scholarly journals Impact of Critical Risks on the Major Constraints of Small Engineering Projects

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-425
Author(s):  
Syed Hassan Raza ◽  
Rameez Khalid ◽  
Muhammad Wasif
Keyword(s):  
Project Managers ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
The Core ◽  
Critical Activity ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Engineering Projects ◽  
Estimation Of Risk

In this research, generic and specific risks related to the critical activities of the engineering projects are identified. The surveys and interviews from various project managers and engineers of the leading consultant firms conducting engineering projects in Pakistan are the core identifiers. Specific risks associated with the common engineering projects are qualitatively analyzed to prioritize the risks according to their impact on the schedule and cost of the project. Critical activities related to the specific risks are identified. Estimated man-hours without and with quantitative risk assessment have been determined to study the impact of including risk analysis on the schedule and cost of the engineering projects. The relationship between the critical activities and the total man-hours have also been developed to identify the most critical activity or activities influencing the man-hours and ultimately the cost of the project. The likelihood of occurrence of risks are also related to the man-hour completion, to analyze the effect of certainty of the man-hour’s determination, which is an important aspect of estimating schedule, EMV and finally cost. Using the analysis, it has been inferred that the 95% confidence level is not suitable all the time for the estimation of risk impact on the schedule and cost. It increases the man-hour estimation resulting in less competitive proposal to win the project.

Pound Wise and Penny Foolish? Weight Loss and The Dynamics of Health Care Spending

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G Koch
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Health Care Spending ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Dynamic Measures ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Current estimates of obesity costs ignore the impact of future weight loss and gain, and may either over or underestimate economic consequences of weight loss. In light of this, I construct static and dynamic measures of medical costs associated with body mass index (BMI), to be balanced against the cost of one-time interventions. This study finds that ignoring the implications of weight loss and gain over time overstates the medical-cost savings of such interventions by an order of magnitude. When the relationship between spending and age is allowed to vary, weight-loss attempts appear to be cost-effective starting and ending with middle age. Some interventions recently proven to decrease weight may also be cost-effective.

scholarly journals A High Rigidity and Precision Scanning Tunneling Microscope with Decoupled XY and Z Scans

Scanning ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Xu Chen ◽  
Tengfei Guo ◽  
Yubin Hou ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Wenjie Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scanning Tunneling Microscope ◽  
Atomic Resolution ◽  
Scanning Tunneling ◽  
Electronic Noise ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Tunneling Microscope ◽  
The Core ◽  
High Rigidity ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Impact

A new scan-head structure for the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is proposed, featuring high scan precision and rigidity. The core structure consists of a piezoelectric tube scanner of quadrant type (for XY scans) coaxially housed in a piezoelectric tube with single inner and outer electrodes (for Z scan). They are fixed at one end (called common end). A hollow tantalum shaft is coaxially housed in the XY-scan tube and they are mutually fixed at both ends. When the XY scanner scans, its free end will bring the shaft to scan and the tip which is coaxially inserted in the shaft at the common end will scan a smaller area if the tip protrudes short enough from the common end. The decoupled XY and Z scans are desired for less image distortion and the mechanically reduced scan range has the superiority of reducing the impact of the background electronic noise on the scanner and enhancing the tip positioning precision. High quality atomic resolution images are also shown.

Dependency in Africa: Stages of African Political Economy

1983 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amechi Okolo
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
International System ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
The West ◽  
Cheap Labour ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Common ◽  
First Contact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This paper traces the history of the relationship between Africa and the West since their first contact brought about by the outward thrust of the West, under the impetus of rising capitalism, in search of cheap labour and cheap raw material for its industries and expanding markets for its industrial products, both of which could be better ensured through domination and exploitation. The paper identifies five successive stages that African political economy has passed through under the impact of this relationship, each phase qualitatively different from the other but all having the common characteristic of domination-dependence syndrome, and each phase having been dictated by the dynamics of capitalism in different eras and by the dominant forces in the changing international system. Its finding is that the way to the latest stage, the dependency phase, was paved by the progressive proletarianization of the African peoples and the maintenance of an international peonage system. It ends by indicating the direction in which Africa can make a beginning to break out of dependency and achieve liberation.

STUDY ON THE PROCESS OF RAPESEED HULLING BY THE IMPACT

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
А.О. РЕНЗЯЕВ ◽  
О.П. РЕНЗЯЕВ ◽  
С.Н. КРАВЧЕНКО ◽  
Р.В. КРЮК
Keyword(s):  
Rotational Speed ◽  
Calculated Data ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Complete Separation ◽  
Edible Oil ◽  
Siberian Region ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Исследованы прочностные и физико-механические свойства оболочки рапса с точки зрения ее разрушения и удаления. Установлено, что наиболее рациональным является двухстадийный способ обрушивания: 1-я стадия – на вальцовых мельницах, 2-я – на центробежной обрушивающей машине. Определены параметры центробежной обрушивающей машины для обеспечения минимальной необходимой линейной скорости 10,81 м/с: угол наклона отбойной пластины (90 ± 2)°, частота вращения барабана (2400 ± 150) об/мин. Установлено, что правильно подобранные условия и угол, под которым происходит удар, позволяют значительно снизить количество не до конца обрушенного семени и содержание расколотого ядра. При этом при свободном ударе об отбойную пластину под углом, отличным от 88–91°, или подаче недостаточно равномерного потока семян значительно увеличивается содержание необрушенных семян. На разрушение 1 кг семян необходимо затратить 58,45 Дж. Таким образом, по расчетным данным, для семян рапса диаметром 1,5 мм частота вращения барабана должна находиться в диапазоне от 2221 до 2565 об/мин при ударе семени под углом 90°. Диаметр семян рапса, выращиваемого в Сибирском регионе, составляет от 0,8 до 1,8 мм. Установлено, что подсушивание семян рапса в течение 30–40 с при температуре 100°С позволяет увеличить эффективность разрушения оболочки до полного ее отделения от ядра рапса. Представленные результаты позволяют повысить качество очистки семян рапса от оболочки и улучшить качественные характеристики получаемого масла, облегчить последующие технологические процессы получения пищевого масла, снизить затраты на рафинацию и дезодорацию на 2%. The strength and physico-mechanical properties of the shell of rapeseed in terms of its destruction and removal are investigated. It is established that the most rational is a two-stage method of seed hulling: the 1st stage – on roller mills, the 2nd – on a centrifugal hulling machine. The parameters of the centrifugal hulling machine to provide the minimum required linear speed of 10,81 m/s are defined: the angle of inclination of the turnback plate (90 ± 2)°, the rotational speed of drum (2400 ± 150) RPM. It is established that the correctly selected conditions and the angle at which the impact occurs, can significantly reduce the amount is not completely hulling seed and the substance of the split nucleus. At the same time, with a free impact on the turnback plate at an angle different from 88–91°, or the supply of an insufficiently uniform flow of seeds, the content is not completely hulling seed increases significantly. On hulling of 1 kg of seeds it is necessary to spend 58,45 J. Thus, according to the calculated data, for rape seeds with a diameter of 1,5 mm, the rotational speed of drum should be in the range from 2221 to 2565 RPM when the seed is struck at an angle of 90°. The diameter of rapeseed grown in the Siberian region ranges from 0,8 to 1,8 mm. It was found that drying of rapeseed for 30–40 s at a temperature of 100°C, can increase the efficiency of destruction of the shell to its complete separation from the core of rapeseed. The presented results make it possible to improve the quality of cleaning of rape seeds from the shell and improve the quality characteristics of the obtained oil, facilitate the subsequent technological processes of obtaining edible oil, reduce the cost of refining and deodorization by 2%.

The Impact of Cloud Computing on Organizational Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 136-151
Author(s):  
Thura Al-Azzawi ◽  
Tugberk Kaya
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Direct Relation ◽  
Organizational Agility ◽  
Cloud Computing Adoption ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The use of cloud computing has remarkable advantages in business performance. It is related especially in the portion of the organizational environment, such as organizational culture and organizational agility. Organizational agility provides an easier process to search and retrieve knowledge and allow the businesses to utilize and apply this knowledge to get high-quality services. Agility and culture factors can help organizations to enhance their cloud computing adoption. The achievement of any organization is dependent upon human resources. With human resources, the organization can develop its employees by sharing knowledge, skill, and experience of personnel. Expert cloud has a significant impact on and direct relation with human resources as it facilitates the communication among human resources better, more efficiently, and reduces the cost of the service. In this paper, the authors discuss the relationship between expert cloud and human resources to enhance the organizational performance through the assistance of organizational agility and culture.

scholarly journals A Correlational Study on Project Management Methodology and Project Success

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-65
Author(s):  
Michael Pace
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Project Manager ◽  
Correlational Study ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
Moderating Variables ◽  
Multiple Project Management ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract This non-experimental correlational study extends previous research investigating the relationship between project management methodology and reported project success, as well as the moderating variables of industry and project manager experience. The sample included North American project managers with five years’ experience, 25 years of age or older, and experience with multiple project management methodologies. The survey instrument consisted of 58 questions, utilizing a 5-point Likert scale to record responses. The survey contained three sections, including demographic information, questions related to a successful project, and questions related to a less-than successful (failed / challenged) project. 367 usable responses were received. The examination of the constructs included Pearson’s correlation coefficient as well as linear regression to determine the impact of moderating variables. Results indicated that project management methodology has a weak correlation with reported project success, and this correlation is not moderated by industry nor project manager experience. The results did not align with previously conducted studies, illustrating a need to continue the study of methods impacting success including investigating additional moderating variables.

scholarly journals Research on Mediating Mechanisms and the Impact on Food Provision Services in Poor Areas from the Perspective of Stakeholders

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10510
Author(s):  
Tianwei Geng ◽  
Hai Chen ◽  
Di Liu ◽  
Qinqin Shi ◽  
Hang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Mediating Mechanisms ◽  
The Common ◽  
Food Provision ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Exploring and analyzing the common demands and behavioral responses of different stakeholders is important for revealing the mediating mechanisms of ecosystem service (ES) and realizing the management and sustainable supply of ES. This study took Mizhi County, a poverty-stricken area on the Loess Plateau in China, as an example. First, the main stakeholders, common demands, and behavioral responses in the food provision services were identified. Second, the relationship among stakeholders was analyzed. Finally, this study summarized three types of mediating mechanisms of food provision services and analyzed the influence of the different types of mediating mechanisms. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Five main stakeholders in the study area were identified: government, farmers, enterprises, cooperatives, and middlemen. (2) Increasing farmers’ income is the common demand of most stakeholders in the study area, and this common demand has different effects on the behavioral responses of different stakeholders. (3) There are three types of mediating mechanisms in the study area: government + farmers mediating corn and mutton, government + enterprises mediating millet, and government + cooperatives mediating apples. On this basis, the effects of the different types of mediating mechanisms on variations in food yield, and trade-offs and synergies in typical townships, were analyzed.

scholarly journals Methods for the estimation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence cost-effectiveness threshold

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (14) ◽  
pp. 1-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Claxton ◽  
Steve Martin ◽  
Marta Soares ◽  
Nigel Rice ◽  
Eldon Spackman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
The Other ◽  
Opportunity Costs ◽  
Best Estimate ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cost Effectiveness Threshold ◽  
Effectiveness Threshold

BackgroundCost-effectiveness analysis involves the comparison of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of a new technology, which is more costly than existing alternatives, with the cost-effectiveness threshold. This indicates whether or not the health expected to be gained from its use exceeds the health expected to be lost elsewhere as other health-care activities are displaced. The threshold therefore represents the additional cost that has to be imposed on the system to forgo 1 quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of health through displacement. There are no empirical estimates of the cost-effectiveness threshold used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.Objectives(1) To provide a conceptual framework to define the cost-effectiveness threshold and to provide the basis for its empirical estimation. (2) Using programme budgeting data for the English NHS, to estimate the relationship between changes in overall NHS expenditure and changes in mortality. (3) To extend this mortality measure of the health effects of a change in expenditure to life-years and to QALYs by estimating the quality-of-life (QoL) associated with effects on years of life and the additional direct impact on QoL itself. (4) To present the best estimate of the cost-effectiveness threshold for policy purposes.MethodsEarlier econometric analysis estimated the relationship between differences in primary care trust (PCT) spending, across programme budget categories (PBCs), and associated disease-specific mortality. This research is extended in several ways including estimating the impact of marginal increases or decreases in overall NHS expenditure on spending in each of the 23 PBCs. Further stages of work link the econometrics to broader health effects in terms of QALYs.ResultsThe most relevant ‘central’ threshold is estimated to be £12,936 per QALY (2008 expenditure, 2008–10 mortality). Uncertainty analysis indicates that the probability that the threshold is < £20,000 per QALY is 0.89 and the probability that it is < £30,000 per QALY is 0.97. Additional ‘structural’ uncertainty suggests, on balance, that the central or best estimate is, if anything, likely to be an overestimate. The health effects of changes in expenditure are greater when PCTs are under more financial pressure and are more likely to be disinvesting than investing. This indicates that the central estimate of the threshold is likely to be an overestimate for all technologies which impose net costs on the NHS and the appropriate threshold to apply should be lower for technologies which have a greater impact on NHS costs.LimitationsThe central estimate is based on identifying a preferred analysis at each stage based on the analysis that made the best use of available information, whether or not the assumptions required appeared more reasonable than the other alternatives available, and which provided a more complete picture of the likely health effects of a change in expenditure. However, the limitation of currently available data means that there is substantial uncertainty associated with the estimate of the overall threshold.ConclusionsThe methods go some way to providing an empirical estimate of the scale of opportunity costs the NHS faces when considering whether or not the health benefits associated with new technologies are greater than the health that is likely to be lost elsewhere in the NHS. Priorities for future research include estimating the threshold for subsequent waves of expenditure and outcome data, for example by utilising expenditure and outcomes available at the level of Clinical Commissioning Groups as well as additional data collected on QoL and updated estimates of incidence (by age and gender) and duration of disease. Nonetheless, the study also starts to make the other NHS patients, who ultimately bear the opportunity costs of such decisions, less abstract and more ‘known’ in social decisions.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research-Medical Research Council Methodology Research Programme.

scholarly journals Method of Assessing the Risk of Implementing Railway Investments in Terms of the Cost of Their Implementation

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13085
Author(s):  
Jan Kowalski ◽  
Mieczysław Połoński ◽  
Marzena Lendo-Siwicka ◽  
Roman Trach ◽  
Grzegorz Wrzesiński
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Original Method ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Risk Forecasting ◽  
Specific Object ◽  
Effective Cost ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Exceeding the approved budget is often an integral part of the implementation of construction projects, especially those where unforeseen threats may occur. Therefore, each construction investment should contain elements of risk forecasting, mainly in terms of the cost of its implementation. Only a small number of institutions apply effective cost control methods, taking into account the specifics of a given industry. Especially small construction companies that participate in the structure of the implementation of large construction projects as subcontractors. The article presents a method by which it is possible to determine, with certain probability, the final cost of railway construction investments carried out in Poland. The method was based on a reliable database of risk factors published in sources. In this article, the main presumptions of the original method are presented, which take into account the impact of potential, previously recognized, risks specific to railway investments, and enable project managers to relate them to the conditions where the implementation of a specific object is planned. The authors assumed that such a relatively simple method, supported by a suitable computational program, would encourage teams that plan to implement railway projects to use it and increase the credibility of their schedules.

1. The historical origins of the trust

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
JE Penner
Keyword(s):  
Common Law ◽  
The Core ◽  
Administrative Power ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Historical Origins

Titles in the Core Text series take the reader straight to the heart of the subject, providing focused, concise, and reliable guides for students at all levels. This chapter traces the historical roots of the trust. The law of trusts is the offspring of a certain English legal creature known as ‘equity’. Equity arose out of the administrative power of the medieval Chancellor, who was at the time the King’s most powerful minister. The nature of equity’s jurisdiction and its ability to provide remedies unavailable at common law, the relationship between equity and the common law and the ‘fusion’ of law and equity, and equity’s creation of the use, and then the trust, are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document