title: Responsibility & reincarnation: A gaudiya vaishnava approach to compatibilism and sourcehood

authors: Fletcher, Kalindi

subjects: free will

abstract: This work explores the possible integration of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology to fortify the case of a compatibilist understanding of free will and determinism. As the debate surrounding moral responsibility persists, the compatibilist approach stands as a promising and popular position among philosophers, yet has not been able to successfully overcome its shortcomings concerning the ability to provide a satisfactory account of sourcehood that is required for the possession of moral responsibility for our actions. In response to the limitations of modern compatibilist theories, this work illuminates how adopting a few relevant Gaudiya Vaishnava metaphysical concepts – particularly, the beliefs of an eternal soul capable of reincarnation – enhances the compatibilist stance by offering a compelling account of sourcehood that preserves both our intuitions and rationality. Specifically, this work offers both a soft-line and hard-line reply to Derk Pereboom’s Four-Case Manipulation Argument, and a response to Galen Strawson’s Basic Argument. By tapping into the insights of Indian philosophy that is rooted in the Ancient Vedas, this study also demonstrates the significant value that non-Eurocentric philosophy can provide for our contemporary philosophical discourse.

text: Responsibility & reincarnation: A gaudiya vaishnava approach to compatibilism and sourcehood This work explores the possible integration of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology to fortify the case of a compatibilist understanding of free will and determinism. As the debate surrounding moral responsibility persists, the compatibilist approach stands as a promising and popular position among philosophers, yet has not been able to successfully overcome its shortcomings concerning the ability to provide a satisfactory account of sourcehood that is required for the possession of moral responsibility for our actions. In response to the limitations of modern compatibilist theories, this work illuminates how adopting a few relevant Gaudiya Vaishnava metaphysical concepts – particularly, the beliefs of an eternal soul capable of reincarnation – enhances the compatibilist stance by offering a compelling account of sourcehood that preserves both our intuitions and rationality. Specifically, this work offers both a soft-line and hard-line reply to Derk Pereboom’s Four-Case Manipulation Argument, and a response to Galen Strawson’s Basic Argument. By tapping into the insights of Indian philosophy that is rooted in the Ancient Vedas, this study also demonstrates the significant value that non-Eurocentric philosophy can provide for our contemporary philosophical discourse.

year: 2024

title: Innovative cold-formed steel nested tapered box section portal frames with bolted-side plate joints

authors: Paul, Bikram

abstract: Nested tapered box (NTB) portal frames made entirely of cold-formed steel (CFS) are widely used in New Zealand. Shahmohammadi (2019) recently described a full-scale test of such a system. The tested frame had a span of 18.16 meters and a height to the eaves of 4.27 meters. The joints of this NTB portal frame were rigid, constructed with bolted end plates. However, bolted end plate joints can be expensive due to the full penetration butt weld. This thesis proposes an alternative jointing system that uses bolted-side plates. The numerical work conducted in this study yields the following findings:
•	A shell finite element (FE) model was developed and validated using previously conducted full-scale portal frame tests. This validated model was then employed to compare the performance of bolted-side plate joints with bolted end-plate joints. The analysis revealed that a portal frame with 10 mm thick bolted side plates could sustain the same load as an NTB portal frame with bolted end-plate joints. Increasing the thickness of the bolted-side plates from 10 mm to 16 mm resulted in a 20% increase in load-carrying capacity. This improvement was due to the confinement effect provided by the side plates, which reduced the slenderness ratio near the eaves joint. However, the NTB portal frame with bolted-side plates exhibited greater apex displacement compared to the frame with bolted end-plate joints. 
•	FE models were developed for both the eaves and apex joints of the NTB portal frame.  A parametric study was then carried out involving 1,000 FE models. Using FE models, design equations are proposed for the moment capacities of the eaves and apex bolted side plates, accounting for both opening and closing moments under partial restraint.
•	A parametric study was conducted using the developed design method on eight models, considering a range of spans from 25m to 40m and eaves heights from 5.5m to 6.25m, with a consistent frame spacing of 7.5m. The results showed that portal frames with bolted-side plates can carry on average 7% more load compared to those with bolted end plate joints.
•	A methodology was presented to predict the load-carrying capacity of portal frames with back-to-back channel sections. It was shown that the predicted vertical loads from the proposed approach were, on average, within 1% (on an average) of the FEA results for portal frames. The same approach was applied to NTB portal frames through worked examples in Appendix B and C, demonstrating good accuracy.

text: Innovative cold-formed steel nested tapered box section portal frames with bolted-side plate joints Nested tapered box (NTB) portal frames made entirely of cold-formed steel (CFS) are widely used in New Zealand. Shahmohammadi (2019) recently described a full-scale test of such a system. The tested frame had a span of 18.16 meters and a height to the eaves of 4.27 meters. The joints of this NTB portal frame were rigid, constructed with bolted end plates. However, bolted end plate joints can be expensive due to the full penetration butt weld. This thesis proposes an alternative jointing system that uses bolted-side plates. The numerical work conducted in this study yields the following findings:
•	A shell finite element (FE) model was developed and validated using previously conducted full-scale portal frame tests. This validated model was then employed to compare the performance of bolted-side plate joints with bolted end-plate joints. The analysis revealed that a portal frame with 10 mm thick bolted side plates could sustain the same load as an NTB portal frame with bolted end-plate joints. Increasing the thickness of the bolted-side plates from 10 mm to 16 mm resulted in a 20% increase in load-carrying capacity. This improvement was due to the confinement effect provided by the side plates, which reduced the slenderness ratio near the eaves joint. However, the NTB portal frame with bolted-side plates exhibited greater apex displacement compared to the frame with bolted end-plate joints. 
•	FE models were developed for both the eaves and apex joints of the NTB portal frame.  A parametric study was then carried out involving 1,000 FE models. Using FE models, design equations are proposed for the moment capacities of the eaves and apex bolted side plates, accounting for both opening and closing moments under partial restraint.
•	A parametric study was conducted using the developed design method on eight models, considering a range of spans from 25m to 40m and eaves heights from 5.5m to 6.25m, with a consistent frame spacing of 7.5m. The results showed that portal frames with bolted-side plates can carry on average 7% more load compared to those with bolted end plate joints.
•	A methodology was presented to predict the load-carrying capacity of portal frames with back-to-back channel sections. It was shown that the predicted vertical loads from the proposed approach were, on average, within 1% (on an average) of the FEA results for portal frames. The same approach was applied to NTB portal frames through worked examples in Appendix B and C, demonstrating good accuracy.

year: 2025

title: Te Aka Roa o Te Oranga, the far reaching vines of wellness: The development of a framework to evaluate alcohol and drug treatment for Māori

authors: Robertson, Paul

subjects: Maori

abstract: The impact of alcohol and other drug
problems for Māori is well documented.
Substance use has been implicated in a
range of physical and mental health
problems, and a variety of negative social
statistics such as high rates of imprisonment. To date there has been
little systematic documentation of treatment
practices, and limited operationalisation of
Māori health frameworks. The evaluation
of the outcomes of alcohol and other drug
treatments is an area in which there is a
paucity of documentation, in terms of
methods and frameworks for evaluation,
and actual data. Te Aka Roa O Te Oranga (TAROTO)
was developed from a range of projects
undertaken by the National Addiction
Centre. The TARATO evaluation framework
embraces a holistic perspective: developed
to examine the interaction between the
client, whānau, practitioner, and
service/organisation. The aim of the
framework is to clarify the complex
relationships and interactions between
stakeholders within the context of
treatment. It will also help to elucidate the
strengths and weaknesses of individual
services. Within this framework, a range of
indicators and outcomes of “successful
treatment” will be explored. The current project is the first phase of
a broader project that will make a
significant contribution to improvements in
Māori health via further developing
effective treatments of alcohol and other
drug related problems.

text: Te Aka Roa o Te Oranga, the far reaching vines of wellness: The development of a framework to evaluate alcohol and drug treatment for Māori The impact of alcohol and other drug
problems for Māori is well documented.
Substance use has been implicated in a
range of physical and mental health
problems, and a variety of negative social
statistics such as high rates of imprisonment. To date there has been
little systematic documentation of treatment
practices, and limited operationalisation of
Māori health frameworks. The evaluation
of the outcomes of alcohol and other drug
treatments is an area in which there is a
paucity of documentation, in terms of
methods and frameworks for evaluation,
and actual data. Te Aka Roa O Te Oranga (TAROTO)
was developed from a range of projects
undertaken by the National Addiction
Centre. The TARATO evaluation framework
embraces a holistic perspective: developed
to examine the interaction between the
client, whānau, practitioner, and
service/organisation. The aim of the
framework is to clarify the complex
relationships and interactions between
stakeholders within the context of
treatment. It will also help to elucidate the
strengths and weaknesses of individual
services. Within this framework, a range of
indicators and outcomes of “successful
treatment” will be explored. The current project is the first phase of
a broader project that will make a
significant contribution to improvements in
Māori health via further developing
effective treatments of alcohol and other
drug related problems.

year: 2003