title: Physical activity experiences of mothers with young children: Barriers, practices, and the influence on children’s behaviours and attitudes

authors: Connolly, Natalie

abstract: Feminist research has long explored the various factors that shape women’s experiences of motherhood, including the multiple and competing discourse of ‘good’ motherhood. Increasingly. mothers are expected to quickly resume and pursue a physically active lifestyle for both their own health and that of their children and families. This research aims to explore how mothers navigate these pressures, as well as how they integrate physical activity into their routine and that of their children. 
Inspired by post-structuralist feminism, this study draws upon twelve interviews with New Zealand Aotearoa mothers with at least one child under the age of 10. All living in the Bay of Plenty (East Coast of the North Island, NZ) mothers ranged from early twenties to mid-thirties and most had re-entered employment. The group of mothers described an array of social pressures and expectations to achieve ‘good motherhood’.  A key element of this was achieving ‘yummy mummy’ status, by taking control of their bodies, specifically re- gaining pre- pregnancy physique, through exercise. Some mothers worked to achieve this unrealistic ideal. Other problematised such dominant discursive constructions of ‘good’ motherhood. These women developed an array of strategies to navigate these discourses in ways that felt appropriate for themselves and their families. 
Factors including employment, lack of time, fatigue, family support, and pressures from ‘other mothers’ were all key contributing factors influencing mothers’ physical activity practices and experiences. This study also explored mothers’ perceptions of their influence on their children’s physical activity practices. They all considered themselves important role models in their children’s lives and express a strong desire to increase physical activity time while decreasing technology use from an early age. Focusing on New Zealand mothers’ lived experiences of juggling motherhood and pressures to be physically active, for both their own health and as role models for their children, this study makes an original contribution to a growing body of literature on the complex relationship between motherhood, sport, and physical activity.

text: Physical activity experiences of mothers with young children: Barriers, practices, and the influence on children’s behaviours and attitudes Feminist research has long explored the various factors that shape women’s experiences of motherhood, including the multiple and competing discourse of ‘good’ motherhood. Increasingly. mothers are expected to quickly resume and pursue a physically active lifestyle for both their own health and that of their children and families. This research aims to explore how mothers navigate these pressures, as well as how they integrate physical activity into their routine and that of their children. 
Inspired by post-structuralist feminism, this study draws upon twelve interviews with New Zealand Aotearoa mothers with at least one child under the age of 10. All living in the Bay of Plenty (East Coast of the North Island, NZ) mothers ranged from early twenties to mid-thirties and most had re-entered employment. The group of mothers described an array of social pressures and expectations to achieve ‘good motherhood’.  A key element of this was achieving ‘yummy mummy’ status, by taking control of their bodies, specifically re- gaining pre- pregnancy physique, through exercise. Some mothers worked to achieve this unrealistic ideal. Other problematised such dominant discursive constructions of ‘good’ motherhood. These women developed an array of strategies to navigate these discourses in ways that felt appropriate for themselves and their families. 
Factors including employment, lack of time, fatigue, family support, and pressures from ‘other mothers’ were all key contributing factors influencing mothers’ physical activity practices and experiences. This study also explored mothers’ perceptions of their influence on their children’s physical activity practices. They all considered themselves important role models in their children’s lives and express a strong desire to increase physical activity time while decreasing technology use from an early age. Focusing on New Zealand mothers’ lived experiences of juggling motherhood and pressures to be physically active, for both their own health and as role models for their children, this study makes an original contribution to a growing body of literature on the complex relationship between motherhood, sport, and physical activity.

year: 2022

title: Comparing hardness tests to estimate, evaluate, and analyse the mechanical properties of structural steel

authors: Gopi, Govind

abstract: The paper investigates the mechanical properties of structural steels, focusing on hardness and toughness, which are important indicators used in industrial applications. In total, four major hardness testing methods were analysed: Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, and Leeb, and the Charpy impact test was used to measure toughness. The hardness tests evaluated the precision with which steel resistance to deformation can be determined under different conditions, and the Charpy test examined their energy absorption capacity in case of sudden fractures and tensile testing was estimated on them to study the range of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. This research has conducted 288 experimental tests to evaluate the correlation between various hardness testing methods (Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell, and Leeb) and the mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. Further, 42 experimental tests were performed for the Charpy impact test to evaluate a correlation between Charpy impact values and mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. 330 samples were prepared for the respective tests, representing various structural steel grades (Grade 300, 350, and 400). Among different grades of steel samples, 350-grade steel exhibited a higher impact energy of 94.4 J. Both Charpy Impact Values and Hardness Test Values were plotted against ultimate tensile strength and yield strength to determine if there is a correlation between the properties. The results reveal a better accuracy of Vickers and Rockwell tests as they revealed only an error percentage of 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively, especially for fine-grained materials, while Leeb is characterized by good convenience in large-scale testing at the site. Although the Brinell test is very effective for coarse structures, it was not as precise as martensite in more complex microstructures. Both hardness and tensile strength showed a strong correlation, indicating that hardness may accurately predict the material strength. The study also highlights the reverse relationship between hardness and toughness.  This research contributes to structural steel testing by proposing methods to predict mechanical properties using non-destructive testing techniques. It sets the stage for future improvementsin hardness testing models by incorporating factors like microstructural variations, strain hardening, and heat treatment, which can enhance the accuracy of predictions. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of portable hardness testing methods and emphasizes the need for improved calibration protocols to ensure more accurate in-situ measurements.

text: Comparing hardness tests to estimate, evaluate, and analyse the mechanical properties of structural steel The paper investigates the mechanical properties of structural steels, focusing on hardness and toughness, which are important indicators used in industrial applications. In total, four major hardness testing methods were analysed: Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, and Leeb, and the Charpy impact test was used to measure toughness. The hardness tests evaluated the precision with which steel resistance to deformation can be determined under different conditions, and the Charpy test examined their energy absorption capacity in case of sudden fractures and tensile testing was estimated on them to study the range of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. This research has conducted 288 experimental tests to evaluate the correlation between various hardness testing methods (Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell, and Leeb) and the mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. Further, 42 experimental tests were performed for the Charpy impact test to evaluate a correlation between Charpy impact values and mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. 330 samples were prepared for the respective tests, representing various structural steel grades (Grade 300, 350, and 400). Among different grades of steel samples, 350-grade steel exhibited a higher impact energy of 94.4 J. Both Charpy Impact Values and Hardness Test Values were plotted against ultimate tensile strength and yield strength to determine if there is a correlation between the properties. The results reveal a better accuracy of Vickers and Rockwell tests as they revealed only an error percentage of 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively, especially for fine-grained materials, while Leeb is characterized by good convenience in large-scale testing at the site. Although the Brinell test is very effective for coarse structures, it was not as precise as martensite in more complex microstructures. Both hardness and tensile strength showed a strong correlation, indicating that hardness may accurately predict the material strength. The study also highlights the reverse relationship between hardness and toughness.  This research contributes to structural steel testing by proposing methods to predict mechanical properties using non-destructive testing techniques. It sets the stage for future improvementsin hardness testing models by incorporating factors like microstructural variations, strain hardening, and heat treatment, which can enhance the accuracy of predictions. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of portable hardness testing methods and emphasizes the need for improved calibration protocols to ensure more accurate in-situ measurements.

year: 2024-11-23

title: Leadership: Going beyond personal will and professional skills to give life to Ka Hikitia

authors: Berryman, Mere

subjects: education policy

abstract: This paper investigates the Ka Hikitia Māori education policy and its subsequent influence in effecting system change towards Māori students’ achievement. It discusses how a Request for Proposal to the Ministry of Education’s Building on Success was conceptualised to support English-medium secondary schools across New Zealand to address this policy. The result, Kia Eke Panuku, is a professional learning and development response that works with Strategic Change Leadership Teams to create culturally responsive and relational contexts for learning, focused on Māori students enjoying and achieving educational success as Māori. It is argued that neither a political mandate for change nor a set of learned strategies by school personnel will truly bring about a changed reality for Māori students. Rather the reform must be led by transformative leaders who are driven by both the moral imperative to change and a keen sense of urgency to see this happen in our schools for Māori students and their home communities.
The major issues raised in this paper, and the solutions that have been reached thus far, can help inform others who are trying to raise the participation, inclusion and achievement of students who may currently be marginalised from formal education settings.

text: Leadership: Going beyond personal will and professional skills to give life to Ka Hikitia This paper investigates the Ka Hikitia Māori education policy and its subsequent influence in effecting system change towards Māori students’ achievement. It discusses how a Request for Proposal to the Ministry of Education’s Building on Success was conceptualised to support English-medium secondary schools across New Zealand to address this policy. The result, Kia Eke Panuku, is a professional learning and development response that works with Strategic Change Leadership Teams to create culturally responsive and relational contexts for learning, focused on Māori students enjoying and achieving educational success as Māori. It is argued that neither a political mandate for change nor a set of learned strategies by school personnel will truly bring about a changed reality for Māori students. Rather the reform must be led by transformative leaders who are driven by both the moral imperative to change and a keen sense of urgency to see this happen in our schools for Māori students and their home communities.
The major issues raised in this paper, and the solutions that have been reached thus far, can help inform others who are trying to raise the participation, inclusion and achievement of students who may currently be marginalised from formal education settings.

year: 2015