title: A novel machine learning method to investigate the web crippling behaviour of perforated roll-formed aluminium alloy unlipped channels under interior-two flange loading

authors: Fang, Zhiyuan (Arthur)

subjects: web crippling

abstract: This study presents a novel machine-learning model using the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) tool, for assessing the web crippling behaviour of perforated roll-formed aluminium alloy (RFA) unlipped channels (both fastened and unfastened) under interior-two-flange loading. A total of 1080 data points were generated for training the XGBoost model, utilizing an elastoplastic finite element (FE) model that was validated against 30 experimental results from the literature. A comparison against the numerical failure loads was conducted, and it was found that the prediction accuracy of XGBoost model was 94%. When compared with Ramdom Forest and Linear Regression methods, it was found that the proposed XGBoost model performed better than both the before mentioned methods. The web crippling strengths obtained from the XGBoost model, tests, and finite element analysis (FEA) were utilized to evaluate the performance of current design rules from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS 1664.1; AS/NZS 4600:2018) and Eurocode (CEN 2007). It is shown that the current design rules are not reliable to predict the web crippling strength of perforated RFA unlipped channels. As a consequence of the parametric analysis, new web crippling strength and web crippling strength reduction factor formulae for perforated RFA unlipped channels were proposed. A reliability analysis was then conducted, which confirmed that the proposed equations are capable of accurately predicting the ITF web crippling strengths of perforated RFA unlipped channels.

text: A novel machine learning method to investigate the web crippling behaviour of perforated roll-formed aluminium alloy unlipped channels under interior-two flange loading This study presents a novel machine-learning model using the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) tool, for assessing the web crippling behaviour of perforated roll-formed aluminium alloy (RFA) unlipped channels (both fastened and unfastened) under interior-two-flange loading. A total of 1080 data points were generated for training the XGBoost model, utilizing an elastoplastic finite element (FE) model that was validated against 30 experimental results from the literature. A comparison against the numerical failure loads was conducted, and it was found that the prediction accuracy of XGBoost model was 94%. When compared with Ramdom Forest and Linear Regression methods, it was found that the proposed XGBoost model performed better than both the before mentioned methods. The web crippling strengths obtained from the XGBoost model, tests, and finite element analysis (FEA) were utilized to evaluate the performance of current design rules from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS 1664.1; AS/NZS 4600:2018) and Eurocode (CEN 2007). It is shown that the current design rules are not reliable to predict the web crippling strength of perforated RFA unlipped channels. As a consequence of the parametric analysis, new web crippling strength and web crippling strength reduction factor formulae for perforated RFA unlipped channels were proposed. A reliability analysis was then conducted, which confirmed that the proposed equations are capable of accurately predicting the ITF web crippling strengths of perforated RFA unlipped channels.

year: 2022

title: Soliciting clients

authors: Winslade, John

subjects: counsellor

abstract: What kinds of marketing methods can counsellors use to solicit clients in private practice contexts? In this setting counsellors are clearly operating a business and sound business practices apply. But the business of counselling is also bound by the ethics that govern the delivery of a professional service, which makes higher demands in terms of standards than the trading of goods might require. Professions have a long history of altruism which sanctions baselines for behaviour more stringent than those of fair exchange in the marketplace. For example, the principle of caveat emptor let the buyer beware would not suffice as an ethical baseline for professional practice.

text: Soliciting clients What kinds of marketing methods can counsellors use to solicit clients in private practice contexts? In this setting counsellors are clearly operating a business and sound business practices apply. But the business of counselling is also bound by the ethics that govern the delivery of a professional service, which makes higher demands in terms of standards than the trading of goods might require. Professions have a long history of altruism which sanctions baselines for behaviour more stringent than those of fair exchange in the marketplace. For example, the principle of caveat emptor let the buyer beware would not suffice as an ethical baseline for professional practice.

year: 2011

title: The revitalisation roles of Māori-medium whānau

authors: Bryant, Braden

abstract: For over a century and a half, te reo Māori (the Māori language) has suffered from linguistic marginalisation, causing significant language shift to English, and, with it, generations of Māori who are unable to speak their indigenous language. While efforts since the 1970s to rebuild te reo Māori have primarily focused on educational initiatives such as kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa, there is now a move to shift the revitalisation strategy towards encouraging te reo Māori use in the home, and to rebuilding the language intergenerationally. Unfortunately, little is known about whānau perceptions regarding te reo Māori revitalisation, which is what this research investigates.

This research investigates five whānau who have committed their children to Māori-medium education. It aims to understand what influenced their decision-making around Māori-medium and what they see as the key benefits for their children. It also looks at what whānau consider to be obstacles regarding their use of te reo Māori, and at their commitment to Māori-medium education. Finally, this research aims to uncover how whānau perceive the wider revitalisation effort, and their roles in it.

The qualitative method of semi-structured interviews was used to conduct this research. The conversational nature of this method gives whānau the freedom to express their beliefs, while remaining on the main themes of this study. As the participants and themes of this research are Māori, the study used Kaupapa Māori theory and principles to guide it. This supported the overall aim of aligning with Māori aspirations, and safeguarding participants from exploitation.

This research found that perceptions of whānau often reflected the extent to which they had been affected by intergenerational language shift. Whānau still highly affected by language shift, and whose te reo Māori is less normalised in the home, prioritised te reo Māori learning at school as the key benefit of Māori-medium education. This group also faced more opposition to their Māori-medium choices from friends and whānau, and perceived their revitalisation roles to be more concerned with the immediate whānau. By contrast, the whānau who had managed to regenerate te reo Māori in their homes to a greater extent placed more emphasis on tikanga and values as benefits of Māori-medium education. They identified opposition from friends and whānau as a barrier to their promotion of te reo Māori, while also identifying their own subconscious lapses into English as a major barrier to maintaining normalised te reo Māori environments for their children. Finally, they perceived their revitalisation roles as revolving around normalising te reo Māori for their whānau and for their communities. They played important roles in establishing language domains for further use of what is their home language.

This small study shows the importance of understanding the perceptions of those who are central to the regeneration of te reo Māori because they are the key agents of successful change, and have the attitudes and skills to do so. A larger study would provide more data to support the formation of new language revitalisation strategies.

text: The revitalisation roles of Māori-medium whānau For over a century and a half, te reo Māori (the Māori language) has suffered from linguistic marginalisation, causing significant language shift to English, and, with it, generations of Māori who are unable to speak their indigenous language. While efforts since the 1970s to rebuild te reo Māori have primarily focused on educational initiatives such as kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa, there is now a move to shift the revitalisation strategy towards encouraging te reo Māori use in the home, and to rebuilding the language intergenerationally. Unfortunately, little is known about whānau perceptions regarding te reo Māori revitalisation, which is what this research investigates.

This research investigates five whānau who have committed their children to Māori-medium education. It aims to understand what influenced their decision-making around Māori-medium and what they see as the key benefits for their children. It also looks at what whānau consider to be obstacles regarding their use of te reo Māori, and at their commitment to Māori-medium education. Finally, this research aims to uncover how whānau perceive the wider revitalisation effort, and their roles in it.

The qualitative method of semi-structured interviews was used to conduct this research. The conversational nature of this method gives whānau the freedom to express their beliefs, while remaining on the main themes of this study. As the participants and themes of this research are Māori, the study used Kaupapa Māori theory and principles to guide it. This supported the overall aim of aligning with Māori aspirations, and safeguarding participants from exploitation.

This research found that perceptions of whānau often reflected the extent to which they had been affected by intergenerational language shift. Whānau still highly affected by language shift, and whose te reo Māori is less normalised in the home, prioritised te reo Māori learning at school as the key benefit of Māori-medium education. This group also faced more opposition to their Māori-medium choices from friends and whānau, and perceived their revitalisation roles to be more concerned with the immediate whānau. By contrast, the whānau who had managed to regenerate te reo Māori in their homes to a greater extent placed more emphasis on tikanga and values as benefits of Māori-medium education. They identified opposition from friends and whānau as a barrier to their promotion of te reo Māori, while also identifying their own subconscious lapses into English as a major barrier to maintaining normalised te reo Māori environments for their children. Finally, they perceived their revitalisation roles as revolving around normalising te reo Māori for their whānau and for their communities. They played important roles in establishing language domains for further use of what is their home language.

This small study shows the importance of understanding the perceptions of those who are central to the regeneration of te reo Māori because they are the key agents of successful change, and have the attitudes and skills to do so. A larger study would provide more data to support the formation of new language revitalisation strategies.

year: 2017