A Sustainability-Based Risk Assessment for P3 Projects Using a Simulation Approach

Integrating sustainability in the risk management process is an emergent problem, especially for efficient infrastructure delivery. For the case of complex projects like public–private partnerships (P3), traditional management practices offer a limited capacity to address long-ranging risk impacts on the social, economic, and environmental fabric within and around the project boundaries. Although P3 projects are objective-based contracts, present risk models rarely delineate risk impacts on focused project objectives. The relevant studies are very scarce creating a limited understanding of available approaches to conducting sustainability-based risk management for P3 projects. As risk and sustainability are two inherently subjective concepts with multiple interpretations, their combined assessment within a single framework demands a pragmatic approach. Therefore, the current study presents a model for conducting a sustainability-based risk assessment of P3 infrastructure projects through global data. Monte Carlo simulation is employed to further define the probabilistic risk ranges and risk ranks over relevant triple-bottom-line-based sustainability indicators for highway sector P3 projects. Findings are further demonstrated through two highway case studies and relevant mitigation strategies are also suggested. In the end, an implementation framework and future recommendations for the application of study findings on actual projects are also suggested. The study has useful implications for practitioners and researchers alike aiming for the delivery of sustainable complex projects

A Sustainability-Based Risk Assessment for P3 Projects Using a Simulation Approach

Integrating sustainability in the risk management process is an emergent problem, especially for efficient infrastructure delivery. For the case of complex projects like public–private partnerships (P3), traditional management practices offer a limited capacity to address long-ranging risk impacts on the social, economic, and environmental fabric within and around the project boundaries. Although P3 projects are objective-based contracts, present risk models rarely delineate risk impacts on focused project objectives. The relevant studies are very scarce creating a limited understanding of available approaches to conducting sustainability-based risk management for P3 projects. As risk and sustainability are two inherently subjective concepts with multiple interpretations, their combined assessment within a single framework demands a pragmatic approach. Therefore, the current study presents a model for conducting a sustainability-based risk assessment of P3 infrastructure projects through global data. Monte Carlo simulation is employed to further define the probabilistic risk ranges and risk ranks over relevant triple-bottom-line-based sustainability indicators for highway sector P3 projects. Findings are further demonstrated through two highway case studies and relevant mitigation strategies are also suggested. In the end, an implementation framework and future recommendations for the application of study findings on actual projects are also suggested. The study has useful implications for practitioners and researchers alike aiming for the delivery of sustainable complex projects

A randomized clinical study on the effect of <em>Bukhoor</em> with <em>Panchangusht</em> leaves (medicated steam), in the management of prolapsed intervertebral disc

263-269PIVD (Prolapsed intervertebral disc) commonly known as slipped disc, is a postural and life style disorder caused due to excess of sitting, driving, bending or traumatic factors like a sudden fall, push, pull or jerk. It is common in athletes and other sports persons. An open labeled, randomized, controlled clinical trial was carried out at Majeedia Unani hospital, New Delhi, where the patients were randomized into two groups: control group (given physiotherapy) and test group. Intervention used was Bukhoor (medicated steam) with Panchangusht leaves (Vitex negundo L.). The assessment of clinical efficacy, i.e., improvement in pain and lifestyle of patients suffering from PIVD was done by the “Oswestry low back pain disability scale” and SF-12 (Quality of life questionnaire). A highly significant effect on “Oswestry low back pain disability scale” was observed on 7th, 13th visit of the treatment when compared with the base line along with significant relief in perceived pain in the test group. The X-Rays showed that all the muscle spasm and the straightening of the vertebrae completely improved at the end of the therapy in all the patients in the test group. A significantly high score was observed for the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) using the SF 12 score in both the groups with a trend towards the better SF 12 Score in the test group in comparison to control group. Thus, Bukhoor can be a better alternative treatment and relief for PIVD

Profiling of antifungal activities and in silico studies of natural polyphenols from some plants

A worldwide increase in the incidence of fungal infections, emergence of new fungal strains, and antifungal resistance to commercially available antibiotics indicate the need to investigate new treatment options for fungal diseases. Therefore, the interest in exploring the antifungal activity of medicinal plants has now been increased to discover phyto-therapeutics in replacement to conventional antifungal drugs. The study was conducted to explore and identify the mechanism of action of antifungal agents of edible plants, including Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Amomum subulatum, Trigonella foenumgraecum, Mentha piperita, Coriandrum sativum, Lactuca sativa, and Brassica oleraceae var. italica. The antifungal potential was assessed via the disc diffusion method and, subsequently, the extracts were assessed for phytochemicals and total antioxidant activity. Potent polyphenols were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and antifungal mechanism of action was evaluated in silico. Cinnamomum zeylanicum exhibited antifungal activity against all the tested strains while all plant extracts showed antifungal activity against Fusarium solani. Rutin, kaempferol, and quercetin were identified as common polyphenols. In silico studies showed that rutin displayed the greatest affinity with binding pocket of fungal 14-alpha demethylase and nucleoside diphosphokinase with the binding affinity (K(d), −9.4 and −8.9, respectively), as compared to terbinafine. Results indicated that Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinnamomum tamala exert their antifungal effect possibly due to kaempferol and rutin, respectively, or possibly by inhibition of nucleoside diphosphokinase (NDK) and 14-alpha demethylase (CYP51), while Amomum subulatum and Trigonella foenum graecum might exhibit antifungal potential due to quercetin. Overall, the study demonstrates that plant-derived products have a high potential to control fungal infections

In Silico Characterization of Withania coagulans Bioactive Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of Hydroxymethylglutaryl (HMG-CoA) Reductase of Mus musculus

Hypercholesterolemia is a mediator for the etiology of cardiovascular diseases, which are characterized as the global leading cause of mortality. We aimed to investigate the inhibitory activity of Withania coagulans compounds against 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (Hmgcr) of Mus musculus using an extensive in silico approach. The 3D structure of the Hmgcr protein is not yet known, so we performed the homology modeling using MODELLER and SWISS-MODEL tools, followed with structural validation and assessment. The PROCHECK web server showed that the top-ranked homology model from SWISS-MODEL has 93.4% of residues in the most-favorable region, the quality factor was 98%, and the Verify3D score was 91.43%, compared to the other generated models. The druggable protein-binding cavities in a 3D model of Hmgcr were investigated with the aid of commonly prescribed statin compounds using the CB-dock approach. We compiled a 3D compound library of W. coagulans, followed by drug-likeness evaluation, and found 20 eligible compounds. The pattern of consensus residues obtained from the CB-dock procedure was then used for grid-box docking of W. coagulans compounds and statin drugs using AutoDock 4.2, respectively. The results showed that withanolide R (−10.77 kcal/mol), withanolide Q (−10.56 kcal/mol), withanolide J (−10.52 kcal/mol), atorvastatin (−8.99 kcal/mol), simvastatin (−8.66 kcal/mol), and rosuvastatin (−8.58 kcal/mol) were promising candidates that bind Hmgcr protein. The key residues involved in protein–ligand (withanolide R) interactions were Y516, C526, V529, I530, M533, I535, and V537, and the formation of a H-bond was at C526, M533, and I535 residues. M533 was the consensus residue having a tendency to form a H-bond with withanolide Q, too. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to validate the top-ranked docked complexes for the stability of the modeled protein. We also predicted the pharmacokinetic properties of binding affinity-based top-ranked compounds and concluded that they could be used as potential inhibitors of Hmgcr. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are essential to completing the drug development process