Decision-Support Framework for Integrated Asset Management of Major Municipal Infrastructure

"Canada's municipal infrastructure is at risk." This was the key finding of Canada’s first municipal infrastructure report card. Given the current state of risk for Canadian infrastructure, municipalities face challenging decisions for planning the integrated repair/renewal of road, water and sewer networks. Decision-making surrounding the assets in these networks requires data collection, analysis, the identification of decision variables and undertaking optimized decision-making processes. Currently there is a lack of tools available to simplify the decision making process for stakeholders. The research objective is to establish a methodology and framework that facilitates decision-making processes used during corridor rehabilitation project planning. The proposed framework consists of three main models: (1) Risk assessment, (2) Performance evaluation and (3) Integrated decision support system (IDSS). The risk model was developed using a mixed Delphi-Analytical Hierarchy Process approach. The impacts of four main consequences of failure with eighteen sub factors were considered. Road, water and sewer networks indices were amalgamated and grouped into an overall integrated risk index using K-means Clustering technique. The performance model considers nine factors that represent the asset performance. These factors were mapped using fuzzy logic technique to a Customer Driven Performance Measure (CDPM) index. The IDSS framework allows the setting of priorities for integrated corridor rehabilitation and implementing optimization via Integer Programming. Finally, these models were applied in a prototype tool using Visual Basic built on Microsoft Access, Excel and GIS platforms. A series of workshop interviews were conducted with various municipalities to collect the necessary information. Data provided by the City of Guelph was used in a case study in order to demonstrate the model features. Results show that Pipe/road size and accessibility factors had the highest impact on the integrated risk index. The road roughness rating and watermain breaks results show the highest impact on the CDPM index. Optimization outcomes demonstrated that corridor rehabilitation alternatives resulted in a ‘maximum risk reduced per dollar spent’. The developed models can be used by researchers and practitioners (municipal engineers and consultants) in order to prioritize corridor rehabilitation projects thereby easing the challenge faced by stakeholders regarding the future of municipal infrastructure

Properties of Copper nitride thin films deposited using a pulsed hollow cathode discharge

Copper nitride (Cu3N) thin films were deposited on a glass substrates using pulsed hollow cathode discharge (PHCD). The deposition was performed at 4kV charging voltage, and nitrogen gas pressure of 10-2 torr. The structure of the thin films was identified by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The XRD measurements indicated that the thin films have a nanocrystalline nature and exhibit orientation at (111) phase of Cu3N. The grain size of the nanocrystalline films ranged from 41 nm to 80 nm. The optical band gaps were measured using UV Visa NIR spectrophotometer and Touc's equation. The optical band gaps of the films decreased from 2.55 eV to 2.25 eV by increasing the number of deposition shots from 20 to 80 shots. The surface morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM image indicates that the film have facetted surface morphology packed particles

Recurrence after correction of acquired ankle equinus deformity in children using Ilizarov technique

To describe our Ilizarov technique for the treatment of acquired equinus deformity in children and to determine if compliance with continuous use of an ankle foot orthosis (after removal of the fixator and until skeletal maturity) can influence the severity of recurrence. A cohort of 26 children with post-traumatic or post-burn contractures producing an equinus deformity was followed up for a minimum of 2 years after skeletal maturity. Cases with a bony deformity and/or nerve injury were excluded from this study. All patients were managed by a percutaneous tendo-Achilles lengthening followed by application of an Ilizarov external fixator. Post-operative treatment was in the form of gradual correction at a rate of 0.5 mm per day. Correction started from the second postoperative day until an over-correction of 15 degrees dorsiflexion was achieved. Ankle range of movement was encouraged 4 weeks prior to removal of the external fixator. On removal of the fixator, a posterior splint was applied until substituted by an ankle foot orthoses (AFO). The AFO was used continuously during the first 2–3 months and at nighttime thereafter until skeletal maturity. Fifteen children were compliant with the use of the AFO until skeletal maturity and 11 non-compliant. We compared the recurrence and the size of deformity between the two groups. The rate of recurrence, degree of equinus at recurrence and number of episodes of external fixation surgery showed statistical significant differences (P < 0.01) between the groups. The Ilizarov technique for treatment of acquired equinus deformity secondary to soft tissue scarring is a safe and effective technique. The use of an AFO until skeletal maturity can decrease the risk and degree of recurrence

Neuromorphic Computing between Reality and Future Needs

Neuromorphic computing is a one of computer engineering methods that to model their elements as the human brain and nervous system. Many sciences as biology, mathematics, electronic engineering, computer science and physics have been integrated to construct artificial neural systems. In this chapter, the basics of Neuromorphic computing together with existing systems having the materials, devices, and circuits. The last part includes algorithms and applications in some fields

Non-invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring of Fluid Resuscitation in Cirrhotic Patients with Acute Kidney Injury

BACKGROUND: Fluid management of patients with liver cirrhosis and acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex problem requiring accurate assessment of the intravascular volume status and the cause of the AKI. Echocardiography used in various hemodynamic monitoring as a quick, easy, bedside, and non-invasive tool with great sensitivity. AIM: This study aims to evaluate echocardiography as a non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring tool for the assessment of volume status and cardiac function before and after volume expansion in patients with liver cirrhosis presented by AKI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 120 patients with liver cirrhosis and AKI. All patients were subjected to clinical evaluation, laboratory assessment of kidney and liver functions, and echocardiographic assessment of inferior vena cava (IVC) collapsibility index, left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT VTI) variability index, and cardiac output (CO). RESULTS: Comparison between responders and non-responders to volume resuscitation regarding the echocardiographic data showed that responders had significantly higher IVC collapsibility index, LVOT VTI variability index, and % of CO increase. IVC collapsibility index and LVOT VTI variability index showed good predictive value of fluid responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: The use of echocardiography is a good tool for hemodynamic monitoring of fluid resuscitation in cirrhotic patients with AKI. The use of echocardiography has limited the use of central venous line only to patients with hemodynamic instability requiring vasoactive support

Experimentally Comparative Study on Different Strengthening Methods of Reinforced Concrete Deep Beams

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of strengthening reinforced concrete deep beams. An experimental study was done using six reinforced concrete deep beams have the same dimensions of 1150×800×150 mm, and subjected to mid-span concentrated load up to failure. Beams were different in the type, Location of strengthening and the ratio of reinforcement. Beams were divided into three groups. The first group included beams strengthened internally by single strut and either vertical or horizontal additional reinforcement. The second group included beams strengthened using double embedded strut or using CFRP as external strengthening. The third group included one beam strengthened using inclined stirrups. One of the specimens was tested without any strengthening and one specimen was strengthened by external CFRP sheets for comparison purposes the results of the experimental study shown remarkable improvement for using each type of strengthening. Results shown that using the mechanism of increasing stirrups by double rate and using single strut reinforcing is the optimum choice. This is due to the fact that this type of strengthening provides significant increase in the beam capacity in additional to the enhanced behavior of the beam. By this study comparison between each type of strengthening was done and the optimum type to be used in accordance with parameters of gained load capacity of tested deep beams

Autonomic Dysfunction Predicts Early Cardiac Affection in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

Objective: To detect the early preclinical alterations in cardiac autonomic control as well as altered cardiac function in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and their relevance to the clinical features of the disease using noninvasive methods. Methods: 30 SSc patients and 15 healthy controls matched for age and sex underwent clinical examination, serological analysis, and echocardiographic assessment including Doppler flow imaging to evaluate cardiac function, and 24-hour Holter monitoring analyzed for arrhythmia and heart rate variability (HRV) in the time and frequency domains. Results: The trans-mitral Doppler of early to atrial wave (E/A) ratio was reversed in five patients (16.6%) and the tricuspid E/A ratio was reversed in 10 patients (33.3%). Holter analysis for SSc patients revealed an increased prevalence of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) $ 10/h (P = 0.02), supra-ventricular tachycardias (SVTs) (P = 0.2), and total PVC count (P = 0.0000). Highly significant (P = 0.000) impairment in all HRV parameters was demonstrated in the SSc patients. Total skin thickness score (TSS), Raynaud’s phenomenon and anti-scleroderma 70 (anti-SCL70) showed significant positive correlations with all arrhythmia parameters, while showing a significant negative correlation with the impaired ventricular diastolic function and various HRV parameters. No correlation was found between arrhythmia and HRV parameters and disease duration, disease type, or presence of anti-centromere antibodies. Conclusion: Low heart rate variability, increased TSS and the presence of anti-SCL70 are correlated with preclinical cardiac involvement in SSc patients and may predict the likelihood of malignant arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, noninvasive HRV evaluation before clinical cardiac involvement in these patients might be beneficial when added to the clinical and laboratory assessments in detecting high-risk patients, and may allow for implementation of preventive measures and initiation of appropriate therapy early in the course of the disease

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, ASSESSMENT OF ANTIPROLIFERATIVE AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF MORUS ALBA AND MORUS RUBRA FRUITS

Objective: Mulberry is a nontoxic commonly eaten plant, belongs to the Morus and used in folk medicine in the remedy of dysentery, antiphlogistic, diuretic, expectorant, and antidiabetic. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antiproliferative and radical scavenging activity of the total alcoholic and successive fractions thereof of Morus alba and Morus rubra fruits. In addition, the chemical composition of the bioactive fractions of each species was investigated.Methods: The antiproliferative potential of 8 extracts on 4 human cancer cell lines, hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), Caucasian breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), prostate (PC3), and colon carcinoma (HCT116) in addition to one normal cell line namely human normal immortalized skin fibroblast cells (BJ1) were carried out. Cell viability was determined using MTT assay. The potency was compared with the reference drug doxorubicin. These extracts were also assayed for 1,1-diphenyl-2-hydrazyl free radical scavenging activities. After saponification of the n-hexane fraction, unsaponifiable matter and fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography (GLC). The chemical composition of the bioactive fractions was investigated using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis.Results: All the extracts showed significant free radical scavenging activity dose-dependently. The n-hexane and dichloromethane (DCM) fractions of M. rubra exhibited potent cytotoxic activity on almost cancer cell lines. In the same pattern, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) of M. rubra has moderate cytotoxic activity against all cell lines except HepG2. DCM fraction of M. alba possessed both radical scavenging and high potential antiproliferated activities against HCT116 and MCF7 with inhibitory concentration of 43.9 and 32.3 μg/ml, respectively, while it showed no cytotoxic effect on BJ1. GLC analysis showed the major hydrocarbons in M. alba and M. rubra were heptacosane and docosane, respectively. Sterols were similar in both species but with different ratios and cholesterol was the major one. Palmitic and margaric were the major saturated fatty acid while arachidonic was the major unsaturated fatty acid in both species. GC/MS analysis showed the main compound in DCM fraction of each Morus species was palmitic acid. Furthermore, 1,11-bis-(methoxycarbonyl-ethenyl)-10,2-dihydroxy-cycloeicosane and linolelaidic acid, methyl ester were the main compounds in the EtOAc fraction of each Morus species. Whereas, the main compounds in alcoholic extract of M. alba and M. rubra were methyl-14-methyl-pentadecanoate and 1,2-O-isopropylyidene-4-nonene-1,2,3-triol, respectively.Conclusions: The results observed remarkable biological activity of the successive fractions of M. rubra more than those of M. alba and confirmed its importance as a natural bioactive source. Morus species are good candidates to be promising as possible sources for future antitumor and antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical formulations. The strong activity partly explains the potential effects of Morus species for the treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases caused by free radicals

Serial changes in the serum levels of leptin, homocysteine, galectin-3, total phospholipids and hexosamines among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

AbstractBackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disorder in adults. This study was performed to elucidate the role of active leptin, homocysteine, galectin-3, total phospholipids, total, bound, free hexosamines, free-to-bound hexosamines ratio in the pathogenesis of chronic myocardial ischemia and studying the effect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on their serum levels.MethodsA prospective case control study was carried out on 100 ischemic heart disease male patients undergoing elective CABG and 25 healthy males. Serum levels of total phospholipids, total and free hexosamines, were estimated using spectrophotometric methods, while, serum levels of active leptin, homocysteine and galectin-3 were estimated using ELISA assay kit.ResultsSignificant higher serum active leptin, homocysteine, galectin-3, free hexosamines and free to bound hexosamines ratio levels preoperatively when compared with the control group (p < 0.01 for all) with significant lowering of their serum levels following CABG (p < 0.01 for all) except for active leptin. Significant lower serum total phospholipids, total and bound hexosamines levels preoperatively when compared with the control group (p < 0.01 for all) with significant elevations in their serum levels following CABG (p < 0.01 for all).ConclusionsHigh active leptin, homocysteine, galectin-3, free and free to bound hexosamines ratio and low total phospholipids, total and bound hexosamines play an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia. The serum levels of homocysteine, galectin-3, hexosamines and total phospholipids, but not active leptin are significantly lowered following CABG