title: The audacity of Trump: How he won and what we missed

authors: Steff, Reuben

abstract: Donald Trump made a number of key strategic decisions during his election campaign. Contrary to the common view that his campaign was marked by incompetence and dysfunction, there is considerable evidence that he made adroit decisions at key times. These were overlooked and dismissed by his political opponents to their ultimate disadvantage and defeat. If the Democratic Party hopes to take back the White House in four years' time, and the wider world wants to understand the 'Trump phenomenon', it is imperative that we look at the logical thread that underlies Trump's seemingly irrational behaviour.

text: The audacity of Trump: How he won and what we missed Donald Trump made a number of key strategic decisions during his election campaign. Contrary to the common view that his campaign was marked by incompetence and dysfunction, there is considerable evidence that he made adroit decisions at key times. These were overlooked and dismissed by his political opponents to their ultimate disadvantage and defeat. If the Democratic Party hopes to take back the White House in four years' time, and the wider world wants to understand the 'Trump phenomenon', it is imperative that we look at the logical thread that underlies Trump's seemingly irrational behaviour.

year: 2017

title: Blu-ray cytometer

authors: Albugami, Naser

abstract: The flow cytometers are one of the most powerful devices used to measure the properties of individual particles passing through a sensing region. In this thesis, a low cost cytometer using a Blu-ray pickup is analysed and further developed. This includes the characterisation of the existing system and its performance as well as the evaluation of count rate for different flow rates and focuses. Based on that, the best parameters for measurement conditions have been determined. The system was set up for forward scatter as well as for fluorescence, both were to be measured at the same time and it was found that both could be recorded and counted. In addition, it was found that fluorescing particles can give a fluorescent count as well as scatter count and it was noticed that different sizes of non-fluorescent particles can produce scatter count. The count rate for a mixture of fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles was measured. This required the installation of two different amplifiers (for fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles) and building a new LabView program containing two channels.

In a later part of the thesis, the system was improved to progress towards a setup of avalanche photodiode as detector for forward scattering as well as fluorescence. This gives a very good counting accuracy of 90% at speed of 10μl/s. However, this counting accuracy drops to 80% at speed of 1μl/s when mixing fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles. The counting accuracy is the ratio (in percent) of the measured count to the actual one. As a new detection approach, a beam stop was installed in front of the photo detector so scattered laser light from particles was detected instead of a reduction of laser intensity. This part of the project proves Mie theory which states that the the forward scattered light is in the forward direction. To double check this result, a beam pass was installed in front of the photo detector and the calculated percentage of counting accuracy was very close to the one without a beam stop. It was also checked that the system was capable of detection fluorescent particle after the installation of a high bass filter which passes fluorescent wavelength signals (green) and blocks the blue ray signals. Finally, it was found that this system is able to detect small size particles, such as 1μm particles and to distinguish between 1μm and 10μm particles.

text: Blu-ray cytometer The flow cytometers are one of the most powerful devices used to measure the properties of individual particles passing through a sensing region. In this thesis, a low cost cytometer using a Blu-ray pickup is analysed and further developed. This includes the characterisation of the existing system and its performance as well as the evaluation of count rate for different flow rates and focuses. Based on that, the best parameters for measurement conditions have been determined. The system was set up for forward scatter as well as for fluorescence, both were to be measured at the same time and it was found that both could be recorded and counted. In addition, it was found that fluorescing particles can give a fluorescent count as well as scatter count and it was noticed that different sizes of non-fluorescent particles can produce scatter count. The count rate for a mixture of fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles was measured. This required the installation of two different amplifiers (for fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles) and building a new LabView program containing two channels.

In a later part of the thesis, the system was improved to progress towards a setup of avalanche photodiode as detector for forward scattering as well as fluorescence. This gives a very good counting accuracy of 90% at speed of 10μl/s. However, this counting accuracy drops to 80% at speed of 1μl/s when mixing fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles. The counting accuracy is the ratio (in percent) of the measured count to the actual one. As a new detection approach, a beam stop was installed in front of the photo detector so scattered laser light from particles was detected instead of a reduction of laser intensity. This part of the project proves Mie theory which states that the the forward scattered light is in the forward direction. To double check this result, a beam pass was installed in front of the photo detector and the calculated percentage of counting accuracy was very close to the one without a beam stop. It was also checked that the system was capable of detection fluorescent particle after the installation of a high bass filter which passes fluorescent wavelength signals (green) and blocks the blue ray signals. Finally, it was found that this system is able to detect small size particles, such as 1μm particles and to distinguish between 1μm and 10μm particles.

year: 2012

title: Mental health inpatient services: Improving our understanding of the needs of Maori when acutely unwell

authors: Wharewera-Mika, Julie

subjects: Maori

abstract: There are many possible explanations for the pattern of Maori overrepresentation in mental health acute services. This research project focuses on how services can optimally meet the needs of Maori to improve outcomes. This doctoral research in progress is about claiming space for Maori to have a voice in identifying factors that contribute to recovery and Whanau Ora, and offering recommendations to improve the effectiveness of existing services to better meet the needs of Maori Tangata Whaiora and Whanau.

text: Mental health inpatient services: Improving our understanding of the needs of Maori when acutely unwell There are many possible explanations for the pattern of Maori overrepresentation in mental health acute services. This research project focuses on how services can optimally meet the needs of Maori to improve outcomes. This doctoral research in progress is about claiming space for Maori to have a voice in identifying factors that contribute to recovery and Whanau Ora, and offering recommendations to improve the effectiveness of existing services to better meet the needs of Maori Tangata Whaiora and Whanau.

year: 2008