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The UC Research Repository collects, stores and makes available original research from postgraduate students, researchers and academics based at the University of Canterbury.
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Prevalence and Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Pain when Running During Pregnancy: A Survey of 3102 Women
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024) Wyatt, Hannah; Sheerin , Kelly; Hume , Patria; Hébert-Losier , Kim
Background: Musculoskeletal pain while running is a concern to women during pregnancy and can lead to running cessation. To support women who wish to run during pregnancy, it is essential to understand the sites, severities and personal risk factors associated with musculoskeletal pain. Objective: The aim was to investigate prevalence and risk factors for musculoskeletal pain when running during pregnancy. Methods: An online survey was completed by women who had a child in the past 5 years and ran prior to and during pregnancy. Pain frequency informed prevalence rates by body site, and logistic regression odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: A total of 3102 women of 23 ethnicities from 25 countries completed the survey. Women were 22–52 years old when they gave birth and ran 2–129 km/week during the 0.5–35 years before the birth of their youngest child. Women ran significantly less distance and less often during pregnancy than before pregnancy. Most women (86%) experienced pain while running during pregnancy (59% pelvis/sacroiliac joint, 52% lower back, 51% abdomen, 44% breast, 40% hip). The highest prevalence of severe-to-worst pain was at the pelvis/sacroiliac joint (9%). Women at greatest risk of pain while running during pregnancy had a previous injury (OR = 3.44) or were older (OR = 1.04). Women with a previous child were less likely to experience breast pain (OR = 0.76) than those running during their first pregnancy. Conclusion: Healthcare practices to reduce pain should focus on regions of greatest musculoskeletal change during pregnancy, specifically the pelvis, lower back and abdomen. Efforts to support women to run for longer throughout pregnancy should focus on pain at the pelvis and breasts.
Recreational Disturbance of River Sediments During Base Flow Deteriorates Microbial Water Quality
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024) Pattis , Isabelle; Moriarty , Elaine; Anderson , Juliet; McIntosh, Angus; Gilpin , Brent
Recreational water quality of rivers is typically assessed by microbial analysis of indicator organisms, such as Escherichia coli and enterococci in samples collected directly from the water column, implying that risk to public health comes from free-floating microorganisms. In New Zealand, the Recreational Water Quality Guidelines apply certain E. coli concentration thresholds to categorize results into ‘meet guidelines’ (≤ 260 cfu E. coli 100 mL−1), ‘alert level’, and ‘action level’ (≥ 550 cfu E. coli 100 mL−1). The impairment of water quality due to re-suspended riverbed sediment under flood conditions has been widely recognized. However, the potential risks posed by sediment-linked microorganisms associated with river recreational activities under base flow are less appreciated. We evaluated the water quality of 30 rivers in Canterbury, New Zealand, during base flow conditions prior to and after artificially stirring the sediment. Bacterial and protozoan indicators, pathogens, water quality, and land use in surrounding areas were examined. While 71% of water samples (n = 64) met New Zealand Recreational Water guidelines prior to stirring, only 39% of samples (n = 35) met the guidelines after stirring. E. coli levels increased by 110%, or more, following sediment stirring. Campylobacter were detected in every river, at least once, and increases were observed following stirring. We conclude that sediment-associated microbes become suspended by recreational activities and may pose a higher risk than previously thought to river users. To ensure public health is protected, authorities should assess microorganisms in both sediment and water samples to rate the microbiological risk of recreational water use.
Stuck in Limbo: how sensemaking discrepancy over strategy-related performance leads to disjointed collaboration in an international joint venture
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2023) Zhao , Xiaoli; Stiles, David
A major issue in international business is why many International Joint Ventures (IJVs) fail to live up to partners’ expectations. Research into why IJVs underperform centres on differences between partners’ equity, resources, technical knowledge and cultural values, but seldom internal sensemaking conflicts. We address this research gap: specifically, the sense managers make of their own and their partner managers’ perceived performance in relation to strategy practices, and the effects of sensemaking upon collaboration. Some IJV studies examine outright organizational failure, but we focus on a common situation where partner firms’ expectations about each other’s performance are not met. Our case is a major Sino-New Zealand dairy IJV in a Limbo-like state of severe sensemaking discrepancy. Here, managers struggled to perform strategy effectively in a context of mutual misunderstanding and profound miscommunication, rooted in sensemaking differences. Using a strategy practice lens, we explore how this sensemaking discrepancy arose over organizational identity, learning and experience, strategizing, communication and trust. This eroded meaningful cooperation over strategy, leading to disjointed collaboration: a new concept capturing a state of compromised engagement, where the IJV continued operationally, but collaboration became increasingly difficult. We provide a theoretical framework to help understand sensemaking discrepancy in IJVs, based on a reconceptualization of sensemaking discrepancy in terms of own and others’ expected and perceived performance. We also offer essential practice-based insights into cognitive barriers to strategy collaboration.
Computer simulation and controllability studies of multi-module ultrafiltration plants
(1996) Winchester, James
The operation and control of whey protein concentrating ultrafiltration plants seems, at times, to be difficult. These problems can cause plants to be less efficient due to losses in product quality and throughput. With the general rise in the size of the dairy industry and the subsequent increase in whey protein concentrate production it would seem important to solve these operation and control problems.
This thesis presents work that has been done investigating these problems. The work can be divided into three areas. Firstly the development of suitable models for the description of UF whey concentrating plants. Secondly the use of these models to study the operation and control of UF plants in order to solve the problems mentioned above. Thirdly the study of the UF plant process from a state space perspective in order to determine the underlying reasons for the results found.
The model developed for the simulation of UF plants was found to be qualitatively correct and applicable for the modelling of these plants. It showed that the control of UF plants is very closely linked with their operation. The main effect being the diafiltration ratios used in the operation of the plant. The results found, for the operation and control of UF plants, where confirmed and explained using state space analysis.
The conclusions for the operation and control of UF plants are listed in section 5. 5 of chapter. This section shows an itemised list of the conclusions of chapter 5 which contains all the conclusions for the operation and control of UF plants.
Hydrogen-Rich Syngas Production via Dry and Steam Reforming of Methane in Simulated Producer Gas over ZSM-5-Supported Trimetallic Catalysts
(MDPI AG, 2023) Iminabo JT; Iminabo M; Yip, Alex; Pang, Shusheng
This study investigated the production of hydrogen-rich syngas from renewable sources using durable and efficient catalysts. Specifically, the research focused on steam methane reforming (SRM) and dry methane reforming (DRM) of simulated producer gas from biomass steam gasification in a fluidized bed reactor. The catalysts tested are ZSM-5-supported nickel-iron-cobalt-based trimetallic catalysts in different ratios, which were prepared via the wet impregnation method. Synthesized catalysts were characterized using XRD, BET, H2-TPR, and SEM techniques. The results of the SRM with the simulated producer gas showed that the 20%Ni-20%Fe-10%Co/ZSM-5 trimetallic catalyst, at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 12 L·h−1·g−1 and reaction temperature of 800 °C, achieved the highest CH4 conversion (74.8%) and highest H2 yield (65.59%) with CO2 conversion (36.05%). Comparing the performance of the SRM and DRM of the simulated producer gas with the 20%Ni-20%Fe-10%Co/ZSM5 at a GHSV of 36 L·h−1·g−1 and 800 °C, they achieved a CH4 conversion of 67.18% and 64.43%, a CO2 conversion of 43.01% and 52.1%, and a H2 yield of 55.49% and 42.02%, respectively. This trimetallic catalyst demonstrated effective inhibition of carbon formation and sintering, with only 2.6 wt.% carbon deposition observed from the thermo-gravimetric analysis of the used catalyst from the SRM of the simulated producer gas, thus promoting the potential of the ZSM-5-supported trimetallic catalysts in methane reforming.