Fire Protection: Architect’s Role during Construction of Buildings

With technological advancement each year and improved awareness of fire safety measures, fires needlessly cause many casualties as well as material damages. Contractors and consultants can utilize past experiences and involvement whenever a property becomes a building site. The past knowledge of existing buildings especially those that have fire certificate and fire safety systems will be invaluable to the architects and contractors. Advance planning for fire protection and vigilance in construction safety can greatly reduce the risk of disasters. Actions necessary to minimize the chances of fire loss lies in recognizing probable causes, implementing adequate prevention measures, and preparing a plan for battling a fire should it strike. Undertaking construction work increases the risk of fire. Some are caused by tools and products used during the construction process, while others are due to carelessness on the job. Most fires can be prevented by taking routine safety precautions and eliminating the opportunities for a fire to start. Keywords: construction, building, fire, safety, site

Dynamics of Housing Affordability In Nigeria

Affordable Housing provision has remained elusive to an average Nigerian, in spite of numerous programs put in action by various government of the country. The situation is similar to other developing countries, thus, it remains a critical issue in socio-economic wellbeing of these countries. The following factors were identified as contributors to poor housing delivery in the country. They include Rapid population growth, rapid urbanization process, rural-urban drift, and high cost of building materials, dearth of indigenous technology and skilled personal, inadequate financial structure as well as poor managerial skill of our mortgage institutions. The past and present housing programs and efforts were reviewed. New solutions were also proposed. Keywords; Housing, Materials, Population, Programs, Urbanization

Analysis of Flood Risk Management in Nigerian Urban Environment

Some of the major effects of global climate change are rise in sea level and increased frequency of extreme events. Urban settlements in Nigeria are likely to be seriously affected by flooding as a result of this change. Urbanization processes in Nigeria increase pressure on land use conversion augmenting for population increase. The study observed that climate change frequently take place in flood prone areas such as flood plains and seacoasts. Floods expose the urban population and infrastructure to risk due to the excessive runoff which must be directed to rivers, streams, canals and storm water drainage systems. While a reliable urban infrastructure is vital for human needs, current urbanization trends in Nigeria are defining negative regards to flood vulnerability. Of particular concern is the fact the most impoverished segment of the population who are most likely to settle in flood hazard prone areas are the least able to adopt measures for adaptation in the event of flood disaster. Addressing these problems require effective environmental management agenda. Major causes of flood in Nigeria were identified to include uncontrolled expansion of impermeable surfaces due to physical development and expansion, swamp reclamation for construction purposes, lack of adequate storm water drainage systems, lack of maintenance of existing drainage systems and weak institutional capacity of urban administration and environmental management in Nigeria. Keywords: Climate change, environmental management, flood vulnerability, water runoff, urbanization process.

The Effects of Attentional Focus on Novice and Expert Dynamic Indoor Rowing Performance

Background. Motor skill learning and performance are optimized when individuals direct their attention externally towards the desired effect. Improvements include increased force production and improved coordination, determinants that also significantly influence rowing performance. However, no consensus surrounding an “ideal” rowing technique and these determinants exists. Attentional focus cues may not only improve rowing performance, but also enhance understanding of factors affecting force production. Aims. Two studies evaluated the efficacy of attentional focus on 1) distance rowed by novice participants; 2) power and peak force generated by novice participants; 3) distance rowed by novice & expert participants 4) force production measures of power, peak force, peak force max, and joules, as well as force signature measures of stroke length, peak force position, mean to peak force ratio, and variability in novice and expert participants; 5) rowing outcomes while controlling for participant stature; and 6) coordination of the legs and trunk during dynamic indoor rowing. Methods. Thirty novice and nineteen experts completed three 45 second long trials on a dynamic indoor rower (RP3), with the goal of rowing as fast as possible between 24 and 26 strokes per minute. Prior to each trial, participants were given attentional focus cues: internal - “As you row, focus on pushing with your legs”; external - “As you row, focus on creating pressure on the handle”; and a baseline condition, where no cue was provided. All three cues were counter-balanced. Results. There were no effects of attentional focus on outcomes, with the exception of increased stroke length for expert participants while rowing with an external focus. Significant effects were found for gender, expertise, and stature. Variability distinguished novices from experts. Participants reported difficulty managing their ability to row as fast as possible, maintain a stroke rate of 24 to 26, and focus on the cue. Conclusion. As the first study to evaluate the efficacy of attentional focus on force production in rowing, results indicated limited support for an external focus of attention. Individual, task, and environmental factors may have influenced rowing outcomes. Further investigation evaluating attentional focus and rowing that accounts for these factors is suggested

Does partial tear repair of adjacent tendons improve the outcome of supraspinatus tendonfull-thickness tear reinsertion?

AbstractBackgroundPartial tearing of the infraspinatus and/or subscapularis tendon(s) is frequently associated with supraspinatus full-thickness tears. However, limited data regarding its influence on supraspinatus surgical repair is available.PurposeOur aim was to assess the functional and anatomical outcomes of open repair of supraspinatus full-thickness tears combined with adjacent partial tearing, comparatively to a control.MethodsWe retrospectively identified 22 patients (22 shoulders) with a partial tear, most of them being a delamination tear, of the infraspinatus and/or subscapularis tendons associated with a complete detachment of the supraspinatus tendon. Twenty-seven patients (27 shoulders) treated for an isolated complete detachment of the supraspinatus tendon by open repair served as controls. The mean age was 58 years. A proximalized trans-osseous reinsertion of the supraspinatus tendon was combined with a curettage-closure of the delamination tear. Patients were evaluated with standardized MRI at last follow-up.ResultsAt a mean of 75-month follow-up, the presence of a partial tear of either infraspinatus or subscapularis, or both, did not influence function and healing rates of supraspinatus tendon repair. Conversely to the control, when a retear occurred, the functional score tended to worsen. Preoperatively, fatty muscular degeneration was more pronounced when a partial tear was present. Fatty degeneration worsened regardless of repair healing.ConclusionOpen reinsertion of a supraspinatus full-thickness tear associated with a thorough treatment of partial tear of adjacent tendons led to optimal functional and anatomical mid term outcomes. Our results suggest the presence of a partial tear of adjacent tendons could be associated with poorer function in case of supraspinatus tendon re-rupture.Level of evidenceLevel III case-control study

MODEL OF DIGITAL LITERACY DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTHS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND

Model of Digital Literacy Development for Youths in Bangkok aims to develop digital literacy for youths in Bangkok by manipulating Research and Development with following research tools: 1) a 5-level-rating scale, which collected data from 1,500 participants in the related sample. The result of research shows that the group of samples had medium level of digital literacy and the most answer from them is that students used these ICT devices to play online games with the mean 4.86, while the least answer from them is that students had fundamental knowledge about legality and security of internet usage with the mean 1.20. 2) Evaluation Form for Model Suitability, which collected data from 18 experts with the mean between 4.52-5.00 that showing this model is the most suitable. For the tool of Qualitative research is the record of group discussion, that collected data from 8 related main informants and the conclusion is that overall of model is good, suitable and possible in practice. It can be applied with complete model and no need to be adjusted.  Article visualizations

Solar Panel Integration as an Alternate Power Source on Centaur 2 (SPIAPS)

The dream of exploration has inspired thousands throughout time. Space exploration, in particular, has taken the past century by storm and caused a great advance in technology. In this project, a retractable solar panel array will be developed for use on the Centaur 2 Rover. Energy generated by the solar panels will go to power the Centaur 2 Robot (C2) or Regolith & Environment Science & Oxygen & Lunar Volatile Extraction (RESOLVE) payload, an in-situ resource utilization project. Such payload is designed to drill into lunar and Martian terrain as well as be able to conduct other geological testing; RESOLVE is slated for testing in 2012. Ultimately, this project will fit into NASA s larger goal of deep space exploration as well as long term presence outside Earth s orbit

Command Center Training Tool (C2T2)

This abstract presents the training approach taken to create a management-centered, experiential learning solution for the Virginia Port Authority's Port Command Center. The resultant tool, called the Command Center Training Tool (C2T2), follows a holistic approach integrated across the training management cycle and within a single environment. The approach allows a single training manager to progress from training design through execution and AAR. The approach starts with modeling the training organization, identifying the organizational elements and their individual and collective performance requirements, including organizational-specific performance scoring ontologies. Next, the developer specifies conditions, the problems, and constructs that compose exercises and drive experiential learning. These conditions are defined by incidents, which denote a single, multi-media datum, and scenarios, which are stories told by incidents. To these layered, modular components, previously developed meta-data is attached, including associated performance requirements. The components are then stored in a searchable library An event developer can create a training event by searching the library based on metadata and then selecting and loading the resultant modular pieces. This loading process brings into the training event all the previously associated task and teamwork material as well as AAR preparation materials. The approach includes tools within an integrated management environment that places these materials at the fingertips of the event facilitator such that, in real time, the facilitator can track training audience performance and resultantly modify the training event. The approach also supports the concentrated knowledge management requirements for rapid preparation of an extensive AAR. This approach supports the integrated training cycle and allows a management-based perspective and advanced tools, through which a complex, thorough training event can be developed

The development and initial evaluation of the Pornography-Use Avoidance Self-Efficacy Scale

Background and aims This study employed a newly developed questionnaire to evaluate whether men’s self-efficacy to avoid using pornography in each of 18 emotional, social, or sexually arousing situations was associated with either their typical frequency of pornography use or their hypersexuality. Methods Using an Internet-based data collection procedure, 229 male pornography users (Mage = 33.3 years, SD = 12.2) who had sought or considered seeking professional help for their use of pornography completed questionnaires assessing their situationally specific self-efficacy, history of pornography use, self-efficacy to employ specific pornography-reduction strategies, hypersexuality, and demographic characteristics. Results Frequency of pornography use was significantly negatively associated with level of confidence in 12 of the 18 situations. In addition, lower hypersexuality and higher confidence to employ pornography-use-reduction strategies were associated with higher confidence to avoid using pornography in each of the 18 situations. A principal axis factor analysis yielded three clusters of situations: (a) sexual arousal/boredom/opportunity, (b) intoxication/locations/easy access, and (c) negative emotions. Discussion and conclusions This questionnaire could be employed to identify specific high-risk situations for lapse or relapse and as a measure of treatment outcome among therapy clients, but we recommend further examination of the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the questionnaire in treatment samples. Because only one of the three clusters reflected a consistent theme, we do not recommend averaging self-efficacy within factors to create subscales