Women in Science and Engineering: Politics of Gender

Women are fewer than men in science and engineering, therefore, the assumption is that women generally prefer arts and humanities. But to some analysts, the reason for the low percentage of women in these careers may be due to innate mental and psychological differences between them and men. Others contend that women have the capacity to excel in any profession and that their fewness in science and engineering can be attributed to other factors. They urge educational institutions and employers to develop programs and specific policies that would allow women to strike a better balance between the demands of work and those of family. One may ask: was the absence of equitable programs and policies responsible for the predominance of men in certain professions in the past? Or is it a genetic difference that prevents many women from specializing in these professions? This paper examines the gender gap in science and engineering; the proposed theories that exist and the validity of the theories. The paper addresses the following questions: Are women underrepresented in science, mathematics and engineering? Whys is this so? What are the competing theories and how valid are they? If women are truly underrepresented, what efforts are we making to correct that phenomenon? Do women in science and engineering reach the top in their fields? If not, why? For the purpose of this paper, women in academia and industries will be the focus

Scholarly Communication: The Use and Non-Use of E-Print Archives for the Dissemination of Scientific Information

This study surveyed a randomly chosen sample from a population of 240,000 scholars in nine scientific disciplines from private and public colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. The disciplines included physics/astronomy, chemistry, mathematics/computer science, engineering, cognitive science/psychology, and biological sciences. The survey sought to determine use and non-use of e-print archives in the different disciplines. Results show that 18 percent of the researchers use at least one archive while 82 percent do not use any. Scholars in physics use e-print archives the most and chemistry the least. ArXiv receives the most use and authors\u27 web sites the least use. Reasons for use include dissemination of research results, visibility, and exposure of authors. Reasons for non-use include publishers\u27 policies and technology constraints

The Antinomies of the (Continued) Relevance of ICSID to the Third World

The international law on foreign investment is commonly accepted as one of the most controversial areas of international law. Not only does international investment law lack clear rules on investment promotion and protection, this area of the law has always generated opposing rules, and implicates divergent interests in the process. In the face of unclear rules, and against the backdrop of the need to protect foreign investment through the internationalization of investment dispute settlement, and the position that this will facilitate investment flows to Third World states, the World Bank established the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). In the last quarter of the 20th century, investment arbitration garnered considerable international attention, especially in relation to issues that implicate international and local public interest, including environmental protection, labor and human rights. While issues of human rights and environmental protection are relevant the world over, a further issue of economic development arises in the case of the Third World. The drafters of the ICSID Convention did not contemplate, at least not explicitly, public interest issues related to foreign investment that have become prominent lately. However, they did consider ICSID\u27s utility in facilitating the economic development of the Third World. Nevertheless, the question remains whether ICSID has been able to facilitate economic development in the Third World. While this might be difficult to determine without empirical research, an examination of ICSID\u27s work in balancing the needs of the Third World and foreign investors, seems a modest and appropriate endeavor to undertake in this article

Implementation of ISO19650 based framework for asset management in logistics centres for a major food retailer

Dissertação de mestrado em Modelação de Informação na Construção de Edifícios BIM A+A relevância da informação tem acelerado a par da importância das profissões que envolvem dados, com a gestão da informação a assumir um papel central. Para a indústria AECO (Arquitectura, Engenharia, Construção e Operações) BIM representa dados (geométricos e não geométricos) e verifica-se, em muitos casos, que os dados originados na construção são pouco ou nada utilizados durante as fases de exploração dos edificios e na manutenção dos mesmos. Com base nesta realidade é de grande importância investigar a gestão de ativos e sua integração com BIM. Esta pesquisa aborda o tema através de pesquisa estruturada quanto á utilização passada e presente da metodologia BIM na gestão de ativos e manutenção. A pesquisa também aponta a questões em torno da implementação da norma ISO-19650 para as indústrias de operações e manutenção, pelo desenvolvimento duma estruturação que identifica e lista os requisitos de informação relevantes aplicáveis (OIR, AIR e EIR), bem como o nível de informação necessário. A revisão de literatura aponta a que há poucos casos de implementação na área da gestão de ativos com recurso a BIM. Verifica-se que os gestores de manutenção e ativos procuram casos de sucesso verificáveis para convencer proprietários e/ou investidores nas vantagens da adoção de BIM. Ao definir os requisitos de informação para a operação e manutenção de ativos utilizando os dados recolhidos no caso estudado, esta dissertação contribuiu para o aprofundar de conhecimento na implementação da referida gestão. Uma vez que a gestão com recurso à integração BIM é ainda nova nas operações e manutenção, há pouca pesquisa verificável no tema, como já apontado. Para melhor percebermos o nível de implementação BIM em operações e manutenção, o autor estudou sistematicamente o processo de gestão de ativos da logística do maior retalhista alimentar em Portugal, SONAE MC. O objetivo desta pesquisa é criar uma estrutura de trabalho para a implementação dum sistema de gestão de ativos baseado na norma ISO-16950 e que será aplicável a um ‘site’ real da empresa. Esta dissertação também procura utilizar a capacidade de visualização e exploração isométrica BIM, dando à equipa de gestão uma nova ferramenta que garante informação geométrica e que permite melhorias no planeamento das intervenções de manutenção, resolução de problemas e uma intervenção que se prevê mais rápida e produtiva. Como parte da implementação da norma ISO-19650 esta dissertação explorou ainda a modelação direcionada à gestão de ativos, pelo estudo da importação e exportação de dados COBie no sistema (CMMS) da empresa (IBM MAXIMO), em paralelo com a integração desses dados COBie num ‘plugin’ de visualização BIM (Autodesk Forge), que foi instalado no ambiente de gestão existente. Este processo permitiu a reengenharia do sistema de gestão de ativos na logística SONAEMC, permitindo um processo único, sequencial, poupando tempo e garantindo uma organização mais eficaz dos dados e exploração dos mesmos no processo de gestão.In recent times, the relevance of information has grown in prominence with roles involving data or information management taking centre stage. For the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations) industry BIM represents data (geometric and non-geometric). The data from construction has been put to little or no use in the operation and maintenance stage. Based on this proposition it is of great value to investigate BIM-asset management integration. This research approaches the subject by carrying out structured research into the past and present use of BIM methodology in asset management. It also highlights issues around ISO-19650 implementation for the operations and maintenance industry, by developing a framework that promotes the creation of relevant ISO 19650 information requirements documents (OIR, AIR and EIR) and level of information need. The literature review reveals that there is a lack of case study implementations in the area of BIM-asset management. Asset managers generally require verifiable data from case studies to convince building owners and investors to adopt BIM. By defining the information requirements for operation and maintenance using the data collected from the case study, this dissertation has contributed to increased knowledge in BIM- asset management implementation. Since BIM- asset management integration is still new in the operations and maintenance areas, there is little verifiable research on this topic. To understand the status of BIM implementation in the operations and maintenance fields, the author systematically studied the logistics operations asset management process of the largest food and consumer goods company in Portugal, Sonae MC. The objective of this research is to create a framework for the implementation of an ISO 19650 compliant BIM based asset management system, for the case study in which such system will be applicable for a chosen existing facility. This dissertation also aims to use BIM visualization capabilities to provide the asset management team with tools containing both geometric and other asset relevant information and that will allow for improved maintenance planning, better problem solving and faster reactive maintenance response times. As a part of the ISO 19650 implementation process, this dissertation explored subjects on modelling for asset management purposes, importing and exporting COBie data in a Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) IBM Maximo. Alongside COBie data integration, a BIM viewer plugin (Autodesk Forge) was installed within Maximo asset management environment. This implementation process allowed the reengineering of the asset management system in Sonae MC, namely simplifying the existing workflow, saving time spent uploading individual asset information and improving the overall information storage and management process.Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree Programme – ERASMUS+ European Master in Building Information Modelling BIM A

Physicochemical attributes of oils from seeds of different plants in Nigeria

The physicochemical qualities of oils from seeds of seven plants grown in Nigeria were evaluated. Physical characterization of the oils includes viscosity, state at room temperature, colour, specific gravity and refractive index. The results showed that they have different colors and are consistently liquid at room temperature. The viscosity of the oils varied; P. macrophylla had the highest viscosity of 19.55 cST while D. edulis had the least value of 11.00 cST. The specific gravity of all the oils ranged between D. edulis (0.84) and P. macrophylla (0.92). The oils were further characterized by the determination of the acid, iodine, saponification, ester and peroxide values. The molecular mean masses of the oils were also determined. Apart from C. inophyllum, the acid value of the oils (2.79-5.19 mg NaOH/g oil) suggests that they are nutritionally viable as oil sources. The iodine values of the oils (31.50-85.00 mg iodine/100 g) placed them in the non-drying class. The saponification values of all the seven oils (161.29-244.97 mg KOH/g oil) suggest their usefulness in the industry as shaving cream. KEY WORDS: Seed, Oil, Physico-chemical, Attributes, Plant, Nigeria  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2010, 24(1), 145-149.

The Effects of Product Diversification on Brand Identity: Case Study of Samsung and Toshiba Electronics

2016 dissertation for MSc. International Business Management. Selected by academic staff as a good example of a masters level dissertation. This study is an investigation into the effects of product diversification on brand identity of two international corporation- Samsung and Toshiba Electronics. The research paper is structured using existing literature from product diversification and brand identity relationship as part of its secondary sources. This was to aid in gaining more insight into the research background and evidence in the two field respectively. Quantitative approach has been adopted as a method for collecting primary data for the research to establish customers' attitude towards product diversification. The researcher investigates the practicability of firms keeping their brand identity secure whilst diversifying. Their success and failures were evaluated. The potential risk to corporate brand identity and those risks that could be imminent in the diversification process were evaluated. The study further measures the practical usability of applying product diversification on brand identity most especially in the situation that customers are accustomed to the brand and parent products. Customers reaction to the diversification once aware was investigated. Findings show that there is a correlation between product diversification and brand identity. A well-positioned corporation brands were able to diversify into the new market using the advantage of customers recognition to introduce varied new products to their portfolio. Though, it was discovered that many of the new product is still unknown to customers. As a result of this, it was recommended that more research into customers' acceptance of new product from an established brand identity is conducted

Electronic Commerce in Nigeria: The Exigency of Combatting Cyber Frauds and Insecurity

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) has grown on such a large scale that there is no commercial activity you cannot embark upon within your home or business premises.  This rapid growth in e-commerce has attracted a lot of sellers and buyers alike. There is  the evolvement of smart phones, tablets and palm tops which enable the users to buy and pay for things online, do internet banking, pay their bills or to even make a bet anywhere and at any time.  These innovations have brought convenience and also contributed to the quality of life of users. The main and distinctive advantage of e-commerce is that it has made life much more convenient for people and also removed various forms of barrier to trade since e-commerce could be conducted through various media. There is also the evolvement of the Automated Teller Machine (ATM), which has largely reduced queues which dominate financial institutions in the past. Now you can deposit or withdraw money without need to physically face a cashier in the banking hall. Despite the benefits and advantages of e-commerce, this technological advancement in the business world is still plagued by some challenges and the major one being security.  This paper will therefore, examine electronic commerce, its advantages, the issue of security as a major challenge and concludes with suggestions and recommendations. Key words: E-commerce, Security, Fraud, Encryption and Password