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As far as we know, all work on externally blown flaps has been aimed at providing a basis for studies of the flight performance and handling qualities in respect of certain aircraft projects, one of which is the Dornier STOL transport aircraft. Theoretical work so far has only been possible in as much as the jet flap theory was extended to include any possible momentum distribution and finite jet thickness at the flap trailing edge. We know virtually nothing about the phenomenon of the jet flow spreading between the engine nozzle and the flap trailing edge. This question was studied on a simple wind tunnel model of an externally blown flap.

TYPICAL STOL CHARACTERISTICS can be achieved for medium and heavy jet transport aircraft by means of externally blown flaps. As part of a project study conducted by Dornier AG., concerning a 40t STOL transport aircraft, the aerodynamic and flight mechanical feasibility is demonstrated. The basic data was supplied by wind tunnel tests with the model of a transport aircraft. With a view to V/STOL capability, the engine jet deflection was optimised by means of a novel slot flap design on a simple rectangular wing.

This paper aims to examine the quality of the surface waters of the bitumen deposit area of Nigeria and also to establish the relationship between the deposit and the waters.

Physico-chemical parameters were measured using standard analytical procedures, while the elemental contents were determined using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Data acquired were interpreted using statistical techniques – charts, t-test, pollution index (PI) and cross-plot analysis.

A river located close to the bitumen well contained the highest concentrations of metals that are known to be associated with hydrocarbon formation. Comparison of the levels of the analyzed parameters in the waters with their standard permissible limits showed that the levels of Cl−, SO₄2-, total alkalinity and Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb in the river very close to the capped bitumen well and big rivers were high and low in the small streams. This was corroborated by their pollution index values. Results of the cross-plot analysis of the waters-river close to bitumen well/bitumen (R2=0.5); small streams/bitumen (R2=0.8) and big rivers/bitumen (R2=0.2) showed moderate; strong and weak positive correlations respectively, suggesting moderate, strong and weak inter-element correlations respectively between the sets of waters and the Nigerian bitumen deposit, and also establishing relationships between the deposit and the surface waters.

The paper provides insight into the potability of the waters; establishment of the inter-element relationship between the bitumen deposit and the waters. These results can serve as a fingerprint for bitumen exploration elsewhere and for similar mineral deposit settings.

MBA.

Master’s level in Change Management, Organizational Leadership and Human Resource Management.

Mr Sharma, the dynamic and entrepreneurial Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the newly formed Soni Manipal Hospital (SMH), Jaipur, and Unit Head, Manipal Hospitals [Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd. (MHEPL)], in a meeting with SMH’s Head of Human Resources and the Head of the Nursing Management, Mr Yaduvanshi realised the exponential growth of employee resistance, their lack of skills and technological advancements for documentation hindering the hospital's transformation goal. The case study highlighted the challenges the protagonist faced when taking charge as the CEO after nine months of acquisition and the factors contributing to them.

Students reading this case are expected to understand leadership theories, strategic and quality management approaches, and theories of social behaviour, such as Herzberg’s two-factor theory and social exchange theory (SET) and the application of these concepts in acquired organisations to develop healthy leadership–employee relations and change management theories.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 6: Human resource management.

Aerodynamic characteristics of engine side air intakes for a lightweight helicopter are investigated aiming to achieve an efficient engine airframe integration.

On a novel full-scale model of a helicopter fuselage section, a comprehensive experimental data set is obtained by wind tunnel testing. Different plenum chamber types along with static side intake and semi-dynamic side intake configurations are considered. Engine mass flow rates corresponding to the power requirements of realistic helicopter operating conditions are reproduced. For a variety of freestream velocities and mass flow rates, five-hole pressure probe data in the aerodynamic interface plane and local surface pressure distributions are compared for the geometries.

In low-speed conditions, unshielded, sideways facing air intakes yield lowest distortion levels and total pressure losses. In fast forward flight condition, a forward-facing intake shape is most beneficial. Additionally, the influence of an intake grid and plenum chamber splitter is evaluated.

The intake testing approach and the trends found can be applied to other novel helicopter intakes in early development stages to improve engine airframe integration and decrease development times.

For central banks who study the use of cash, acceptance of card payments is an important factor. Surveys to measure levels of card acceptance and the costs of payments can be complicated and expensive. In this paper, we exploit a novel data set from Hungary to see the effect of stratified random sampling on estimates of payment card acceptance and usage. Using the Online Cashier Registry, a database linking the universe of merchant cash registers in Hungary, we create merchant and transaction level data sets. We compare county (geographic), industry and store size stratifications to simulate the usual stratification criteria for merchant surveys and see the effect on estimates of card acceptance for different sample sizes. Further, we estimate logistic regression models of card acceptance/usage to see how stratification biases estimates of key determinants of card acceptance/usage.

The aim of this paper is to better understand the impact of petroleum production facilities on ambient air quality of host airshed.

Field measurements were taken daily for four consecutive months around petroleum production facilities in the Niger Delta area, of Nigeria, one of the world's important petroleum producing areas. Statistical analysis tool and air quality analytical tool known as the air quality index (AQI) were applied on the field data obtained.

The mean measured daily concentrations of both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) between distances 50 and 500 m of petroleum flow stations were of the range 140 – 3400 μg/m3 and 23 – 1250 μg/m3 respectively. The AQI from measured CO concentrations in the study area ranged between 1 and 44, an indication of good AQI category with no known health effects but a need for cautionary statement. Similarly, over 97 percent of the measured concentrations of NO₂ were below 0.60 ppm which implies that the AQI of the host environment of the flow stations were below 200 with respect to NO₂ thus indicating a good category of air with no health alarm. However, at the 60 m distance around a flow station, the AQI was 210 thus the quality of available air at this point could be described as very unhealthy. Generally the concentrations of CO were higher than NO₂ in all the distances from the flow stations and were corroborated with their significant T‐test values. The T‐test results of the relationship between the concentrations of the air pollutants per time of the day, showed that their T‐test values were not significant, indicating that concentrations of these air pollutants were independent of the sampling time. A strong and positive correlation existed between the two air pollutants signifying common sources.

The paper highlights that at 60 m distance around petroleum production facilities, people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should be prevented from gaining access in the morning without taking necessary precautionary measures against the inhalation of air pollutants.

This study aims to empirically test how sponsored video customization (i.e. the degree to which a sponsored video is customized for a sponsoring brand) affects video shares differently depending on influencer characteristics (i.e. mega influencer and expert influencer) and brand characteristics (i.e. brand establishment and product involvement).

This study uses a unique real-world data set that combines coded variables (e.g. customization) and objective video performance (e.g. sharing) of 365 sponsored videos to test the hypotheses. A negative binomial model is used to analyze the data set.

This study finds that the effect of video customization on video shares varies across contexts. Video customization positively affects shares if they are made for well-established brands and high-involvement products but negatively influences shares if they are produced by mega and expert influencers.

This study extends the influencer marketing literature by focusing on a new media modality – sponsored video. Drawing on the multiple inference model and the persuasion knowledge theory, this study teases out different conditions under which video customization is more or less likely to foster audience engagement, which both influencers and brands care about. The chosen research setting may limit the generalizability of the findings of this study.

The findings suggest that mega and expert influencers need to consider if their endorsement would backfire on a highly customized video. Brands that aim to engage customers with highly-customized videos should gauge their decision by taking into consideration their years of establishment and product involvement. For video-sharing platforms, especially those that are planning to expand their businesses to include “matching-making services” for brands and influencers, the findings provide theory-based guidance on optimizing such matches.

This paper fulfills an urgent research need to study how brands and influencers should produce sponsored videos to achieve optimal outcomes.