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Item Analysis of current methods and Welfare concerns in the transport of 118 horses by commercial air cargo companies(BioMed Central Ltd, 2024-04-26) Felici M; Cogger N; Nanni Costa L; Riley CB; Padalino BBACKGROUND: Studies on equine air transport practices and consequences are scarce. This prospective study aimed to describe horse and air journey details and practices, document how horse behavior and health changed during the air transport phases, quantify the occurrence of welfare issues, and identify possible associations between horse and journey details, air transport practices, and welfare issues. RESULTS: Data were collected from before departure to five days after arrival on 118/597 horses traveling on 32 commercial air journeys on different routes, varying in duration and conditions. Most horses were middle-aged warmblood females, 26% of which were pregnant, and being moved by air for sales. Before flying, most were quarantined (median: 18; IQR: 9-53 days), and their fitness for travel was certified by veterinarians. At the departure airports, external temperatures varied from - 6 °C to 33 °C, and horses were loaded by experienced flight grooms (median: 35; IQR: 15-40 years) into jet stalls (three-horse: 87%, two-horse: 13%). During the flights, horses were regularly watered (water intake median: 14 L) and fed ad libitum (feed consumption median: 8 kg). At the arrival airport, horses were unloaded from the jet stalls, and external temperatures ranged from - 5 °C to 32 °C. Then, all horses were transported to arrival quarantine by road. Air transport phases affected horses' health status and behavior; increased heart and respiratory rates and behaviors, such as pawing, head tossing, and vocalization, were mainly identified at departure and arrival. Horse interaction, nasal discharge, increased capillary refill time (CRT), and abnormal demeanor were observed more often one hour before landing while resting and normal capillary refill time were more often displayed five days after arrival (all P < 0.01). One hour before landing, horses with bad temperament and horses of unknown temperament were more likely to develop nasal discharge when transported in winter and autumn (P < 0.001). The likelihood of an increased CRT was associated with shorter flights in horses of unknown travel experience (P < 0.001). Ten horses were injured, and 11 developed pleuropneumonias (i.e., shipping fever). CONCLUSIONS: Air transport is a complex procedure with several different phases affecting horse health and behavior. Therefore, experienced staff should carefully manage each horse before, during, and after air journeys to minimize welfare hazards.Item An examination of postharvest techniques to enable seafreight export of feijoa (Acca sellowiana [O.Berg.] Burret) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Food Technology at Massey University, Manawatu Campus, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2020) Oseko, Jacqueline KwambokaExport of feijoa (Acca sellowiana [O.Berg.] Burret) to the main markets in Europe, Asia and North America is currently by airfreight that is not only expensive but rather unsustainable as the industry expands. With the ongoing breeding works and expansions of plantings, growers will eventually have to seek for an economic mode of transport. As is the case with kiwifruit, apples, avocadoes, and squash, seafreight will provide an alternative option that is both cheaper and accommodates large fruit volumes. The short storage life of feijoa, however, is likely to pose a challenge to seafreight (that requires at least 6 weeks of storage) if appropriate postharvest techniques are not identified to extend storage life. Feijoa stores for about 4 weeks at 4 °C after which it becomes overripe, loses flavour, and develops chilling injury and internal browning. This study was undertaken to examine potential postharvest techniques that could extend storage life and maintain quality of feijoa. The postharvest techniques investigated were temperature and relative humidity management, harvest timing, step down conditioning, intermittent warming, chlorophyll fluorescence and development of non-destructive grading tools. The varieties used in this study were ‘Kakariki’, ‘Wiki Tu’ and ‘Triumph’ that were stored for 8 weeks under various conditions. To assess the effects of temperature and relative humidity in storage, ‘Kakariki’, ‘Wiki Tu’ and ‘Triumph’ were stored at 1 °C (85% RH) and 4 °C (88% RH). These conditions were set to result in equal water vapour pressure deficits at both temperatures. The effects of RH on feijoa quality during 8 weeks storage were tested by using a polyethylene liner (polyliner) to cover the fruit in each tray, for half of the treatments. Despite good retention of some attributes indicating quality (firmness and skin colour) for up to 8 weeks at 1 °C, many fruit developed chilling injury making it unsaleable and therefore causing huge losses. At both 4 °C and 1 °C the use of a polyliner resulted in reduced water loss, suggesting polyliners may be beneficial for feijoa storage. Given the chilling injury results, it is imperative to consider treatments that may reduce chilling injury and yet maintain fruit quality. To alleviate chilling injury and extend storage life of ‘Kakariki’, 2 harvesting times (early (H1) and commercial (H2)), 2 storage temperatures (2 °C and 4 °C) and three conditioning treatments (single step down, [6 d at 9 °C then moved to 2 °C or 4 °C ], double step down [3 d at 9 °C , 3 d at 6 °C then moved to 2 °C or 4 °C] and ‘no conditioning’ control [stored direct to 2 °C or 4 °C]) were established. Results showed that early harvested fruit had lower chilling injury incidence and retained more quality attributes thereby providing a possibility of extending Kakariki’ feijoa storage life. There was no evidence for a difference in quality arising from storage at 2 °C or 4 °C but it was evident that single or double step down conditioning simply allowed an extended period of postharvest ripening because of the 6 d delay in reaching the more appropriate storage temperature of 2 °C or 4 °C. This led to faster deterioration of fruit. Therefore, it is advisable to rapidly cool feijoa soon after harvest to reduce metabolism and ripening; but then sell the fruit before they develop CI. To assess the effects of intermittent warming (IW) on improving quality of ‘Triumph’ fruit. Three (3) intermittent warming conditions were tested (IW from 4 °C to 20 °C for 1 d after every 6 d storage, IW from 4 °C to 20 °C for 1 d after every 10 d storage and control) and stored at 4 °C for 6 weeks. Chlorophyll fluorescence was used as a non-destructive tool to assess quality. The results showed that intermittent warming just like conditioning treatments, accelerated ripening leading to faster deterioration. A decline in quantum yield (Fv/Fm) was observed during storage in the absence of CI. This suggests that it is linked to loss of chlorophyll content and chloroplast membrane injury associated with photosystem II (PSII) as feijoa ripened. The continuous decline in quantum yield (Fv/Fm) offers potential for a non-destructive technique to assess feijoa ripeness and could therefore be used in a cool store to detect batches of fruit that are ripening more quickly for immediate sales or those ripening slowly that may be more suited to export or long storage. To re-evaluate the internal maturity/ripeness scale developed by scanned images of ‘Kakariki’, ‘Wiki Tu’ and ‘Triumph’ varieties from at harvest through storage were assessed against the PFR scale. The results showed that the PFR scale worked well for maturity assessment of ‘Kakariki’, ‘Wiki Tu’ and ‘Triumph’ varieties at harvest, despite their quite different internal anatomy. The same scale was also appropriate for each variety as a post-storage ripeness indicator. Evidence also suggested that one new step was required an internal maturity rating of 1.5. The problem was that fruit at stage 1 could be immature (and not ripen during storage) or mature. This new stage was used to describe fruit showing the first signs of locular gel clearing, suggesting that ripening was definitely underway. Firmness (non-destructively assessed) at harvest was correlated with quality after storage and therefore showed potential to predict fruit ripening behaviour in storage. This implies, that firmness could be used non-destructively in sorting lines to select firm fruit for long storage or soft fruit for immediate consumption. Based on these findings’, storage life of ‘Kakariki’, ‘Wiki Tu’ and ‘Triumph’ feijoa could not be reliably extended beyond 4 to 6 weeks and therefore seafreight export is still risky. The wide range of maturity variation within any batch of harvested feijoas accounts for much of this risk. Future research should focus on finding a rapid, non-destructive technique that can detect the new internal maturity/ripeness rating 1.5. This would assist growers to grade early harvested fruit and select mature but longer-storing fruit for export.Item Transport and women's social exclusion in urban areas in Pakistan : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand(Massey University, 2018) Ahmed, WaheedThis thesis explores women’s everyday experiences of transport-related social exclusion, factors responsible for this, and how women negotiate restrictions on their mobility in urban areas of Pakistan. Although there is an emerging realization in the transport literature about the importance of studying social exclusion and marginaliation, little research has been carried out focusing on women’s social exclusion in transport, especially with regards to urban areas in developing countries. The present study fills this research gap by analysing the case studies of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, in Pakistan. These cities have been selected to explore how the highly contrasted urban form of planned and unplanned cities, as well as socio-cultural norms and institutional arrangements, impacts on women’s mobility and transport choices. The theoretical framework combines rights-based and empowerment approaches to identify constraints and opportunities for change to women’s mobility. The right-based and empowerment approaches have been selected over other theoretical lenses because they see women as active agents of change rather than portraying them as passive victims. In doing so, the emphasis is placed on rights, accountabilities, and structural injustices in society, which are imperative to study women’s transport issue in developing country contexts. The design of the research is largely qualitative in nature, thus methods such as in-depth interviews, life stories, and structured observations have been used. Fifty-two in-depth interviews exploring the life stories of low-income women, business women, administrators and professional women in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, were particularly illuminating. Besides interviewing women as users of transport system, the viewpoints of males including drivers and conductors of public transport, and a range of stakeholders, were also considered. Enriched by stories of the everyday experiences of women in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the findings of this study highlight that women do face structural and social barriers to their mobility in the shape of: stereotypical norms about women’s travel; negative attitudes of men about women in public spaces; difficulty in accessing walkways, bus stops, and public transport; safety and security concerns; and gender insensitive policies and projects. The findings also highlight that, despite these problems, women are seen to be coming out of their homes and shattering stereotypes. Although few in numbers, these women can be regarded as success stories as far as women’s empowerment through mobility is concerned. The present research develops new insights into women, gender and transport issues within cities of developing countries by finding that transport is a development issue where patriarchal attitudes, fear and safety concerns, and quality of transport service are highly relevant to women’s capability to travel, yet there are cases in which women have been able to negotitiate highly gendered power relations in order to gain greater freedom of movement.Item Mathematical modelling of bulk stored onions in transport containers : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Horticultural Science in Agricultural Engineering at Massey University(Massey University, 1995) Clayton, MurrayExport onion bulbs are predominantly transported from New Zealand loose in sacks which are bulk loaded into intermodal transport containers. Product respiratory heat, water vapour, and volatiles are dispensed of by a fan unit installed in the end of the container, ventilating the stow by forcing ambient air from a false floor up through the crop and exhausting the air from a head space. The objective of this study was to mathematically model this system with respect to onion bulb temperature and weight loss, and internal container air temperature and relative humidity. These product and flowfield variables were predicted at different locations within the transport vessel. Bulb temperature and weight loss were simulated as dynamic variables using ordinary differential equations, and air temperature and relative humidity were simulated as quasi steady state variables using algebraic equations. A validation experiment was conducted to evaluate the simulation model by placing temperature and humidity sensors throughout the product and flowfield space measuring the respective properties. Onion and air temperatures were predicted with satisfactory accuracy in almost all measured locations of the container. Prediction of relative humidity varied considerably throughout the container, although excessive sensor errors were identified casting suspicion on some validation measurements. Simulated relative humidity could not therefore be fully verified. Bulb weight loss was predicted with variable levels of accuracy. Significant variability in the validation data was evident in the upper and lower regions of the container preventing complete model validation. Central regions of the container were simulated with satisfactory accuracy. A model sensitivity analysis revealed that container ventilation rate strongly influenced model performance with respect to temperature and relative humidity. The mass transfer coefficient, as expected, was most influential over product weight loss.Item Transport access and mobility needs and impediments in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Public Policy at Massey University(Massey University, 2005) Sergejew, Anatole MichaelNew Zealand's Land Transport Management Act 2003 places a statutory requirement on transport agencies to improve access and mobility. However, the access and mobility needs of New Zealanders, and existing impediments to access and mobility, are not well understood. This thesis focuses on groups of people that international research suggests are at risk of social exclusion. It investigates their transport needs and impediments related to access and mobility, by reviewing the international literature and by conducting face-to-face interviews with eight people selected from these potentially at-risk groups. The understanding gained from this present research of mobility needs and impediments, and the effects of these impediments, are discussed. This thesis suggests that mobility impediments are resulting in social exclusion in New Zealand, and that while current consideration of the transport-disadvantaged in New Zealand is largely focussed on the elderly and the disabled, other groups identified internationally, such as young people and new settlers, are also at risk of social exclusion because of impediments to their mobility. This thesis has examined what people perceive as their mobility needs, and suggests that as needs are variable, it is not possible or appropriate to identify basic mobility needs that should apply to everyone. Also, mobility impediments, rather than being a matter of can or cannot, are a matter of degree. The ways in which identified mobility impediments might be addressed are described. It is suggested that because of the difficulties in establishing and providing for access and mobility needs, it may be more appropriate to focus on providing access and mobility opportunities instead. The usefulness and limitations of this present research are discussed, together with the prospects of subsequently applying the research method on a wider scale in order to develop a fuller understanding of the range of access and mobility needs and impediments of New Zealanders.Item An investigation into urban form and travel behaviour : a case study of Auckland : this thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Resource and Environmental Planning at Massey University(Massey University, 1999) Gane, Deborah JoyThere has been increasing awareness in recent years about the need to improve urban sustainability. One major urban sustainability issue that confronts many western cities world-wide is the trend towards increasing reliance on the automobile as the main mode of travel and the impact this has on the environment, economy and society. In recognition of the relationships that exist within the environment, economy and society this thesis seeks to investigate travel behaviour patterns as an urban sustainability issue in a holistic manner. The research examines the relationship between urban form and socio-demographic characteristics of a population with travel behaviour in an attempt to more clearly understand the way in which urban form and population characteristics influence travel choice. Auckland is one New Zealand City exhibiting a pattern of increasing automobile reliant travel behaviour. This is having major detrimental consequences on both environmental, economic and societal well-being. Auckland has been used as the basis for the study for this research. The thesis therefore identifies the relevant legislative context for transportation management and provision within New Zealand and summaries recent initiatives undertaken within the Auckland region to greater integrate land use and transportation planning. Researchers to date, have conducted much study on the relationship between urban form, socio-demographic characteristics of populations with travel behaviour patterns. One branch of study is research on "Neo-Traditional Developments/Designs" and the affect this has on travel behaviour. Urban areas with Neo-Traditional Developments/Designs can be characterised as having more connective street layout systems, greater mixes of land uses, higher population and residential densities and more pedestrian friendly environments. An urban form that exhibits these characteristics is associated with lower levels of automobile travel and greater levels non-vehicular and public transport use. This thesis compares the travel behaviour (and soci-demographic characteristics) of areas within Auckland that exhibit these Neo-Traditional Development characteristics with areas that do not exhibit the characteristics in order to ascertain whether there are any differences in travel behaviour patterns. Socio-demographic characteristics or lifestyle and life cycle stage is also viewed as a significant proponent that influences travel behaviour. The thesis further compares the effect life cycle as determined by age and household role has on travel behaviour patterns. The thesis concludes that both urban form and socio-demographic variables such as age and household role influences travel behaviour patterns within the Auckland region to varying degrees. The thesis provides support to improve the knowledge and understanding of travel behaviour and the factors that influence it in order to address Auckland's transportation issues in a sustainable manner.Item Subset selection routing : modelling and heuristics : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Operations Research at Massey University(Massey University, 2002) Beale, Ian R.This theoretically practical thesis relates to the field of subset selection routing problems, in which there are a set of customers available to be serviced and decisions of which customers to service and how to carry out the service are required. We develop models for problems of this kind, particularly accounting for customer service in decision making. We consider possibilities that relate to not servicing customers, or servicing them poorly with respect to their desired service, and we model some possible implications of these decisions. We consider different constraints that may appear within these problems and exploit these within an overall model for a problem which we term the Maximum Collection Problem. We develop effective, generic solution methods for these problems and tailor specific routines to certain types of problem. We devise new methods for generating problems with specific characteristics and we use these to test the effectiveness of our methods. We extensively test our methods, identify shortcomings of existing methods and develop new methods for overcoming the identified weaknesses of the methods. We introduce a new version of subset selection routing problems, involving decision making in dynamic situations. We create models involving next day and same day service and develop fast, practical methods for obtaining effective solutions to these problems and test their effectiveness and robustness on a number of varied test problems.