Risk Analysis Related to Cost and Schedule for a Bridge Construction Project

The construction sector is subject to more risk than many other sectors. Managing risk is the hottest topic of discussion for engineers within the construction sector. It is difficult to imagine managing of projects without risk management in construction. Risk management is concerned with risk management planning, identification, analysis, responses, monitoring and controlling project risk. Risk analysis is an evaluative process that establishes the magnitude of risks on projects. This work is planned to identify and analyze risks in the construction of a bridge project. The data are collected through a survey approach by administering a questionnaire. Professionals involved in the construction of bridges identify the project risks. A case study is utilized to determine the impact of cost and schedule risks. The analysis is carried out using the Monte Carlo simulation. The findings of the Monte Carlo simulation are compared with the actual times and costs of the case-study project. The results show the actual times and costs fell within the expected distribution of the simulation. The results indicate that risk analysis is helpful in managing costs and schedule risks. Additionally, this work documents guidelines for risk analysis

BIM for construction safety improvement in Gaza strip: awareness, applications and barriers

The objectives of this paper are to elicit the perception of contracting parties regarding building information modelling (BIM), the most important safety-related applications of BIM and the barriers to adopting BIM in the local construction industry. Data for this study were collected through a questionnaire survey. A total of 75 questionnaires were randomly distributed to contractors, owners and consultants, and 37 were returned, representing a 49% response rate. The findings indicated that 33% of the respondents had no knowledge of the concept of BIM, 28% of the respondents’ organizations are not using BIM and if used it was implemented to a limited extent. The results indicated that ‘hazard identification and minimization’ and ‘safety training and education’ are the most important safety-related applications provided by BIM tools to improve safety performance in construction. Lack of universal use in the construction

Contractors’ perception towards causes of claims in construction projects

The construction industry is an important sector for the development of the Gaza Strip. A key factor to a successful construction project is to complete the project without any claims occurrence. Nonetheless, claims are very common in the construction industry of Palestine. The aim of this paper is to identify and rank the existing causes of claims according to their relative importance in the construction industry from the perspective of the local contractors. The paper reports on a questionnaire-based research investigation targeting local contractors by analyzing their perception towards causes of claims. The results found the main causes of claims and they are: awarding bid to the lower bidder; border closures; residents’ interference during project implementation; road blockage and difficulties in passing between cities and governorate It was found that owners may not award the contract to the lowest responsive bidder

Reversal of Pathogen-Induced Barrier Defects in Intestinal Epithelial Cells by Contra-pathogenicity Agents.

“This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of a protocol published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences The final publication is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-020-06121-9"BACKGROUND: Environmental enteropathy (EE) is associated with stunting, impairment of responses to oral vaccines, and other adverse health consequences in young children throughout the developing world. EE is characterized by chronic low-grade intestinal inflammation and disrupted epithelial barrier integrity, partly resulting from dysregulation of tight junction proteins, observed in other enteropathies such as celiac disease. During EE, this dysregulation of tight junction expression amplifies translocation of pathogenic bacteria across the intestinal mucosa. AIMS: The aim was to determine whether enteropathogen-mediated epithelial barrier failure can be ameliorated using contra-pathogenicity therapies. METHODS: Intestinal epithelial barrier damage was assessed in Caco-2 cells incubated with three important enteropathogens identified in EE patients: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Citrobacter rodentium (C. rodentium), and Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). Potential therapeutic molecules were tested to detect effects on transepithelial resistance (TER), bacterial translocation (BT), claudin-4 expression, and regulation of the inflammatory cytokine response. RESULTS: All three enteropathogens compared to uninfected cells, reduced TER (EPEC; p < 0.0001, C. rodentium; p < 0.0001, C. parvum; p < 0.0007), reduced claudin-4 expression, and permitted BT (EPEC; p < 0.0001, C. rodentium; p < 0.0001, C. parvum; p < 0.0003) through the monolayer. Zinc, colostrum, epidermal growth factor, trefoil factor 3, resistin-like molecule-β, hydrocortisone, and the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor ML7 (Hexahydro-1-[(5-iodo-1-naphthalenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride); ML7) improved TER (up to 70%) and decreased BT (as much as 96%). Only zinc demonstrated modest antimicrobial activity. CONCLUSION: The enteropathogens impaired intestinal-epithelial barrier integrity with dysregulation of claudin-4 and increased bacterial translocation. Enteropathogen-mediated damage was reduced using contra-pathogenicity agents which mitigated the effects of pathogens without direct antimicrobial activity

Safety performance of subcontractors in the Palestinian construction industry

Subcontractors perform most of the construction works and their effect on industry are apparent in different activities of construction. Therefore, subcontractors need more attention from government and contractors union. The aim of this paper is to identify, evaluate, and rank factors that influence safety performance of subcontractors in the Gaza Strip (Palestine) according to their relative importance. The study concluded that reported accident rates will decrease among subcontractors and their workers if new workers are trained well in the work site and they are informed about dangerous places, and if a workable safety plan is well preplanned. The results also showed that reported accident rates increased among subcontractors when using old, unsafe equipment and due to the complexity or difficulty in the construction sites features. Owners and general contractors need to stipulate strict clauses for safety in the contract for improving safety record of subcontractors. Construction workers must receive proper job related safety and health training with a safety logbook. It is recommended that the subcontractors and workers should attend continuing safety programs on regular basis as part of their perquisite to work in construction sites

Perception of contracing parties on construction safety in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

The construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in developing countries. Understanding the safety climate or culture of a workplace, the perceptions and attitudes of the workforce are important factors in assessing safety needs. The construction industry in Palestine, by its inherent nature, is susceptible to potentially dangerous conditions that affect the safety of all personnel working in construction projects. This paper reports, based on a questionnaire survey, the perception of owners, consultants, and contractors towards safety in constructions in the Gaza Strip. The results showed that, most of the participants in the survey had accidents in their construction projects. The findings indicated that, the main causes of fatalities and injuries are falling from heights, dropped objects and materials, and being caught under excavations. Carelessness of workers, lack of safety knowledge, and lack of safety training are the main three reasons that contributed to the increase rate of accidents among construction workers in the Gaza Strip. Therefore, contractors should prepare safety training programs which help personnel to carry out various accidents accidents preventive activities effectively. Training material should discuss the costs of accidents, the influence of good safety performance, and should stress the safety objectives of the company, the relevant laws and legislation, and contractual relationships with clients regarding safety matters

Joint single-cell DNA accessibility and protein epitope profiling reveals environmental regulation of epigenomic heterogeneity.

Here we introduce Protein-indexed Assay of Transposase Accessible Chromatin with sequencing (Pi-ATAC) that combines single-cell chromatin and proteomic profiling. In conjunction with DNA transposition, the levels of multiple cell surface or intracellular protein epitopes are recorded by index flow cytometry and positions in arrayed microwells, and then subject to molecular barcoding for subsequent pooled analysis. Pi-ATAC simultaneously identifies the epigenomic and proteomic heterogeneity in individual cells. Pi-ATAC reveals a casual link between transcription factor abundance and DNA motif access, and deconvolute cell types and states in the tumor microenvironment in vivo. We identify a dominant role for hypoxia, marked by HIF1α protein, in the tumor microvenvironment for shaping the regulome in a subset of epithelial tumor cells

Response to: "Renal biopsies should be performed whenever treatment strategies depend on renal involvement"

We thank Chemouny et al for their letter and concur with their conclusions. As we state (1): “A positive biopsy for AAV is helpful when considering an initial diagnosis or recurrent disease.” In our view, renal biopsy is important to establish diagnosis and may also provide an indication of prognostic trajectory and although existing classification systems need further validation, changes like glomerular sclerosis have obvious adverse prognostic value for patients with AAV (2-4). The Delphi process, for the scope of the current recommendations, identified the role of biopsy at both diagnosis and follow-up as an important item for update. Histopathological evidence of vasculitis, such as pauci-immune glomerulonephritis or necrotising vasculitis in any organ, remains the gold standard for diagnostic purposes. The likely diagnostic yield varies and is dependent on the organ targeted and in patients with GPA with renal involvement can be as high as 91.5% from renal biopsy (5). As Chemouny and colleagues have demonstrated, a renal biopsy was definitive in determining their management decisions. However during follow-up when relapses occur, it may be prudent to consider judicious use of further kidney biopsy during suspected renal relapse since the cause for acute kidney injury may be due to another cause other than AAV (6). Kind regards, M Yates, C Mukhtyar and DR Jayne on behalf of co-authors

The potential and environmental benefits of developing renewable energy strategy: a comparative analysis of Pakistan and developed countries

Renewable energy is being developed globally to overcome the depletion of natural resources and mitigating the global issue of climate change. The increasing energy crisis and environmental concerns make renewable energy more critical for a sustainable future. Renewable energy technologies have a great potential across the globe. Pakistan being a developing country is continuously facing energy crisis and an emphasis on industrialization is increasing carbon emissions. Renewable energy development provides necessary solutions, particularly in developing countries where energy demands have to be met through an economical and environmental friendly way. This paper explores the significance and potential of renewable energy development in developing countries i.e. Pakistan and how it can contribute to reduce the environmental impacts for mitigating climate change. It argues that the current policy measures and infrastructure is inadequate to implement renewable energy technologies, also discussing various renewable energy sources. The critical review of the literature and case-based experiences has been used as an overall approach to this paper. It will help in exploring renewable energy strategy and its implementation in developing countries in comparison to developed economies. It concludes with an integrated and comprehensive policy recommendations and possible solutions to develop a strategic approach to renewable energy

Bearing performance and damage characteristics of rein-infused thermoplastic 3D woven composites bolted joints

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the single-bolt single-shear (SBSS) and double-bolt single shear (DBSS) lap joint performance of resin-infused thermoplastic 3D fibre-reinforced composite (FRC) in on-axis (0°and 90°) and off-axis (45°) configurations. The bearing performance and failure mechanisms are compared with thermoset 3D-FRC. The resin-infused thermoplastic 3D-FRC bolted joint shows improved bearing performance in terms of higher ultimate bearing strength, stiffness loss strength, and reduced damage severity than its thermoset counterpart. Additionally, this paper presents a detailed study on the intermediate and final failure mechanisms, obtained from scanning electron microscopy of the interrupted and ultimate bearing tests, to understand damage progression in SBSS and BDSS lap joints at the submicron level. The major damage characteristics of a thermoplastic 3D-FRC bolted joint include plastic deformation and plastic kinking at the hole front tip, which improve the bearing capacity and reduce stress concentration, damage severity, and its deleterious effects