Capturing regional differences in flood vulnerability improves flood loss estimation

Flood vulnerability is quantified by loss models which are developed using either empirical or synthetic approaches. In reality, processes influencing flood risk are stochastic and loss predictions bear significant uncertainty, especially due to differences in vulnerability across exposed objects and regions. However, many state-of-the-art flood loss models are deterministic, i.e., they do not account for data and model uncertainty. The Bayesian Data-Driven Synthetic (BDDS) model was one of the first approaches that used empirical data to reduce the prediction errors at object-level and enhance the reliability of synthetic flood loss models. However, the BDDS model does not account for regional differences in vulnerability which may result in over-/under-estimation of losses in some regions. In order to overcome this limitation, this study introduces a hierarchical parameterization of the BDDS model which enhances synthetic flood loss model predictions by quantifying regional differences in vulnerability. The hierarchical parameterization makes optimal use of the process information contained in the overall data set for the various regional applications, so that it is particularly suitable for cases in which only a small amount of empirical data is available. The implementation and performance of the hierarchical parametrization is demonstrated with the Multi-Colored Manual (MCM) loss functions and empirical damage dataset from the UK consisting of residential buildings from the regions Appleby, Carlisle, Kendal and Cockermouth that suffered losses during the 2015 flood event. The developed model improves prediction accuracy of flood loss compared to MCM by reducing the absolute error and bias by at least 23 and 90%, respectively. The model reliability in terms of hit rate (i.e., the probability that the observed value lies in the 90% high density interval of predictions) is 88% for residential buildings from the same regions used for calibration and 73% for residential buildings from new regions. The approach is of high practical relevance for all regions where only limited amounts of empirical flood loss data is available

Authentication and Centralized Control of Electrical Devices Using Zigbee Protocol

In buildings, lighting accounts for more total energy cost, reducing this energy consumption is a major goal of this project. Energy reduction comes from turning off lights when they are not needed, optimizing light levels to suit worker needs. Through the use of modern enterprise-class wireless networking technology, the difficulty of control wiring is eliminated. In this project, the analysis, design and implementation of an intelligent office room whose two main components are realized using two emergent wireless technologies, namely, wireless sensor networks (ZigBee) and Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. The combination of these two technologies produces a powerful and versatile solution that can offer automated access control to an office room as well as the monitoring of entry or exit of an employee and also to perform automated job as described in the profile

Initiation of the expression of peroxisome proliferator - activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) in the rat ovary and the role of FSH

PPARgamma is highly expressed in granulosa cells by 23 days post-partum (pp) and is down-regulated in response to the LH surge. We tested the hypothesis that high levels of FSH during the neonatal period trigger the expression of PPARgamma. To determine when PPARgamma expression is initiated, ovaries were collected from neonatal rats. Messenger RNA for PPARgamma was undetectable on day 1, low from days 5-14, and increased by day 19 pp (p < 0.05). PPARgamma was detected in select granulosa cells in primary/early secondary follicles. Messenger RNA for the FSH receptor was detected as early as day 1 and remained steady throughout day 19 pp. The FSH receptor was detected by immunoblot analysis in ovaries collected 1, 2, and 5-9 days pp. In a subsequent experiment, neonatal rats were treated with acyline (GnRH antagonist) which significantly reduced FSH (p < 0.05) but not levels of mRNA for PPARgamma. The role of FSH in the induction of PPARgamma expression was further assessed in ovarian tissue from FORKO mice. Both mRNA and protein for PPARgamma were identified in ovarian tissue from FORKO mice. In summary, the FSH/FSH receptor system is present in granulosa cells prior to the onset of expression of PPARgamma. Reducing FSH during the neonatal period, or the ability to respond to FSH, did not decrease expression of mRNA for PPARgamma. These data indicate that FSH is not a primary factor initiating the expression of PPARgamma and that other agents play a role in activating its expression in the ovary

Evaluation of relative roles of LH and FSH in regulation of differentiation of Leydig cells using an ethane 1,2-dimethylsulfonate-treated adult rat model

The relative role of LH and FSH in regulation of differentiation of Leydig cells was assessed using an ethane 1,2-dimethylsulfonate (EDS)-treated rat model in which endogenous LH or FSH was neutralized from day 3 to day 22 following EDS treatment. Serum testosterone and the in vitro response of the purified Leydig cells to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was monitored. In addition RNA was isolated from the Leydig cells to monitor the steady-state mRNA levels by RT-PCR for 17α-hydroxylase, side chain cleavage enzyme, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), LH receptor, estrogen receptor (ER-α) and cyclophilin (internal control). Serum testosterone was undetected and the isolated Leydig cells secreted negligible amount of testosterone on stimulation with hCG in the group of rats that were treated with LH antiserum following EDS treatment. RT-PCR analysis revealed the absence of message for cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme and 17α-hydroxylase although ER-alpha and LH receptor mRNA could be detected, indicating the presence of undifferentiated precursor Leydig cells. In contrast, the effects following deprival of endogenous FSH were not as drastic as seen following LH neutralization. Deprival of endogenous FSH in EDS-treated rats led to a significant decrease in serum testosterone and in vitro response to hCG by the Leydig cells. Also, there was a significant decrease in the steady-state mRNA levels of 17α-hydroxylase, cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, LH receptor and StAR as assessed by a semiquantitative RT-PCR. These results establish that while LH is obligatory for the functional differentiation of Leydig cells, repopulation of precursor Leydig cells is independent of LH, and also unequivocally establish an important role for FSH in regulation of Leydig cell function

SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF AMIKACIN IN PURE AND PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

Objective: The aim of the study was to develop an easy, sensible and rapid method for the estimation of amikacin in both pure and marketed formulation using the spectrophotometric method.Methods: Due to lack of chromophoric group in the amikacin, it was derivatized with 0.1 mmol chloranillic acid reagent. For the estimation of amikacin, Shimadzu UV-1700 model spectrophotometer with UV probe software was used. The method was based on simple charge transfer complexation of the drug with a p-chloranillic acid reagent to give a purple coloured product which was measured at 524nm against blank solution.Results: The derivatised product of amikacin was detected at a wavelength of 524 nm. Linearity was observed with the concentration range of 20-100 µg/ml with a regression coefficient of 0.9803. Results of all the parameters were within the acceptance criteria with % RSD less than 2.Conclusion: The spectroscopic method was validated as per ICH guidelines and was found to be applicable for routine quantitative analysis of amikacin in marketed formulations also. The results of linearity, precision, accuracy LOD and LOQ were within the specified limits. The method is highly sensitive, robust, reproducible and specific.Â

Involvement of luteinizing hormone in the implantation process of the rat

The use of specific anti-FSH and anti-LH substances has shown that LH is the only pituitary gonadotrophin involved in the implantation process. Using different dosages of LH antiserum at different time intervals, it has been possible to arrive at a minimum effective dose (0.05 ml) which, when given on the 4th day at 10.00 hours, results in inhibition of implantation on the 8th day. We have shown that, at this dose, the antiserum is mainly inhibiting the oestrogen surge. It is proposed that an LH surge precedes an oestrogen surge on Day 4 of pregnancy

Relative ability of ovine follicle stimulating hormone and its β-subunit to generate antibodies having bioneutralization potential in nonhuman primates

The relative ability of ovine follicle stimulating hormone and its β-subunit, two potential candidates for male contraceptive vaccine, to generate antibodies in monkeys capable of bioneutralizing follicle stimulating hormone was assessed usingin vitro model systems. Antiserum against native ovine follicle stimulating hormone was found to be highly specific to the intact form with no cross-reactivity with either of the two subunits while the antiserum against β-subunit of follicle stimulating hormone could bind to the β-subunit in its free form as well as when it is combined with α-subunit to form the intact hormone. Both antisera could block the binding of the hormone to the receptor if the hormone was preincubated with the antibody. However, the follicle stimulating hormone β-antisera could only inhibit the binding of the hormone partially (33% inhibition) if the antibody and receptor were mixed prior to the addition of the hormone, while antisera to the native follicle stimulating hormone could block the binding completely (100% inhibition) in the same experiment. Similarly antisera to the native follicle stimulating hormone was significantly effective in blocking (100%) response to follicle stimulating hormone but not the β-subunit antisera (0%) as checked using anin vitro granulosa cell system. Thus the probability of obtaining antibodies of greater bioneutralization potential is much higher if intact hormone is used as an antigen rather than its β-subunit as a vaccine