Development of an Expert System for Predicting the Effects of Economic Activities on Groundwater Quality

Presently, groundwater conservation has become a very important issue in the world. The attention has been given to groundwater pollution problems. The application of Information Technology (IT) in the form of an expert system namely GWPES (Groundwater Pollution Expert System) will be able to help in information retrieval and decision support when dealing with groundwater pollution and protection. The rule base and Graphic User Interface (GUI) of GWPES was developed using wxCLIPS version 1.62 for Personal Computer (PC), version 1.49 for Local Area Network (LAN) system and Authorware 3.5 for developing graphic presentation files. These application softwares also supported the GWPES for the interpretation of some knowledge data bases. The wxCLIPS expert system shell was originally designed by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The rules were developed according to the comprehensive groundwater pollution information and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure. The main menu of GWPES consists of six main parts as follows; Introduction, EIA Procedure, Concept, Prediction, Mitigation and Monitoring. The first three parts help all interested people related to EIA to understand groundwater pollution information and EIA procedure. The next three main parts have been incorporated into an expert system to predict future situation of groundwater [Pollution Vulnerability, Nitrogen Fertiliser Impact and Project Activities Impact], and to propose possible mitigation measures as well as to approach groundwater quality-monitoring plan. Knowledge bases for GWPES have been elicited from domain experts (2 geologists, 1 hydrologist, 1 civil engineering majoring in groundwater, 2 soil scientists and 1 soil & water engineering expert) through interviews, existing established literature, EIA reports and field study. The GWPES has friendly graphical user interface that has been accepted satisfactorily by external domain experts and end-users

Mean Reversion of Oil Prices

Managing natural resource projects requires that future costs and revenues be forecasted. Most commodity pricing models are fairly simple, involving a slow, steady increase in base prices while including volatility. When analyzing stock prices, this pattern is commonly referred to as the 'random walk'. Complicating the forecasting process is the fact that many commodities exhibit mean reverting tendencies, where prices may increase or decrease, but tend to revert to a long-term mean. Stock price volatility is measured using the standard deviation of the rate of return of a stock. Commodity price volatility is the same; however, when mean reversion exists, the normal standard deviation will overestimate true volatility. This complicates the pricing of many types of derivatives that are based on commodity prices. This work investigates the mean reversion tendency of oil prices. Specifically , a 25 year database of West Texas Intermediate daily oil prices is analyzed to determine price volatility, mean reversion speed, and the adjusted volatility that should be applied to today's oil-related projects

Rotor blade system with reduced blade-vortex interaction noise

A rotor blade system with reduced blade-vortex interaction noise includes a plurality of tube members embedded in proximity to a tip of each rotor blade. The inlets of the tube members are arrayed at the leading edge of the blade slightly above the chord plane, while the outlets are arrayed at the blade tip face. Such a design rapidly diffuses the vorticity contained within the concentrated tip vortex because of enhanced flow mixing in the inner core, which prevents the development of a laminar core region

Job-queuing and Auto-scaling in Container-based Cloud Environments

Many applications process large quantities of data that takes significant time and requires big amount of compu- tational resources. Optimising the execution of such applications in a cloud computing environment by keeping costs at minimum but still completing the task by a set deadline has paramount importance. As container-based technologies are becoming more widespread, support for job-queuing and auto-scaling in such environments is becoming important. Current container tech- nologies, such as Docker or Kubernetes provide limited support in this area. This paper presents JQueuer and CAutoScaler, a couple of cloud-independent solutions that offer job-queuing and automated scalability at the level of containers. Applying these solutions leads to more cloud-aware applications providing transparent auto-scaling for end-users and optimising execution time and costs. Business and science gateways will benefit from using an orchestrator combined with JQueuer and CAutoScaler since it will provide the layers needed to auto-scale the containers and to batch/sweep the jobs from a queue depending on a user- defined policy

Antimicrobial resistance characteristics and fitness of Gram-negative fecal bacteria from volunteers treated with minocycline or amoxicillin.

A yearlong study was performed to examine the effect of antibiotic administration on the bacterial gut flora. Gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacteria were recovered from the feces of healthy adult volunteers administered amoxicillin, minocycline or placebo, and changes determined in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene carriage. Seventy percent of the 1039 facultative anaerobic isolates recovered were identified by MALDI-TOF as Escherichia coli. A microarray used to determine virulence and resistance gene carriage demonstrated that AMR genes were widespread in all administration groups, with the most common resistance genes being bla TEM, dfr, strB, tet(A), and tet(B). Following amoxicillin administration, an increase in the proportion of amoxicillin resistant E. coli and a three-fold increase in the levels of bla TEM gene carriage was observed, an effect not observed in the other two treatment groups. Detection of virulence genes, including stx1A, indicated not all E. coli were innocuous commensals. Approximately 150 E. coli collected from 6 participants were selected for pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and a subset used for characterisation of plasmids and Phenotypic Microarrays (PM). PFGE indicated some E. coli clones had persisted in volunteers for up to 1 year, while others were transient. Although there were no unique characteristics associated with plasmids from persistent or transient isolates, PM assays showed transient isolates had greater adaptability to a range of antiseptic biocides and tetracycline; characteristics which were lost in some, but not all persistent isolates. This study indicates healthy individuals carry bacteria harboring resistance to a variety of antibiotics and biocides in their intestinal tract. Antibiotic administration can have a temporary effect of selecting bacteria, showing co-resistance to multiple antibiotics, some of which can persist within the gut for up to 1 year

The ex vivo neurotoxic, myotoxic and cardiotoxic activity of cucurbituril-based macrocyclic drug delivery vehicles

The cucurbituril family of drug delivery vehicles have been examined for their tissue specific toxicity using ex vivo models. Cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]), cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and the linear cucurbituril-derivative Motor2 were examined for their neuro-, myo- and cardiotoxic activity and compared with β-cyclodextrin. The protective effect of drug encapsulation by CB[7] was also examined on the platinum-based anticancer drug cisplatin. The results show that none of the cucurbiturils have statistically measurable neurotoxicity as measured using mouse sciatic nerve compound action potential. Cucurbituril myotoxicity was measured by nerve-muscle force of contraction through chemical and electrical stimulation. Motor2 was found to display no myotoxicity, whereas both CB[6] and CB[7] showed myotoxic activity via a presynaptic effect. Finally, cardiotoxicity, which was measured by changes in the rate and force of right and left atria contraction, was observed for all three cucurbiturils. Free cisplatin displays neuro-, myo- and cardiotoxic activity, consistent with the side-effects seen in the clinic. Whilst CB[7] had no effect on the level of cisplatin's neurotoxic activity, drug encapsulation within the macrocycle had a marked reduction in both the drug's myo- and cardiotoxic activity. Overall the results are consistent with the relative lack of toxicity displayed by these macrocycles in whole animal acute systemic toxicity studies and indicate continued potential of cucurbiturils as drug delivery vehicles for the reduction of the side effects associated with platinum-based chemotherapy

Tailoring the pressure-drop in multi-layered open-cell porous inconel structures

This study investigates the pressure-drop behaviour associated with airflow through bulk and structurally tailored multi-layered, open-cell porous Inconel structures over a wide airflow velocity range (0–50 m s-1). The effect of airflow velocity on the pressure-drop behaviour as a function of the sample thickness is presented and related to the flow behaviour corresponding to the relevant flow regimes (Darcy, Forchheimer, Turbulent and Postturbulent). Entrance effects are highlighted as a source of the pressure-drop increase for porous structures with air gaps, regardless of their sizes, as long as they are larger than those generated by loosely-stacked structures. The pressure-drops for gapped porous structures and the mathematical-summation of the pressure drop for the corresponding individual components, were in very good agreement, at lower airflow velocities. The potential for mass-efficient porous structures, providing a high pressure drop, was demonstrated using multiple thin porous laminates separated by air gaps

Immune function of LRRK2:focus on mitochondrial metabolism

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder affecting the elderly. The disease results from the death of neurons in the brain that secret dopamine leading to impaired movement. Although PD symptoms have been described for decades, no cure exists to prevent or stop the disease. Over the last two decades, several genes have been linked to PD. Among them, mutations in leucine-rich-repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) stand as the most common genetic cause. LRRK2 is a large multidomain protein with a double enzymatic function (kinase and GTPase). LRRK2 kinase activity is increased in PD patients. Although PD is considered as a brain disease, recent evidence showed that the immune system plays an important role in the development of PD. LRRK2 is highly expressed in immune cells and both the LRRK2 level and kinase activity are upregulated in PD patients’ immune cells. In addition, recent studies showed that mutations in LRRK2 resulted in defects in the function of mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. Yet, the exact mechanism by which LRRK2 regulates mitochondrial function in immune cells is unclear. In this thesis, we investigated LRRK2 regulation of mitochondrial function and energy production in immune cells. We proved that LRRK2 has a conserved role in mitochondrial energy generation. Mitochondrial defects could impair energy production resulting in cell death. Furthermore, we presented a better understanding of the influence of LRRK2 on stimulated immune cells. Additionally, we identified a novel protective effect of LRRK2 and its kinase function against the unique iron-dependent form of programmed cell death, ferroptosis, involved in PD development. Together these findings mean that LRRK2 contributes to the inflammatory process that may lead to the death of dopamine-secreting neurons

Mechanical and durability performance of hybrid flax fibres and graphene composites

Interest into the research on natural fibre-reinforced polymer (NFRP) composites for different engineering applications has increased significantly because they are environmentally friendly and sustainable renewable materials. However, these NFRP composites degrade when used as outdoor applications due to several environmental conditioning factors including in-service elevated temperature and high moisture. Recently, nanoscale fillers are now being utilised to improve the mechanical and durability performance of these natural composites. Therefore, this study systematically investigated the physical, mechanical and durability properties of hybrid natural fibre composites produced by reinforcing epoxy resin with flax fibres and graphene nanoparticles in elevated temperature, high moisture and hygrothermal environments. In the first study, hybrid flax composites with graphene at ratios of 0 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 % and 1.5 % by weight of the epoxy resin were prepared and their flexural and inter-laminar shear performance at different temperature conditions, i.e. 20 ℃ to 100 ℃ with increments of 20 °C was evaluated. The experimental results showed positive effect of graphene on the flexural and inter-laminar shear (ILSS) properties of hybrid flax composites with the maximum improvements were observed for 0.5 % graphene at room temperature by up to 62 % and 149 %, respectively. These improvements decreased with increasing graphene weight ratio due to filler agglomeration as observed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mechanical properties of hybrid composites started to decrease with increasing temperature but are still significantly higher than those without graphene. The second study investigated the degradation behaviour of hybrid composites in high moisture environment. Hybrid composites were immersed in water at room temperature for 1000, 2000, and 3000 hours and tested mechanically under flexural and ILSS loading. The moisture absorption and moisture diffusion of flax fibre-epoxy composites was found to be significantly reduce due to the graphene particles providing effective protection layers. While the mechanical properties were found to be affected by high moisture and exposure duration, the maximum retention of the flexural strength by 97 %, 92 % and 86 % and ILSS by 89 %, 84 % and 82 % was achieved in the hybrid composites with 0.5 % graphene for 1000, 2000 and 3000 hours, respectively. The failure mechanisms are also affected by the exposure to high moisture environment. The combined effect of moisture and in-service elevated temperature on the long-term durability of hybrid composites was investigated as the last study. Hybrid composites were conditioned at a relative humidity of 98 % and a temperature of up to 60 °C for exposure durations up to 3000 hours. The results showed that the addition of graphene can minimise the adverse effects of hygrothermal environments on the flexural modulus, strength and ILSS of hybrid composites. However, the sensitivity of the flexural and ILSS properties of hybrid composites against in-service elevated temperature was much higher than the exposure duration. Arrhenius model predicted that hybrid composites can retain at least 57 % and 49 % of its flexural and interlaminar shear strength, respectively, after 100 years in service in hygrothermal environment at a temperature of 30 °C. The results of this study provided a better understanding on the effect of graphene on the mechanical and durability properties of flax fibre-epoxy composites. The optimum ratio among the three tested ones is 0.5 % graphene by weight of the epoxy resin for maximum flexural and ILSS properties. These results also provided a useful guide for the natural fibre composite manufacturer on using additive manufacturing enhancing the long-term behaviour of such materials and be suitable for outdoor applications. It is recommended though to investigate other advance manufacturing process, in industrial scale, to scale up the outcome of this field of study

The degree of psychological security on the part of the faculty in some sports colleges of education in Jordanian universities in the Light of Arabic Spring Events

This study aimed to identify the degree of psychological security on the part of the faculty in some sports colleges of education in Jordanian universities, members, and the study population consisted of all faculty members in the colleges of physical education in the official Jordanian universities, has reached number (144) of the members of the Commission teaching, for the purposes of the study, the researcher using the questionnaire as the Chairperson of the data collection. Consisted of two parts: the first, and include personal information about the study sample, such as gender, grade and experience, and the second consists of 31 items distributed in three areas, namely: (relationship to work, and the relationship with colleagues, and the relationship with officials), and after data collection and discharge has processed using statistical methods and descriptive and analytical occasion. The study showed the following results: that the degree of availability of psychological security among faculty members in some sports colleges of education in Jordanian universities (high) with a mean (3.83: 5.00), and provide a degree of psychological security in terms of the relationship to work (medium) with a mean (3.49: 5:00), and in terms of the relationship with colleagues (high) with a mean (4.02: 5.00), either in terms of the relationship with officials came (high) with a mean (3.99: 5.00). It also revealed the existence of differences denote statistically attributable to variable experience for the class professor, and differences function attributed to variable experience for the benefit of less than five years category, and the lack of differences attributable to the variable gender, and in the light of the results of this study, the researcher recommended a number of recommendations. Keywords: psychological security, faculty members, Jordanian universities