title: Alignment of Short Fibres: An Overview

authors: Sunny, Tom

abstract: Fibre orientation is a major factor influencing composite performance; research, largely on synthetic fibre composites, supports that the best mechanical performances are achieved in composites when fibres are aligned in the loading direction. Generally, with short natural plant fibre (SNPF) composites, randomly oriented fibre mats are used as reinforcements due to the innate limits of fibre length and the difficulty of aligning short fibre. However, there are a number of methods that have been developed for aligning short fibre, again largely employed for synthetic fibres. The two main approaches employed to align short fibres relate to whether dry or wet processing is used available in literature; in wet processes, fibres are generally suspended in a liquid medium and alignment of fibre trails the fluid flow direction, whereas in dry processes, dry fibres are aligned in the direction of an induced or applied force such as pneumatic or electric. An overview of different alignment methods with their working principles is presented in this paper. This paper also describes an alignment technique currently under development to improve the alignment obtained for SNPFs.

text: Alignment of Short Fibres: An Overview Fibre orientation is a major factor influencing composite performance; research, largely on synthetic fibre composites, supports that the best mechanical performances are achieved in composites when fibres are aligned in the loading direction. Generally, with short natural plant fibre (SNPF) composites, randomly oriented fibre mats are used as reinforcements due to the innate limits of fibre length and the difficulty of aligning short fibre. However, there are a number of methods that have been developed for aligning short fibre, again largely employed for synthetic fibres. The two main approaches employed to align short fibres relate to whether dry or wet processing is used available in literature; in wet processes, fibres are generally suspended in a liquid medium and alignment of fibre trails the fluid flow direction, whereas in dry processes, dry fibres are aligned in the direction of an induced or applied force such as pneumatic or electric. An overview of different alignment methods with their working principles is presented in this paper. This paper also describes an alignment technique currently under development to improve the alignment obtained for SNPFs.

year: 2017

title: New Zealand's national security framework: A recommendation for the development of a national security strategy

authors: Rothery, Christopher Dean

subjects: Government

abstract: New Zealand’s national security system is based upon a collection of siloed plans and policies. New Zealand has adopted an ‘all-hazards/all-risks’ approach to national security that is based upon a reactive system. There does not exist a national security strategy that seeks to address emerging security threats. In essence, New Zealand’s approach is oriented to ‘wait for the crisis to occur before acting’. Much of the literature relating to national security is overly theoretical, which does not assist in the development of a New Zealand national security strategy. This research examines academic theory and New Zealand’s policies and plans that relate to national security in order to identify the gap between theory and policy. It is recommended that New Zealand develop a national security strategy that is based on a concept of the protection of a citizens ‘normal way of life’. This concept provides the strategy with ‘what should be protected’. By successfully focusing on this concept, it will allow New Zealand citizens to go about their daily business free from fear. Building upon this concept, a national security strategy is proposed that would take a forward-looking risk reduction approach to five emerging security threats facing New Zealand. These are: The Cyber threat, the Terrorist threat, Climate Change, Biosecurity, and threats to Territorial Security. This would enable the New Zealand government agencies responsible for supporting national security the ability to develop capabilities to meet these threats. Although New Zealand articulates a whole-of-government approach to national security, the individual plans and policies relating to national security are not connected. There is a deficiency in collaboration and commonality between government agencies within the national security framework, which could be improved with the implementation of a national security strategy that is focussed on emerging threats and allowing New Zealanders to live free from fear.

text: New Zealand's national security framework: A recommendation for the development of a national security strategy New Zealand’s national security system is based upon a collection of siloed plans and policies. New Zealand has adopted an ‘all-hazards/all-risks’ approach to national security that is based upon a reactive system. There does not exist a national security strategy that seeks to address emerging security threats. In essence, New Zealand’s approach is oriented to ‘wait for the crisis to occur before acting’. Much of the literature relating to national security is overly theoretical, which does not assist in the development of a New Zealand national security strategy. This research examines academic theory and New Zealand’s policies and plans that relate to national security in order to identify the gap between theory and policy. It is recommended that New Zealand develop a national security strategy that is based on a concept of the protection of a citizens ‘normal way of life’. This concept provides the strategy with ‘what should be protected’. By successfully focusing on this concept, it will allow New Zealand citizens to go about their daily business free from fear. Building upon this concept, a national security strategy is proposed that would take a forward-looking risk reduction approach to five emerging security threats facing New Zealand. These are: The Cyber threat, the Terrorist threat, Climate Change, Biosecurity, and threats to Territorial Security. This would enable the New Zealand government agencies responsible for supporting national security the ability to develop capabilities to meet these threats. Although New Zealand articulates a whole-of-government approach to national security, the individual plans and policies relating to national security are not connected. There is a deficiency in collaboration and commonality between government agencies within the national security framework, which could be improved with the implementation of a national security strategy that is focussed on emerging threats and allowing New Zealanders to live free from fear.

year: 2018

title: Rangatahi Wahine: Overcoming the odds – preliminary results

authors: Merritt, Kiri

subjects: Maori

abstract: The purpose of my research was to
identify factors that have contributed to the
development of resilience in young Māori
girls’ lives. Incorporated into this was an
exploration of their psychosocial
competence makeup, to see whether their
sense of self, sense of relationship to the
world, and ability to negotiate life events,
was unique.

text: Rangatahi Wahine: Overcoming the odds – preliminary results The purpose of my research was to
identify factors that have contributed to the
development of resilience in young Māori
girls’ lives. Incorporated into this was an
exploration of their psychosocial
competence makeup, to see whether their
sense of self, sense of relationship to the
world, and ability to negotiate life events,
was unique.

year: 2003