The three E's of occupational wellbeing : a study of New Zealand veterinary nurse's workplace engagement, exchange, and exhaustion : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Occupational wellbeing is an ongoing concern for most employees and their organisations. Occupational stress research has been conducted for more than three decades, however its antipode, occupational eustress, has been present for half the time. Commonly researched manifestations of occupational distress and eustress are burnout and workplace engagement respectively, and both have been shown to occur in a range of roles and professions. Therefore, the goal of this research was to investigate work–related wellbeing among veterinary nurses, a relatively un–researched group, using the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model. A cross–sectional approach was used. Structural equation modelling was used to ascertain the JD-R model’s motivational and health pathways among veterinary nurses. Data were collected by online survey, with the help of eight New Zealand tertiary providers and the New Zealand Veterinary Nurses Association. One hundred and eighty–two participants provided data. The results show that a large proportion of participants displayed high levels of workplace engagement and high quality relationships among team members. In addition, most also saw their work as being of benefit to their family life, and reported feeling engaged with their work. However, the relatively high levels of reported job demands could be of concern, as high demands can lead to emotional exhaustion over time. This research identified reasons to expand the JD-R conceptualisation of job resources and provided a guide towards healthier workplace practices such as identifying ways to increase work–family balance, build solid team–member relationships, and provide adequate job resources to address times of high demand

Comparison of Nonlinear Filtering Techniques for Lunar Surface Roving Navigation

Leading up to the Apollo missions the Extended Kalman Filter, a modified version of the Kalman Filter, was developed to estimate the state of a nonlinear system. Throughout the Apollo missions, Potter's Square Root Filter was used for lunar navigation. Now that NASA is returning to the Moon, the filters used during the Apollo missions must be compared to the filters that have been developed since that time, the Bierman-Thornton Filter (UD) and the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF). The UD Filter involves factoring the covariance matrix into UDUT and has similar accuracy to the Square Root Filter; however it requires less computation time. Conversely, the UKF, which uses sigma points, is much more computationally intensive than any of the filters; however it produces the most accurate results. The Extended Kalman Filter, Potter's Square Root Filter, the Bierman-Thornton UD Filter, and the Unscented Kalman Filter each prove to be the most accurate filter depending on the specific conditions of the navigation system

Defining the Problem and Searching for Solutions: Health Care Providers and Consumers

A panel consisting of health care providers and consumers discussed defining the problem and searching for solutions. Richard Buxbaum of the Greater Cleveland Hospital Association addressed uncompensated care, otherwise known as charity care, as a problem for hospitals. Mandating employer based health insurance was offered as a solution. Frank Kimbler of the Federation for Community Planning gave an overview of the consumer side of the uninsured problem. He mentioned a joint pilot project to insure the working poor. Henry Manning of Metrohealth explained how price competition between hospitals creates a problem for urban teaching hospitals which bear the costs of caring for the poor and training doctors. He also shared figures for unreimbursed care costs accrued by Metrohealth in various categories. Dr. van Heeckeren presented the physician\u27s view on the insurance issue. The panel then answered questions

Effects of Hawthorn on the Progression of Heart Failure in a Rat Model of Aortic Constriction

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90301/1/phco.29.6.639.pd

Activated Carbon Produced from Agricultural Residues

A process for producing activated carbon from agricultural residues by heating the residues to a temperature in the range of about 250° C. to about 550° C. to volatilize organic compounds in the residues and to carbonize the residues and further heating to activate the carbonized residues. Activated carbon produced from agricultural residues

Pathway to Hope: an indigenous approach to healing child sexual abuse

BackgroundThe Alaska Native (AN) population has endured multiple historical traumatic events. This population has poorer health outcomes on nearly all factors compared with Alaska non-Natives with more than 75% reportedly being physically assaulted in their lifetime, and child sexual abuse nearly 6 times the national average.ObjectiveThis article describes the Pathway to Hope (PTH) program, which is an indigenous approach to ending silence and denial related to child sexual abuse and encourages multigenerational healing.DesignPTH was developed by ANs who believe that each community is unique, thus strategies for ending denial and support for healing must be woven from the historical context, cultural strengths of individual communities. Strengths-based solutions built on truth, honesty, compassion and shared responsibility for healing and protecting today's children have been profound and successful.The PTH curriculum addresses child sexual abuse from a historical perspective; that the higher rates of sexual abuse among certain Tribes, regions and communities is linked in part to years of victimisation, but may also be perpetuated by internalised oppression and lateral violence among Tribal members.ResultsData suggest that community-based dialogue and wisdom of Native elders and spiritual leaders paired with readiness of community service providers are necessary for sustained change. At all levels, this Indigenous model for learning, sharing, helping and healing brings hope for an end to denial and silence about child sexual abuse for Native people.ConclusionThe PTH program utilises the wisdom and values that have sustained Native people for generations. Ending silence and denial about child sexual abuse and building upon strengths have assisted many Indigenous communities begin the journey toward wellness. Through the PTH, communities have taken steps to accept the challenges associated with establishing safety for children, supporting child victims in healing and to holding offenders accountable

Elasmobranch electroreceptive foraging behaviour : male-female interactions, choice and cognitive ability

Aspects of electroreceptive foraging behaviour were investigated in a benthic elasmobranch, Scyliorhinus canicula (small-spotted catshark). The findings build on current knowledge of sexual conflict in this species and provide novel information concerning differentiation ability, choice and cognition relating to elasmobranch electroreceptive foraging behaviour. Hierarchical catshark behaviours towards artificial, prey-type electric fields (E fields) following stimulation by food-derived scent were recorded under laboratory conditions. Experiment 1: Male-female interactions Foraging behaviour of single- and mixed-sex catshark groups were investigated using electroreception as a proxy for feeding levels. Results indicated significant reductions in foraging levels of being grouped with the opposite sex, in addition to higher responsiveness in females. These attributes are most likely consequences of differing reproductive strategies and resultant sexual conflict. Experiment 2: Choice Catsharks were trained to swim through narrow tunnels and upon exit were presented with two differing E fields simultaneously. Choices were recorded and analysed, and thereby their ability to distinguish between and/or show preferences for fields was determined. Differentiation ability was demonstrated by preferences for stronger rather than weaker direct current fields, and alternating rather than direct current fields. The fish were either unable to distinguish or showed no preference for artificial (electrodes) and natural fields (crabs). Experiment 3: Cognitive ability Response levels and changes in response levels over time of catsharks rewarded for responding to E fields were compared to those of catsharks that were not rewarded. Results demonstrated learning and habituation behaviour improving foraging efficiency over short time scales according to profitability of fields. Failure to retain altered behaviour after an interval indicated short memory windows. These attributes would prove beneficial in a variable environment. Given many elasmobranchs’ continuing population declines and increasing potential interactions with anthropogenic E fields, such information will hopefully benefit both fisheries managers and offshore renewable energy developers.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo