title: The effect of biochar as a partial replacement of cement in cement mortar mixture and its mechanical properties

authors: Wazir, Paras

abstract: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) pollution is one of the leading causes of present day environmental issues. The construction industry, having a huge cement production contributes to these issues such as global warming and climate change. According to Mota-Panizio et al., (2023),  the third largest CO2 emission contributor is cement production. Several research has been done on agricultural waste solutions which includes the use of rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, and biochar as a partial replacement to cement mortar and concrete. This study will focus on the use and benefits of biochar as a partial replacement to cement, not only results in a decrease in usage of cement, lessening  CO2 but as this study will show, it will also help in improving the mechanical properties of cement mortar. The biochar used in this study is a Pinus Radiata Sawdust Biochar, a commercial biochar made in New Zealand. This study finds that 2-3% of biochar as a partial replacement to cement in cement mortar is the optimum percentage with a D50, 0.0172mm particle size and with an 818m2/kg specific area, in which the mechanical properties would prove to be better than that of a pure cement mixture. To determine the internal curing ability of biochar, it is observed in the 3rd batch , a mix with 2% of biochar water cured for 3 days has the same 28-day compressive strength as the control mix was cured for 7 days. It is also found in this experimental study 1-3% of biochar replacement with cement mortar gave increased compressive strength compared to plain cement mortar in all days of curing.  

While biochar can be produced from agricultural wastes, it can also be derived from forest waste. Not only does it help in eliminating CO2 emission, it also adds commercial value to forestry waste providing an opportunity to use rather than discard it. One consequence of climate change is an increase in the number of extreme weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. The effects of this were made worse in some parts of the country due to accumulated forestry waste which blocked waterways making the flooding worse and damaging essential infrastructure.

 The main questions this study asks are: How does Biochar influence the mechanical properties of cement mortar such as flexural strength, flowability, and compressive strength? How is the incorporation of Biochar to cement mortar significant in lessening the increase of CO2 emission? And In which ways can the use of Biochar help improve forest waste management most especially in New Zealand?  To answer these questions, conducted tests of flowability, compressive strength, flexural strength, TGA, and SEM Analysis that would determine which percentage best depicts the effect of biochar to cement mortar and analyze the mechanical properties of cement mortar when combined with Biochar.

text: The effect of biochar as a partial replacement of cement in cement mortar mixture and its mechanical properties Carbon Dioxide (CO2) pollution is one of the leading causes of present day environmental issues. The construction industry, having a huge cement production contributes to these issues such as global warming and climate change. According to Mota-Panizio et al., (2023),  the third largest CO2 emission contributor is cement production. Several research has been done on agricultural waste solutions which includes the use of rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, and biochar as a partial replacement to cement mortar and concrete. This study will focus on the use and benefits of biochar as a partial replacement to cement, not only results in a decrease in usage of cement, lessening  CO2 but as this study will show, it will also help in improving the mechanical properties of cement mortar. The biochar used in this study is a Pinus Radiata Sawdust Biochar, a commercial biochar made in New Zealand. This study finds that 2-3% of biochar as a partial replacement to cement in cement mortar is the optimum percentage with a D50, 0.0172mm particle size and with an 818m2/kg specific area, in which the mechanical properties would prove to be better than that of a pure cement mixture. To determine the internal curing ability of biochar, it is observed in the 3rd batch , a mix with 2% of biochar water cured for 3 days has the same 28-day compressive strength as the control mix was cured for 7 days. It is also found in this experimental study 1-3% of biochar replacement with cement mortar gave increased compressive strength compared to plain cement mortar in all days of curing.  

While biochar can be produced from agricultural wastes, it can also be derived from forest waste. Not only does it help in eliminating CO2 emission, it also adds commercial value to forestry waste providing an opportunity to use rather than discard it. One consequence of climate change is an increase in the number of extreme weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. The effects of this were made worse in some parts of the country due to accumulated forestry waste which blocked waterways making the flooding worse and damaging essential infrastructure.

 The main questions this study asks are: How does Biochar influence the mechanical properties of cement mortar such as flexural strength, flowability, and compressive strength? How is the incorporation of Biochar to cement mortar significant in lessening the increase of CO2 emission? And In which ways can the use of Biochar help improve forest waste management most especially in New Zealand?  To answer these questions, conducted tests of flowability, compressive strength, flexural strength, TGA, and SEM Analysis that would determine which percentage best depicts the effect of biochar to cement mortar and analyze the mechanical properties of cement mortar when combined with Biochar.

year: 2024

title: The effects of vulnerabilities and strengths on the outcomes of a chronic pain management programme

authors: Campbell, Eryn

subjects: Chronic pain

abstract: Chronic pain is a problem that affects around one million New Zealanders and is very difficult to treat effectively. Most pain management programmes focus on decreasing levels of treatment outcome measures (pain catastrophising, pain intensity, interference) and increasing levels of pain self-efficacy. Research shows that higher levels of vulnerabilities (depression, anxiety, stress, pessimism) can negatively impact treatment outcomes. However, research also shows that increasing levels of strengths (optimism, hope, spirituality, social support, grit) affect treatment outcomes positively. We wanted to determine if there were differences in treatment outcomes for participants with high levels of vulnerabilities or strengths. Our study looked at the relationships between treatment outcome measures, vulnerabilities, and strengths over a three-week pain management programme. Participants (N = 40) attending the ReCharge Programme at QE Health completed repeat measure scales at intake, discharge, and 12-week follow-up. We found that higher levels of depression, stress, and pessimism were associated with higher levels of pain catastrophising, pain intensity, and interference, and lower levels of pain self-efficacy. Conversely, higher levels of optimism, hope, spirituality, and grit were associated with lower levels catastrophising, intensity, and interference, and higher levels of pain self-efficacy. Anxiety and social support were not associated with any treatment outcomes. We also found that correlations of composite measures of strengths accounted for more variability in pain self-efficacy than did composite vulnerabilities. This suggests that tailored interventions, based on levels of strengths at intake, aimed at increasing levels of strengths during the ReCharge Programme could improve treatment outcome measures for clients.

text: The effects of vulnerabilities and strengths on the outcomes of a chronic pain management programme Chronic pain is a problem that affects around one million New Zealanders and is very difficult to treat effectively. Most pain management programmes focus on decreasing levels of treatment outcome measures (pain catastrophising, pain intensity, interference) and increasing levels of pain self-efficacy. Research shows that higher levels of vulnerabilities (depression, anxiety, stress, pessimism) can negatively impact treatment outcomes. However, research also shows that increasing levels of strengths (optimism, hope, spirituality, social support, grit) affect treatment outcomes positively. We wanted to determine if there were differences in treatment outcomes for participants with high levels of vulnerabilities or strengths. Our study looked at the relationships between treatment outcome measures, vulnerabilities, and strengths over a three-week pain management programme. Participants (N = 40) attending the ReCharge Programme at QE Health completed repeat measure scales at intake, discharge, and 12-week follow-up. We found that higher levels of depression, stress, and pessimism were associated with higher levels of pain catastrophising, pain intensity, and interference, and lower levels of pain self-efficacy. Conversely, higher levels of optimism, hope, spirituality, and grit were associated with lower levels catastrophising, intensity, and interference, and higher levels of pain self-efficacy. Anxiety and social support were not associated with any treatment outcomes. We also found that correlations of composite measures of strengths accounted for more variability in pain self-efficacy than did composite vulnerabilities. This suggests that tailored interventions, based on levels of strengths at intake, aimed at increasing levels of strengths during the ReCharge Programme could improve treatment outcome measures for clients.

year: 2021

title: Transformative pedagogy and language learning in Maori and Irish contexts

authors: Glynn, Ted

subjects: transformative pedagogy

abstract: Establishing positive learning communities in classrooms where pedagogies are socially and culturally responsive and centred on shared life experiences is critical for the revitalisation of minoritised languages such as Irish and Māori, which lack the dominance and power of the wider languages of government and communication. Transformative pedagogy and pedagogical re-positioning of teachers are essential to legitimising and affirming minoritised languages in the classroom. Three small-scale New Zealand studies of emerging literacy in Māori are introduced, exemplifying a responsive and transformative pedagogy that enables teachers to position themselves as socially and culturally responsive participants within classroom contexts. These studies offer strategies that might facilitate the development of similar transformative pedagogy in Irish contexts also.

text: Transformative pedagogy and language learning in Maori and Irish contexts Establishing positive learning communities in classrooms where pedagogies are socially and culturally responsive and centred on shared life experiences is critical for the revitalisation of minoritised languages such as Irish and Māori, which lack the dominance and power of the wider languages of government and communication. Transformative pedagogy and pedagogical re-positioning of teachers are essential to legitimising and affirming minoritised languages in the classroom. Three small-scale New Zealand studies of emerging literacy in Māori are introduced, exemplifying a responsive and transformative pedagogy that enables teachers to position themselves as socially and culturally responsive participants within classroom contexts. These studies offer strategies that might facilitate the development of similar transformative pedagogy in Irish contexts also.

year: 2009