Assessing Risks and Opportunities within Digitalization Projects through Bayesian Networks: A Case Study of Aker Solutions' NOA Digital Project

Risk within digitalization is an increasingly relevant subject and there is no established framework on identifying risks in the development of new digital tools and processes. To this end, this thesis seeks to establish a recently developed method of utilizing Bayesian Networks to visualize risk within projects. In cooperation with Aker Solutions, the currently developing NOA Digital Project is analyzed and assessed for its risks and opportunities. By establishing a risk picture specific to the project, a generalized network of risks within digitalization projects is developed. An emphasis is put on examining how different aspects of project management and company culture affected the project’s overall risk picture, helping the identification of risk reducing measures. The generalized network and the proposed risk reducing measures of this thesis can serve as a framework for various projects across different industries and its use is illustrated by the case study of the NOA Digital Project.Risk within digitalization is an increasingly relevant subject and there is no established framework on identifying risks in the development of new digital tools and processes. To this end, this thesis seeks to establish a recently developed method of utilizing Bayesian Networks to visualize risk within projects. In cooperation with Aker Solutions, the currently developing NOA Digital Project is analyzed and assessed for its risks and opportunities. By establishing a risk picture specific to the project, a generalized network of risks within digitalization projects is developed. An emphasis is put on examining how different aspects of project management and company culture affected the project’s overall risk picture, helping the identification of risk reducing measures. The generalized network and the proposed risk reducing measures of this thesis can serve as a framework for various projects across different industries and its use is illustrated by the case study of the NOA Digital Project

Assessing Risks and Opportunities within Digitalization Projects through Bayesian Networks: A Case Study of Aker Solutions' NOA Digital Project

Risk within digitalization is an increasingly relevant subject and there is no established framework on identifying risks in the development of new digital tools and processes. To this end, this thesis seeks to establish a recently developed method of utilizing Bayesian Networks to visualize risk within projects. In cooperation with Aker Solutions, the currently developing NOA Digital Project is analyzed and assessed for its risks and opportunities. By establishing a risk picture specific to the project, a generalized network of risks within digitalization projects is developed. An emphasis is put on examining how different aspects of project management and company culture affected the project’s overall risk picture, helping the identification of risk reducing measures. The generalized network and the proposed risk reducing measures of this thesis can serve as a framework for various projects across different industries and its use is illustrated by the case study of the NOA Digital Project.Risk within digitalization is an increasingly relevant subject and there is no established framework on identifying risks in the development of new digital tools and processes. To this end, this thesis seeks to establish a recently developed method of utilizing Bayesian Networks to visualize risk within projects. In cooperation with Aker Solutions, the currently developing NOA Digital Project is analyzed and assessed for its risks and opportunities. By establishing a risk picture specific to the project, a generalized network of risks within digitalization projects is developed. An emphasis is put on examining how different aspects of project management and company culture affected the project’s overall risk picture, helping the identification of risk reducing measures. The generalized network and the proposed risk reducing measures of this thesis can serve as a framework for various projects across different industries and its use is illustrated by the case study of the NOA Digital Project

Diagnostic Accuracy of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography and Periapical Radiography in Internal Root Resorption

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and periapical (PA) radiography in detecting internal root resorption. Methods and Materials: Eighty single rooted human teeth with visible pulps in PA radiography were split mesiodistally along the coronal plane. Internal resorption like lesions were created in three areas (cervical, middle and apical) in labial wall of the canals in different diameters. PA radiography and CBCT images were taken from each tooth. Two observers examined the radiographs and CBCT images to evaluate the presence of resorption cavities. The data were statistically analyzed and degree of agreement was calculated using Cohen’s kappa (k) values. Results: The mean±SD of agreement coefficient of kappa between the two observers of the CBCT images was calculated to be 0.681±0.047. The coefficients for the direct, mesial and distal PA radiography were 0.405±0.059, 0.421±0.060 and 0.432±0.056, respectively (P=0.001). The differences in the diagnostic accuracy of resorption of different sizes were statistically significant (P<0.05); however, the PA radiography and CBCT, had no statistically significant differences in detection of internal resorption lesions in the cervical, middle and apical regions. Conclusion: Though, CBCT has a higher sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in comparison with conventional radiography, this difference was not significant.Keywords: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Periapical Radiography; Root Resorptio

Selection of ground motion prediction equations for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis based on an improved fuzzy logic

The fuzzy logic method has been used widely in civil and earthquake engineering, but there is no comprehensive point of view for utilizing fuzzy approach in order to obtain ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA). Hence, fuzzy magnitude–distance method as a new approach for choosing GMPEs in the process of PSHA, is developed in this research through the selection of the ruling peak ground acceleration (PGA) of each common cell (the combined cell of earthquake intensity and site to source distance). The presented method reduces the need for engineering judgments in seismic analysis based on a newly developed benchmark. It enables designers to not only determine the range of acceptable fuzzy results but also introduces a concept which ensures the selection of initial well-suited GMPEs for the analysis

Diagnostic Accuracy of High Resolution Cone-beam Computed Tomography and Standard Mode Cone-beam Computed Tomography in Internal Root Resorption

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the high resolution cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and standard mode CBCT diagnostic accuracy in internal root resorption with different sites and sizes. Methods and Materials: Eighty single rooted human teeth with visible pulps in periapical radiography were split mesiodistally along the coronal plane. Internal resorption like lesions were created in three areas (cervical, middle and apical) in labial wall of the canals in different diameters. High resolution CBCT (CBCT-H) and standard mode CBCT (CBCT-C) were taken from each tooth. Two observers examined the high resolution CBCT and standard mode CBCT to evaluate the presence of resorption cavities. The data were statistically analyzed and degree of agreement was calculated using Cohen’s kappa (k) values. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software and sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value for both methods were calculated. Data were analyzed using the Mac-Nemar and chi-square tests. Result: The positive predictive value and negative predictive value in CBCT-H was higher than that of CBCT-C, all of which indicates that the CBCT-H diagnostic test is more sensitive and more accurate than CBCT-C. Kappa statistics showed that there is a strong and complete agreement between the CBCT high resolution and reality (kappa: 0.72) and in the Standard CBCT method, a moderate agreement has been obtained with reality (Kappa: 0.45). Conclusion: According to our in vitro study CBCT high resolution has a higher diagnostic accuracy than conventional CBCT.Keyword: CBCT; Cone-beam Computed Tomography; High Resolution CBCT; Root Resorption; Standard Mode CBC

Molecular characterization of bovine Cryptosporidium using Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene

Cryptosporidium is a globally distributed protozoan parasite and one of the most common causes of infection and diarrhea in humans and cattle. The aim of the present study was to determine the species of Cryptosporidium among cattle with diarrhea by a nested PCR-RFLP technique at Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP). Fecal samples from 158 calves aged 1-20 weeks were collected from 10 dairy farms in Qazvin province, Iran. Initial identification of Cryptosporidium was carried out by Zeihl-Neelsen acid-fast staining method of stool samples. DNA was extracted from 26 (16.45 %) positive microscopically samples and Cryptosporidium genotypes were determined. Cryptosporidium parvum were identified in 80.8% of the positive samples and, Cryptosporidium andersoni in 19.2%. In conclusion the use of COWP primers could be sensitive enough to conduct a routine detection study. The nested PCR method using the COWP gene sequence can be an alternative diagnostic method to identify infected with Cryptosporidium and its genetic diversity

Factors Associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Patients with Surgically Treated Distal Radius Fracture

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an important common complication after surgical treatment for distal radius fracture. Recognition of the related factors is important to reduce the burden of the problem. Herein, the contributing factors for CRPS after distal radius fracture surgery are studied.   Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative study, 250 patients admitted to the orthopedics ward in Sina Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 2017 to 2020, were enrolled. The contributing factors for CRPS after distal radius fracture surgery were determined in them. Results: The CRPS was seen in 17 cases (6.8%). 9 percent of male and 1.9 percent of female patients were diagnosed with CRPS. This showed a significant difference in the Fisher test (P = 0.028). The mean pain severity by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was higher in CRPS cases, that showed a significant difference by the Mann-Whitney test (P = 0.001).   Conclusion: According to the obtained results, it may be concluded that CRPS was seen in seven percent of patients under surgery for distal radius fracture and was related to the male gender and higher pain severity.

Molecular Survey of Tularemia and Plague in Small Mammals From Iran

Introduction: Plague and tularemia are zoonoses and their causative bacteria are circulating in certain regions of Iran. This study was conducted to investigate potential disease reservoirs amongst small wildlife species in different regions of Iran.Methods: Rodents, insectivores and hares from 17 different provinces of the country were collected in 2014 and 2015. Samples were taken from the spleens of the animals and Real-time PCR was applied to detect nucleic acid sequences that are specific to Francisella tularensis and Yersinia pestis, respectively.Results: Among 140 collected rodents, 25 distinct species were identified out of which five were the most common: Microtus paradoxus (21% out of 140 rodents), Apodemus witherbyi (12%), Microtus irani (11%), Mus musculus (11%) and Microtus socialis (10%). Seventeen insectivores were collected and identified as Crocidura suaveolens (82%) and C. leucodon (18%). Fifty-one hares were collected and identified as Lepus europaeus (57%), Lepus tolai (14%) and Lepus sp. (29%). Three out of 140 explored rodents (1.91%) were positive for F. tularensis, an A. witherbyi, a Mus musculus domesticus, and a Chionomys nivalis collected from Golestan, Khuzestan and Razavi Khorasan provinces, respectively. Two hares (3.92%) were F. tularensis-positive, a L. europaeus from Khuzestan and a Lepus sp. from the Sistan and Baluchistan province. None of the tested animals were positive for Y. pestis.Conclusion: This is the first report of direct detection of F. tularensis in mammals of Iran and the first-time observation of the agent in a snow vole, C. nivalis worldwide. The results indicate that tularemia is more widespread in Iran than previously reported including the Northeast and Southwestern parts of the country. Future studies should address genetic characterization of F. tularensis positive DNA samples from Iran to achieve molecular subtyping and rule out assay cross-reactivity with near neighbor Francisella species

Graves' disease: introducing new genetic and epigenetic contributors

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) accounts for 90% of all thyroid diseases and affects 2-5% of the population with remarkable familial clustering. Among AITDs, Graves' disease (GD) is a complex disease affecting thyroid function. Over the l ast two decades, casecontrol studies using cutting-edge gene sequencing techniques have detected various susceptible loci that may predispose individuals to GD. It has been presumed that all likely associated genes, variants, and polymorphisms might be responsible for 75-80% of the heritability of GD. As a result, there are implications concerning the potential contribution of environmental and epigenetic factors in the pathogenesis of GD, including its initiation, progression, and development. Numerous review studies have summarized the contribution of genetic factors in GD until now, but there are still some key questions and notions that have not been discussed concerning the interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and immunological factors. With this in mind, this review discusses some newly-identified loci and their potential roles in the pathogenicity of GD. This may lead to the identification of new, promising therapeutic targets. Here, we emphasized principles, listed all the reported disease-associated genes and polymorphisms, and also summarized the current understanding of the epigenetic basis of GD