Process of Adopting and Implementing BIM Technology: A Case Study

On any relatively large construction project, coordination between stakeholders, project managers, superintendents, subcontractors or any other entity becomes vitally important to the project’s success. Building Information Modeling (BIM) creates a virtual design model of a building, which helps construction managers increase efficiency in terms of cost, schedule and overall quality. By connecting 3-D models to coordination and clash detection software’s, construction managers can solve issues quicker or prevent them from happening in the first place. This case study aims to analyze the implementation and use of BIM technology by Shawmut Design and Construction. This study will also focus on the effect of using BIM on customer satisfaction, employees and company reputation. The results of this case study show that companies who invest in BIM will increase project efficiency, customer satisfaction and company reputation

An improved method for surface immobilisation of RNA: application to small Non-Coding RNA - mRNA pairing

Characterisation of RNA and its intermolecular interactions is increasing in importance as the inventory of known RNA functions continues to expand. RNA-RNA interactions are central to post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanisms in bacteria, and the interactions of bacterial small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) with their mRNA targets are the subject of much current research. The technology of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is an attractive approach to studying these interactions since it is highly sensitive, and allows interaction measurements to be recorded in real-time. Whilst a number of approaches exist to label RNAs for surface-immobilisation, the method documented here is simple, quick, efficient, and utilises the high-affinity streptavidin-biotin interaction. Specifically, we ligate a biotinylated nucleotide to the 3' end of RNA using T4 RNA ligase. Although this is a previously recognised approach, we have optimised the method by our discovery that the incorporation of four or more adenine nucleotides at the 3' end of the RNA (a poly-A-tail) is required in order to achieve high ligation efficiencies. We use this method within the context of investigating small non-coding RNA (sRNA)-mRNA interactions through the application of surface technologies, including quantitative SPR assays. We first focus on validating the method using the recently characterised Escherichia coli sRNA-mRNA pair, MicA-ompA, specifically demonstrating that the addition of the poly-A-tail to either RNA does not affect its subsequent binding interactions with partner molecules. We then apply this method to investigate the novel interactions of a Vibrio cholerae Qrr sRNA with partner mRNAs, hapR and vca0939; RNA-RNA pairings that are important in mediating pathogenic virulence. The calculated binding parameters allow insights to be drawn regarding sRNA-mRNA interaction mechanisms

Navigating data governance associated with real-world data for public benefit: an overview in the UK and future considerations

Real-world data encompass data primarily captured for the provision or operation of services, for example, electronic health records for direct care purposes, but which may have secondary uses for informing research or commissioning. Public benefit is potentially forfeited by the underutilisation of real-world data for secondary uses, in part due to risk aversion when faced with the prospect of navigating necessary and important data governance processes. Such processes can be perceived as complex, daunting, time-consuming and exposing organisations to risk. By providing an overview description and discussion around the role of six key legal and information governance frameworks and their role regarding responsible data access, linkage and sharing, our intention is to make data governance a less daunting prospect and reduce the perception that it is a barrier to secondary uses, thus enabling public benefit

Smoking status and attractiveness among exemplar and prototypical identical twins discordant for smoking

In this online observational study, a two-alternative forced choice design was used to explore two aspects of the appearance of faces of identical twins discordant for smoking

Site Factors Related to Dry Farm Vegetable Productivity and Quality in the Willamette Valley of Oregon

Dry farming has been defined as rainfed crop production in a climate with more than 20 inches of annual precipitation, but where most precipitation falls outside the growing season. Dry farming is garnering interest in the western United States because it allows farmers to produce crops despite a lack of access to irrigation or water rights or to eliminate the infrastructure, labor, and energy costs of irrigation systems. Sites have differing suitability for dry farming, and some sites that can be farmed with irrigation will perform poorly when dry-farmed. To determine site factors associated with dry farm yield and fruit quality, trials of ‘Early Girl’ tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and ‘North Georgia Candy Roaster’ winter squash (Cucurbita maxima) were conducted at 17 participant farms in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, USA, in 2018 and 2019. The mean blossom-end rot (BER) incidence was higher in the Willamette Valley than in coastal California; this was probably because of the Willamette Valley’s hotter and drier climate. Increasing the available water-holding capacity of soil, total available water (available water-holding capacity of the soil plus in-season rainfall), native productivity rating, soil pH (0–6 inches and 24–36 inches), soil nutrient concentrations (0–6 inches and 24–36 inches), and in-season rainfall were positively associated with at least one measure of tomato or winter squash yield, fruit number, or average fruit weight. An earlier planting date was positively associated with winter squash total yield and total fruit number in 2019. The water-limited yield potential (the total yield potential if water was the only limiting factor) for 20-ft2/plant plots was estimated to be 2.2 tons/acre per inch for tomato and 2.8 tons/acre per inch for winter squash. In 2019, high-density plantings (20 ft2/plant) had higher tomato and winter squash mean total yields, mean total fruit numbers, and mean tomato unblemished yield than low-density plantings (40 ft2/plant). In 2019, planting tomato at 20 ft2/plant decreased the mean BER incidence by 15.6% when compared with planting tomato at 40 ft2/plant

Hormone and Adpokine Alterations across Eleven Weeks of Training in Division I Collegiate Throwers: an Exploratory Study

Conceptually, it is important to understand the underlying physiological mechanisms of any training program model. This understanding aids the coach/sport scientist in making better choices in manipulating variables in formulating the training model. These underlying mechanisms can be associated with training variable manipulation and fatigue management aspects as well as the overall health of the athlete. Hormone and cytokine concentrations can be linked to alterations resulting from the manipulation of training variables and to subsequent alterations in performance (Haff et al., 2008; Ishigaki et al., 2005; Jurimae et al., 2010; Stone et al., 2007). For example, alterations in the testosterone: cortisol ratio (T:C) has been associated with alterations in training volume as well as physiological aspects such as lean body mass (LBM), fat content and strength/power performance (Haff et al., 2008; Häkkinen, 1989; Stone et al., 2007). Although cytokine production is part of the adaptive process, markedly increased/excessive cytokine production has been related poor fatigue management and over training (Angeli et al., 2004; Jurimae et al., 2010; Smith, 2000). The present study followed NCAA division 1 (D-1) collegiate throwers over a period of an 11 week fall semester preparation-phase block form of periodized training. Volume and intensity alterations and their effects on physiological variables (e.g. neuromuscular, hormonal, cytokine) are a key component in understanding the effects of a training process. Alterations in these physiological variables were tracked over time in Division-1 collegiate throwers

Broccoli heat tolerance and varietal evaluation in western Oregon

With the hot summers of recent years causing significant heat damage to broccoli heads within the Willamette valley, varietal screenings for newer and more heat tolerant varieties became necessary. Most commercially available broccoli varieties are bred for production within milder and more climatically stable regions, such as the Salinas Valley of California. Determining which broccoli varieties would be the most climatically suitable to grow here in Oregon is one of the best ways to ensure the long-term viability of the broccoli industry. Over the past four years (2019-2022), varietal screenings have been conducted at the OSU Vegetable farm in Corvallis to evaluate newly released varieties and experimental broccoli lines for suitability to our regional climate. The experimental design incorporated six planting dates (i.e. spaced one week apart) to maximize the potential range of temperature variability the broccoli varieties would see within a single growing season. The evaluation criteria used for this trial was designed to identify the broccoli hybrids which have the most complete range of desirable characteristics for broccoli growers in Oregon. Most of the 40+ broccoli lines screened in the past four years have had one or more detrimental qualities observed within the 6 plantings. The most common of the heat related detrimental qualities observed were irregularities in bead size and a lack of uniformity in head shape and color. Overall, several broccoli hybrids originating from established seed companies such as Sakata and Seminis (Lieutenant, Eastern Crown, Eastern Magic) generally performed well and produced acceptable yield and quality. However, these may lack other desirable field traits such as head exsertion, which allows for ease of mechanical harvesting. Other cultivars with consistent field performance across all four growing seasons, with heads of high quality and acceptable yields, were Kings Crown (Tainong Seed) and Asteroid (HM Clause). Viper and Wolfman, two varieties recently released by Hazera Seeds and screened in our trial for the past two years, have proven to be exceptionally consistent and the most heat tolerant of all the varieties.Keywords: Broccoli, Heat Tolerance, Variety Trial, Mechanical Harvesting, Processed Vegetable

Cell Free DNA as a Marker of Training Status in Weightlifters

The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the changes in cf-DNA as it relates to fluctuations in resistance training workloads and intensities. The relationship between cell free DNA (cf-DNA), C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine kinase (CK), testosterone (T), cortisol (C), testosterone-cortisol ratio (T:C), body mass and body composition were also examined. Eight weightlifters (5 males and 3 females, age = 25 ± 3.5 yr, body mass = 88.3 ± 22.7 kg, height = 173.8 ±8.4 cm) volunteered to participate in this study. Venous blood samples, body mass and body composition were taken six times, each corresponding to the end of a training phase. CK (p = 0.018, η² = 0.409) and CK %Δ (p \u3c 0.001, η² = 0.594) were the only biochemical variables to reach statistical significance at any point. A number of statistically significant correlations were found among variables. VLD4wk was related to CK %Δ (r = 0.86), VLD4wk %Δ was related CK %Δ (r = 0.86) and TID1wk was related to CRP (r = 0.83). cf-DNA %Δ was correlated with CRP and CRP %Δ (r = 0.83 and 0.86, respectively). CRP and CRP %Δ were correlated with BF % (r = 0.94 and 0.92, respectively). CK and CK %Δ were both related to T:C (r = 0.94 and 0.89, respectively) and T:C %Δ (r = 0.87 and 0.86, respectively). The correlation between cf-DNA and CRP suggests that cf-DNA may be a valuable indicator of inflammation in weightlifters