Reliability of Eyewitness Reports to a Major Aviation Accident

There is a paucity of studies on the reliability of eyewitness reports to aviation crashes. We examine witness statements to a widely observed major airline accident to determine if reported accident investigator distrust of details in eyewitness reports is supported by empirical evidence. The extensive archival witness record (N \u3e 300) of a wide-body airliner crash in clear daylight conditions is subjected to statistical analysis to test eyewitness reliability. Even with over 200 witnesses within a three square kilometre (1.6 square mile) area answering a binary observation question, the variance is sometimes high enough to preclude forming statistically significant conclusions about a basic large-scale event. There is no statistical difference between the distributions of witnesses that reported diametrically opposed observations; and no discernible geographic pattern, preferred orientation or optimum viewing distance. These results support the current reported practice of placing low value to eyewitness accounts of aircraft crashes

ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR CALCULATING FAN AERODYNAMICS

This paper presents results obtained between 2010 and 2014 in the field of fan aerodynamics at the Department of Composite Technology at the VZLÚ aerospace research and experimental institute in Prague – Letnany. The need for rapid and accurate methods for the preliminary design of blade machinery led to the creation of a mathematical model based on the basic laws of turbomachine aerodynamics. The mathematical model, the derivation of which is briefly described below, has been encoded in a computer programme, which enables the theoretical characteristics of a fan of the designed geometry to be determined rapidly. The validity of the mathematical model is assessed continuously by measuring model fans in the measuring unit, which was developed and manufactured specifically for this purpose. The paper also presents a comparison between measured characteristics and characteristics determined by the mathematical model as the basis for a discussion on possible causes of measured deviations and calculation deviations

Transnational Corporations in the World Economy: Formation, Development and Present Position

The following article attempts to answer the question about the role transnational corporations (TNCs) play in the modern world. The issues discussed in this article have been presented in two main parts. The first part focuses on the world’s largest TNCs according to the following criteria: the value of the revenues, market capitalization and foreign assets. The discussion in the second part focuses on defining the role that transnational corporations play in the world economy. A number of different characteristics reflecting the economic potential of TNCs have been used in this article such as: asset value, employment rate, sales volume and research and development potential, which are linked to selected parameters describing the volume of international production. The analysis of TNC development and their present position has been presented from a historical perspective, which made it possible to identify the conditions of as well as the major changes in the process of enterprise internationalisation. The following article highlights the dynamic development of corporations in developing countries and the ever more common phenomenon of state-owned enterprises or enterprises with a state’s capital playing a role on the international stage

Global Cities and Multinational Enterprises: Integrating the Existing Concepts for Future Research Studies

Global Cities (GCs) and Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) belong to a group of entities that shape the modern world economy in the most distinct way. So far, both of them have been given a lot of attention in the literature, but few studies have been written linking these two important threads of deliberation remaining the aspects of relationships between GCs and MNEs relatively unexplored. This is surprising as GCs and MNEs are not sole players but symbionts in the world economy. Hence, the intention of the authors – and the aim of this paper – is to overview these issues and connect GC and MNE threads in order to provide a platform for future research studies. By adopting an evolutionary approach and integrating the perspectives of economic geography, urban studies and international business, the paper identifies several research areas that may be fundamental to the GC/MNE discussion. They have been grouped in the following five thematic categories: global trends, international and country-specific factors; heterogeneity and transformation of global cities; MNE internationalization motivations and different market entry modes; global cities and global value chains; outcomes of MNE activity

Great Lakes Biomass State and Regional Partnership (GLBSRP)

The Council of Great Lakes Governors administered the Great Lakes Biomass State and Regional Partnership (GLBSRP) under contract with the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). This Partnership grew out of the existing Regional Biomass Energy Program which the Council had administered since 1983. The GLBSRP includes the States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The GLBSRPÃÂs overall goal is to facilitate the increased production and use of bioenergy and biobased products throughout the region. The GLBSRP has traditionally addressed its goals and objectives through a three-pronged approach: providing grants to the States; undertaking region-wide education, outreach and technology transfer projects; and, providing in-house management, support and information dissemination. At the direction of US Department of Energy, the primary emphasis of the GLBSRP in recent years has been education and outreach. Therefore, most activities have centered on developing educational materials, hosting workshops and conferences, and providing technical assistance. This report summarizes a selection of activities that were accomplished under this cooperative agreement