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Effects of PZT reinforcement on the properties of Fe-based composites fabricated by powder metallurgy
(MDPI, 2026-02-05) Alshammari, Yousef; Parol, Jafarali; Yang, Fei; Bolzoni, Leandro
Fe composites are highly valued for their unique mechanical and magnetic properties, making them essential in various industrial applications. This study represents the first reported attempt to combine PZT into an Fe matrix, aiming to develop novel Fe-PZT composites. The primary objective was to assess how the concentration of PZT influences the properties of these composites. The results show that increasing the PZT content in Fe-xPZT composites (where x = 1, 5, and 10 wt.%) reduces the relative sintered density. Microstructural analysis reveals that the composites with higher PZT levels contained numerous large, irregularly shaped pores due to a pronounced Kirkendall effect and limited densification. Furthermore, the evaporation of the volatile PbO compound was observed to affect the thermal stability of the PZT system, leading to reduced composite homogeneity. SEM analysis showed the formation of intermetallic compounds corresponding to Fe2Ti, FeTi, and FeZr2. Finally, an increase in PZT content tends to degrade the tensile and mechanical properties of the Fe-xPZT composites, though they still do not fail catastrophically. These preliminary findings prove the concept of the feasibility of producing Fe-PZT composites and set the basis for the optimization of their manufacturing process. This should eventually unlock the possibility of producing multifunctional materials.
Tackling ableism in sport and active recreation to ensure participation parity for disabled young people in Aotearoa New Zealand
(Human Kinetics, 2026) Carroll, Penelope; Madden, Linda; Witten, Karen; Opit, Simon; Jeanes, Ruth; Townsend, Robert; Nazari Orakani, Solmaz
Significant barriers limit disabled young people’s opportunities in sport and active recreation. This is both a health and human rights issue: physical activity is vital for well-being, and equitable access to sport and active recreation is mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). Using Q methodology, a participatory mixed-methods approach that uncovers shared viewpoints through statistical analysis of participant-ranked statements, we examined ableist attitudes in Aotearoa New Zealand that privilege nondisabled access while marginalizing disabled peers, despite decades of inclusionary rhetoric. Forty participants from sport, physical education, and recreation sectors ranked 40 attitudinal statements on disability inclusion. Factor analysis of these rankings revealed three distinct ableist “viewpoints.” We present these viewpoints, propose a “variants of ableism” framework, and discuss implications for parity in participation in sport and physical activity.
“If it don’t talk, it's not whakapapa data”: Conceptualising whakapapa data in a digital age
(Wiley, 2026-02) Pēpi Tarapa‐Dewes, Ella; Kukutai, Tahu
In Te Ao Māori, whakapapa is a sacred framework that connects all aspects of existence. Whakapapa is highly sensitive information and a taonga that requires active protection. But what can be considered whakapapa data in a digital age where data linkage is ubiquitous and the boundaries between personal and collective information are increasingly blurred? We explore this question through a case study with Ngāti Tiipa, a hapū that is actively engaged in its own data sovereignty research. Reflexive thematic analysis of whānau kōrero identified three types of whakapapa data, each denoting a specific kind of connection: 1) between relatives, both living and deceased; 2) between people and places of cultural significance; and 3) between people and the spiritual realm. Whānau concepts of whakapapa data tend to be context‐specific, suggesting that it is more useful to think of whakapapa data as dynamic and relational rather than a fixed, inherent attribute.
Machine learning-based prediction of young’s modulus in Ti-Alloys
(MDPI, 2026-02-19) Dinibutun, Seza; Alshammari, Yousef; Bolzoni, Leandro
This study explores the use of machine learning to predict the experimental Young’s modulus of titanium alloys based on their mechanical and microstructural properties. Several regression models were developed and compared, including Random Forest, XGBoost, CatBoost, Multi-Layer Perceptron, and a Stacking Regressor. Among these, Random Forest, XGBoost and CatBoost achieved the most accurate results with R² values above 0.85. To improve interpretability, SHapley Additive exPlanations were applied to examine which input features most strongly influenced the predictions. The results showed that yield strength, hardness, and the molybdenum equivalent parameter (moe) were among the most influential descriptors. While yield strength and hardness were positively associated with the predicted values, higher moe values corresponded to lower predicted Young’s modulus. This study focuses on the prediction of Young’s modulus, a comparatively less explored elastic property in Ti-alloy machine learning studies and combines systematic model comparison with SHAP-based interpretability to provide physically consistent insights into feature–property relationships.
Remediating the art of music video [in Malleable boundaries - Creative modes of practice and inquiry in the Academy]
(University of Waikato, 2024-11-15) Perrott, Lisa; Hill, Rodrigo; Davidson, Cerys
The concept of remediation implies that new media attain cultural distinctiveness by paying homage to, and refashioning earlier media (Bolter & Grusin, 1999). Having explored remediation in my book David Bowie and the Art of Music Video (2023), I extended this project by employing creative practice research to test the flexibility of this concept. The affordances of several mediums and materials were explored to remediate three images from music videos previously analysed for my book. Title of painting #1: Remediating Life On Mars? When directing the music video for Life on Mars? (1973), photographer Mick Rock used 16mm film to remediate the materiality and two dimensionality of Pop Art and Japanese paintings of the Edo period known as Ukiyo-e. As an extension of this process, I experimented with the fluidity of watercolour paint to remediate these artforms in relation to the affordances of music video and still photography. Title of painting #2: Divine Heroes When directing Heroes (1977), Stanley Dorfman sculpted with light and film to remediate Byzantine paintings and sculpture of the Renaissance period. Paying homage to these mediums, and referencing the Divine Mercy paintings of 1934 and 1944, I experimented with the vibrant hues and light-sculpting properties of watercolour paints and gold leaf. Title of painting #3: Ashes to Dada When directing Ashes to Ashes (1980) an accident with camera settings enabled David Bowie and David Mallet to exploit the affordances of videotape, thus producing a unique remediation of avant-garde films of the 1920s. While using watercolour paint to rework the estranged colours and fuzzy materiality of videotape, my use of the cut-up method pays homage to the aleatory process associated with this video, to the Dada movement, and to the artistic process of Tristan Tzara, William Burroughs and David Bowie.