Putting context to numbers : a geotechnical risk trajectory to cost overrun extremism

The study investigates the cause of the unusually high cost overruns experienced in highway project delivery in the tropical wetland setting of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This is in view of the extensive literature supporting the link between geology, the lack of geotechnical best practices and cost overruns. An empirical profiling of cost overrun research further reveals the predominance of mono-method studies based on survey methods, correlative analysis and archival data modelling techniques, all of which are underlain by positivism. The study argues that such positivist philosophies, although methodologically valid, cannot adequately explain and provide in-depth understanding of the contextual cost overrun drivers in highway organisations., Using a robust and thoughtfully designed mix of methods, the paper examines the contribution of geotechnical risks to cost overruns experienced in highway project, and demonstrates the relevance of context in cost overrun research. Cost overrun data from documentary sources for 61 completed highway projects in the Niger Delta are gathered and analysed, revealing an average value of 216%, with extreme cases, ranging up to 1925% of budgeted cost. To uncover the intrinsic contextual drivers, 16 interviews were conducted with participants from the three highway agencies in the region, responsible for the execution of the sampled highway projects. Adopting a geotechnical narrative, the data is thematically analysed, deductively and inductively. The results of the analysis identified that poor project governance, management and procurement practices, have inhibited the competent management of geotechnical risk, creating a propensity for extreme cost overruns on the highway projects. The study submits the phenomenon of cost overruns in public infrastructure projects is underlain by a complexity of contextual social constructs, which would have been overlooked in positivists studies. Cost overrun research therefore, needs to be contextually and numerically anchored. Keywords: Context, Cost overruns, Highway projects, Mixed methods, Social Construct

International nosocomial infection control consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 36 countries, for 2004-2009

The results of a surveillance study conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from January 2004 through December 2009 in 422 intensive care units (ICUs) of 36 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe are reported. During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN; formerly the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system [NNIS]) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infections, we gathered prospective data from 313,008 patients hospitalized in the consortium's ICUs for an aggregate of 2,194,897 ICU bed-days. Despite the fact that the use of devices in the developing countries' ICUs was remarkably similar to that reported in US ICUs in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were significantly higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals; the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC ICUs of 6.8 per 1,000 central line-days was more than 3-fold higher than the 2.0 per 1,000 central line-days reported in comparable US ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia also was far higher (15.8 vs 3.3 per 1,000 ventilator-days), as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (6.3 vs. 3.3 per 1,000 catheter-days). Notably, the frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to imipenem (47.2% vs 23.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (76.3% vs 27.1%), Escherichia coli isolates to ceftazidime (66.7% vs 8.1%), Staphylococcus aureus isolates to methicillin (84.4% vs 56.8%), were also higher in the consortium's ICUs, and the crude unadjusted excess mortalities of device-related infections ranged from 7.3% (for catheter-associated urinary tract infection) to 15.2% (for ventilator-associated pneumonia). Copyright © 2012 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Evaluation and application of surfactants synthesized from asphalt components

The synthesis, characterization, surface activity and applications of nonionic surfactants derived from the asphalt components (maltenes M) are presented. These compounds were synthesized by the sulfonation of (maltene), then the prepared maltene sulfonic acid (MS) was reacted with hexadecylamine giving maltene sulfonamide product (A) which undergoes an alkali-catalyzed ethoxylation at (135–150 °C). Several surfactants (M-10 to M-40) were formed with different ethylene oxide units (from 10 up to 40) and were characterized by molecular weight determinations, elemental analyses and FTIR analysis. Surface tension, as a function of concentration of the surfactants in the aqueous media, was measured at 25 °C. From these measurements, the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the maximum surface excess concentration (Гmax), Minimum area per molecule (Amin), effectiveness of surface reduction (ПCMC) and the efficiency (pC20) were calculated. The prepared surfactants were applied as emulsifying agents for making asphalt emulsions. Storage stability, (Saybolt Furol) viscosity, settlement (water content difference %), coating ability and water resistance were measured. The results indicated that M-20 (maltene sulfonamide ethoxylated with 20 units of ethylene oxides) gives a maximum stability

Development of benzimidazole-based derivatives as antimicrobial agents and their synergistic effect with colistin against gram-negative bacteria

Gram-negative bacteria pose a distinctive risk worldwide, especially with the evolution of major resistance to carbapenems, fluoroquinolones and colistin. Therefore, development of new antibacterial agents to target Gram-negative infections is of utmost importance. Using phenotypic screening, we synthesized and tested thirty-one benzimidazole derivatives against E. coli JW55031 (TolC mutant strain). Compound 6c showed potent activity with MIC value of 2 μg/ml, however, it lacked activity against several Gram-negative microbes with intact efflux systems, including E. coli BW25113 (wild-type strain). Combination of 6c with colistin partially restored its antibacterial activity against wild strains (MIC range, 8–16 μg/ml against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, and P. aeruginosa). 6c exhibited no cytotoxicity against two mammalian cell lines. Therefore, compound 6c represents a promising lead for further optimization to overcome Gram-negative resistance alone or in combination therapy

Cell surface hydrophobicity and adherence of a strain of group B streptococci during the post-antibiotic effect of penicillin Hidrofobicidade de superfície celular e aderência de uma estirpe de estreptococos do grupo B durante o efeito pós-antibiótico da penicilina

The minimum inhibitory concentration and post-antibiotic effects of an antimicrobial agent are parameters to be taken into consideration when determining its dosage schedules. The in vitro post-antibiotic effects on cell surface hydrophobicity and bacterial adherence were examined in one strain of group B streptococci. Exposure of the microorganism for 2 h at 37 °C to 1 x MIC of penicillin induced a PAE of 1.1 h. The cell surface charge of the Streptococcus was altered significantly during the post-antibiotic phase as shown by its ability to bind to xylene: hydrophobicity was decreased. Bacterial adherence to human buccal epithelial cells was also reduced. The results of the present investigation indicate that studies designed to determine therapeutic regimens should evaluate the clinical significance of aspects of bacterial physiology during the post-antibiotic period.<br>A concentração mínima inibitória e os efeitos pós-antibióticos (EPA) de um agente antimicrobiano são parâmetros que devem ser levados em consideração quando da determinação do esquema de dosagem. Os efeitos pós-antibióticos in vitro na hidrofobicidade de superfície celular e na aderência foram pesquisados em uma amostra de estreptococos do grupo B. A exposição do microrganismo por 2 h a 37 °C a 1 x CMI de penicilina induziu um EPA de 1,1 h. A carga da superfície celular da bactéria foi alterada significativamente durante a fase pós-antibiótica revelada através da capacidade de ligação ao xileno, indicada pela diminuição da hidrofobicidade. A aderência bacteriana às células epiteliais bucais humanas também foi reduzida. Os resultados da investigação demonstram que estudos clínicos destinados a determinar regimes terapêuticos deveriam incluir o conhecimento da fisiologia bacteriana durante o período pós-antibiótico