Determination of Life Cycle Cost Under Uncertainty

The subject of this thesis is a Life Cycle Cost (LCC) model that takes into consideration the uncertainty of equipment failure rate and input data. The outcome of LCC depends on numerous estimates, forecasts, assumptions, and approximations of real-life data. Each of these factors has the potential to introduce error into the results. The study focuses upon the database generated for equipment failure rates data developed from historical database based on Weibull distribution parameters. The model provides a method to simulate real-world project life cycle

Verifiable secure computation of linear fractional programming using certificate validation

Outsourcing of scientic computations is attracting increasing attention since it enables the customers with limited computing resource and storage devices to outsource the sophisticated computation workloads into powerful service providers. However, it also comes up with some security and privacy concerns and challenges, such as the input and output privacy of the customers, and cheating behaviors of the cloud. Motivated by these issues, this paper focused on privacy-preserving Linear Fractional Programming (LFP) as a typical and practically relevant case for veriable secure multiparty computation. We will investigate the secure and veriable schema with correctness guarantees, by using normal multiparty techniques to compute the result of a computation and then using veriable techniques only to verify that this result was correct

Reduced microvascular density in omental biopsies of children with chronic kidney disease

Endothelial dysfunction is an early manifestation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and consistently observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesized that CKD is associated with systemic damage to the microcirculation, preceding macrovascular pathology. To assess the degree of "uremic microangiopathy", we have measured microvascular density in biopsies of the omentum of children with CKD.Omental tissue was collected from 32 healthy children (0-18 years) undergoing elective abdominal surgery and from 23 age-matched cases with stage 5 CKD at the time of catheter insertion for initiation of peritoneal dialysis. Biopsies were analyzed by independent observers using either a manual or an automated imaging system for the assessment of microvascular density. Quantitative immunohistochemistry was performed for markers of autophagy and apoptosis, and for the abundance of the angiogenesis-regulating proteins VEGF-A, VEGF-R2, Angpt1 and Angpt2.Microvascular density was significantly reduced in uremic children compared to healthy controls, both by manual imaging with a digital microscope (median surface area 0.61% vs. 0.95%, p<0.0021 and by automated quantification (total microvascular surface area 0.89% vs. 1.17% p = 0.01). Density measured by manual imaging was significantly associated with age, height, weight and body surface area in CKD patients and healthy controls. In multivariate analysis, age and serum creatinine level were the only independent, significant predictors of microvascular density (r2 = 0.73). There was no immunohistochemical evidence for apoptosis or autophagy. Quantitative staining showed similar expression levels of the angiogenesis regulators VEGF-A, VEGF-receptor 2 and Angpt1 (p = 0.11), but Angpt2 was significantly lower in CKD children (p = 0.01).Microvascular density is profoundly reduced in omental biopsies of children with stage 5 CKD and associated with diminished Angpt2 signaling. Microvascular rarefaction could be an early systemic manifestation of CKD-induced cardiovascular disease

Reprotoxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized with Crataegus monogyna leaves extract: testis and sperm function

This work examines the effect of three doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), synthetized with Crataegus monogyna leaves using zinc acetate, on the sperm quality of Wistar rats. Animals were divided into 4 groups; the control group maintained without treatment, while ZNP1, ZNP2, and ZNP3 received respectively 10 mg ZNP/kgbw, 50 mg ZNP/kgbw, and 100 mg ZNP/kgbw by gavage for 15 days. Epididymis sperm was collected for sperm parameters: concentration, live sperm, motility, velocity (VCL, VSL, and VAP), linearity (LIN), amplitude lateral head (ALH), and beat cross frequency (BCF). DNA fragmentation was measured in three samples selected from control, ZNP1, and ZNP2. Testicular and epididymis malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated. Compared to the control, ZNP1 has a significant reduction of testicular and epididymis weights, sperm concentration, live sperm, motility, VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, and BCF, with a significant increase of MDA and a significant decrease of GSH levels. The ZNP2 group demonstrated a significant increase in epididymis weight, a raise in sperm parameters (concentration, motility, VCL VSL, VAP, LIN, ALH, and BCF), and an augmentation in GSH and GPx levels. However, ZNP3 has a significant increase in VSL and ALH while ZNP1 and ZNP2 showed no effect on spermatozoa DNA. interestedly, we found that the lower dose of ZNP1 acted as toxic to testicular and epididymis parameters, while the higher ones may help to improve sperm quality and reduced oxidative stress. Article history: Received 27 March 2024; Revised 29 November 2024;Accepted 01 December 2024; Available online 10 December 202

Studies of Anomalous Microwave Emission (AME) with the SKA

In this chapter, we will outline the scientific motivation for studying Anomalous Microwave Emission (AME) with the SKA. AME is thought to be due to electric dipole radiation from small spinning dust grains, although thermal fluctuations of magnetic dust grains may also contribute. Studies of this mysterious component would shed light on the emission mechanism, which then opens up a new window onto the interstellar medium (ISM). AME is emitted mostly in the frequency range $\sim 10$--100\,GHz, and thus the SKA has the potential of measuring the low frequency side of the AME spectrum, particularly in band 5. Science targets include dense molecular clouds in the Milky Way, as well as extragalactic sources. We also discuss the possibility of detecting rotational line emission from Poly-cyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which could be the main carriers of AME. Detecting PAH lines of a given spacing would allow for a definitive identification of specific PAH species

An eco-friendly synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles with jamun seed extract and their multi-applications

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized via an ecofriendly route using Indian Jamun seed aqueous extract. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized for their surface properties using characterization techniques such as UV-Visible, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and TEM. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were found to be spherical with a size ≤1 nm, as evidenced from SEM and TEM investigations. The XRD patterns confirm the formation of the wurtzite phase of ZnO nanoparticles. The ZnO nanoparticles were later investigated for their ability to remediate Hg2+ ions from aqueous solutions. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the independent variables, and optimal results were achieved at pH 6, 45 min of contact time, and an initial concentration of 100 mg·L−1 Hg2+ ions. The applicability of the developed model was supported by a p-value of <0.0001 being significant, and 11 out of 20 runs resulted in above 75% of removal efficiency. The loading capacity of the ZnO nanoparticles was calculated to be 122.7 mg·g−1. The decolourization of methylene blue was achieved successfully with ZnO nanoparticles within 150 min. A moderate antimicrobial activity was exhibited by the ZnO nanoparticles synthesized in this study, with zones of inhibition of 15 and 14 mm for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The results conclude that the Indian jamun seed extract-mediated ZnO nanoparticles are excellent candidates for the remediation of Hg2+ ion-contaminated water streams

Developing a Collaborative Strategy to Manage and Preserve Cultural Heritage During the Libyan Conflict. The Case of the Gebel Nafusa

The paper discusses the potential of a collaborative scheme for the development of a protocol for recording and managing the cultural heritage in Libya. The critical political situation in the country urges the development of cultural heritage management policies in order to protect it more thoroughly and consistently. Moving on from the numerous international initiatives and projects dealing with a mostly “remote” approach to the issue, the project here presented to engages with staff members of the Department of Antiquities (DoA) in the development of a joint strategy for the application of remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS) to the preservation and monitoring of Libyan cultural heritage. A series of training courses resulted in an initial development of new ways of recording and analysing field data for a better awareness of the full range of threats that the archaeology of the country is subject to. Focussing on the case of the Jebel Nafusa, the training involved the assessment of site visibility on satellite imagery, the analysis of high-resolution satellite datasets for archaeological mapping, the creation of a GIS spatial database of field data, and the mapping of risks and threats to archaeology from remote sensing data. This led to the creation of of a risk map showing the areas that are affected by a number of threats, thus giving the DoA a tool to prioritise future fieldwork to keep the assessment of site damage up to date. Only a collaborative approach can lead to a sustainable strategy for the protection of the invaluable cultural heritage of Libya

Collaborative metabolic curation of an emerging model marine bacterium, Alteromonas macleodii ATCC 27126

Inferring the metabolic capabilities of an organism from its genome is a challenging process, relying on computationally-derived or manually curated metabolic networks. Manual curation can correct mistakes in the draft network and add missing reactions based on the literature, but requires significant expertise and is often the bottleneck for high-quality metabolic reconstructions. Here, we present a synopsis of a community curation workshop for the model marine bacterium Alteromonas macleodii ATCC 27126 and its genome database in BioCyc, focusing on pathways for utilizing organic carbon and nitrogen sources. Due to the scarcity of biochemical information or gene knock-outs, the curation process relied primarily on published growth phenotypes and bioinformatic analyses, including comparisons with related Alteromonas strains. We report full pathways for the utilization of the algal polysaccharides alginate and pectin in contrast to inconclusive evidence for one-carbon metabolism and mixed acid fermentation, in accordance with the lack of growth on methanol and formate. Pathways for amino acid degradation are ubiquitous across Alteromonas macleodii strains, yet enzymes in the pathways for the degradation of threonine, tryptophan and tyrosine were not identified. Nucleotide degradation pathways are also partial in ATCC 27126. We postulate that demonstrated growth on nitrate as sole nitrogen source proceeds via a nitrate reductase pathway that is a hybrid of known pathways. Our evidence highlights the value of joint and interactive curation efforts, but also shows major knowledge gaps regarding Alteromonas metabolism. The manually-curated metabolic reconstruction is available as a "Tier-2" database on BioCyc

Testing the effectiveness and acceptability of online supportive supervision for mental health practitioners in humanitarian settings: a study protocol for the caring for carers project

Background: Local humanitarian workers in low and middle-income countries must often contend with potentially morally injurious situations, often with limited resources. This creates barriers to providing sustainable mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to displaced individuals. Clinical supervision is an often neglected part of ensuring high-quality, sustainable care. The Caring for Carers (C4C) project aims to test the effectiveness and acceptability of online group-based supportive supervision on the well-being of MHPSS practitioners, as well as service-user-reported service satisfaction and quality when working with displaced communities in Türkiye, Syria, and Bangladesh. This protocol paper describes the aim, design, and methodology of the C4C project. Method: A quasi-experimental, mixed-method, community-based participatory research study will be conducted to test the effectiveness of online group-based supportive clinical supervision provided to 50 Syrian and 50 Bangladeshi MHPSS practitioners working with Syrian and Rohingya displaced communities. Monthly data will be collected from the practitioners and their beneficiaries during the active control (six months) and supervision period (16 months over two terms). Outcomes are psychological distress (Kessler-6), burnout (the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory), compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress (Professional Quality of Life Scale), perceived injustice, clinical self-efficacy (Counseling Activity Self-Efficacy Scale), service satisfaction, and quality (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire and an 18-item measure developed in this project). A realist evaluation framework will be used to elucidate the contextual factors, mechanisms, and outcomes of the supervision intervention. Discussion: There is a scarcity of evidence on the role of clinical supervision in improving the well-being of MHPSS practitioners and the quality of service they provide to displaced people. By combining qualitative and quantitative data collection, the C4C project will address the long-standing question of the effectiveness and acceptability of clinical supervision in humanitarian settings