scholarly journals Establishment of an NDE Center at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology: Scope and Objectives

Author(s):  
Don E. Bray ◽  
G. S. Gad

Papua New Guinea lies just north of Australia (Fig. 1). It is a developing island nation, with 462,839 km of land area, a population of 3.9 million people, and vast natural resources (Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996). It is the largest island in the Oceania region of the world, which also includes Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Most of these islands share similar resources, and prudent development of the resources requires utilization of nondestructive evaluation (NDE). NDE provides the means for flaw detection and size assessment, as well as evaluation of material degradation such as corrosion and hydrogen attack. These are factors which affect the service life of components and systems. Being aware of the state of degradation of these components and systems will enable cost effective maintenance, and reduce costly and dangerous failures. Recognizing the need for NDE expertise, the Papua New Guinea University of Technology at Lae has initiated a Center for Nondestructive Evaluation. Once operational, the center should serve the entire Oceania region, and provide resources, trained students and expertise that will enable the growth of the NDE industry within that area. It is widely accepted that NDE adds value to a product or process, not just cost. The amount of value is directly related to the engineering education of the personnel making NDE decisions. The growth of the NDE industry in these South Pacific Islands will add to the economy, as well as aid in the further creation of a population of engineers who are well educated in NDE.

Author(s):  

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood [Thysanoptera: Thripidae] Chilli thrips, flower thrips, yellow tea thrips, Assam thrips Polyphagous, attacks grapevine, rubber, tea, castor, strawberry, Capsicum (chilli), tamarind, groundnut, soyabean, asparagus, citrus, mango, passionfruit, etc. Information is given on the geographical distribution in ASIA, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Hongkong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Taiwan, Thailand, AUSTRALASIA, AND PACIFIC ISLANDS, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.


Author(s):  
David Hegarty

At independence the three Melanesian states of the Pacific Islands region – Papua New Guinea (1975), Solomon Islands (1978) and Vanuatu (1980) – opted for decentralised systems of government. In all cases a three-tier system of national, provincial and local government was introduced, although the specific arrangements and allocation of powers differed substantially. Since that time there has been a good deal of analysis about the policy processes of decentralisation itself and about the effectiveness (or otherwise) of national-level governance in these countries; but until recently little has been written about the lower levels.This short article surveys some of the recent research and commentary on local-level governance relating particularly to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Solomon Islands. It focuses on both the poor condition of formal local-level government as well as on the rise of informal governance-type activity at the local level which might be described as ‘civil society in formation’.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dharanesh Gangaiah ◽  
Georgi K. Marinov ◽  
Sally A. Roberts ◽  
Jenny Robson ◽  
Stanley M. Spinola

Haemophilus ducreyi has recently emerged as a leading cause of cutaneous ulcers in the yaws-endemic areas of Papua New Guinea and other South Pacific islands. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the H. ducreyi strain AUSPNG1, isolated from a cutaneous ulcer of a child from Papua New Guinea.


1982 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 93-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward P. Wolfers

Law librarians whose work requires them to obtain and stock materials on the Pacific islands face some problems which seem worthy of special comment. These problems are essentially of two kinds—problems which are inherent in the nature of Pacific islands legal systems; andproblems involved in obtaining relevant information.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
Peter R. Brown ◽  
Ken P. Aplin ◽  
Lyn A. Hinds ◽  
Jens Jacob ◽  
Sarah E. Thomas ◽  
...  

Rodents are a key pest to agricultural and rural island communities of the South Pacific, but there is limited information of their impact on the crops and livelihoods of small-scale farmers. The rodent pest community is known, but the type and scales of damage to different crops on different islands are unknown. Knowledge about rodent pest management in other geographical regions may not be directly transferable to the Pacific region. Many studies on islands have largely focussed on the eradication of rodents from uninhabited islands for conservation benefits. These broadscale eradication efforts are unlikely to translate to inhabited islands because of complex social and agricultural issues. The livelihoods, culture and customs of poor small-scale farmers in the South Pacific have a large bearing on the current management of rodents. The aim of the present review was to describe the rodent problems, impacts and management of rodents on South Pacific islands, and identify gaps for further research. We compared and contrasted two case studies. The situation in Papua New Guinea is emergent as several introduced rodent species are actively invading new areas with wide-ranging implications for human livelihoods and conservation. In Vanuatu, we show how rodent damage on cocoa plantations can be reduced by good orchard hygiene through pruning and weeding, which also has benefits for the management of black pod disease. We conclude that (1) damage levels are unknown and unreported, (2) the impacts on human health are unknown, (3) the relationships between the pest species and their food sources, breeding and movements are not known, and (4) the situation in Papua New Guinea may represent an emergent crisis that warrants further investigation. In addition, there is a need for greater understanding of the invasive history of pest rodents, so as to integrate biological information with management strategies. Ecologically based rodent management can be achieved on Pacific Islands, but only after significant well funded large-scale projects are established and rodent ecologists are trained. We can learn from experiences from other locations such as Southeast Asia to guide the way.


Author(s):  

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Nacoleia octasema (Meyr.) (Lamprosema octasema Meyr.) (Lep., Pyralidae) (Banana Scab Moth). Host Plants: Banana, Manila hemp, maize, Nipa palm, Heliconia, Pandanus. Information is given on the geographical distribution in ASIA, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, AUSTRALASIA and PACIFIC ISLANDS, Australia, Fiji, New Celedonia, New Hebrides, Papua New Guinea, Samoa Solomon Islands, Tonga, Wallis Islands, Irian Jaya.


1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Leckie

While recently on the island of Pohnpei in the South Pacific, I made enquires about labour relations there and was repeatedly infoxmed that there are none! The same answer might be given for several of the island states within the South Pacific but this would overlook that even if formal industrial relations Channels are weakly established, employment and labour relations issues are by no means absent from the Pacific Islands. This special issue developed from a perceived lack of analysis and infotmation about the background of and current trends in labour relations in the South Pacific. The countries represented here are selective. This reflects the selectivity of research in the Pacific, particularly in the field of industrial relations. The nations chosen are of special relevance to New Zealand and Australia and those with the most developed industrial relations structures (Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands) are included. Papua New Guinea and Fiji also have the biggest workforces in the region. In contrast, industrial Jielations in a small micro-state, Kiribati, are also analysed. It is regrettable that only one Polynesian country, Western Samoa, is discussed but this reflects the restricted role or absence (e.g., in Tonga) of fotrnal industrial relations in much of Polynesia. The papers also have not generally tackled their subjects from an employers' perspective, again an area of resean;h which has been virtually ignored in the South Pacific.


Author(s):  
Isiaka Alani Badmus

This paper examined conflicts and regional security in the Pacific. The paper has as its focus the roles of Australia and New Zealand (and the Pacific Islands Forum) in managing security in the Pacific using Papua New Guinea (Bougainville) and the Solomon Islands as case studies. It documented their peacekeeping experiences, and interrogated whether these operations were successes or not and why. Furthermore, the author explored whether the peacekeeping experiences in the Pacific and lessons learnt from these operations might be applicable to, and/or be helpful in developing a useful peacekeeping model for other regions. The argument of this paper is that, although Australia and New Zealand regional security management role is based on security concerns of the region but the national interests of these dominant states are also at play and a key factor that shape the nature and direction of interventions. As well, the dynamics of these operations have revolved around interaction between and among local, regional and global political factors. The author argued that peacekeeping in the Pacific (especially in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands) may not offer an appropriate peacekeeping model in such-conflict ridden settings as Africa where armed violence are more complex, protracted and involve full-scale military actions as opposed to low-intensity and localised conflicts in the Pacific, but some of the peacekeeping lessons from the region may be helpful to other peace operations, especially Peacekeeping the 'Pacific Way'.     


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 587
Author(s):  
Peter R. Brown ◽  
Ken P. Aplin ◽  
Lyn A. Hinds ◽  
Jens Jacob ◽  
Sarah E. Thomas ◽  
...  

Rodents are a key pest to agricultural and rural island communities of the South Pacific, but there is limited information of their impact on the crops and livelihoods of small-scale farmers. The rodent pest community is known, but the type and scales of damage to different crops on different islands are unknown. Knowledge about rodent pest management in other geographical regions may not be directly transferable to the Pacific region. Many studies on islands have largely focussed on the eradication of rodents from uninhabited islands for conservation benefits. These broadscale eradication efforts are unlikely to translate to inhabited islands because of complex social and agricultural issues. The livelihoods, culture and customs of poor small-scale farmers in the South Pacific have a large bearing on the current management of rodents. The aim of the present review was to describe the rodent problems, impacts and management of rodents on South Pacific islands, and identify gaps for further research. We compared and contrasted two case studies. The situation in Papua New Guinea is emergent as several introduced rodent species are actively invading new areas with wide-ranging implications for human livelihoods and conservation. In Vanuatu, we show how rodent damage on cocoa plantations can be reduced by good orchard hygiene through pruning and weeding, which also has benefits for the management of black pod disease. We conclude that (1) damage levels are unknown and unreported, (2) the impacts on human health are unknown, (3) the relationships between the pest species and their food sources, breeding and movements are not known, and (4) the situation in Papua New Guinea may represent an emergent crisis that warrants further investigation. In addition, there is a need for greater understanding of the invasive history of pest rodents, so as to integrate biological information with management strategies. Ecologically based rodent management can be achieved on Pacific Islands, but only after significant well funded large-scale projects are established and rodent ecologists are trained. We can learn from experiences from other locations such as Southeast Asia to guide the way.


Author(s):  

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Xylotrupes gideon (Linnaeus) [Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae] Elephant beetle, unicorn beetle. Attacks coconut and oil palms, sugarcane, rubber, banana, bamboo, Poinciana, Cassia, litchi and potato. Information is given on the geographical distribution in ASIA, Bangladesh, Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Kampuchea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, AUSTRALASIA, AND PACIFIC ISLANDS, Australia, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.


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