Earthquake recording instrument

The cover comb has been developed in New Zealand as a means of increasing residual fleece depth after shearing and so increasing the resistance of shorn sheep to cold-stress. The effects of pre-lamb shearing ewes with cover or standard comb, and of leaving ewes unshorn until after weaning, on their feed intake, productivity, and cold resistance were studied. Border Leicester x Romney ewes were divided into three groups balanced for pregnancy status, ewe age and liveweight. Two groups of ewes were shorn, by either cover comb or standard comb, on day 114 of pregnancy (P114) and one group left unshorn until weaning on day 84 of lactation (L84). Ewes were managed under the same conditions during pregnancy and lactation. Ewes shorn pre-lamb by cover comb had lower mortality from shearing to lambing, and lower organic matter intakes and biting rates at P123-126 than ewes shorn by standard comb. These parameters did not differ between ewes shorn pre-lamb by cover comb and unshorn ewes except biting rate which was greater in the cover comb-shorn group. Twenty days after shearing (P134), the liveweights of ewes were greater in the unshorn group than in the cover comb-shorn group (P < 0.05), which was in turn heavier (P < 0.05) than ewes shorn by standard comb. Midside clean wool growth rates were greater in standard comb- and cover comb-shorn ewes during the post-shearing period (to day 40 of lactation) than in unshorn ewes ( P < 0.05). Similarly, the yield and brightness of wool were superior (P < 0.05) in pre-lamb shorn groups. Lamb liveweights at birth, docking and weaning, and lamb survival, were similar between shearing policies. Rectal temperature (RT) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in both pre-lamb shorn groups than in the unshorn group on day 3 post-shearing (S3), but by S5 only the ewes shorn by standard comb had lower RT. These results suggest that the greater amount of residual wool in cover comb- vs standard comb-shorn ewes provides a low cost practical method for reducing the two important disadvantages of pre-lamb shearing, namely increased cold-stress and feed intakes post-shearing.

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A Comparative Study of the State of Ethics in Youth Work Practice in Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom

Commonwealth Youth and Development ◽

10.25159/2663-6549/2069 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Cleopatra Monique Parkins

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

New Zealand ◽

Code Of Ethics ◽

Critical Role ◽

Work Practice ◽

Primary Data ◽

Youth Work ◽

Youth Workers ◽

Ethical Practices ◽

The United Kingdom

Even though youth work has played a critical role in fostering the holistic development of today’s youth, much controversy has surrounded the practice. Nevertheless, youth workers are slowly being accorded professional status, and a code of ethics has been developed in some jurisdictions. Some states are still to adopt this code; consequently the credibility of youth workers and the sector in general sway with the wind. This article presents a comparative analysis of ethical practices of youth work in Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, examining current trends in observing ethics and addressing ethical issues. In the case of Jamaica, the researcher used the non-probability convenience sampling technique and collected primary data from a questionnaire administered to a sample of youth workers. The perspective of the ministerial arm responsible for youth work in Jamaica was also captured through an interview. In the case of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the framework of the profession and specifically matters pertaining to ethical practices were examined through the use of secondary data sources, which included reports on youth work practices in the selected countries. A mixed methodology was employed in analysing the data collected. The major findings of this study confirmed that advancing youth work as a profession is dependent on the acceptance and integration of a formal code of ethics, that youth workers must receive training on ethics and that a national youth work policy is important to guide youth work practice. In accordance with the findings, the researcher makes a number of recommendations and highlights notable best practices that may help with the overall professionalisation of the sector.

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Scientific and Industrial Research in New Zealand*

Nature ◽

10.1038/144873a0 ◽

1939 ◽

Vol 144 (3655) ◽

pp. 873-874

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Industrial Research

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Modeling the Costs of Hospital-Acquired Infections in New Zealand

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/502192 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 214-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Nicholas Graves ◽

Tanya M. Nicholls ◽

Arthur J. Morris

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Economic Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Primary Data ◽

Health Board ◽

District Health ◽

Hospital Acquired Infections ◽

Input Variables ◽

Hospital Acquired

AbstractObjective:To model the economic costs of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in New Zealand, by type of HAI.Design:Monte Carlo simulation model.Setting:Auckland District Health Board Hospitals (DHBH), the largest publicly funded hospital group in New Zealand supplying secondary and tertiary services. Costs are also estimated for predicted HAIs in admissions to all hospitals in New Zealand.Patients:All adults admitted to general medical and general surgical services.Method:Data on the number of cases of HAI were combined with data on the estimated prolongation of hospital stay due to HAI to produce an estimate of the number of bed days attributable to HAI. A cost per bed day value was applied to provide an estimate of the economic cost. Costs were estimated for predicted infections of the urinary tract, surgical wounds, the lower and upper respiratory tracts, the bloodstream, and other sites, and for cases of multiple sites of infection. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken for input variables.Results:The estimated costs of predicted HAIs in medical and surgical admissions to Auckland DHBH were $10.12 (US $4.56) million and $8.64 (US $3.90) million, respectively. They were $51.35 (US $23.16) million and $85.26 (US $38.47) million, respectively, for medical and surgical admissions to all hospitals in New Zealand.Conclusions:The method used produces results that are less precise than those of a specifically designed study using primary data collection, but has been applied at a lower cost. The estimated cost of HAIs is substantial, but only a proportion of infections can be avoided. Further work is required to identify the most cost-effective strategies for the prevention of HAI.

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A prediction method for cable forces of cable-stayed bridges using fuzzy processing and Bayes estimation

10.2749/ghent.2021.0644 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Li Dong ◽

Bin Xie ◽

Dongli Sun ◽

Yizhuo Zhang

Keyword(s):

Prediction Method ◽

Practical Method ◽

Bayes Estimation ◽

Primary Data ◽

Force Estimation ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Cable Stayed Bridge ◽

Input Parameters ◽

Cable Forces ◽

Cable Stayed Bridges

Cable forces are primary factors influencing the design of a cable-stayed bridge. A fast and practical method for cable force estimation is proposed in this paper. For this purpose, five input parameters representing the main characteristics of a cable-stayed bridge and two output parameters representing the cable forces in two key construction stages are defined. Twenty different representative cable-stayed bridges are selected for further prediction. The cable forces are carefully optimized through finite element analysis. Then, discrete and fuzzy processing is applied in data processing to improve their reliability and practicality. Finally, based on the input parameters of a target bridge, the maximum possible output parameters are calculated by Bayes estimation based on the processed data. The calculation results show that the average prediction error of this method is less than 1% for the twenty bridges themselves, which provide the primary data and less than 3% for an under-construction bridge.

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INFLUENCE OF LOW-COST BUILDING MATERIALS ON HOUSING PROJECT IN REDUCTION OF HOUSING DEFICIT IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

Journal of Entrepreneurship and Project Management ◽

10.47941/jepm.304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 23-37

Author(s):

Kamau Maina ◽

Dr. Samson Nyang’au Paul

Keyword(s):

Transformational Leadership ◽

Real Estate ◽

Building Materials ◽

Low Cost ◽

New Technology ◽

Labour Productivity ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Value Theory ◽

Modern Technology ◽

Primary Data

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of low cost building materials on reduction of housing deficit in Nairobi County, Kenya.Methodology: The study adopted four theories: open innovations theory, the value theory, transformational leadership theory, and institutional theory. Methodologically, the study adopted a descriptive research design, while the population of this study was all the real estate firms registered by Kenya Property Developers Association (KPDA). Census technique was employed to collect data from all 69 real estate firms using questionnaires. Questionnaires were applied to collect primary data, where the researcher trained research assistants to aid the data collection procedure. A pilot-test was conducted as an approach to establishing both the reliability and validity assessments of the questionnaire. Statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) was used to undertake both descriptive and inferential statistical computations.Results: The findings of the study established that the use of technology enhances the capability and capacity of construction firms to use an array of building materials. The study found that use of modern technology defined skilled labour because most organizations are leveraging technology as a basis of realizing competitive advantage. It also established that real estate firms utilize competent based human resource management firms to hire qualified personnel. In addition, it was evident that personality traits influenced adoption of new technology in the construction of low cost housing, whereas knowledge and attitudes, and skills were significantly attributed to adoption of new technology.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: In light of the research findings, the study recommends that organizations should leverage modern technology as a basis of realizing efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of projects. The study likewise recommends that organizations should build capacities to enhance labour productivity. In addition, the study recommends that organizations should adopt transformational leadership approaches as a basis of enhancing performance. The study recommends the need to revise the legal framework with a view to ensure that it reflects the changing needs of the project requirements.

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Scientific and Industrial Research in New Zealand

Nature ◽

10.1038/2081156b0 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 208 (5016) ◽

pp. 1156-1157

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Industrial Research

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Farmer Preference to High Elevation Rice Technological Packages for Accelerating Technological Dissemination (A case Study in Humbang Hasundutan Regency)

Agro Ekonomi ◽

10.22146/ae.61367 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Setia Sari Girsang ◽

Agung B Santosa ◽

Tommy Purba ◽

Deddy R Siagian ◽

Khadijah E Ramija

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

High Elevation ◽

Primary Data ◽

Survey Method ◽

User Friendliness ◽

Level Of Satisfaction ◽

High Level ◽

Level Of Importance

Accelerating the introduction of a new technological package is needed to increase the productivity of high elevation puddled rice in Humbang Hasundutan. The objectives of the study are to find out the perception of the existence of technological packages and farmers' preference for a new technological package. The study used a survey method with primary data gathered using questionnaires. The criteria of locations and respondents were used to obtain relevant respondents and data concerning their knowledge of high elevation puddled rice cultivation. The collected data were processed by using Importance Performance Analysis in order to find out the level of Importance and Satisfaction of the indicators and the valued aspects in the technological package components. The results of the study showed that the socio-economic aspects had to be heeded in organizing the technological package. Indicators having a high level of importance and a low level of satisfaction consisted of production cost, quality of seeds, farmer groups empowerment, technology information institution, capital cost, agricultural tools and machines, pest control, sales price, irrigation canals, and farm roads. On the other hand, introducing new superior seeds, productivity attribute and planting age were important indicators for local farmers as to improve the quality of existing seeds. Farmers group expected that the technological package had a high level of productivity, better access to input, low cost, and good user-friendliness in its application.

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Costing the cold: Connecting fuel poverty & supplier switching in Wellington, New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.17019308 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Sam McLean

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Electricity Market ◽

Low Cost ◽

Colonial History ◽

Electricity Prices ◽

Energy Services ◽

Poor Households ◽

Competitive Prices ◽

Supplier Switching ◽

Equitable Outcomes

Fuel poverty describes the inability of households to afford adequate energy services, such as space heating. In New Zealand, where 25% of households are estimated to be ‘fuel poor’, high electricity prices in a restructured electricity market have an important influence on fuel poverty. However, the ability of the New Zealand Government to regulate these high electricity prices is constrained. Consequently, there is a strong reliance on consumers to switch energy suppliers, which promotes competitive prices and in turn regulates the price of electricity. In contrast to energy efficiency improvements, switching offers fuel poor households a low-cost opportunity to improve the short-term affordability of energy services. Yet, switching is suggested to not benefit fuel poor households who are in most need of affordable energy. This thesis explored the relationship between fuel poverty and supplier switching in Wellington, New Zealand through a geographic lens. First, a new approach to identifying fuel poverty in New Zealand was applied. Using geographic information systems (GIS), a fuel poverty index was calculated to identify fuel poverty in Wellington at meshblock level. Spatial analysis of the index revealed the complexity of identifying fuel poverty and the extent to which the spatial distribution of fuel poverty in Wellington is shaped by the city’s colonial history. The index was then used to identify survey participants through which a survey was conducted exploring Wellington households’ switching behaviours. In a competitive market, consumers are expected to switch according to economically rational behaviours. However, switching behaviours in the survey sample were influenced by factors other than these economically rational behaviours. Integrating the findings of this thesis supports suggestions that switching is not benefiting the fuel poor. Finally, this thesis sheds light on the extent to which an understanding of the geography of fuel poverty can be applied towards improving the effectiveness of policy and equitable outcomes for fuel poor households.

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Costing the cold: Connecting fuel poverty & supplier switching in Wellington, New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.17019308.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Sam McLean

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Electricity Market ◽

Low Cost ◽

Colonial History ◽

Electricity Prices ◽

Energy Services ◽

Poor Households ◽

Competitive Prices ◽

Supplier Switching ◽

Equitable Outcomes

Fuel poverty describes the inability of households to afford adequate energy services, such as space heating. In New Zealand, where 25% of households are estimated to be ‘fuel poor’, high electricity prices in a restructured electricity market have an important influence on fuel poverty. However, the ability of the New Zealand Government to regulate these high electricity prices is constrained. Consequently, there is a strong reliance on consumers to switch energy suppliers, which promotes competitive prices and in turn regulates the price of electricity. In contrast to energy efficiency improvements, switching offers fuel poor households a low-cost opportunity to improve the short-term affordability of energy services. Yet, switching is suggested to not benefit fuel poor households who are in most need of affordable energy. This thesis explored the relationship between fuel poverty and supplier switching in Wellington, New Zealand through a geographic lens. First, a new approach to identifying fuel poverty in New Zealand was applied. Using geographic information systems (GIS), a fuel poverty index was calculated to identify fuel poverty in Wellington at meshblock level. Spatial analysis of the index revealed the complexity of identifying fuel poverty and the extent to which the spatial distribution of fuel poverty in Wellington is shaped by the city’s colonial history. The index was then used to identify survey participants through which a survey was conducted exploring Wellington households’ switching behaviours. In a competitive market, consumers are expected to switch according to economically rational behaviours. However, switching behaviours in the survey sample were influenced by factors other than these economically rational behaviours. Integrating the findings of this thesis supports suggestions that switching is not benefiting the fuel poor. Finally, this thesis sheds light on the extent to which an understanding of the geography of fuel poverty can be applied towards improving the effectiveness of policy and equitable outcomes for fuel poor households.

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