title: A cursory study of the bulk and glaze composition plus metal leaching properties of a selection of antique, vintage and present day food and drink ceramic wares using XRF, FTIR, ²⁷Al, ²⁹Si, ³¹P MAS NMR and ICP-MS for providing a characterisation of the types of domestic ceramic ware used in New Zealand currently

authors: Velayudhan, Prajusha Veethampulli

abstract: The ceramic utensils used for eating and drinking such as plates, cups, bowls and other items have been a fundamental part of many societies since ancient times. The word “ceramics” is itself derived from the Greek word κεραμικός (“Keramikos”)¹ meaning “of or for pottery”. The art of making ceramics dates back thousands of years with evidence of pottery from 20,000 years ago² being reported recently from Xianrendong Cave in China. Ceramics manufacture depends on a source of various materials, namely clay, e.g. kaolinite, silica and feldspar.³ When these clay and mineral materials are mixed and soaked in water with removal of the excess water, a wet clay is produced which can then be fashioned into the desired shapes using moulds. Water is then removed via drying and the articles fired at temperatures up to 1170 °C during which complex chemical transformations occur in the clay with physical changes in the added silica and feldspar. Kaolinite (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ ) is converted via a series of precursor compounds to mullite (Al₆Si₂O₁₃) and cristobalite (SiO₂). The feldspar acts as a flux with the alkali metal ion content (Na₂O, K₂O and CaO) causing a lowering of the melting point of the silica early on in the firing process. This melt effectively forms a glass which then draws the individual particles of the fired mixture together and additionally reacts with them so giving the ceramic body strength (when it cools) and reducing porosity.

text: A cursory study of the bulk and glaze composition plus metal leaching properties of a selection of antique, vintage and present day food and drink ceramic wares using XRF, FTIR, ²⁷Al, ²⁹Si, ³¹P MAS NMR and ICP-MS for providing a characterisation of the types of domestic ceramic ware used in New Zealand currently The ceramic utensils used for eating and drinking such as plates, cups, bowls and other items have been a fundamental part of many societies since ancient times. The word “ceramics” is itself derived from the Greek word κεραμικός (“Keramikos”)¹ meaning “of or for pottery”. The art of making ceramics dates back thousands of years with evidence of pottery from 20,000 years ago² being reported recently from Xianrendong Cave in China. Ceramics manufacture depends on a source of various materials, namely clay, e.g. kaolinite, silica and feldspar.³ When these clay and mineral materials are mixed and soaked in water with removal of the excess water, a wet clay is produced which can then be fashioned into the desired shapes using moulds. Water is then removed via drying and the articles fired at temperatures up to 1170 °C during which complex chemical transformations occur in the clay with physical changes in the added silica and feldspar. Kaolinite (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ ) is converted via a series of precursor compounds to mullite (Al₆Si₂O₁₃) and cristobalite (SiO₂). The feldspar acts as a flux with the alkali metal ion content (Na₂O, K₂O and CaO) causing a lowering of the melting point of the silica early on in the firing process. This melt effectively forms a glass which then draws the individual particles of the fired mixture together and additionally reacts with them so giving the ceramic body strength (when it cools) and reducing porosity.

year: 2014-01

title: Investigating Wearable Technology for Fatigue Identification in the Workplace

authors: Griffiths, Christopher John Gilder

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Fatigue has been identified as a significant contributor to workplace accident rates. However, risk minimisation is a process largely based on self-reporting methodologies, which are not suitable for fatigue identification in high risk industries. Wearable technology which is capable of collecting physiological data such as step and heart rates as an individual performs workplace tasks has been proposed as a possible solution. Such devices are minimally intrusive to the individual and so can be used throughout the working day. Much is promised by the providers of such technology, but it is unclear how suitable it is for in-situ measurements in real-world work scenarios. To investigate this, we performed a series of studies designed to capture physiological and psychological data under differing (physical and mental) loading types with the intention of finding out how suitable such equipment is. Using reaction time (simple and choice) as a measure of performance we found similar correlations exist between loading duration and our measured indicators as those found in large-scale laboratory studies using state of the art equipment. Our results suggest that commercially available activity monitors are capable of collecting meaningful data in workplaces and are, therefore, worth investigating further for this purpose.

text: Investigating Wearable Technology for Fatigue Identification in the Workplace Fatigue has been identified as a significant contributor to workplace accident rates. However, risk minimisation is a process largely based on self-reporting methodologies, which are not suitable for fatigue identification in high risk industries. Wearable technology which is capable of collecting physiological data such as step and heart rates as an individual performs workplace tasks has been proposed as a possible solution. Such devices are minimally intrusive to the individual and so can be used throughout the working day. Much is promised by the providers of such technology, but it is unclear how suitable it is for in-situ measurements in real-world work scenarios. To investigate this, we performed a series of studies designed to capture physiological and psychological data under differing (physical and mental) loading types with the intention of finding out how suitable such equipment is. Using reaction time (simple and choice) as a measure of performance we found similar correlations exist between loading duration and our measured indicators as those found in large-scale laboratory studies using state of the art equipment. Our results suggest that commercially available activity monitors are capable of collecting meaningful data in workplaces and are, therefore, worth investigating further for this purpose.

year: 2017

title: Te Ukaipo

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

subjects: waiata Māori

abstract: I titoa tēnei waiata apakura mō Tipene August he uri nō Ngāti Kahungunu. He tauira a Tipene ki Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato mai i te tau 1993 ki te tau 2000. I piki ake ia i te ara o Tawhaki ki te rapu i te mātauranga, i tae ia ki te Pae Kairangi, a, ka haukoti ohoreretia tōna hā ka riro koia ki te pō tē whakaarahia. Moe mai e te hoa ki roto i te huinga o te kahurangi ki runga o Tamakurangi te nōhanga nui o te kāhui wairua, haere, haere, haere atu ra. 

"This song of mourning is dedicated to the memory of Tipene August of the Ngāti Kahungunu people. Tipene was a student at the University of Waikato, from 1993-2000. He ascended the pathway of his ancestor Tāwhaki in search of the sacred baskets of knowledge. Tipene was enrolled as a Doctoral Student when he passed away suddenly into the night of no awakening. Therefore my friend rest in peace within the myriad’s of the noble, upon Tamakurangi where the spirits reside. Farewell."

text: Te Ukaipo I titoa tēnei waiata apakura mō Tipene August he uri nō Ngāti Kahungunu. He tauira a Tipene ki Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato mai i te tau 1993 ki te tau 2000. I piki ake ia i te ara o Tawhaki ki te rapu i te mātauranga, i tae ia ki te Pae Kairangi, a, ka haukoti ohoreretia tōna hā ka riro koia ki te pō tē whakaarahia. Moe mai e te hoa ki roto i te huinga o te kahurangi ki runga o Tamakurangi te nōhanga nui o te kāhui wairua, haere, haere, haere atu ra. 

"This song of mourning is dedicated to the memory of Tipene August of the Ngāti Kahungunu people. Tipene was a student at the University of Waikato, from 1993-2000. He ascended the pathway of his ancestor Tāwhaki in search of the sacred baskets of knowledge. Tipene was enrolled as a Doctoral Student when he passed away suddenly into the night of no awakening. Therefore my friend rest in peace within the myriad’s of the noble, upon Tamakurangi where the spirits reside. Farewell."

year: 2001