and biotechnological reactors. Because of their importance, they are continuously studied. In this study, the dynamics of oxygen removal were observed during experiments reproducing the formation of the anoxic zone. Seven experiments were performed in an aquarium (volume: 60 l) with bottom sediments and water collected from different aquatic environments (river, pond, eutrophic lake, sea). To exclude reaeration, the water was isolated from the air by a layer of liquid paraffin. Below the paraffin layer the water was periodically mixed with a stirrer and sampled for oxygen concentration. Initially, a high rate of oxygen consumption was observed. Later, at low oxygen concentrations, the oxygen removal rate switched to a much lower one. Anoxic conditions were observed after 4-20 days of incubation, depending on the experiment. The point at which the microbial community converted from aerobic respiration to anaerobic metabolism was distinct and was observed at an oxygen concentration of 0.26-1.41 mg/l, depending on the experiment. The experiments were accompanied by bacterial counts and analyses of ciliate communities. The study indicates how the disappearance of oxygen during anoxic zone formation should be modeled, and provides data on the oxygen removal rates associated with aerobic and anaerobic communities of microorganisms. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.144357

Evita – muzyczna opowieść o najsilniejszej kobiecie Ameryki Południowej

Małgorzata Rychert – dr, pracuje w Warszawskiej Wyższej Szkoły Humanistycznej im. B. Prusa; absolwentka Wydziału Instrumentalnego Akademii Muzycznej im. S. Moniuszki w Gdańsku oraz studiów doktoranckich na Wydziale Nauk Humanistycznych i Społecznych SWPS w Warszawie.Uniwersytet Humanistycznospołeczny SWPS65767

Gerhard Lohfink – życie, twórczość i recepcja w Polsce

W 2006 r. staraniem wydawnictwa „W drodze” ukazały się na rynku polskim trzy dzieła Gerharda Lohfinka, znanego niemieckiego egzegety Nowego Testamentu. Liczący się na polu współczesnej teologii autor stał się tym samym bardziej dostępny szerszemu gronu czytelników w Polsce. Poczytność jego książek, tłumaczenia na wiele języków, przywoływanie jego opracowań w źródłach wielu dzieł teologów i biblistów, zarówno w Polsce, jak i za granicą, wreszcie wrażliwość na współczesne problemy Kościoła, a przede wszystkim udział w wielu ważnych dla współczesnej teologii dyskusjach sprawiają, że twórczość teologiczna i egzegetyczna G. Lohfinka jest niezwykle aktualna, godna odnotowania i szerszego omówienia. Celem niniejszego artykułu, uwzględniając ograniczone ramy prezentacji, jest zasygnalizowanie najważniejszych dzieł i obszarów tematycznych myśli teologicznej G. Lohfinka. Jako że teologia tybińskiego egzegety splata się w sposób niezmiernie istotny z elementami biografii, stąd wskazane w tytule dwa elementy: życie i twórczość nie są i nie mogą być zaprezentowane w separacji, ale łączą się tam, gdzie jego teologia łączy się z egzystencjalnymi decyzjami. Chcemy również zwrócić szczególną uwagę na aktualność myśli niemieckiego egzegety na polskim obszarze teologicznym, a stąd wynika trzeci punkt – recepcja w Polsce. Opracowanie zamyka bibliografia dzieł Lohfinka, która jest nie tylko podsumowaniem jego dotychczasowego dorobku, ale ponadto wyraża intencję, aby niniejsze opracowanie mogło stać się narzędziem pracy dla tych wszystkich, którzy zechcieliby bliżej zapoznać się z twórczością tybińczyka.