Tuwhera Research Repository

The Tuwhera Research Repository provides sustainable open access and archiving to a broad range of AUT produced research - theses, research outputs and datasets.

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Access status: Open Access ,
The Upside of Untidiness: Why a Little Mess Can Be Good for Your Home
(The Conversation, 2026-10-27) Abarashi, Jamal
Access status: Open Access ,
T2-Weighted Whole Spine Sagittal MRI for the Identification of Cervical Cord Compression in Degenerative Spinal Conditions: A Systematic Review
(Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2026-11-02) Chauhan, Rohil V; Segar, Anand H; Regan, Ciaran; Rice, David; White, Steven G
Study Design: PRISMA-compliant systematic review. Objective: This review aimed to evaluate the clinical prevalence and significance of cervical cord compression (CCC) identified on T2-weighted whole spine sagittal MRI (WSSMRI) sequences. Summary of Background Data: WSSMRI sequences are frequently acquired alongside thoracolumbar MRI for vertebral segmentation, but may also detect previously unrecognized CCC, a key risk factor for degenerative cervical myelopathy. The clinical significance of WSSMRI-identified CCC remains unclear. Materials and Methods: Five databases were searched for studies evaluating CCC on T2-weighted WSSMRI in adults undergoing MRI for degenerative spinal conditions from inception to September 2026. Two reviewers independently performed study selection and data extraction. Data were synthesized descriptively, with subgroup analyses by age (60 y or older) and symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Results: The search yielded 552 articles, of which 48 full texts were reviewed, and six studies were included for analysis. All six studies were retrospective observational cohorts from tertiary orthopedic/neurosurgical settings. Across the six included studies, 2634 participants were included (mean age=56.9), of whom 375 had WSSMRI-identified CCC (aggregate prevalence: 14.2%; range: 5.4%–53%). The aggregate prevalence among patients aged 60 years or older and among patients with symptomatic LSS was 28.3% (range: 23.7%–53%) and 23.9% (23.7%–23.9%), respectively. Three studies provided detail regarding symptomatic CCC, whereby 47 out of 147 CCC cases exhibited myelopathic symptoms (32.0%). Overall, studies had a low to moderate risk of bias (5–7/7) and were of moderate quality (4–7/9). Conclusion: T2-weighted WSSMRI may serve as an adjunctive and opportunistic imaging sequence for identifying CCC. While a more quantitative prevalence estimate was not appropriate due to heterogeneous image evaluation methods, CCC was frequently identified in older adults and those with lumbar spinal stenosis, where tandem spinal pathology is common. Further studies are needed to assess its comparative performance and accuracy compared with cervical spine MRI. Cervical cord compression (CCC) is a critical radiologic finding arising from degenerative, congenital, traumatic, neoplastic, and/or inflammatory aetiologies.1 While degenerative cervical stenosis and CCC are incidentally detected in up to 24.2% of asymptomatic adults based on population-based studies, CCC is a well-established predictor for the development and progression of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).2 Early identification of CCC, particularly its symptomatic form, DCM, is crucial given its association with progressive and often irreversible neurological sequelae.1,2 Both CCC and DCM have been identified when screened for in several at-risk groups, most commonly in patients presenting for evaluation of degenerative spinal complaints, such as lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).3,4 Notably, up to 60% of patients with symptomatic LSS exhibit concomitant radiologic CCC, a phenomenon described as tandem spinal stenosis.3 While not always symptomatic, identification of tandem CCC in the preoperative setting in patients undergoing thoracolumbar and complex adult deformity surgery may have implications for surgical staging, approach,5 intraoperative anesthetic positioning,6 and differential diagnostic considerations for patients with nonconcordant neurological symptoms.7 Typically, the assessment of tandem CCC would require further dedicated regional imaging of the cervical spine. T2-weighted whole spine sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (WSSMRI) (Figure 1B) sequences may present an opportunity to identify tandem CCC without dedicated regional MRI. WSSMRI sequences are often incorporated into thoracic and lumbar spine MRI protocols for vertebral segmentation and screening for incidental pathology.8 Although inherently limited by the absence of axial sequences and contingent on sufficient image acquisition parameters, T2-weighted WSSMRI sequences may provide an opportunistic visualization of CCC in patients undergoing radiological/surgical evaluation for thoracic and lumbar spinal pathology
Access status: Open Access ,
Active Function Improvement with Repeated Injections of Botulinum Toxin A in Upper Limb Spasticity: A Longitudinal Analysis from the ULIS-III Study
(MDPI AG, 2026-10-02) Ashford, Stephen A; Weatherall, Mark; Fheodoroff, Klemens; Jacinto, Jorge; Siegert, Richard J; Hannes, Christian; Turner-Stokes, Lynne
Improvement in active function (making it easier to use the limb) is a common goal following treatment of upper limb spasticity with botulinum toxin (BoNT-A). ULIS-III was a large international, observational, longitudinal study (N = 953) conducted in the context of usual clinical practice over two years. In this secondary post hoc analysis, we examine whether goals for improvement in active function were met over repeated injection cycles. Patients were selected if improved active function (AF) was a primary/secondary goal for at least one cycle of treatment (n = 286/953). They were assessed at the start and end of each cycle using the Goal Attainment T-score alongside the Arm Activity measure (ArmA). Serial changes and predictors of improvement were explored. Across eight cycles, there were 1167 injections for active function, 875/1998 (44%) AF goals were set and 493 (57%) of those goals were achieved. Patients continued to show significant improvement in AF (p < 0.001) for each injection at least up to three cycles, which is likely to be clinically significant, especially in patients with milder spasticity who were naïve to BoNT-A. No statistically significant predictors were confirmed on mixed effects modeling. Conclusions: Repeated BoNT-A continued to produce significant improvement in active function for at least three cycles, regardless of patient- or treatment-related factors in this cohort, but type II errors due to small numbers cannot be excluded.
Access status: Open Access ,
“Time for a Comeback”: Young Workers’ Resistance Trajectories in Aotearoa New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Ewertowska, Tanya Milly; Ravenswood, Katherine; Hurd, Fiona; McGhee, Peter
Young workers live in challenging times, facing threats to both the quality and quantity of their employment globally (ILO, 2012). Youth experience extended periods of poor quality, precarious employment, and consistently high unemployment and underemployment (Shin et al., 2023; Verick, 2023; Wyn & Woodman, 2021). Despite this disadvantageous context, few employment relations studies have focused on young workers’ resistance (for exceptions, see Lucas, 1997; Tailby & Pollert, 2011; Yang et al., 2020). Indeed, studies suggest that young worker resistance faces significant barriers: youth are in difficult-to-organise workplaces (Aleks et al., 2020; Tailby & Pollert, 2011), to some extent normalise their experiences (Berry & McDaniel, 2020; Mrozowicki & Trappmann, 2021), and hold a perception of reduced control over their work and lives (Chesters et al., 2019; Einboden et al., 2021; Ewertowska, 2020). However, international and New Zealand studies also indicate potential for youth resistance (Bakkevig Dagsland et al., 2015; Ewertowska, 2020; Mrozowicki et al., 2018). Some young workers are critically aware of the structures which shape their lives, and express disquiet over their exploitative work conditions (Bakkevig Dagsland et al., 2015; Ewertowska, 2020; Mrozowicki et al., 2018). Moreover, studies have found evidence of informal student resistance, including larger-scale collective action (Yang et al., 2020), and individual workplace resistance (Lucas, 1997). This doctoral research set out to respond to this tension and gap in understanding of whether young workers resist, and if so, how, and what shapes their resistance. The overarching research question was: How do young workers in Aotearoa New Zealand experience resistance across their working lives? The research was conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand, where youth experience poor work conditions and labour market outcomes (Anderson, 2019; Ewertowska, 2020; Mooney, 2016) reflective of the international youth context (Shin et al., 2023; Verick, 2023). The research was designed within a critical theory paradigm, with the understanding that research should produce knowledge which challenges power relations (Denzin et al., 2024). The arts-informed research methodology drew on principles of art to empower participants (Cole & Knowles, 2008). Data were collected online and in person during 2022 and 2023 with 21 young workers aged 20 to 30 across three urban areas on the North Island of New Zealand. Collage making in a group setting produced in-depth data on young workers’ resistance and other responses (Butler-Kisber, 2010; Roberts & Woods, 2018). Collage making was followed by individual semi-structured follow-up interviews (Bryman, 2012; Mackworth-Young et al., 2022) and member checking through a town hall meeting (Schaefle et al., 2011; Zuckerman-Parker & Shank, 2008). Data analysis utilised Big Q thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2020). While workplace and labour market contexts could theoretically have led to normalisation (Berry & McDaniel, 2020; Mrozowicki & Trappmann, 2021), the findings show how young workers’ contexts both constrained and enabled resistance. Over time, repeated experiences of disposability and poor conditions during extended transitions fostered young workers' resistance. Culture shock also prompted young workers' resistance: prior socialisation meant that youth perceived their negative work experiences as unexpected and unjust. The thesis concludes that young workers’ resistance develops over their working lives and is intertwined with other responses. Resistance and other responses interweave into a trajectory with two types of stages: active resistance and periods of retreat to grow and sustain long-term resistance. Young workers’ resistance moved from early experiences such as raising concerns and quitting, to renewed forms of speaking up and resisting for others, and, for some, grassroots mobilisation. Interspersed with resistance were periods of stepping back for self-care and reflection, learning from others and through self-education, and building mutual support. The resistance trajectory shows how a range of responses to disadvantage are critical over time, offering a new perspective on debates about whether young workers resist or acquiesce.
Access status: Open Access ,
An Investigation of Changes to the Perception of Historical Artefacts Brought About by 3D Scanning Technologies
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Doyle, Liam; Joseph, Frances
Technological advancements have continually transformed how societies perceive and engage with both past and present events. More recently, developments in 3D scanning and modelling technologies have begun reshaping the ways in which historical artefacts are studied, interpreted, and disseminated. Despite the growing use of these technologies in museums, archives, and historical research, their broader cultural and ethical implications remain underexplored due to the field's interdisciplinary nature. This research examines how digital technologies, particularly 3D scanning and photogrammetry, are influencing contemporary engagements with history. The study draws on a wide range of literature, from Walter Benjamin’s essay on Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction including Māori perspectives on photography and cultural representation, alongside qualitative research including public surveys, focus groups, and expert interviews. The findings reveal a cautious but optimistic embrace of 3D scanning technologies by both public participants and academic professionals. While participants recognised the potential of digital technologies to increase accessibility and public engagement with history, they also expressed concerns regarding authenticity, cultural context, technological inequality, and the ethical implications of digital reproduction. The research suggests that the increasing dissemination of digital artefacts may fundamentally reshape how historical artefacts are experienced, creating both the risk of disconnection from material and cultural context and the possibility for broader, more democratic forms of historical engagement. While this study focuses specifically on 3D scanning technologies, it also highlights the wider impact digital technologies are having on contemporary historiography.