Defining the intelligent public sector construction client

Recent efforts and aspirations to transform the delivery of major capital programmes and projects in UK public sector construction by focussing on achievement of value for money, whole life asset management and sustainable procurement have led to the adoption of integrated procurement routes characterised by multiplicity of stakeholders with a diversity of differing and often competing requirements. A study of the challenges faced by the public sector to deliver present and future major capital programmes and projects gravitates to the role of the intelligent client, and concomitant skills and capabilities. The results of the multiple case studies research show that the challenges of this role are especially evident at the interface between the internal organisation and the external suppliers and advisors from the private sector. The research concludes that the intelligent client role requires an individual champion with a unique set of skills working in an environment of a supporting team and capable organisation

Taking forward public procurement reforms in Ghana

The construction industry in Ghana, like many others worldwide, has had its fair share of damning independent reviews. Huge and unsustainable foreign debt, excessive budget deficits, huge contractual payment arrears, poor construction performance, corruption and pressure from international financial institutions, forced the government to commit to a reform of public procurement, which culminated in the passing of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663). The paper outlines the events leading to, and features of, the public procurement reform in Ghana and analyses its potential impact and the unique challenges it presents. Comparisons are also drawn from relevant scenarios in other countries. The paper concludes that while the Procurement Act sets out the legal, institutional and regulatory framework to secure fiscal transparency and public accountability, the sole reliance on traditional contracting and price-based selection limits the scope for the value for money achievable. Expanding the reforms to cover procurement and project delivery methods and strategies, with a focus on ‘best value’, will increase the potential and likelihood of achieving value for money in public construction in Ghana

Taking forward public procurement reforms in Ghana

The construction industry in Ghana, like many others worldwide, has had its fair share of damning independent reviews. Huge and unsustainable foreign debt, excessive budget deficits, huge contractual payment arrears, poor construction performance, corruption and pressure from international financial institutions, forced the government to commit to a reform of public procurement, which culminated in the passing of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663). The paper outlines the events leading to, and features of, the public procurement reform in Ghana and analyses its potential impact and the unique challenges it presents. Comparisons are also drawn from relevant scenarios in other countries. The paper concludes that while the Procurement Act sets out the legal, institutional and regulatory framework to secure fiscal transparency and public accountability, the sole reliance on traditional contracting and price-based selection limits the scope for the value for money achievable. Expanding the reforms to cover procurement and project delivery methods and strategies, with a focus on ‘best value’, will increase the potential and likelihood of achieving value for money in public construction in Ghana.published_or_final_versio

Ekstrak Enzim Protease dari Daun Palado (Agave Angustifolia) dan Pemanfaatannya dalam Proses Pembuatan Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) can be made in several ways, namely through a heating process at low temperature, freeze-drying, fermentation, enzymatic, mechanical pressure or centrifugation. VCO with an enzymatic method is the making of VCO fromcoconut milk by using enzyme. The protein-oil bonds in the emulsions in coconut milk can be broken down into protease enzyme. The purpose of this research is to extract the protease enzyme in palado leaves and utilize the enzymes in the manufacturing process as well as determining the quality of VCO. This research method passed through some processes. Firstly enzyme extracts from palado leaves are prepared and coconut milk from coconut cream is made, then it is tested qualitatively the presence of protease enzyme with ninhydrin color reagent. Furthermore, the making of VCO enzymatically is undertaken by varying the ratio of the volume of coconut cream and enzyme extracts of 24 hours. VCO quality is analysis by using the parameters of smell, flavor, color, moisture content, levels of FFA (free fatty acid) and peroxide. The testing result with ninhydrin reagent gave a positive reaction (blue-purple) showing that there is enzymes alleged a class of protease in the palado leaf. The result of VCO made with the comparison of coconut cream and enzyme extracts from palado (10 : 1) has generate a VCO with a yield of 25.4%. However, from the analysis of VCO quality test results, it is obtained the smell of distinctive flavor oils, fragrance, the clean color, water content of 0.5% , FFA content of 0.25% and the peroxide number of 0 meq/kg

Prevalence and patterns of undescended testis among primary school pupils in Kampala, Uganda

A cross sectional study was undertaken with the main objective of determining the prevalence and patterns of undescended testis (UDT) among 437 primary  School pupils from randomly selected primary schools in one Division of  ampala in Uganda. The study variables included age, tribe, scrotal findings, side and location of the undescended testis plus associated groin and external genitalia abnormalities. UDT was found in 27 of the 437 children. The right side alone was involved in 17 (63%), the left alone in 5 (18.5%) and was bilateral in five cases (18.5%). Sixteen (59%) of UDT were palpable in the inguinal region while in 11 (41%) could not be palpated. Ultrasonography of the groin area located five of the 11 impalpable testes. This study showed that the prevalence of UDT in the study population was 5.5% and occurred more commonly on the right side and the superficial inguinal pouch was the commonest site.Key words: Prevalence, pattern. Undescended and testis

Spectral fluctuations of tridiagonal random matrices from the beta-Hermite ensemble

A time series delta(n), the fluctuation of the nth unfolded eigenvalue was recently characterized for the classical Gaussian ensembles of NxN random matrices (GOE, GUE, GSE). It is investigated here for the beta-Hermite ensemble as a function of beta (zero or positive) by Monte Carlo simulations. The fluctuation of delta(n) and the autocorrelation function vary logarithmically with n for any beta>0 (1<<n<<N). The simple logarithmic behavior reported for the higher-order moments of delta(n) for the GOE (beta=1) and the GUE (beta=2) is valid for any positive beta and is accounted for by Gaussian distributions whose variances depend linearly on ln(n). The 1/f noise previously demonstrated for delta(n) series of the three Gaussian ensembles, is characterized by wavelet analysis both as a function of beta and of N. When beta decreases from 1 to 0, for a given and large enough N, the evolution from a 1/f noise at beta=1 to a 1/f^2 noise at beta=0 is heterogeneous with a ~1/f^2 noise at the finest scales and a ~1/f noise at the coarsest ones. The range of scales in which a ~1/f^2 noise predominates grows progressively when beta decreases. Asymptotically, a 1/f^2 noise is found for beta=0 while a 1/f noise is the rule for beta positive.Comment: 35 pages, 10 figures, corresponding author: G. Le Cae

Education: Past, Present and Future Developments in Initial Teacher Education in Kuwait

This paper reports on a collaborative two year project (September 2012 – September 2014) to enhance Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Kuwait. One project team is based at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait (CBE) and the other at the University of Hull in England (UoH). Currently trainee teachers at CBE in Kuwait complete one teaching practice in the final year of their four year degree in comparison to three teaching practices at different points in the undergraduate QTS course at the University of Hull. In partnership, the teams have identified opportunities for changes at CBE to enhance ITE provision in Kuwait, for instance in the undergraduate curriculum, assessment processes and teaching practicum. The project is underpinned by an interpretivist methodology and has used semistructured interviews with key figures coupled with observations of how trainee teachers are taught by lecturers. The project faces challenges due to the differences in the social and cultural contexts in which the two teacher training courses operate. .Interestingly the findings show a strong desire within key players in the Kuwait ITE system for ‘graduate teachers’ rather than ‘graduates’ which should help drive forward the changes required to develop initial teacher education provision effectively. At the end of Phase One of the project (March, 2013), however, support for change is increasing only slowly at a political, institutional and programme level in Kuwait

X-ray crystallographic structure of 3-(Propan-2-ylidene) benzofuran-2(3H)-one

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