Abstract: This study examines the structural and systematic processes of the Human Resources Division at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago for evidence of incorporation of the University's 2012- 2017 Strategic Plan. In conducting the study the structure of the Human Resources Management Division and its functions were carefully reviewed and measured against the strategic direction of the organisation. Findings indicate disconnect between these areas as there is apparent failure of the Human Resources Division to totally align its mandate with that of the organisation-s strategic direction. This action serves to threaten the viability of the organisation and its efficiency and effectiveness as an institution. The recommendations being put forward are for the realignment of the Human Resources Management Division and for its focus to mirror that of the organisation and the organisation-s goals and objectives. This may entail a restructuring of the Division.
Abstract: Empirical force fields and density functional theory
(DFT) was used to study the binding energies and structures of
methylamine on the surface of activated carbons (ACs). This is a first
step in studying the adsorption of alkyl amines on the surface of
functionalized ACs. The force fields used were Dreiding (DFF),
Universal (UFF) and Compass (CFF) models. The generalized
gradient approximation with Perdew Wang 91 (PW91) functional
was used for DFT calculations. In addition to obtaining the aminecarboxylic
acid adsorption energies, the results were used to establish
reliability of the empirical models for these systems. CFF predicted a
binding energy of -9.227 (kcal/mol) which agreed with PW91 at -
13.17 (kcal/mol), compared to DFF 0 (kcal/mol) and UFF -0.72
(kcal/mol). However, the CFF binding energies for the amine to ester
and ketone disagreed with PW91 results. The structures obtained
from all models agreed with PW91 results.
Abstract: This study examines regional convergence in per capita personal income in the US and Canada. We find that the disparity in real per capita income levels across US states (Canadian provinces) has declined, but income levels are not identical. Income levels become more aligned once costs of living are accounted for in relative per capita income series. US states (Canadian provinces) converge at an annual rate of between 1.3% and 2.04% (between 2.15% and 2.37%). A pattern of σ and β-convergence in per capita personal income across regions evident over the entire sample period, is reversed over 1979-1989 (1976-1990) period. The reversal may be due to sectoral or region-specific shocks that have highly persistent effects. The latter explanation might be true for half of the US and most of Canada.
Abstract: The vast amount of information hidden in huge
databases has created tremendous interests in the field of data
mining. This paper examines the possibility of using data clustering
techniques in oral medicine to identify functional relationships
between different attributes and classification of similar patient
examinations. Commonly used data clustering algorithms have been
reviewed and as a result several interesting results have been
gathered.
Abstract: This paper examines and compares several of the most common real time methods. These methods are CORE, YSM, MASCOT, JSD, DARTS, RTSAD, ADARTS, CODARTS, HOOD, HRT-HOOD, ROOM, UML, UML-RT. The methods are compared using attributes like i) usability, ii) compositionality and iii) proper RT notations available. Finally some comparison results are given and discussed.
Abstract: Social, culture and artistic status of a society in
various historical eras is affected by numerous, and sometimes
imposed, factors that better understanding requires analysis of such
conditions. Throughout history Iran has been involved with
determining and significant events that examining each of these
events can improve the understanding of social conditions of this
country in the intended time. Mongolian conquest of Iran is one of
most significant events in the history of Iran with consequences that
never left Iranian societies. During this tragic invasion and
subsequent devastating wars, which led to establishment of Ilkhanate
dynasty, numerous cultural and artistic changes occurred both in
Mongolian conquerors and Iranian society. This study examines these
changes with a glimpse towards art and architecture as important part
of cultural aspects and social communication.
Abstract: The basis of examines is survey of 500 in the years
2002-2010, which was selected according to homogeneity of land
cover and where 1090 revenues were evaluated. For achieved yields
of winter wheat is obtained multicriterial regression function
depending on the major factors influencing the consumption of
nitrogen. The coefficient of discrimination of the established model is
0.722. The increase in efficiency of fertilization is involved in supply
of organic nutrients, tillage, soil pH, past weather, the humus content
in the subsoil and grain content to 0.001 mm. The decrease in
efficiency was mainly influenced by the total dose of mineral
nitrogen, although it was divided into multiple doses, the proportion
loamy particles up to 0.01 mm, rainy, or conversely dry weather
during the vegetation. The efficiency of nitrogen was found to be the
smallest on undeveloped soils and the highest on chernozem and
alluvial soils.
Abstract: An efficient and green protocol for the synthesis of α-
aminonitriles derivatives by one-pot reaction of different aldehydes
with amines and trimethylsilyl cyanides has been developed using
natural alumina, alumina sulfuric acid (ASA), nano-γ-alumina, nanoalumina
sulfuric acid (nano-ASA) under microwave irradiation and
solvent-free conditions. The advantages of methods are short reaction
times, high yields, milder conditions and easy work up. The catalysts
can be recovered for the subsequent reactions and reused without any
appreciable loss of efficiency.
Abstract: The flow field in a centrifugal fan is highly complex
with flow reversal taking place on the suction side of impeller and
diffuser vanes. Generally performance of the centrifugal fan could be
enhanced by judiciously introducing splitter vanes so as to improve
the diffusion process. An extensive numerical whole field analysis on
the effect of splitter vanes placed in discrete regions of suspected
separation points is possible using CFD. This paper examines the
effect of splitter vanes corresponding to various geometrical
locations on the impeller and diffuser. The analysis shows that the
splitter vanes located near the diffuser exit improves the static
pressure recovery across the diffusing domain to a larger extent. Also
it is found that splitter vanes located at the impeller trailing edge and
diffuser leading edge at the mid-span of the circumferential distance
between the blades show a marginal improvement in the static
pressure recovery across the fan. However, splitters provided near to
the suction side of the impeller trailing edge (25% of the
circumferential gap between the impeller blades towards the suction
side), adversely affect the static pressure recovery of the fan.
Abstract: This paper compares planning results of the electricity and water generation inventory up to year 2030 in the State of
Kuwait. Currently, the generation inventory consists of oil and gas fired technologies only. The planning study considers two main cases. The first case, Reference case, examines a generation inventory based on oil and gas fired generation technologies only.
The second case examines the inclusion of renewables as part of the generation inventory under two scenarios. In the first scenario, Ref-RE, renewable build-out is based on optimum economic performance
of overall generation system. Result shows that the optimum installed
renewable capacity with electric energy generation of 11% . In the second scenario, Ref-RE20, the renewable capacity build-out is
forced to provide 20% of electric energy by 2030. The respective energy systems costs of Reference, Ref-RE and Ref-RE20 case
scenarios reach US dollar 24, 10 and 14 billion annually in 2030.
Abstract: Considering the theory of attribute grammars, we use
logical formulas instead of traditional functional semantic rules.
Following the decoration of a derivation tree, a suitable algorithm
should maintain the consistency of the formulas together with the
evaluation of the attributes. This may be a Prolog-like resolution, but
this paper examines a somewhat different strategy, based on
production specialization, local consistency and propagation: given a
derivation tree, it is interactively decorated, i.e. incrementally
checked and evaluated. The non-directed dependencies are
dynamically directed during attribute evaluation.
Abstract: One of the approaches to democratization is the fostering of civil society organizations. In Africa, civil society organizations did not fully play their role in the continent-s democratization process due to many factors including the repressive regulations imposed on them by governing parties. In Ethiopia, for the first time in the country-s political history, the civil society played a very active role in the 2005 multi-party election. The involvement of the civil society in this election has far-reaching consequences. One of the objectives of this paper is to assess the consequences of such involvement for both the civil society and the political society in the country. The paper also examines the peculiarities of civil society formation in Africa in general, and in Ethiopia in particular by assessing both the “traditional" and “modern" civil society organizations.
Abstract: The field of biomedical materials plays an imperative
requisite and a critical role in manufacturing a variety of biological
artificial replacements in a modern world. Recently, titanium (Ti)
materials are being used as biomaterials because of their superior
corrosion resistance and tremendous specific strength, free- allergic
problems and the greatest biocompatibility compared to other
competing biomaterials such as stainless steel, Co-Cr alloys,
ceramics, polymers, and composite materials. However, regardless of
these excellent performance properties, Implantable Ti materials have
poor shear strength and wear resistance which limited their
applications as biomaterials. Even though the wear properties of Ti
alloys has revealed some improvements, the crucial effectiveness of
biomedical Ti alloys as wear components requires a comprehensive
deep understanding of the wear reasons, mechanisms, and techniques
that can be used to improve wear behavior. This review examines
current information on the effect of thermal and thermomechanical
processing of implantable Ti materials on the long-term prosthetic
requirement which related with wear behavior. This paper focuses
mainly on the evolution, evaluation and development of effective
microstructural features that can improve wear properties of bio
grade Ti materials using thermal and thermomechanical treatments.
Abstract: Since 2008 a new economic crisis is present is the
entire planet. This crisis affects several domains of the economic but
also of the social life. Consumption decreases due to the lack of
necessary resources of households to increase their expenditures. The
car manufacturing is one of the main industrial activities in European
Union (EU) and the present crisis particularly affects it. The present
study examines the correlations between several socio-economic
indicators and car market in European Union. The target is to find out
the impact of the present economic crisis on the car market in EU.
Abstract: Testing accounts for the major percentage of technical
contribution in the software development process. Typically, it
consumes more than 50 percent of the total cost of developing a
piece of software. The selection of software tests is a very important
activity within this process to ensure the software reliability
requirements are met. Generally tests are run to achieve maximum
coverage of the software code and very little attention is given to the
achieved reliability of the software. Using an existing methodology,
this paper describes how to use Bayesian Belief Networks (BBNs) to
select unit tests based on their contribution to the reliability of the
module under consideration. In particular the work examines how the
approach can enhance test-first development by assessing the quality
of test suites resulting from this development methodology and
providing insight into additional tests that can significantly reduce
the achieved reliability. In this way the method can produce an
optimal selection of inputs and the order in which the tests are
executed to maximize the software reliability. To illustrate this
approach, a belief network is constructed for a modern software
system incorporating the expert opinion, expressed through
probabilities of the relative quality of the elements of the software,
and the potential effectiveness of the software tests. The steps
involved in constructing the Bayesian Network are explained as is a
method to allow for the test suite resulting from test-driven
development.
Abstract: The past decade has witnessed a good opportunities
for city development schemes in UK. The government encouraged
restoration of city centers to comprise mixed use developments with
high density residential apartments. Investments in regeneration areas
were doing well according to the analyses of Property Databank
(IPD). However, more recent analysis by IPD has shown that since
2007, property in regeneration areas has been more vulnerable to the
market downturn than other types of investment property. The early
stages of a property market downturn may be felt most in
regeneration where funding, investor confidence and occupier
demand would dissipate because the sector was considered more
marginal or risky when development costs rise. Moreover, the Bank
of England survey shows that lenders have sequentially tightened the
availability of credit for commercial real estate since mid-2007. A
sharp reduction in the willingness of banks to lend on commercial
property was recorded. The credit crunch has already affected
commercial property but its impact has been particularly severe in
certain kinds of properties where residential developments are
extremely difficult, in particular city centre apartments and buy-to-let
markets. Commercial property – retail, industrial leisure and mixed
use were also pressed, in Birmingham; tens of mixed use plots were
built to replace old factories in the heart of the city. The purpose of
these developments was to enable young professionals to work and
live in same place. Thousands of people lost their jobs during the
recession, moreover lending was more difficult and the future of
many developments is unknown. The recession casts its shadow upon
the society due to cuts in public spending by government, Inflation,
rising tuition fees and high rise in unemployment generated anger and
hatred was spreading among youth causing vandalism and riots in
many cities. Recent riots targeted many mixed used development in
the UK where banks, shops, restaurants and big stores were robbed
and set into fire leaving residents with horror and shock. This paper
examines the impact of the recession and riots on mixed use
development in UK.
Abstract: In this paper, Tobephobia (TBP) alludes to the fear of
failure experienced by teachers to manage curriculum change. TBP is
an emerging concept and it extends the boundaries of research in
terms of how we view achievement and failure in education.
Outcomes-based education (OBE) was introduced fifteen years ago
in South African schools without simultaneously upgrading teachers-
professional competencies. This exploratory research, therefore
examines a simple question: What is the impact of TBP and OBE on
teachers? Teacher ineptitude to cope with the OBE curriculum in the
classroom is a serious problem affecting large numbers of South
African teachers. This exploratory study sought to determine the
perceived negative impact of OBE and TBP on teachers. A survey
was conducted amongst 311 teachers in Port Elizabeth and Durban,
South Africa. The results confirm the very negative impact of TBP
and OBE on teachers. This exploratory study authenticates the
existence of TBP.
Abstract: Experimental data are presented to show the influence of different types of chemical demulsifier on the stability and demulsification of emulsions. Three groups of demulsifier with different functional groups were used in this work namely amines, alcohol and polyhydric alcohol. The results obtained in this study have exposed the capability of chemical breaking agents in destabilization of water in crude oil emulsions. From the present study, found that molecular weight of the demulsifier were influent the capability of the emulsion to separate.
Abstract: Fuel and oxidant gas delivery plate, or fuel cell
plate, is a key component of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM)
fuel cell. To manufacture low-cost and high performance fuel cell
plates, advanced computer modeling and finite element structure
analysis are used as virtual prototyping tools for the optimization
of the plates at the early design stage. The present study examines
thermal stress analysis of the fuel cell plates that are produced
using a patented, low-cost fuel cell plate production technique
based on screen-printing. Design optimization is applied to
minimize the maximum stress within the plate, subject to strain
constraint with both geometry and material parameters as design
variables. The study reveals the characteristics of the printed
plates, and provides guidelines for the structure and material design
of the fuel cell plate.
Abstract: This paper examines the effect of corporate diversification on the profitability of the Financial services sector in Nigeria. The study relied on historic accounting data generated from financial (annual) reports and accounts of sampled banks between the period 1998 and 2007 (a ten-year period). A regression equation was formulated, in line with previous studies to shed light on the effect of corporate diversification on the profitability of the Financial services sector in Nigeria. The results of the regression analysis revealed that diversification impacts strongly on banks profitability. Conclusively the paper produces strong evidence to assert that diversification impacts positively and significantly on banks profitability because among other things such diversified banks can pool their internally generated funds and allocate them properly.