Sensitivity analysis of the space shuttle to ascent wind profiles

A parametric sensitivity analysis of the space shuttle ascent flight to the wind profile is presented. Engineering systems parameters are obtained by flight simulations using wind profile models and samples of detailed (Jimsphere) wind profile measurements. The wind models used are the synthetic vector wind model, with and without the design gust, and a model of the vector wind change with respect to time. From these comparison analyses an insight is gained on the contribution of winds to ascent subsystems flight parameters

Functional Sites Induce Long-Range Evolutionary Constraints in Enzymes

Functional residues in proteins tend to be highly conserved over evolutionary time. However, to what extent functional sites impose evolutionary constraints on nearby or even more distant residues is not known. Here, we report pervasive conservation gradients toward catalytic residues in a dataset of 524 distinct enzymes: evolutionary conservation decreases approximately linearly with increasing distance to the nearest catalytic residue in the protein structure. This trend encompasses, on average, 80% of the residues in any enzyme, and it is independent of known structural constraints on protein evolution such as residue packing or solvent accessibility. Further, the trend exists in both monomeric and multimeric enzymes and irrespective of enzyme size and/or location of the active site in the enzyme structure. By contrast, sites in protein–protein interfaces, unlike catalytic residues, are only weakly conserved and induce only minor rate gradients. In aggregate, these observations show that functional sites, and in particular catalytic residues, induce long-range evolutionary constraints in enzymes.Fil: Jack, Benjamin R.. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Meyer, Austin G.. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Echave, Julián. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Wilke, Claus O.. University of Texas at Austin; Estados Unido

Developing Collegial Relationships: A Practical Guide for Practical Change in Health-Care Organizations in Nigeria Today

Perhaps the two most often studied and empirically supported organizational factors that can promote the acceptance of technology by the end users are training and participation. The science of training is well established. Not surprisingly, well designed training programs have been shown to promote end user acceptance of technology. The key is to design the training program according to the scientific evidence. Well designed training not only transfers knowledge and skills about the technology, but it can also bring understanding of the technology through education and can create feelings of involvement in decisions. In addition, training can lead to several other important variables for the acceptance of technology including self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. This paper reviews the theoretical knowledge on what leads to successful technology implementation and how this can be translated into specifically designed processes for successful technology change in Nigerian health-care organizations. Keywords: Safety, information technology, patients, and health-care

Use of industrial pollution projection system (IPPS) to estimate pollution load by sector in two industrial estates in Ogun state, western Nigeria

We have used industrial projection pollution system (IPPS) to generate estimates of pollution load by industrial establishments in two industrial estates in Ogun state, Western Nigeria using employment data. Results indicate that the most polluting sectors are chemical and pharmaceuticals (CPH), basic metal (BML) and food, beverage and tobacco (FBT), the three giving a cumulative contribution of 97.18% of pollution to all media. The least polluting sectors are Electrical and electronic sector (EES)(0.02%), Motor vehicle assembly (MVA)(0.04%) and Wood and wood products (WWP)(0.13%). The trend is consistent with results obtained in other developing economies although estimation parameters differ. They sectoral ranking of pollution intensity is similar to the findings of Oketola and Osibanjo10, 12 in a similar study for Lagos

Organizational Culture: Creating the Influence Needed for Strategic Success in Health Care Organizations in Nigeria

Just as individuals have personalities, so, too, do health care organizations in Nigeria. In recent times, a great deal of attention has been given to the importance of organizational culture. This is because the importance of culture to any group of people, society, country and business organization cannot be over emphasized. As people work together to accomplish goals, groups develop into organizations. As goals become more specific and longer so do team and work become more specialized, organizations become both formal and institutionalized. Organizations tend to take a life of their own and widely held beliefs, values and practices develop, differentiating one organization from another and often affecting the organizations success or failure. Keywords: Culture, health care, organization, and productivit

Reliability and Improvement of Electric Power Generation and Distribution (Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria as a Case Study)

The present unreliable and erratic power supply is a pointer to the fact that there is a great need for fault evaluation and reliability studies of electric power system in the Nigeria. The recent blackout in the country has grounded many activities and has destroyed many industrial processes. Also, the power industries face a lot of problems. Some of the highest priority issues being generation of sufficient power, urgent clearance of faults, adequate protection and increase reliability of the system, that is, bringing a steady uninterrupted power supply to the consumers. The Nigerian power problem resulted to incessant planned, forced and unplanned outages. In addition, it has resulted to erratic and unreliable supply of electricity in the country. It has reduced productivity and has increased unemployment rate in the country to over 40million (this figure is over 70% of Nigerian youths. It has led many of the youths in the country to crime. It has led many of the deaths of many innocent people in the country. Hence, an analytical method is developed to assess the dynamic- reliability of the distribution system, as well as optimizes the occurrence of faults along each of the individual consumer point in a feeder in order to improve the performance of the system. This research publication therefore evaluates the occurrence of faults which is about 856 occurrences during a period of 8 years and outages which range between 1118 to 3785 hours per annum along the distribution lines, also the failure rates of each of the feeders were analyzed in order to improve on the supply of electricity in the distribution network. The reliability of the system which ranges between 8.57*10-12to 9.548*10-5 were analyzed; and fault clearing techniques were carried out. Efforts were made to adequately assess the failure rates of the feeders which range between 0.003 and 0.001 and reliability of the distribution system. Efforts were also made to improve the performance of the system. As a result, it was possible to establish improvement techniques which ensure adequate and constant supply of electricity to all the consumers for industrial growth and employment: a basic solution to increasing crime rate in the country

Religious terrorism in Nigeria as renewed determination to “fight for God”

The current spate of religious terrorism in Nigeria is concealed by the perpetrators as a desire to “fight for God”. It is often argued by the insurgents that they are “fighting for God”. The present level of terrorism in Nigeria, occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency, is  commonly adjudged to be the most devastating in her religious and political history. The act of terrorism has affected economic, political and social development in Nigeria, amidst destruction of lives and property. The objectives of this study include an examination of some common causes of religious terrorism and the attendant panaceas. The study also examined the reinforcement of the perpetrators due to the conviction that they are “fighting for God”. The study applied the historical  research design method. The theories of B.F. Skinner and Abraham Maslow which address the principle of reinforcement and motivation respectively underpin the study. Findings from the study revealed that most of the terrorists are reinforced by the conviction that their act would be rewarded through easy opportunity to get to paradise since their actions were perpetrated in favour of God. The study also revealed the common causes of religious terrorism and some immediate panaceas. The recommendations include the education of the religious adherents by the church, mosque, family and other forms of mass enlightenment by the government and non-governmental organizations. The implications of the study include the unwillingness of international investors to come to the nation due to the unsafe state occasioned by the activities of the insurgents. In addition, the law-abiding citizens are faced with constant attacks on their lives and property by the terrorists who claim to be “fighting for God”

Evaluating the California Contractors Licensing Exam and Its Relevance to the Construction Industry

The California contractors licensing exam tests aspiring contractors on their knowledge of the construction industry on other legal and trade topics. This paper is a case study that evaluates the contractors licensing exam and its ability to evaluate contractors. It concludes that the test itself is not responsible for increasing quality due to it being a simple process of memorization, but that California’s strict licensing requirements correlate to lower percentages of negative reviews. Various contractors from California were interviewed to understand their opinions of the licensing exam and how the knowledge from the exam related to their time in the industry. The licensing process in California could be improved by revising the exam to better reflect knowledge needed in the construction industry and to better test contractors and their ability to work in the construction industry. These changes would better serve consumers and help to improve standards and increase quality in the California construction market

The Importance of Jerusalem among Abrahamic Faiths as a Tool for Inter-Faith Dialogue and Peace

The Abrahamic faiths also referred to as Abrahamic religions consist of Judaism Christianity and Islam These religions commonly lay claim to the fact that they all originated from Abraham They therefore contest that they are directly linked to Abraham The earliest of the Abrahamic faiths is Judaism closely followed by Christianity while the most recent is Islam The study attempts to examine the importance of the city of Jerusalem to the Abrahamic faiths To a large extent they all claim some level of relationship with Jerusalem It is the aim of this study to examine how their common relationship with Jerusalem can engender inter-faith dialogue and unity which stands out as one the major concerns in the world today The study employed historical and sociological methodology in its investigation It is recommended that the Abrahamic faiths should appreciate the fact that their relationship with Jerusalem should be explored as a formidable panacea for establishing unity and inter-faith dialogue The city of Jerusalem should be seen as a symbol of unity rather than that of hatred war and morbid enmit