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Research Commons is the University of Waikato's open access research repository, housing research publications and theses produced by the University's staff and students.
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Publication Exploring cross-modal association in canine (canis familiaris) scent detection: A framework for training dogs to identify multiple odours(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024-04-19)Dog’s olfaction abilities and trainability have made them valuable companions in scent detection tasks for centuries. While research has focused on dogs detecting single odours, there is a gap in understanding if they can emit different responses to different odours. Based on the principles of stimulus control and existing evidence of dogs’ ability to learn to perform similar tasks, it was hypothesised that dogs, using cross-modal association through olfaction and vision modalities, can match odours to corresponding shapes. Using an automated scent delivery apparatus, four dogs were trained using operant conditioning procedures to discriminate between two odours and select a corresponding shape. One dog met the mastery criteria and progressed to three odours. It was found that dogs were able to discriminate between odours at greater accuracy than chance, confirming our hypothesis. Yet, all dogs did display a bias towards one of the four touchscreen quadrants. The findings were similar to those observed in other studies involving different animal species, but the accuracy rates observed in this study were lower than those reported in other similar studies. These findings have implications for tasks the detection of multiple scents and further the understanding of dogs’ abilities to perform cross-modal discrimination tasks. This study established a methodological framework for cross-modal scent discrimination tasks but there are several improvements to the methods that might enhance dogs’ performance in future research.Publication Ceremonious storytelling: Exploring experiences within the publicly funded health service(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024-07-27)Background: Chronic disease is defined as a condition impacting organs or organ systems causing dysfunction or dysregulation that lasts longer than six months or remains, despite medical intervention or treatment. Research has shown that barriers, including those of a financial, physical, institutional and patient orientated nature significantly impact on outcomes. Māori are significantly over-represented in chronic health condition statistics, particularly relating to cardiac, respiratory, renal and mental health. Further, Māori are more likely to have a negative experience engaging with primary and secondary health services, leading to disempowerment and dis-engagement. Therefore, research which explores how quality of care for Māori can be improved is of pressing value. Objective: This study seeks to explore the experiences of Māori and non-Māori health-care consumers and providers within the publicly funded health service of Aotearoa. Participants: Advertising across primary and secondary care settings resulted in a total of 37 responses from health care consumers (31 respondents contributing to pūrākau) and 37 responses from health professionals (27 respondents contributing to pūrākau). Methods: This study utilised kaupapa Māori methodological approaches, frameworks and models to guide and intertwine qualitative and quantitative research methods. Participants were able to engage with any subset of questions, defining their responses through pūrākau, which supports the development of narratives within questions that are outside the limits of other worldviews. Māori methods such as pūrākau are flexible, enabling the development of research methods that are culturally aware and safe for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people globally Results: Key themes found within pūrākau highlighted the importance of meaningful engagement, person focused, trauma informed care to positively impact willingness and ability to engage with primary, secondary and tertiary services. The study reported that consumers had a strong willingness to engage with services. Conclusion: Health is personal and impacts people in various ways. Access to health services, while funded in Aotearoa, still create barriers for some people and perpetuates the gap between prevention and diagnosis of chronic disease. Kaupapa Māori methods within research support Māori engagement and definition within research through historical ways of being, knowing and conducting research. Participants of this study detailed experiences within health services, highlighting willingness and ability to engage with health services. Prior research defined the development of the Levesque access and accessibility framework, which correlates with the findings within this study."Publication Soil carbon stocks under fencelines and adjacent paddocks to test the importance of dung returns(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024)Soils are the largest terrestrial store of carbon (C), but agriculture has depleted around 133 Pg C from the upper 2 m of soil, contributing to increases in atmospheric CO2. Soil C sequestration can help offset these atmospheric increases and is determined by the balance between C inputs and C outputs. New Zealand’s temperate climate supports year-round grazing on approximately one-third of the country’s land area. The conversion of New Zealand’s native forests to pastures increased soil C stocks, yet the mechanisms behind this increase remain unclear. Grazing animals influence the C cycle through the consumption of C embodied within the feed they eat, with excreta returning C to the soil. Although C balances of New Zealand pastures suggest excreta is an important return of C to the soil, this has been poorly quantified. The objectives of this thesis were to determine if soil C stocks (0–0.6m) differed between paddock and fenceline areas, assuming the paddock received more dung input. To test this assumption, the spatial distribution of dung in relation to the fenceline was mapped, and dung loading was estimated. Stocks of particulate organic matter C (POM-C) and mineral-associated organic matter C (MAOM-C) were also determined in the top 0.1 m of soil to understand which forms of C contributed to any measured differences in total C stocks. Differences in Olsen P and pH were also determined. Paddock and fenceline sites (38 pairs) distributed across six farms in the Waikato region were sampled to a depth of 0.6 m. On average, soil C and N stocks were 10.3 t C ha−1 (P = .002) and 0.96 t N ha−1 (P = .002) higher in paddock areas when compared to fenceline areas. When excluding one paired site with a very poor match of mineral surface area, the differences decreased to 9.3 t C ha−1 (P = .004) and 0.86 t N ha−1 (P = .003). The greatest differences were observed in the 0–0.1 m depth increment. At the 0–0.1 m depth increment, POM-C was significantly greater in paddock samples and largely accounted for the observed difference in total soil C. This suggested that the observed C stock increase was in a more degradable fraction, implying that decreases in dung returns could result in rapid soil C loss. There was no relationship between the age of the fenceline and C stock differences, indicating that differences may have occurred rapidly to a new steady state. Mapping of 2000+ dug pats showed that paddocks received more dung, with only one pat being within the fenceline sampling zone. The average dung density was 0.2 pats m−2 and a dung-C loading rate of 1.1 t C ha−1 y−1 was calculated. The detected differences in C stocks due to varying dung input aligned with other studies on cattle manure’s influence on soil C, POM-C and MAOM-C stocks. Further research is needed to better understand the contribution of dung returns to soil C and its potential vulnerability to loss.Publication The effect of biochar as a partial replacement of cement in cement mortar mixture and its mechanical properties(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024)Carbon Dioxide (CO2) pollution is one of the leading causes of present day environmental issues. The construction industry, having a huge cement production contributes to these issues such as global warming and climate change. According to Mota-Panizio et al., (2023), the third largest CO2 emission contributor is cement production. Several research has been done on agricultural waste solutions which includes the use of rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, and biochar as a partial replacement to cement mortar and concrete. This study will focus on the use and benefits of biochar as a partial replacement to cement, not only results in a decrease in usage of cement, lessening CO2 but as this study will show, it will also help in improving the mechanical properties of cement mortar. The biochar used in this study is a Pinus Radiata Sawdust Biochar, a commercial biochar made in New Zealand. This study finds that 2-3% of biochar as a partial replacement to cement in cement mortar is the optimum percentage with a D50, 0.0172mm particle size and with an 818m2/kg specific area, in which the mechanical properties would prove to be better than that of a pure cement mixture. To determine the internal curing ability of biochar, it is observed in the 3rd batch , a mix with 2% of biochar water cured for 3 days has the same 28-day compressive strength as the control mix was cured for 7 days. It is also found in this experimental study 1-3% of biochar replacement with cement mortar gave increased compressive strength compared to plain cement mortar in all days of curing. While biochar can be produced from agricultural wastes, it can also be derived from forest waste. Not only does it help in eliminating CO2 emission, it also adds commercial value to forestry waste providing an opportunity to use rather than discard it. One consequence of climate change is an increase in the number of extreme weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. The effects of this were made worse in some parts of the country due to accumulated forestry waste which blocked waterways making the flooding worse and damaging essential infrastructure. The main questions this study asks are: How does Biochar influence the mechanical properties of cement mortar such as flexural strength, flowability, and compressive strength? How is the incorporation of Biochar to cement mortar significant in lessening the increase of CO2 emission? And In which ways can the use of Biochar help improve forest waste management most especially in New Zealand? To answer these questions, conducted tests of flowability, compressive strength, flexural strength, TGA, and SEM Analysis that would determine which percentage best depicts the effect of biochar to cement mortar and analyze the mechanical properties of cement mortar when combined with Biochar.Item Ngā Ara Auaha - Creative practice student showcase(Exhibition, The University of Waikato, 2024)Ngā Ara Auaha simply translated means 'creative pathways' and comprises a collective exhibition featuring creative works from last year's undergraduate and postgraduate students across the University and working with creative practice research and outputs. Ngā Ara Auaha is an annual student showcase, exhibiting the creative works of University of Waikato students (both undergraduate and postgraduate). The exhibition’s title refers to the ‘creative pathways’ taken by these students who have drawn on their own various creative practices, modes, and methods to think through their respective research journeys. The call for submissions was open to students across all faculties and divisions of the University and as such the variety of works is vast. Multiple artistic mediums are featured in the same space, including photography and film, toi Māori, augmented media, fine art, design, and creative writing. This exhibition showcases both the artistic skill of our students and the potential of creative methodologies in research. Expanding the rigid boundaries of the academy and blurring the lines between the ‘creative and critical’, with contributors adding to an established legacy of creative practice at the University of Waikato.
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