Terror versus tyranny : An examination of the interface between New Zealand's international counter-terrorism and human rights obligations

In the wake of the September 11 attacks, it must be confessed that I was quite overwhelmed by the horrific events, by the loss of life, and by the sheer visual impact and magnitude of the attacks against the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. Overwhelmed but at the same time eager, not in any morbid sense, to learn more about terrorism. September 11 also created significant media and public interest. Having entered academia a year earlier, after some years in private practice, and as the only international lawyer at the University of Canterbury, I responded by writing on the subject. Soon enough, that research and writing led to this thesis. As a full-time lecturer at the University of Canterbury, a part-time Barrister of the High Court of New Zealand, and a part-time PhD candidate, the progress and methodology in the writing of this thesis has been somewhat haphazard at times. The first two years of research were perhaps not typical of postgraduate research. That period of time was characterised by three types of activity: the collation of materials, from treaties to articles and cases; the writing of papers and articles on particular issues involved within the thesis topic; and the presentation of papers or other oral discussions and debate, including the giving of evidence to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on the Counter-Terrorism Bill 2002. In July 2004 I was fortunate enough to take up a research fellowship at the Centre for International and Public Law at the Australian National University, working with those involved in the Australian Research Council funded project on Terrorism and the Non-State Actor. With that work, this period was an opportunity to almost entirely dedicate time to the writing of the thesis proper. That period saw the further development of a number of ideas and the writing of four significant chapters and the near completion of a fifth chapter. Since returning to New Zealand from the fellowship in early December 2004, the preponderance of my time was again devoted to the writing and completion of the thesis. Thus it might be said that a little over two years of research was sporadic and characterised by the research and consideration of isolated issues, while the balance of time consisted of a much more concentrated period of writing and review. When first embarking upon this research, I was warned by colleagues that this would be akin to running a marathon, and it certainly has felt so at times. However, although the run has been a solo one, there are many I am grateful to for their roadside support. To my mother, for her unfailing faith, encouragement and pride. To my supervisors, Professor Chris Joyner at the Department of Government, Georgetown University, Washington DC, and Professors John Burrows and Scott Davidson at the School of Law, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Professor Burrows' quiet, thoughtful, honest and generous oversight has meant a great deal to me, as did the generous input of Professor Davidson. I must likewise thank my colleagues, particularly those of the International Law Group at the University of Canterbury and the Centre for International and Public Law at the Australian National University, especially Dr Neil Boister, Professor Andrew Byrnes, John Caldwell, Associated Professor Pene Matthew, and Barbara von Tigerstrom

Pyroclastic volcanic ash as a potential precursor of alkali-activated binders - A case study from Tajogaite (La Palma, Canary Islands) volcano eruption

The volcanic eruption of Tajogaite in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) produced approximately 200 Mm3 of fine lapilli and ash. Using this volcanic ash (VA) to produce alkali-activated binders (AABs) fosters a sustainable approach to binder manufacturing, aligning with the principles of a circular economy and reducing reliance on non-renewable resources. The feasibility of using VA as a sole precursor for the formulation of sustainable AABs was evaluated based on its composition and physical-chemical properties. To this end, a comprehensive physicochemical characterization of VA was carried out and the physical, mechanical, and environmental properties of the binders formulated were analyzed. The physical-chemical analysis reveals the neoformation of typical secondary reaction products, such as NASH and (C,N)ASH gels. The microstructure analysis reveals that the AABs formulated using 6 M and 8 M NaOH activator solutions contain homogeneously dispersed unreacted VA particles within the binder matrix, providing increased cohesion and mechanical strength. The highest compressive resistance of AABs formulated using only VA as the precursor was achieved with a 6 M NaOH activator solution and a curing temperature of 60 ◦C, reaching a strength of 16 MPa. Although alkaline activation enhances the release of some metals and metalloids contained in the VA, the study of the environmental requirements at the end of the life cycle of the formulated AABs allows them to be classified as nonhazardous materials

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia

Impacts of the Tropical Pacific/Indian Oceans on the Seasonal Cycle of the West African Monsoon

The current consensus is that drought has developed in the Sahel during the second half of the twentieth century as a result of remote effects of oceanic anomalies amplified by local land–atmosphere interactions. This paper focuses on the impacts of oceanic anomalies upon West African climate and specifically aims to identify those from SST anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Oceans during spring and summer seasons, when they were significant. Idealized sensitivity experiments are performed with four atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). The prescribed SST patterns used in the AGCMs are based on the leading mode of covariability between SST anomalies over the Pacific/Indian Oceans and summer rainfall over West Africa. The results show that such oceanic anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Ocean lead to a northward shift of an anomalous dry belt from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel as the season advances. In the Sahel, the magnitude of rainfall anomalies is comparable to that obtained by other authors using SST anomalies confined to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. The mechanism connecting the Pacific/Indian SST anomalies with West African rainfall has a strong seasonal cycle. In spring (May and June), anomalous subsidence develops over both the Maritime Continent and the equatorial Atlantic in response to the enhanced equatorial heating. Precipitation increases over continental West Africa in association with stronger zonal convergence of moisture. In addition, precipitation decreases over the Gulf of Guinea. During the monsoon peak (July and August), the SST anomalies move westward over the equatorial Pacific and the two regions where subsidence occurred earlier in the seasons merge over West Africa. The monsoon weakens and rainfall decreases over the Sahel, especially in August.Peer reviewe

Search for light bosons in decays of the 125 GeV Higgs boson in proton-proton collisions at root s=8 TeV

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Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Search for Evidence of the Type-III Seesaw Mechanism in Multilepton Final States in Proton-Proton Collisions at root s=13 TeV

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Measurements of the pp → ZZ production cross section and the Z → 4ℓ branching fraction, and constraints on anomalous triple gauge couplings at √s = 13 TeV

Four-lepton production in proton-proton collisions, pp -> (Z/gamma*)(Z/gamma*) -> 4l, where l = e or mu, is studied at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1). The ZZ production cross section, sigma(pp -> ZZ) = 17.2 +/- 0.5 (stat) +/- 0.7 (syst) +/- 0.4 (theo) +/- 0.4 (lumi) pb, measured using events with two opposite-sign, same-flavor lepton pairs produced in the mass region 60 4l) = 4.83(-0.22)(+0.23) (stat)(-0.29)(+0.32) (syst) +/- 0.08 (theo) +/- 0.12(lumi) x 10(-6) for events with a four-lepton invariant mass in the range 80 4GeV for all opposite-sign, same-flavor lepton pairs. The results agree with standard model predictions. The invariant mass distribution of the four-lepton system is used to set limits on anomalous ZZZ and ZZ. couplings at 95% confidence level: -0.0012 < f(4)(Z) < 0.0010, -0.0010 < f(5)(Z) < 0.0013, -0.0012 < f(4)(gamma) < 0.0013, -0.0012 < f(5)(gamma) < 0.0013

Search for new phenomena with the M-T2 variable in the all-hadronic final state produced in proton-proton collisions at root s=13TeV

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Search for Supersymmetry in pp Collisions at root s=13 TeV in the Single-Lepton Final State Using the Sum of Masses of Large-Radius Jets

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