scholarly journals Understanding Construction Stakeholders’ Experience and Attitudes toward Use of the Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) in New Zealand

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harris ◽  
Durdyev ◽  
Tokbolat ◽  
Ismail ◽  
Kandymov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Common Belief ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Construction Time ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Design Build ◽  
Proper Training ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Time Frames

Abstract: New Zealand faces a housing shortage with construction struggling to meet demand. Structurally insulated panels (SIPs) have been demonstrated internationally as a method of construction which could reduce construction time frames, improve the standard insulation in housing, as well as reduce the amount of waste generated on construction sites. However, anecdotal evidence shows that the SIPs’ adoption is lacking, which is, perhaps, attributed to its industry-wide acceptance level. Thus, in this study, the construction stakeholders, such as architects/designers, builders, territorial authorities and homeowners were targeted to shed light on current status of SIPs use, benefits offered and any barriers inhibiting its industry-wide implementation. This was done through a survey, which was designed to understand the construction stakeholders’ experience levels regarding SIPs use in New Zealand as well as their opinions about any problems associated with the SIPs adoption. Although the stakeholders were happy with the thermal performance offered by SIPs, the results indicate that lack of familiarity and understanding are one of the main barriers to the widespread use of SIPs in New Zealand. Moreover, proper training and clear design information are reported to be crucial to make the building and consenting processes efficient, which will ultimately improve the cost-effectiveness. Despite the barriers (to SIPs adoption) documented by stakeholders, the common belief is that SIPs offer wide-range of benefits to improve performance of the built environment; hence, the stakeholders expressed their willingness to design/build/recommend SIP homes. It is hoped that the findings of this study will guide the industry practitioners in investing their efforts in wider adoption of SIPs in New Zealand.

Cost Stickiness in the New Zealand Charity Sector

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (03) ◽  
pp. 1950012
Author(s):  
Ahsan Habib ◽  
Hedy Jiaying Huang
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Stickiness

We investigate whether New Zealand charities exhibit cost stickiness, conceptualized as cost increases in response to an increase in income that are greater than the cost decreases associated with an equivalent decrease in income. Drawing on the holistic accountability rationale, we posit that charity managers consider themselves accountable to a wide range of stakeholders and, therefore, are more concerned about the social impact of their managerial decisions. As a result, charity managers will be reluctant to adjust resources downward immediately after an income drop, as such decisions could lead to the loss of trust and confidence of their internal and external stakeholders. Based on a large sample of charities in New Zealand, we find evidence of cost stickiness. Importantly, we find that cost stickiness varies across a number of characteristics of charities, including charity size, sources of income and expenditure, crisis periods, and the sectors within which the charities operate. Our study contributes to a hitherto unexplored setting and provides empirical evidence on the theoretical debate of hierarchical versus holistic accountability in the not-for-profit sector.

scholarly journals Attitudes to Foreign Language Learning in New Zealand Schools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sandra Shearn
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
The United States ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Current Status ◽  
School Students ◽  
Wide Range

<p>This thesis examines attitudes towards the learning of languages other than English and Maori among New Zealand school students in years 8 and 9, parents of year 9 students, and a wide range of teachers. The research examined the extent to which participants subscribed to certain commonly held views about second language learning, for example: that it is too hard for most students, that it serves no purpose for future employment, that languages are 'girls' subjects', and so on. The investigation adopted a theoretical framework derived chiefly from the social psychological literature concerning language learning attitudes and motivation. Students were surveyed by means of questionnaires over two successive years in the same part of the country, so that it was possible to discover if the intentions of the year 8 students to study a foreign language when they started secondary school were carried out. Parents and teachers were interviewed to discover their experience of foreign language learning and their thoughts about its place in New Zealand schools and in their children's education. The findings are set against detailed information about each of the seven schools involved, the place of languages in the official curriculum framework and the Ministry of Education's efforts to promote language learning. For comparison, information is also presented on the recent history and current status of foreign language learning in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia. It was found that attitudes towards foreign language learning, of both adults and children, were mostly positive. Although many teachers were pessimistic about the views of their colleagues and students' parents, the majority of all the adults believed that language learning was desirable and possible for all or most students for a range of reasons. The majority also supported an earlier start to language learning, most favouring year 7. The findings suggest that the main reason that the proportion of students starting a foreign language in year 9 remains around 50%, and that retention rates in subsequent years continue to drop, is that languages are optional for most secondary students. This research found that choosing to study a language often meant sacrificing other subjects which students would like to have tried, and thus depended on strong intrinsic motivation, Although no participants claimed that language learning was more suitable for girls, it was found that the majority of students who opted for, and continued, language learning were girls, that boys tended to prefer practical subjects, and that, in the case of one secondary school, the minority of boys who were permitted to start a foreign language were discouraged from continuing by the general organisation and ethos of the school. Ultimately, the research indicated that attitudes towards foreign language learning in schools involved a complex web of factors. External factors often outweighed even the most positive attitudes among students, parents and teachers when option subjects were chosen. The low level of language learning in New Zealand, contrasted with the importance it has in comparable countries, was shown to result not so much from negative attitudes but rather from barriers within the education system as a whole and individual school cultures.</p>

scholarly journals Attitudes to Foreign Language Learning in New Zealand Schools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sandra Shearn
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
The United States ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Current Status ◽  
School Students ◽  
Wide Range

<p>This thesis examines attitudes towards the learning of languages other than English and Maori among New Zealand school students in years 8 and 9, parents of year 9 students, and a wide range of teachers. The research examined the extent to which participants subscribed to certain commonly held views about second language learning, for example: that it is too hard for most students, that it serves no purpose for future employment, that languages are 'girls' subjects', and so on. The investigation adopted a theoretical framework derived chiefly from the social psychological literature concerning language learning attitudes and motivation. Students were surveyed by means of questionnaires over two successive years in the same part of the country, so that it was possible to discover if the intentions of the year 8 students to study a foreign language when they started secondary school were carried out. Parents and teachers were interviewed to discover their experience of foreign language learning and their thoughts about its place in New Zealand schools and in their children's education. The findings are set against detailed information about each of the seven schools involved, the place of languages in the official curriculum framework and the Ministry of Education's efforts to promote language learning. For comparison, information is also presented on the recent history and current status of foreign language learning in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia. It was found that attitudes towards foreign language learning, of both adults and children, were mostly positive. Although many teachers were pessimistic about the views of their colleagues and students' parents, the majority of all the adults believed that language learning was desirable and possible for all or most students for a range of reasons. The majority also supported an earlier start to language learning, most favouring year 7. The findings suggest that the main reason that the proportion of students starting a foreign language in year 9 remains around 50%, and that retention rates in subsequent years continue to drop, is that languages are optional for most secondary students. This research found that choosing to study a language often meant sacrificing other subjects which students would like to have tried, and thus depended on strong intrinsic motivation, Although no participants claimed that language learning was more suitable for girls, it was found that the majority of students who opted for, and continued, language learning were girls, that boys tended to prefer practical subjects, and that, in the case of one secondary school, the minority of boys who were permitted to start a foreign language were discouraged from continuing by the general organisation and ethos of the school. Ultimately, the research indicated that attitudes towards foreign language learning in schools involved a complex web of factors. External factors often outweighed even the most positive attitudes among students, parents and teachers when option subjects were chosen. The low level of language learning in New Zealand, contrasted with the importance it has in comparable countries, was shown to result not so much from negative attitudes but rather from barriers within the education system as a whole and individual school cultures.</p>

IMPROVEMENT OF INNOVATIVE ACTIVITY OF THE ENTERPRISE

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliya Stoyanets ◽  
◽  
Mathias Onuh Aboyi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Innovative Development ◽  
Technological Equipment ◽  
Alliance Partner ◽  
Innovation Potential ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Technological Platform ◽  
The Cost

The article defines that for the successful implementation of an innovative project and the introduction of a new product into production it is necessary to use advanced technologies and modern software, which is an integral part of successful innovation by taking into account the life cycle of innovations. It is proposed to consider the general potential of the enterprise through its main components, namely: production and technological, scientific and technical, financial and economic, personnel and actual innovation potential. Base for the introduction of technological innovations LLC "ALLIANCE- PARTNER", which provides a wide range of support and consulting services, services in the employment market, tourism, insurance, translation and more. To form a model of innovative development of the enterprise, it is advisable to establish the following key aspects: the system of value creation through the model of cooperation with partners and suppliers; creating a value chain; technological platform; infrastructure, determine the cost of supply, the cost of activities for customers and for the enterprise as a whole. The system of factors of influence on formation of model of strategic innovative development of the enterprise is offered. The expediency of the cost of the complex of technological equipment, which is 6800.0 thousand UAH, is economically calculated. Given the fact that the company plans to receive funds under the program of socio-economic development of Sumy region, the evaluation of the effectiveness of the innovation project, the purchase of technological equipment, it is determined that the payback period of the project is 3 years 10 months. In terms of net present value (NPV), the project under study is profitable. The project profitability index (PI) meets the requirements for a positive decision on project implementation> 1.0. The internal rate of return of the project (IRR) also has a positive value of 22% because it exceeds the discount rate.

Natural enemies of bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides in New Zealand

2008 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 362-367
Author(s):  
H.M. Harman ◽  
N.W. Waipara ◽  
C.J. Winks ◽  
L.A. Smith ◽  
P.G. Peterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Invertebrate Fauna ◽  
Classical Biocontrol ◽  
Wide Range

Bridal creeper is a weed of natural and productive areas in the northern North Island of New Zealand A classical biocontrol programme was initiated in 20052007 with a survey of invertebrate fauna and pathogens associated with the weed in New Zealand Although bridal creeper was attacked by a wide range of generalist invertebrates their overall damage affected

Current Status and Future Perspective for Research on Medicinal Plants with Anticancerous Activity and Minimum Cytotoxic Value

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1227-1243
Author(s):  
Hina Qamar ◽  
Sumbul Rehman ◽  
D.K. Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Psidium Guajava ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
Wide Range

Cancer is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy enhance the survival rate of cancerous patients but they have several acute toxic effects. Therefore, there is a need to search for new anticancer agents having better efficacy and lesser side effects. In this regard, herbal treatment is found to be a safe method for treating and preventing cancer. Here, an attempt has been made to screen some less explored medicinal plants like Ammania baccifera, Asclepias curassavica, Azadarichta indica, Butea monosperma, Croton tiglium, Hedera nepalensis, Jatropha curcas, Momordica charantia, Moringa oleifera, Psidium guajava, etc. having potent anticancer activity with minimum cytotoxic value (IC50 >3μM) and lesser or negligible toxicity. They are rich in active phytochemicals with a wide range of drug targets. In this study, these medicinal plants were evaluated for dose-dependent cytotoxicological studies via in vitro MTT assay and in vivo tumor models along with some more plants which are reported to have IC50 value in the range of 0.019-0.528 mg/ml. The findings indicate that these plants inhibit tumor growth by their antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic molecular targets. They are widely used because of their easy availability, affordable price and having no or sometimes minimal side effects. This review provides a baseline for the discovery of anticancer drugs from medicinal plants having minimum cytotoxic value with minimal side effects and establishment of their analogues for the welfare of mankind.

Rural Development and Employment through Skill Development

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Purnendu Kumar Patra
Keyword(s):  
Rural Economy ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Rural Landscape ◽  
Current Status ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Unskilled Labor ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Proper Training ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
Civil Laws

India has around 600,000 villages with around 64% of its 1.3 billion people living in them. It is absurd to imagine growth without the country-side growing as fast as India's towns and cities. This nation has one of the largest pools of unskilled labor waiting to be trained and utilized. In the absence of proper training, awareness and motivation, it is commonplace for the rural unemployed youth to adopt alternative means of livelihood, many of which are shunned by civil laws. Through this paper the author wishes to throw some light on the importance of Skill Development programs, their current status, the gap that exists between the demand and supply of skilled labor and how employability of rural youth is enhanced by imparting skill oriented training to them. Finally, the paper also emphasizes on how skilled and employable youth contribute to overall development of a rural economy in particular and the nation in general. Data has been gathered from reliable secondary sources. On assumed lines, it was also concluded that the need of the hour for India is to aggressively pursue innovative government programs like Skill India and Make in India so that by the turn of the decade, close to half of the projected eligible population could be employed in various state-run schemes, private organizations. Entrepreneurship is also an outcome of innovative skill development that has immense potential for employment and thus, development of the rural landscape. The paper limits itself to the schemes launched by the respective state governments and central governments thus leaving room for improvement as far as measures taken by privately owned organizations and NGOs are concerned.

scholarly journals Current status of vascular access in Japan—from Dialysis Access Symposium 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 38-44
Author(s):  
Mizuya Fukasawa
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Access ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Good Survival ◽  
Chronic Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Dialysis Access ◽  
Dialysis Patients ◽  
Survival Prognosis ◽  
Access Methods ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Wide Range

At the second Dialysis Access Symposium held in Nagoya, Japan, a proposal was made to investigate the differences in vascular access methods used in different countries. In this article, we describe the management of vascular access in Japan. The Japanese population is rapidly aging, and the proportion of elderly patients on dialysis is also increasing. There were 325,000 dialysis patients in Japan at the end of 2015, of whom 65.1% were aged 65 years or above. The number of patients with diabetic nephropathy or nephrosclerosis as the underlying condition is also increasing, whereas the number with chronic glomerulonephritis is steadily decreasing. The Japanese health insurance system enables patients to undergo medical treatment at almost no out-of-pocket cost. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty suffers from a severe device lag compared with other countries, but although there are limitations on permitted devices, the use of those that have been authorized is covered by medical insurance. One important point that is unique to Japan is that vascular access is performed and managed by doctors involved in dialysis across a wide range of disciplines, including nephrologists, surgeons, and urologists. This may be one factor contributing to the good survival prognosis of Japanese dialysis patients.

scholarly journals Ring-Forming Polymerization toward Perfluorocyclobutyl and Ortho-Diynylarene-Derived Materials: From Synthesis to Practical Applications

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1486
Author(s):  
Eugene B. Caldona ◽  
Ernesto I. Borrego ◽  
Ketki E. Shelar ◽  
Karl M. Mukeba ◽  
Dennis W. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Resistance ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Aryl Ether ◽  
Aromatic Rings ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Repeat Units ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Synthetic Routes ◽  
The Cost

Many desirable characteristics of polymers arise from the method of polymerization and structural features of their repeat units, which typically are responsible for the polymer’s performance at the cost of processability. While linear alternatives are popular, polymers composed of cyclic repeat units across their backbones have generally been shown to exhibit higher optical transparency, lower water absorption, and higher glass transition temperatures. These specifically include polymers built with either substituted alicyclic structures or aromatic rings, or both. In this review article, we highlight two useful ring-forming polymer groups, perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers and ortho-diynylarene- (ODA) based thermosets, both demonstrating outstanding thermal stability, chemical resistance, mechanical integrity, and improved processability. Different synthetic routes (with emphasis on ring-forming polymerization) and properties for these polymers are discussed, followed by their relevant applications in a wide range of aspects.

Locking down behavioural compliance: The role of emotion and emotion regulation in breaches of COVID-19 mitigation measures in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110299
Author(s):  
Terise Broodryk ◽  
Kealagh Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Insight Into

Although anxiety and worry can motivate engagement with COVID-19 preventative behaviours, people may cognitively reframe these unpleasant emotions, restoring wellbeing at the cost of public health behaviours. New Zealand young adults ( n = 278) experiencing nationwide COVID-19 lockdown reported their worry, anxiety, reappraisal and lockdown compliance. Despite high knowledge of lockdown policies, 92.5% of participants reported one or more policy breaches ( M  = 2.74, SD = 1.86). Counter to predictions, no relationships were found between anxiety or worry with reappraisal or lockdown breaches. Findings highlight the importance of targeting young adults in promoting lockdown compliance and offer further insight into the role of emotion during a pandemic.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document