title: The new frontiers of jihad: Radical Islam in Europe [Book review]

authors: Pratt, Douglas

subjects: Islam

abstract: Alison Pargeter has undertaken a magisterial study of Islamic militancy within the European context. Her thesis is that, in order to comprehend the roots of Islamist radicalism, it is necessary to place Islamism within its proper context of developments within the Islamic world. This well-researched and highly readable book is divided into three broad sections dealing, first, with the impact of religious revivalism across the Middle East in the wake of the 1979 Iranian revolution; then, second, with the outworking of Middle Eastern political dynamics when, having been expelled from their own countries, a variety of nationalist insurgent groups set up bases in Europe. Third, it examines and discusses the nature and motivation of the so-called ‘new breed of radical Islamists’ (p. x). The book thus offers both an historical overview of the emergence and rise of Islamism within Europe and an appropriate contextualizing and critical discussion of this phenomenon.

text: The new frontiers of jihad: Radical Islam in Europe [Book review] Alison Pargeter has undertaken a magisterial study of Islamic militancy within the European context. Her thesis is that, in order to comprehend the roots of Islamist radicalism, it is necessary to place Islamism within its proper context of developments within the Islamic world. This well-researched and highly readable book is divided into three broad sections dealing, first, with the impact of religious revivalism across the Middle East in the wake of the 1979 Iranian revolution; then, second, with the outworking of Middle Eastern political dynamics when, having been expelled from their own countries, a variety of nationalist insurgent groups set up bases in Europe. Third, it examines and discusses the nature and motivation of the so-called ‘new breed of radical Islamists’ (p. x). The book thus offers both an historical overview of the emergence and rise of Islamism within Europe and an appropriate contextualizing and critical discussion of this phenomenon.

year: 2009

title: Effect of spark plasma sintering temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of an ultrafine grained TiAl intermetallic alloy

authors: Chen, Yuyong

subjects: spark plasma sintering

abstract: The effect of spark plasma sintering (SPS) temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a bulk solid ultrafine grained gamma TiAl alloy produced by SPS of an ultrafine structured Ti/Al composite powder with a nominal composition of Ti–47 at.%Al has been investigated. The Ti/Al composite powder was produced using high energy mechanical milling. It was found that an SPS temperature of 800 °C led to the completion of the reactions needed for reaching the phase equilibrium and formation of a nanostructure with grain sizes in the range of 50–100 nm. However, this SPS temperature was not sufficient to achieve a nearly full density of the compact or a high level of interparticle bonding. Increasing the SPS temperature from 800 to 900 °C caused a significant increase of the density and the level of interparticle bonding while still maintaining grain sizes of <500 nm. The bulk TiAl alloy produced under this condition had a good compression yield strength, fracture strength, bending strength and plastic strain to fracture of 1722, 1963, 610 MPa and 4%, respectively. Increasing the SPS temperature from 900 to 1100 °C caused significant coarsening of the TiAl grains which led to a clear decrease in yield strength and hardness and a slight increase in ductility.

text: Effect of spark plasma sintering temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of an ultrafine grained TiAl intermetallic alloy The effect of spark plasma sintering (SPS) temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a bulk solid ultrafine grained gamma TiAl alloy produced by SPS of an ultrafine structured Ti/Al composite powder with a nominal composition of Ti–47 at.%Al has been investigated. The Ti/Al composite powder was produced using high energy mechanical milling. It was found that an SPS temperature of 800 °C led to the completion of the reactions needed for reaching the phase equilibrium and formation of a nanostructure with grain sizes in the range of 50–100 nm. However, this SPS temperature was not sufficient to achieve a nearly full density of the compact or a high level of interparticle bonding. Increasing the SPS temperature from 800 to 900 °C caused a significant increase of the density and the level of interparticle bonding while still maintaining grain sizes of <500 nm. The bulk TiAl alloy produced under this condition had a good compression yield strength, fracture strength, bending strength and plastic strain to fracture of 1722, 1963, 610 MPa and 4%, respectively. Increasing the SPS temperature from 900 to 1100 °C caused significant coarsening of the TiAl grains which led to a clear decrease in yield strength and hardness and a slight increase in ductility.

year: 2009

title: Culture and climate change: A study of future-proofing Māori tourism businesses

authors: Tawhai, Crystal Candace

subjects: culture

abstract: This thesis explores how prepared Māori tourism businesses are to adapt to climate change and how Māori values may influence the business's perception of responses to climate change. As climate impacts are growing in New Zealand, as a result of increasing extreme weather events, how can Māori tourism businesses protect their taonga (resources)? Taonga in the context of this study includes Māori values, lands, seas and their businesses. Furthermore, the literature indicates that Māori tourism significantly contributes to the economic, social and cultural wellbeing for Māori and wider New Zealand (NZ Māori Tourism, 2018). 
At a specific level, the study focuses on three Māori tourism businesses. Two of the businesses are North Island-based whānau-owned enterprises, one on Kāpiti Island and the other in Napier. The third is a hapū-owned business located in Kaikoura in the South Island. Drawing on kaupapa Māori frameworks built on Māori struggles for tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake (self-determination), the study adheres to kaupapa Māori principles of carrying out research by Māori to benefit Māori. The primary data for the study was collected through semi-structured interviews with each of the businesses, taking care to ensure the cultural safety of the participants and using appropriate tikanga (protocol) in each interview. 

The findings of the study show that Māori tourism businesses are adapting to environmental changes but are unsure about the pace of climate change. The uncertainties are due to a lack of access to information and competing priorities within their businesses. The research also shows how decisions made by local government as well as business perceptions of local and central government institutions negatively impacts on the ability of businesses to adapt to climate change. While there were differences in the businesses’ treatment of science and scientific information, all of them prioritised Māori cultural values. Significantly, these values underpin all the activities of the businesses, including, environmental enhancement and protection. An emphasis on Māori values in facilitated partnerships between tourism businesses, government bodies, and other community stakeholders on co-designing climate change adaptation strategies can help the tourism sector to prepare for a changing climate.

text: Culture and climate change: A study of future-proofing Māori tourism businesses This thesis explores how prepared Māori tourism businesses are to adapt to climate change and how Māori values may influence the business's perception of responses to climate change. As climate impacts are growing in New Zealand, as a result of increasing extreme weather events, how can Māori tourism businesses protect their taonga (resources)? Taonga in the context of this study includes Māori values, lands, seas and their businesses. Furthermore, the literature indicates that Māori tourism significantly contributes to the economic, social and cultural wellbeing for Māori and wider New Zealand (NZ Māori Tourism, 2018). 
At a specific level, the study focuses on three Māori tourism businesses. Two of the businesses are North Island-based whānau-owned enterprises, one on Kāpiti Island and the other in Napier. The third is a hapū-owned business located in Kaikoura in the South Island. Drawing on kaupapa Māori frameworks built on Māori struggles for tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake (self-determination), the study adheres to kaupapa Māori principles of carrying out research by Māori to benefit Māori. The primary data for the study was collected through semi-structured interviews with each of the businesses, taking care to ensure the cultural safety of the participants and using appropriate tikanga (protocol) in each interview. 

The findings of the study show that Māori tourism businesses are adapting to environmental changes but are unsure about the pace of climate change. The uncertainties are due to a lack of access to information and competing priorities within their businesses. The research also shows how decisions made by local government as well as business perceptions of local and central government institutions negatively impacts on the ability of businesses to adapt to climate change. While there were differences in the businesses’ treatment of science and scientific information, all of them prioritised Māori cultural values. Significantly, these values underpin all the activities of the businesses, including, environmental enhancement and protection. An emphasis on Māori values in facilitated partnerships between tourism businesses, government bodies, and other community stakeholders on co-designing climate change adaptation strategies can help the tourism sector to prepare for a changing climate.

year: 2020