title: New public management and accounting in a Fiji telecommunications company

authors: Sharma, Umesh Prasad

subjects: Culture

abstract: The aim of this article is to investigate tension between the implementation of new public management and associated accounting technologies in the Fiji telecommunication sector and the indigenous Fijian culture and political structure. In doing so, the article contrasts the economic-based reforms of the telecommunications sector (from 1990), with the traditional social relations that were exercised post-independence (1970 onwards). This research aim is achieved by focusing on archival documents and interviews with those involved in Fiji telecommunications. We illustrate how the use of new public management concepts replaced traditional social relations with the disciplinary technologies of modern capitalism but were also altered as a result of these social relations. In the Fiji Telecommunications company, the cultural conflicts and political influences led to the new public management process being resisted and modified to reduce the tension between economic and social relations

text: New public management and accounting in a Fiji telecommunications company The aim of this article is to investigate tension between the implementation of new public management and associated accounting technologies in the Fiji telecommunication sector and the indigenous Fijian culture and political structure. In doing so, the article contrasts the economic-based reforms of the telecommunications sector (from 1990), with the traditional social relations that were exercised post-independence (1970 onwards). This research aim is achieved by focusing on archival documents and interviews with those involved in Fiji telecommunications. We illustrate how the use of new public management concepts replaced traditional social relations with the disciplinary technologies of modern capitalism but were also altered as a result of these social relations. In the Fiji Telecommunications company, the cultural conflicts and political influences led to the new public management process being resisted and modified to reduce the tension between economic and social relations

year: 2012

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: The presence of the past: Maori history in contemporary reflection

authors: Mahuika, Nepia

abstract: This is the opening line of a famous saying in my tribe. For our people - Ngāti Porou - these words have become embedded in our tribal identity as important directives that we are encouraged to aspire to. In the “days destined to you”, Ngata reminds us that each generation has its own mana (or authority), our own responsibilities and challenges, our own dreams and destinies to fulfil, and our own histories to tell about Ngāti Porou: who we are, our past, present, and future. If we consider this expectant, and I think hopeful, affirmation as a gift and responsibility, then taking real ownership of the “days destined to us” requires us to know what our forebears have entrusted us with. What are those historical gifts that we might use to “centre” and assert ourselves as Māori, as Ngāti Porou? We might look at this directly, i mua: the past before us because it is our history that is so crucial to us as we walk consciously, and with determination, into the future. Our past before us helps us to know where we are going, it helps us correc our course when we stray, keeps us mindful of the “kaupapa”: whatever that might be in our generation and corner of the Maori universe. We’ve heard already today from both Enoka and Arini how Māori, in our own ways, are engaging with our past, drawing on our korero tuku iho (our oral histories passed down across the generations), on our whakairo (our carving), to illuminate the many ways Māori do, and think about, the past.

text: The presence of the past: Maori history in contemporary reflection This is the opening line of a famous saying in my tribe. For our people - Ngāti Porou - these words have become embedded in our tribal identity as important directives that we are encouraged to aspire to. In the “days destined to you”, Ngata reminds us that each generation has its own mana (or authority), our own responsibilities and challenges, our own dreams and destinies to fulfil, and our own histories to tell about Ngāti Porou: who we are, our past, present, and future. If we consider this expectant, and I think hopeful, affirmation as a gift and responsibility, then taking real ownership of the “days destined to us” requires us to know what our forebears have entrusted us with. What are those historical gifts that we might use to “centre” and assert ourselves as Māori, as Ngāti Porou? We might look at this directly, i mua: the past before us because it is our history that is so crucial to us as we walk consciously, and with determination, into the future. Our past before us helps us to know where we are going, it helps us correc our course when we stray, keeps us mindful of the “kaupapa”: whatever that might be in our generation and corner of the Maori universe. We’ve heard already today from both Enoka and Arini how Māori, in our own ways, are engaging with our past, drawing on our korero tuku iho (our oral histories passed down across the generations), on our whakairo (our carving), to illuminate the many ways Māori do, and think about, the past.

year: 2016