School of Science - Te Kura Pūtaiao
Permanent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/1333
Research at AUT's School of Science - Te Kura Pūtaiao is focused on key scientific issues with regional and global significance. The common theme connecting all research areas is sustainability – in the broadest sense as it relates to environmental and human health. Our research is closely allied to teaching and learning opportunities at undergraduate and postgraduate level within the school.
Research is organised in six main areas:
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item A Qualitative Study on Pacific Male Perspectives on Addressing Porn Use and Addiction in Aotearoa New Zealand(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026-03-24) Erickson, Simon; Kito, Bale; Treharne, Gareth; Rodda, Simone; Kennedy, Rebekah; Fehoko, EdmondPacific experiences, in particular, male perspectives of pornography use remain significantly under-examined in contemporary behavioural health scholarship, despite growing evidence of its complex intersections with cultural identity, spirituality, masculinity, and community expectations in Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific region. This study critically investigates how Pacific males understand, navigate, and respond to pornography within the interconnected domains of church, culture, and community, three influential spaces that shape moral reasoning, gendered expectations, and collective wellbeing. Findings reveal that pornography use is framed not only as an individual behavioural issue but as a culturally embedded concern that disrupts relationships, challenges masculine identities, and amplifies shame and silence within faith-based and communal settings. Participants emphasised the need for culturally grounded, church-engaged, and community-led strategies that move beyond punitive moral narratives to foster compassionate dialogue, relational accountability, and culturally resonant education on sexuality and digital wellbeing. This paper argues that addressing pornography among Pacific males requires a holistic, strengths-based approach centred on cultural safety and collective responsibility. By foregrounding Pacific voices, the study contributes critical insights for culturally responsive intervention design, pastoral care, and public health policy, positioning Pacific worldviews as essential to understanding and addressing pornography-related harms in culturally meaningful and socially just ways.Item Comparative Amplicon and Shotgun Metagenome Profiling of Soil Microbial Communities in Kauri Forests Affected by Phytophthora agathidicida(Wiley, 2026-04-01) King, Zoe; Buckley, Hannah L; Lear, Gavin; Seale, Brent; Lee, Kevin C; Schwendenmann, Luitgard; Lacap-Bugler, Donnabella CSoil-borne pathogens can influence microbial communities and ecosystem function, making it important to understand their broader ecological impacts. We investigated interactions between Phytophthora agathidicida (the causal agent of kauri tree dieback) and soil microbial communities, while also comparing detection and community-profiling methods. Soils from 60 kauri trees across three sites in the Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand, were analysed using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for pathogen detection, and 16S rRNA gene/ITS gene amplicon sequencing alongside shotgun metagenomics for community characterisation. LAMP detected P. agathidicida in 39/60 samples, while shotgun sequencing detected Phytophthora-associated DNA at low abundance across all samples. Microbial community structure and functional potential showed weak association with pathogen presence, though differential abundance testing identified several genera enriched in pathogen-detected soils, including taxa previously linked to disease suppression. Amplicon and shotgun profiles indicated broadly comparable patterns at higher taxonomic and functional levels, while differences between approaches emerged primarily at finer taxonomic resolution. Importantly, functional predictions from PICRUSt2 closely matched shotgun-derived profiles at broader scales, indicating its suitability as a cost-effective tool for broad-scale monitoring. These findings suggest limited direct pathogen effects on microbial communities and highlight how integrating molecular approaches provides complementary insights into soil microbiome-pathogen interactions.Item Cannabinoid Oral Mucosal Delivery: Approaches to Formulation, Fabrication, and Permeation Enhancement(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026-03-06) Nagaraj, Anushree; Seyfoddin, AliCannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have garnered significant interest for their broad-spectrum pharmacological activity in managing chronic pain, neurological disorders, and cancer-associated symptoms. Despite their therapeutic promise, clinical translation remains hindered by poor aqueous solubility, extensive first-pass metabolism, and inconsistent systemic exposure following oral administration. Oral mucosal drug delivery systems offer a viable alternative by enabling transmucosal absorption, bypassing hepatic metabolism, and facilitating both rapid and sustained drug release. This review examines the evolution and design of oral mucosal dosage forms, including fast-dissolving films, mucoadhesive matrices, in situ gels, and particulate systems and highlights the critical role of formulation strategies in enhancing cannabinoid bioavailability. Fabrication techniques such as solvent casting, hot melt extrusion, and emerging 3D printing methods are also discussed, with a focus on their potential to enable personalized dosage forms. Furthermore, the integration of permeation enhancers like terpenes, and novel systems such as inclusion complexes and lipid-based carriers, presents new opportunities for improving the solubility and stability of lipophilic cannabinoids. Together, these innovations provide a framework for the development of stable, effective, and patient-centric oral mucosal cannabinoid delivery platforms with improved pharmacokinetic and therapeutic profiles.Item Rasch Analysis in the Development of Self-reported Outcome Measures to Assess Physical Function(Elsevier BV, 2026-03-14) Pierobon, Andrés; Krägeloh, ChrisINTRODUCTION: The assessment of physical function is central to clinical decision-making in rehabilitation and musculoskeletal care. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are widely used because they are simple, cost-effective, and patient-centred. However, many PROMs were developed using Classical Test Theory, which assumes equal distances between ordinal response options and overlooks differences in item difficulty and person ability. These limitations can reduce measurement precision and cause ceiling effects, particularly among individuals with high physical function. Rasch analysis, a modern psychometric approach based on Item Response Theory, addresses these issues and enhances the measurement properties of PROMs. PURPOSE: This article introduces Rasch analysis as a methodological framework for developing and refining PROMs to assess physical function. It explains the principles of the Rasch model, its application to dichotomous and polytomous data, and how it transforms ordinal scores into interval-level measurements. Example figures illustrate key outputs such as category probability curves, person-item maps, and threshold ordering. Advantages, limitations, and practical considerations for integrating Rasch analysis into outcome measure development are discussed. IMPLICATIONS: Rasch analysis enables clinicians and researchers to better understand item difficulty and estimate patients' functional ability with greater precision. Incorporating Rasch-developed PROMs enhances the validity, interpretability, and responsiveness of functional assessments. Clinicians can use these measures with increased confidence when monitoring progress and evaluating treatment outcomes, supporting more accurate goal setting and improved rehabilitation practice.Item Low-dose Naltrexone as an Adjunctive Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder: Findings From a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Hybrid Parallel-arm Study(Frontiers Media S.A., 2026-03-06) Moloney, BD; Forsyth, A; Sumner, RL; Glover, SC; Hoeh, NR; Sundram, F; Cavadino, A; Muthukumaraswamy, S; Lin, JCIntroduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of global disability. Current treatments are limited by poor efficacy in approximately one-third of patients. Neuroinflammation may be an underlying mechanism of MDD and represents a novel target for pharmacological therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a putative centrally acting anti-inflammatory agent, low-dose naltrexone (LDN), in MDD. Methods: Patients with MDD experiencing moderate depressive symptoms and receiving antidepressant treatment were randomized to receive 12 weeks of LDN (up to 4.5 mg per day) or 12 weeks of inactive placebo. The primary outcome measure was the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at 12 weeks, analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model adjusted for baseline. Results: Thirty-seven patients were randomized. At 12 weeks, MADRS scores (M ± SD) were reduced by 10.5 ± 5.6 in the LDN group and 9.8 ± 5.9 placebo group; with no difference between groups (p = 0.97). LDN did not affect high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels or exploratory measures of depression, behavioral activation, quality of life, sickness symptoms and mood. There was no evidence that baseline hsCRP modified the effect of LDN on MADRS score. Discussion: Adjunctive LDN does not appear to alter depressive symptoms in moderate MDD. Larger studies are warranted to evaluate LDN in a population with a higher likelihood of neuroinflammatory pathology, such as those with severe, treatment-resistant MDD or comorbid inflammatory conditions. Future studies should utilize stratification tools that are more sensitive and specific to neuroinflammation than hsCRP. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=383741&isReview=true, identifier [ACTRN12622000881730].Item Peroxyl Radical-induced Lipid Peroxidation in Bovine Plasma: Kinetic Parameters for Simultaneous Antioxidant Activity and Capacity Assessments of Foods(Elsevier BV, 2026-06-21) Granato, DanielConventional chemical antioxidant assays estimate antioxidant capacity but lack physiological relevance and fail to capture the complexity of oxidative processes in biological systems. This study standardised a kinetic bovine plasma lipid oxidation assay (BOPLA) in which AAPH-derived peroxyl radicals induce oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in bovine plasma, providing a biologically relevant model for evaluating food-related antioxidants in a lipoprotein oxidation system. A range of beverages (rosé and white wines, various fruit juices, teas, and coffee) was evaluated using chemical antioxidant assays, nitric oxide inhibition, and egg yolk lipid peroxidation inhibition. AAPH at 3 mM provided an optimal balance between radical flux and assay discrimination, producing stable oxidation kinetics over 120 min while maintaining sufficient dynamic range to distinguish partial and complete antioxidant inhibition. BOPLA parameters, antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and oxidation velocity, showed significant correlations with single-electron transfer assays, including CUPRAC, DPPH, Folin–Ciocalteu reducing capacity (FCRC), and iron-reducing capacity (IRAC), supporting the role of polyphenols in suppressing AAPH-driven lipid peroxidation. Ascorbic acid (0.50–250 mg/L) exhibited dose-dependent behaviour with excellent linearity (R2 = 0.9889–0.9997). Pomegranate juice showed the highest antioxidant potential, whereas lime juice concentrate displayed the lowest chemical antioxidant capacity. Importantly, the kinetic framework of BOPLA enabled discrimination of antioxidant behaviour, allowing samples to be classified as fast-acting, sustained, weak, inactive, or pro-oxidant according to their effects on lipid peroxidation kinetics. Overall, these findings highlight BOPLA as a high-throughput kinetic platform for characterising antioxidant activity and capacity in complex food matrices beyond conventional chemical assays.Item Artificial Intelligence Anxiety in Future Healthcare Professionals(Online Science Publishing, 2026-03-16) Brown, StephenThe purpose of this article is to review current literature on health professionals’ anxiety related to the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies in the delivery of healthcare. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the delivery of healthcare presents a transformative opportunity to both enhance patient care, and operational efficiencies. However, apotentially negative consequence of this integration has concurrently given rise to Artificial Intelligence Anxiety (AIA) among healthcare professionals, stemming from concerns about job security, ethical ambiguities, data privacy, and perceived lack of professional preparedness. Our findings suggest that an essential role of education is to address artificial intelligence anxiety in future healthcare professionals by providing appropriate education and training. These educational interventions should develop literacy in artificial intelligence technologies, and cultivate a collaborative, human-centred approach that frames AI as an augmentation tool, empowering healthcare professionals rather than replacing them. The practical implications of effective educational strategies should aim to build a resilient healthcare professional workforce where human expertise and AI capabilities synergistically optimize care delivery. We further suggest that providers of education, along with other stakeholders in the preparation and training of our future healthcare professional workforce, also need to contribute to the establishment of regulatory frameworks and policies which ensure ethical governance of AI.Item Volatile Fingerprinting and Interpretable Machine Learning for Authenticating New Zealand Monofloral Honeys(Elsevier BV, 2026-03-24) Lakshitha, Rushan; Kantono, Kevin; Chen, Tony; Le, Thao T; Gannabathula, Swapna; Hamid, NazimahAuthenticating monofloral honeys is essential for protecting premium markets and ensuring traceability. This study applied an integrated analytical and explainable machine-learning workflow to identify volatile biomarkers for four New Zealand monofloral honeys: thyme, mānuka, kānuka, and clover. Twenty-two samples were profiled using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC–MS), yielding 122 tentative volatiles across aldehydes, alcohols, acids, esters, terpenoids, and phenolics. Data were analysed using ANOVA, hierarchical clustering, Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and Random Forest classification with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). ANOVA and heatmap analysis revealed honey-specific volatile modules, while PLS-DA confirmed clear supervised separation of floral types. A rule-based SHAP framework was implemented to select biomarkers that were not only influential in the model but also directionally consistent and chemically distinctive. Thyme honey was characterised by short-chain fatty acids and oxygenated terpenoids; mānuka by methoxyacetophenones and benzofuran/methoxylated benzoates; kānuka by anisole-type aromatics and bicyclic monoterpenes; and clover by phenylpropanoid-related aldehydes, fusel alcohols, and linalool-oxide derivatives. These panels achieved non-overlapping group separation and near-perfect cross-validated performance (micro-average ROC-AUC = 0.995). This combined HS-SPME/GC–MS and RF-SHAP approach provides a transparent, statistically supported route to defining interpretable volatile biomarkers, offering a scalable framework for honey authentication, quality assurance, and traceability, and helping safeguard the premium positioning of New Zealand monofloral honeys in global markets.Item The Association between Gambling Motives and Problem Gambling Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026-03-10) Dias, Stephanie E; Dowling, Nicki A; Hawker, Chloe O; Rodda, Simone N; Gandhi, Monique N; Merkouris, Stephanie SPurpose of reviewThis systematic review and meta-analysis examined the strength of associations between gambling motives and problem gambling severity.Recent findingsDespite previous reviews highlighting the importance of gambling motives, none have synthesized evidence across all validated measures and sample types.SummaryA systematic search of peer-reviewed literature (1993-2025) identified 63 studies (66 articles), with 53 studies (54 articles) included in meta-analyses of 15 validated motives subscales. With the exception of the Intrinsic-Motivation Toward Knowledge subscale of the Gambling Motivation Scale, all motive subscales demonstrated significant positive associations with problem gambling severity, with effect sizes ranging from small (r=0.21) to large (r=0.53). Overlapping confidence intervals across subscales indicate that gambling motives should be viewed as interrelated contributors to problem gambling severity. Findings were generally consistent when analyses were restricted to studies using unadjusted data and those rated as strong-moderate for risk of bias. While there were insufficient estimates to conduct subgroup analyses for several study and sample characteristics (i.e., sample gender, study design, sample type, and sampling type), exploratory meta-regressions suggested that sample size contributed to heterogeneity for specific motives, whereas problem gambling severity measure did not. These findings have implications for the development of targeted, motivation informed prevention and intervention efforts.Item What Are the Valued Attributes and Perceived Risks of Harm in Digital Technologies and AI-enabled Digital Coaches Among Youth Living With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain? An Exploratory, Mixed-methods Study(Elsevier BV, 2026-03-11) Chua, Jason; Slater, Helen; Rowbotham, Samantha; Hansen, Paul; Smith, Anne J; Lord, Susan M; O'Sullivan, Peter B; Tory, Breanna; Stinson, Jennifer N; Briggs, Andrew MYouth (16-24 years) experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) value access to digitally-supportive care. Adopting a three-phase design, we aimed to identify and validate youth's preferences for digital health solutions (DHSs) to support their CMP self-care and measure their preferences for artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled digital coaches and perceived risks of harm. Phase 1 involved focus groups with 20 youth experiencing CMP, applying content analysis to explore the attributes they consider when choosing digitally-supportive care. Phase 2 involved a two-round eDelphi (n=20 youth) to validate attributes identified in Phase 1, rank the importance of digital coach-related attributes, and identify risks of harm with digitally-supportive CMP care. Phase 3 involved two discrete choice experiments (n=41 youth) to measure preferences for digital coach-related attributes and risks of harm. Phase 1 produced 31 discrete attributes of DHSs (11 digital coach-related). Phase 2 validated 31 attributes and identified six risks of harm. Phase 3 identified three most preferred digital coach-related attributes (sample mean[SD] weights representing relative importance): 'Generates a pain self-care plan' (19·6[14·5]%); 'Learns my preferences for my pain self-care' (15·9[12·9]%); and 'Supports my healthcare visits' (11·1[12·4]%). The three most concerning risks of harm were: 'Quality of pain care advice and guidance' (31·8[17·3]%); 'Information being consistent with advice from my healthcare team' (25·8[17·5]%); and 'Data security protections' (14·8[17·6]%). Youth consider a range of attributes and potential harms of DHSs to support their CMP care; a subset appears to be most important. These attributes and risks of harm should be considered in co-design of digitally-supportive CMP care for youth. PERSPECTIVE: The results identify that a subset of digital coach-related attributes and risks of harm dominate youth's preferences for digitally-supportive chronic musculoskeletal pain care. These attributes and risks of harm should be considered in co-design of digital health solutions, and in positioning a solution within a clinical care ecosystem.Item Telehealth Enabled Neuropsychological Testing (TENT): A New Platform for Examiner-led, Digital Cognitive Assessment(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026-03-09) Tailby, Chris; Chapman, Jodie; Helmstaedter, Christoph; Haderlein, Jonas; Jackson, Graeme; Australian Epilepsy Project ConsortiaBACKGROUND: Cognitive testing provides an essential marker of brain function. Despite the widespread availability of technology, cognitive testing in contemporary practice largely remains rooted in the manual administration and scoring of analog materials. Here we introduce telehealth enabled neuropsychological testing (TENT): browser-based, videoconference-integrated software for examiner-led cognitive assessment. METHODS: TENT incorporates a battery of tasks assessing memory, language, processing speed, attention and executive functions. We used TENT to conduct remote, telehealth-based assessments in 531 healthy volunteers, and validated the software in a sample of 452 individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and 392 individuals with newly diagnosed seizures. TENT-acquired measures were compared against clinically acquired, in-person, traditional cognitive measures where available. Participant user experience feedback was obtained in a subset of participants. RESULTS: Comparison of healthy volunteers and DRE participants yielded a pattern of cognitive compromise characteristic of chronic, drug-resistant epilepsy. TENT data was sensitive to demographic and clinical parameters (e.g., age, antiseizure medication load, lateralised structural pathology, age at seizure onset) known to affect aspects of cognition. Correlations between TENT data and reference in-person measures were comparable to published test-retest coefficients for the reference measures. Participant user experience was overall positive. CONCLUSIONS: TENT modernizes traditional neuropsychological testing by providing for human-led cognitive assessments that exploit the benefits of technology-assisted testing and can be used for remote assessment. It offers a modular, normed and standardized system applicable across a range of neuropsychological conditions, providing reach, convenience, efficiencies and data richness. This approach draws upon the strengths of the traditional assessment model while modernizing contemporary neuropsychological practice.Item Differential Seedling Survival of Early-planted, Late-successional Trees: Results From Three Forest Restoration Experiments(Wiley, 2026-03-02) Bürli, S; McClean, LA; Case, BS; Hall, D; Buckley, HLThe recruitment of late-successional and canopy-dominant tree species into early-successional plantings is essential for long-term forest restoration. Introducing these species early enhances the stability of the emerging ecosystem and boosts its ecological functions and biodiversity. However, many genetic, ecological and environmental factors can alter the survival of late-successional trees in early-successional, open-field environments. Despite the critical role late-successional trees play in forming resilient and diverse forests, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding optimal planting strategies, including tree density and composition, and the impact of microhabitats on the establishment of these species. To address this, we employed aster models to analyse the survival of 1840 late-successional trees planted between 2019 and 2022 across three afforested and restored past agroecosystem sites as part of the Auckland University of Technology Living Laboratories programme. Our experiment revealed that four of the six late-successional tree species planted demonstrated high survival when planted simultaneously with early-successional trees, while the other two did not. We also showed that a spacing of 2 m between early-successional trees significantly improved the survival of late-successional trees compared to smaller or larger spacings. This 2-m spacing appeared to effectively balance the benefits of shelter provided by early-successional trees and the drawbacks of shading and competition. In addition, greater amounts of dead and live vegetation increased seedling survival, while soil chemical characteristics related to nutrient richness and solar radiation altered seedling survival in a site-specific way. These effects were likely driven by differences in species functional traits and ecological requirements and the environmental and ecological contexts of the experimental sites. Practical implication. Our study demonstrates that simultaneously planting both late- and early-successional tree species is effective for the establishment of late-successional trees on agricultural lands designated for restoration. Furthermore, it indicates that a 2-m spacing between early-successional trees is an optimal strategy to enhance late-successional trees' survival when planting them simultaneously.Item Quantum-Resistant Timestamping for Open Science: A Non-Technical Guide(Taylor and Francis Group, 2026-03-16) Krägeloh, Christian; Bartholomew, Emerson J; Medvedev, Oleg NPsychology faces a dual challenge from artificial intelligence (AI): While AI offers powerful research tools, it simultaneously threatens the discipline’s methodological foundations through deepfakes and synthetic data generation. The ability to prove when psychological data, preregistrations, and research protocols genuinely existed has become critical for maintaining scientific integrity, particularly as AI can now fabricate convincing retroactive evidence. These concerns are compounded by the vulnerability of existing open-science platforms to cyberattacks, data loss, or service unavailability, raising broader questions about the reliability and security of current research infrastructure. Together, these threats make robust, independent verification of research records increasingly urgent, especially in the context of psychology’s ongoing replication crisis and open-science reforms. This method article presents a quantum-resistant blockchain timestamping solution for researchers with no technical blockchain knowledge. Using the example of the Algorand blockchain’s Falcon cryptographic signatures – which are understood as being able to withstand both current AI threats and future quantum-computing attacks – we are demonstrating how researchers can create immutable proof that their hypotheses, data collection protocols, and datasets existed at specific times at the cost of a fraction of cent. Through step-by-step instructions, this article enables researchers to implement quantum-resistant timestamping regardless of their technical background. By removing barriers to blockchain-based verification, this method aims to make such protection as routine as current preregistration practices, ultimately establishing a new standard for safeguarding research integrity in the age of AI.Item Bacterial Microbiome Composition and Functional Potentials Across Digestive Regions of Wild New Zealand Abalone (Haliotis iris)(Wiley, 2026-03-14) Guo, Jinchen; Alfaro, Andrea C; Venter, Leonie; Lacap‐Bugler, Donnabella CAbalone are valuable commercial marine gastropods, supporting both aquaculture and fishery markets. An important ecological aspect of their survival and physiological performance in a given habitat is a complex and balanced symbiotic relationship with microbes in their digestive system. 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to investigate the microbial composition of New Zealand abalone (Haliotis iris) digestive regions (buccal cavity, foregut, and hindgut), seaweed, and sediment samples from the Cook Strait, New Zealand. The findings revealed an overlap in the microbial communities in the foregut and hindgut samples which differed from buccal cavity samples. The foregut and hindgut were dominated by Fusobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Proteobacteria were abundant in the buccal cavity, seaweed, and sediment samples. Despite distinct overall microbial compositions in the abalone digestive tract and environmental samples (seaweed and sediment), observed overlaps in bacterial richness and diversity suggest that surrounding habitats may serve as significant reservoirs for the abalone gut microbiome, reflecting potential microbial exchange and microbial functional adaptions. Establishing this microbial baseline for wild H. iris provides a reference for detecting microbiome shifts associated with environmental stress, dietary changes, and supports the development of microbiome‐targeted feeds that can be used to enhance abalone growth in an aquaculture setting.Item ‘I didn’t want to go home’ Patient-identified Modifiable Risk Factors Associated With Hospital Readmission: A Qualitative Study(Informa UK Limited, 2024-08-20) Wilson, Holly; Donkin, Liesje; Harrison, Jeff; Brackley, Kim; Lim, Anecita Gigi; Chan, Amy Hai YanBackground: Hospital readmissions are costly for patients, their families and healthcare systems. Identifying and addressing risk factors can reduce the number of people who experience readmission. Few studies have explored modifiable risk factors such as health beliefs from patients’ perspective to explore the complexity of risk factors for readmission. This study aimed to identify modifiable readmission risk factors from the perspectives of patients who have experienced readmission and their families. Methods: Adults (≥18 years) readmitted within 30 days of discharge to a general medical or surgical ward at a large urban hospital in New Zealand were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview to explore their readmission experience. Interviews were conducted during the readmission and were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: A total of 30 participants were interviewed. Six themes relating to readmission were identified: inadequate communication between health professionals and patients, misalignment between patient illness perceptions and treatment, unclear or missing information, poor health literacy, poor medication mismanagement, and health system factors. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of considering patient experiences, such as their expectations, illness and treatment beliefs, to reduce readmissions. Ensuring communication is patient centred and quality professional-patient relationships could reduce readmissions.Item Combined Effects of Microplastics and Nitrogen on Bivalve-mediated Biogeochemical Cycling(Wiley, 2026-02-25) Foreman, SE; Allan, BJM; Sabadel, A; Savage, CEstuary health is declining globally due to an increase in anthropogenic stressors including microplastics and nutrient loading. These stressors are often studied individually; however, it is vital to understand their combined effects on coastal ecosystems to inform ecosystem-based management. This is the first study to evaluate the multi-stressor responses of microplastics (polyethylene microbeads) and nitrogen loading in intertidal soft sediment communities. In this laboratory experiment, the individual and combined effects of microplastics and nitrogen were assessed on biogeochemical processes mediated by the bivalve, Macomona liliana. This deep-dwelling bivalve feeds on microphytobenthos at the sediment surface and augments porewater nutrients through its behavior. Ammonium porewater concentrations increased ~ 260% with the addition of nitrogen; however, this porewater increase did not carry over to the multiple stressor treatment. Further, sediment-water nitrogen effluxes tended to be higher with the addition of single stressors under light conditions, with a significant increase in the multiple stressor treatments. These findings suggest that nitrogen processing responses emerge under multiple stressor conditions. Furthermore, sediment profile image analysis revealed a significant negative effect of multiple stressors on sediment redox conditions. Lastly, bivalves exposed to multiple stressors had approximately 1% more docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) as a proportion of their total fatty acids in their tissue compared to those under control conditions, reflecting the low levels of DHA found in the microphytobenthos under multiple stressor conditions. The study highlights the complex interactions between subtle shifts in food quality and infaunal behavior that affect nutrient cycling at the sediment–water interface in coastal ecosystems.Item Digital Taboo: A Qualitative Study on Pacific Male Experiences of and Attitudes to Pornography in Aotearoa New Zealand(Wiley, 2026-02-03) Kito, Bale; Erickson, Simon; Kennedy, Rebekah; Treharne, Gareth; Rodda, Simone; Fehoko, EdmondPornography use among young Pacific males in New Zealand remains an under‐explored and culturally sensitive issue. This qualitative article explores how Pacific men view and experience porn use, with a focus on how their cultural values and spiritual beliefs influence those experiences. Employing the Talanoa research method, we conducted six kava‐based focus groups with 50 Pacific males (18–30 years), fostering relational spaces for open dialogue grounded in Pacific worldviews. Thematic analysis identified three major themes amongst young Pacific adults. The themes identified include: (i) deep‐rooted taboos that reinforce silence and shame, (ii) the quiet acceptance of addictive behaviours within peer networks, and (iii) tension between digital identities and traditional responsibilities. Findings underscore the urgent need for culturally responsive sexual‐health education and intergenerational conversations to support Pacific youth wellbeing. By centring Pacific voices, this research fills a critical gap and informs community‐led strategies addressing pornography use.Item Early Contact Experiences Between Embryo Donors and Recipients (Parents) in Aotearoa New Zealand(Taylor & Francis, 2026-02-23) Hurley, Emma; Goedeke, SonjaIn New Zealand, embryo donors and recipients meet in a joint counselling session before donation where their needs and expectations for future contact are discussed. However, the extent and experience of contact - including that occurring before the mandated age of identity release at 18 - has received little international research attention and has not been explored in New Zealand. This study, based on interviews with nine participants who had donated or received embryos, examined donor and recipient expectations and experiences of early contact, including the nature of their relationships, how boundaries and expectations are managed and their role in each other's lives. Thematic analysis identified that contact was experienced as overwhelmingly positive, with many participants describing strong, meaningful connections between families. Relationships between children in both families were particularly valued, and extended family often became part of these networks. Contact arrangements were flexible, combining in-person and digital communication. Joint counselling was viewed as instrumental in establishing contact expectations and fostering positive relationships. Although participants were satisfied with the pre-donation counselling process, findings suggest the value of ongoing access to support for issues which may emerge after donation.Item Cryptic Biodiversity in the Commercial Diamondback Squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel 1857(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2023-11-14) Deville, Diego; Mori, Souta; Kawai, Kentaro; Escánez, Alejandro; Macali, Armando; Lishchenko, Fedor; Braid, Heather; Githaiga-Mwicigi, Jean; Mohamed, Kolliyil S; Bolstad, Kathrin SR; Miyahara, Kazutaka; Sugimoto, Chikatoshi; Fernández-Álvarez, Fernando Á; Sanchez, GustavoCephalopod fisheries are increasing, but little is known about the cryptic diversity of some key commercial species. Recent studies have shown that cryptic speciation is common in cephalopods, including several oceanic squids formerly considered ‘cosmopolitan species.’ Further efforts are needed to investigate the cryptic diversity of commercial species, to inform management and support sustainable fisheries practices. Thysanoteuthis rhombus is an oceanic squid, currently recognized as the single species of the family Thysanoteuthidae. Thysanoteuthis. rhombus has a global distribution in tropical and subtropical waters and is an economically important species, with the highest catches occurring off Okinawa in Japan and of potential fishery resource for other countries due to its high abundance and large size. Here, we used sequences from 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and cytochrome c oxidase I to characterize its cryptic diversity using samples collected throughout most of its known geographic range. We identified three different putative species whose distributions are concordant with main ocean basins: Thysanoteuthis major, the most abundant species, is widely distributed in the North Pacific Ocean, North Indian Ocean, and limits of the South Atlantic Ocean; Thysanoteuthis rhombus is distributed in the North and South Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; and Thysanoteuthis cf. filiferum, likely the least sampled to date, is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. A sister relationship was observed between T. rhombus and T. major, and T. cf. filiferum was found to be the most divergent species. Based on our divergence estimation, we hypothesize that the closure of the Isthmus of Panama during the early Pliocene played a significant role in the split of T. rhombus and T. major, while the split of their ancestor from T. cf. filiferum coincided with an increase in the Pacific Walker Circulation and the longitudinal gradient of surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean during the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene. Our work identifies three different putative species within Thysanoteuthis and has potential use for improving fishery management and conserving the diversity in these species.Item Discovery of 1,3,5-triazine-based LSD1 Inhibitors to Activate Immune Response in Gastric Cancer(Elsevier BV, 2026-02-12) Dai, Xing-Jie; Li, Ying; Xiong, Xiao-Peng; Wang, Jun-Jie; Lu, Guo-Liang; Li, Yan; Liu, Cong-Jun; Wang, Ning; Zheng, Yi-Chao; Yang, Zheng-Hong; Wang, BoLysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), the first identified histone lysine-specific demethylase, plays a crucial role in mediating immune responses in gastric cancer. Most LSD1 inhibitors undergoing clinical trials are irreversible, which has driven significant interest in developing structurally diverse reversible inhibitors. In this study, we present a potent 1,3,5-triazine-based LSD1 inhibitor, XP-2, discovered through high-throughput screening (HTS) of our in-house compound library and subsequent structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, exhibiting a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.116 μmol/L. XP-2 enhanced the susceptibility of gastric cancer cells to T cell-mediated cytotoxicity by downregulating programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, thereby disrupting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 interaction. Furthermore, XP-2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells without inducing notable toxicity. Pharmacokinetic evaluation revealed favorable oral exposure and a moderate half-life in mice. In conclusion, this study provided a promising LSD1 inhibitor with a novel scaffold and promising pharmacokinetic properties, supporting its further development as an immunomodulator for gastric cancer treatment.