A framework for whole lifecycle cost of long-term digital preservation

Digital preservation, also known as digital curation, is the active management of digital information, over time, to ensure its accessibility and usability. Digital preservation is nowadays an active area of research, for many reasons: the rapid evolution of technology, which also results in the rapid obsolescence of old technologies; degradation of physical records; constantly increasing volumes of digital information and, importantly, the fact that it has started to become a legal obligation in many countries. This research project aims to develop an innovative framework estimate costs of long term digital preservation. The framework can lead to generating a cost model that quantifies costs within different business sectors, while capturing the impact of obsolescence and uncertainties on predicted cost. Case studies from financial, healthcare and clinical trials sectors are used to prove the framework concept. Those sectors were chosen because between them they share all file types that are required to be preserved and all are either obliged by European or local laws, e.g. EU Data Retention Directive (2006/24/EC) and/or UK Data Retention Regulations 2014 No. 2042, or interested in preserving their digital assets. The framework comprises of three phases: assessing digital preservation activities, cost analysis and expansion and cost estimation. The framework has integrated two processes that will enable the user to reach a more accurate cost estimate; a process for identifying uncertainties with digital preservation activities and a cost modelling process. In the framework cloud computing was used as an example for storage and compute technologies. Combining different research methodology techniques was used in this research project. Starting with conducting a thorough literature review covering digital preservation and cost modelling. Following the literature review; is a combination qualitative and quantitative approaches, using semi-structured interview technique to collect data from industry experts. Industry experts were chosen from companies, firms and government bodies working with or researching digital preservation. Finalising with validating results by real-life case studies from businesses in selected sectors and experts’ verdict. Comparing the output of the framework to real-life case studies, demonstrated how companies/firms, who target to preserve their digital assets, can utilise it to predict accurately future costs for undertaking such investment. By applying industrially-based cost modelling approaches the framework generates a cost model that predicts single-point and three-points cost estimates, an obsolescence taxonomy, uncertainties identification process and quantifying uncertainties and obsolescence impact on cost prediction. Providing decision makers with all the framework outputs, will provide them with quantifiable information about their future investment, while remaining clear to understand and easy to amend. This makes the framework provide long-term total cost prediction solution for digital preservation to firms; helping, guiding and adding insight into digital preservation added value

Cellular replacement therapy for liver disease

Liver disease is a major health problem worldwide. The liver performs a wide range of functions, which the human body cannot survive without. The human liver is continuously challenged with infectious organisms, alcohol and chemicals, congenital defects, autoimmunity and malignancy etc. The liver has been imparted a marvelous capacity to regenerate and recover from various insults. However, in many cases liver injuries exceed its regenerative capacity with end-stage liver disease becoming the inevitable end. So far, liver transplantation is still the only treatment modality for end-stage liver disease. However, there are many limitations to liver transplantation towards its applicability and availability for all patients worldwide, such as scarcity of donors as well as other ethical, technical and surgical considerations. Cell transplantation is a frequently studied alternative to organ transplantation in liver disease. Many cell types are under extensive evaluation, with primary human hepatocytes and different stem cell types coming first on the list. For primary human hepatocytes, liver tissue is still needed, and when available, cells are produced in huge numbers requiring cryopreservation. Available hepatocyte cryopreservation protocols still need further optimization. In addition, better cold storage techniques for hepatocytes are needed for the feasibility of frequent cell infusions per patient. Stem cells still need to be studied further for their differentiation potential towards hepatic lineages, safety, immunomodulatory roles, and their possible support for cotransplanted hepatocytes. In this thesis, we addressed a few of the current obstacles facing cellular replacement therapy for liver disease. In the first study, we isolated and characterized a mesenchymal stem cell population from human fetal liver. The hepatic origin, the mesenchymal nature, and the immunomodulatory effects of these cells suggest them as potential candidates for cellular therapy for liver disease. In addition, we transplanted these cells into a mouse model of liver disease with an evidence for their potential differentiation to hepatocyte-like cells in vivo. In the second study, we characterized microRNAs expressed in the human liver. Such information can help understanding the role of microRNAs in liver development and their potential use in microRNA-based stem cell differentiation towards hepatic lineages. In the third study, we introduced a new defined xeno-free cryoprotectant to the field of hepatocyte cryopreservation. This cryoprotectant could be of value when preserving hepatocytes and stem cell-derived hepatocytes in a clinical setting. In the fourth study, we showed that human liver material could be better cold-stored as a whole tissue rather than as single cells. This makes it possible for frequent hepatocyte infusions commonly needed in a clinical context

Evaluating the Use of 3D Visualization Technology in Geology Education

Information systems can contribute to the success of students in engineering and science. In this study, 3-D visualizations that create a realistic map of rock structures are used to aid students in developing the spatial intuition to understand geological processes. This technology received positive ratings for learning outcomes and within the technology acceptance model. In addition, qualitative data provides additional detail about what features are correlated with the success of direct manipulation visualizations. The qualitative data suggest that the interface design may be a moderator of the relationship between the completeness of the visualization and how much individuals can benefit from the visualization

Neuroprotective effect of nitric oxide donor isosorbide-dinitrate against oxidative stress induced by ethidium bromide in rat brain

This study investigated the effect of systemic administration of isosorbide-dinitrate (ISDN) on oxidative stress and brain monoamines in a toxic model of brain demyelination evoked by intracerebral injection (i.c.i) of ethidium bromide (10 μl of 0.1 %). Rats received saline (control) or ISDN at 5 or 10 mg/kg for 10 days prior to injection of ethidium bromide. Rats were euthanized one day later, and then the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde; MDA), nitric oxide (nitrite/nitrate), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, paraoxonase activity as well as monoamine levels (serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline) were assessed in the brain cortex in different treatment groups. The i.c.i of ethidium bromide resulted in increased oxidative stress in the cortex one day after its injection; (i) MDA increased by 36.9 %; (ii) GSH decreased by 20.8 %, while (iii) nitric oxide increased by 60.3 %; (iv) AChE and paraoxonase activities in cortex decreased by 35.9 % and 29.4 %, respectively; (v) serotonin was significantly increased. In ethidium bromide-treated rats, pretreatment with ISDN at 10 mg/kg decreased cortical MDA by 23.9 %. Reduced glutathione was increased by 25.1 % ISDN at 10 mg/kg, while nitric oxide showed a 32.8 and 41.7 % decrease after 5 and 10 mg/kg of ISDN, respectively. Acetylcholinesterase activity increased by 24.3 % by 10 mg/kg of ISDN. Paraoxonase activity showed further decrease by 72.2 and 83.8 % after treatment with 5 and 10 mg/kg of ISDN, respectively. The administration of ISDN decreased the level of serotonin and noradrenaline compared with the ethidium bromide only treated group. Overall, the present findings suggest neuroprotective effect of ISDN against oxidative stress in this model of chemical demyelination

Seismic Anisotropy Beneath the Afar Depression and Adjacent Areas: Implications for Mantle Flow

Shear wave splitting is a robust tool to infer the direction and strength of seismic anisotropy in the lithosphere and underlying asthenosphere. Previous shear wave splitting studies in the Afar Depression and adjacent areas concluded that either Precambrian sutures or vertical magmatic dikes are mostly responsible for the observed anisotropy. Here we report results of a systematic analysis of teleseismic shear wave splitting using all the available broadband seismic data recorded in the Afar Depression, Main Ethiopian Rift (MER), and Ethiopian Plateau. We found that while the ~450 measurements on the Ethiopian Plateau and in the MER show insignificant azimuthal variations with MER-parallel fast directions and thus can be explained by a single layer of anisotropy, the ~150 measurements in the Afar Depression reveal a systematic azimuthal dependence of splitting parameters with a π/2 periodicity, suggesting a two-layer model of anisotropy. The top layer is characterized by a relatively small (0.65 s) splitting delay time and a WNW fast direction that can be attributed to magmatic dikes within the lithosphere, and the lower layer has a larger (2.0 s) delay time and a NE fast direction. Using the spatial coherency of the splitting parameters obtained in the MER and on the Ethiopian Plateau, we estimated that the optimal depth of the source of anisotropy is centered at about 300 km, i.e., in the asthenosphere. The spatial and azimuthal variations of the observed anisotropy can best be explained by a NE directed flow in the asthenosphere beneath the MER and the Afar Depression

Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase gene associated with Nicotine initiation and addiction: Analysis of novel regulatory features at 5' and 3'-Regions

© 2018 Aziz, Abdel-Salam, Al-Obaide, Alobydi and Al-Humaish. Tobacco smoking is widespread behavior in Qatar and worldwide and is considered one of the major preventable causes of ill health and death. Nicotine is part of tobacco smoke that causes numerous health risks and is incredibly addictive; it binds to the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) in the brain. Recent studies showed α7nAChR involvement in the initiation and addiction of smoking. Kynurenic acid (KA), a significant tryptophan metabolite, is an antagonist of α7nAChR. Inhibition of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase enzyme encoded by KMO enhances the KA levels. Modulating KMO gene expression could be a useful tactic for the treatment of tobacco initiation and dependence. Since KMO regulation is still poorly understood, we aimed to investigate the 5' and 3'-regulatory factors of KMO gene to advance our knowledge to modulate KMO gene expression. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to identify the regulatory sequences associated with expression of KMO. The displayed differential expression of KMO mRNA in the same tissue and different tissues suggested the specific usage of the KMO multiple alternative promoters. Eleven KMO alternative promoters identified at 5'-regulatory region contain TATA-Box, lack CpG Island (CGI) and showed dinucleotide base-stacking energy values specific to transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs). The structural features of regulatory sequences can influence the transcription process and cell type-specific expression. The uncharacterized LOC105373233 locus coding for non-coding RNA (ncRNA) located on the reverse strand in a convergent manner at the 3'-side of KMO locus. The two genes likely expressed by a promoter that lacks TATA-Box harbor CGI and two TFBSs linked to the bidirectional transcription, the NRF1, and ZNF14 motifs. We identified two types of microRNA (miR) in the uncharacterized LOC105373233 ncRNA, which are like hsa-miR-5096 and hsa-miR-1285-3p and can target the miR recognition element (MRE) in the KMO mRNA. Pairwise sequence alignment identified 52 nucleotides sequence hosting MRE in the KMO 3' UTR untranslated region complementary to the ncRNA LOC105373233 sequence. We speculate that the identified miRs can modulate the KMO expression and together with alternative promoters at the 5'-regulatory region of KMO might contribute to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for tobacco smoking

Flow Cytometry of Breast Cancer Resistant Protein and microRNA in Breast Cancer Patients Post Metformin Effect

The goal of the present study is to investigate the role of metformin (MF) as a target of miRNAs in breast cancer resistant protein (BCRP) inhibition in an attempt to develop treatment strategies that may improve the response of breast cancer (BC) patients to chemotherapy (CT). In order to fulfill this target, non-diabetic female subjects were categorized into three groups: control group (group 1) (n=5), CT group of BC patients (group 2) (n=25) and CT plus MF group of BC patients (group 3) (n=25). All patients were subjected to full history taking, laboratory studies including mammogram, chest X-ray, pelvic-abdominal ultrasound and isotopic bone scan, in addition to ER and PR states. CT group was treated with neoadjuvent CT in the form of 5-FU (500 mg/m2), Adriamycin (50 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2). Flow cytometry (FC) of BCRP and MiRNA was carried out on blood samples at every cycle of treatment for all partners. The results showed the presence of miRNA was higher than the presence of BCRP in the normal healthy control group. In most cases of CT and CT plus MF groups (group 2, 3) it was well noticed that the amount of BCRP in the blood samples exceeded that of miRNA illustrated the dysregulation of miRNA in BC patients and also to prove the basic role of BCRP as a multidrug resistance (MDR) for chemotherapeutic agents in patients with BC. It is concluded that the role of MF was well proved in targeting of miRNA to reinforce BC medication, so oncologists can be advised to use MF equivalent to CT in the recommended doses

The effects of trimetazidine on lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress in mice

The effects of trimetazidine, a novel anti-ischemic agent, on the development of oxidative stress induced in mice with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin were investigated. The drug was administered orally once daily at doses of 1.8, 3.6 or 7.2 mg/kg for two days prior to intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of lipopolysaccharide E (200 μg/kg) and at time of endotoxin administration. Mice were euthanized 4 h after administration of the lipopolysaccharide. Lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde; MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (nitrite/nitrate) concentrations were measured in brain and liver. The administration of lipopolysaccharide increased oxidative stress in both the brain and liver tissue. MDA increased by 33.9 and 107.1 %, GSH decreased by 23.9 and 84.3 % and nitric oxide increased 70.3 and 48.4 % in the brain and liver, respectively. Compared with the lipopolysaccharide control group, brain MDA decreased by 26.2 and 36.7 %, while GSH increased by 18.2 and 25.8 % after the administration of trimetazidine at 3.6 and 7.2 mg/kg, respectively. Brain nitric oxide decreased by 45.3, 50.8 and 57.0 % by trimetazidine at 1.8, 3.6 and 7.2 mg/kg, respectively. In the liver, MDA decreased by 18.7, 30.7 and 49.4 % and GSH increased by 150.3, 204.8 and 335.4 % following trimetazidine administration at 1.8, 3.6 and 7.2 mg/kg. Meanwhile, nitric oxide decreased by 17.3 % by 7.2 mg/kg of trimetazidine. These results indicate that administration of trimetazidine in the presence of mild systemic inflammatory response alleviates oxidative stress in the brain and liver

Effectiveness of tranexamic acid in preventing postpartum

Background: Caesarean section delivery is associated with severe maternal morbidity, including obstetric haemorrhage, hysterectomy, anaemia, blood transfusion, and infection. Among these operative morbidities associated with CS, obstetric haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide.Objective: The aim of this work was to achieve the minimal blood loss during elective cesarean section (CS) in order to decrease patients' morbidity by using tranexamic acid (TXA) injection before operation time.Patients and Methods: The current study was randomized-controlled clinical trial that was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zagazig University Hospitals through the period from April 2021 to September 2022.Results: The mean of blood loss during CS in tranexamic acid intervention group was 484.87 cc and mean of blood loss during CS in control group was 705 cc. The difference was highly statistically significant p=0.0001. Per cent of blood loss was 37% more among control group.Conclusions. Tranexamic acid is a good option to reduce the amount of blood loss during CS on high risk pregnancy

Diagnostic value of angiopoietin-1 and -2 as markers for disease severity in hemolytic uremic syndrome in children

Introduction: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is defined as a triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MHA), thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. It is the most common cause of acute renal failure in children, and the incidence of this syndrome is increasing worldwide. Angiopoietin-1 and -2 each competitively bind to the endothelial Tie-2 receptor and play an important role in regulating endothelial cell function. The aim of this study was investigating the clinical significance of serum levels of angiopoietin (Ang) 1 and 2 in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli (EHEC)-induced HUS and determining their correlation with disease severity.Patients and Methods: Forty eight children aged between 1-16 years were included in the study and were divided into two groups, 24 patients with diagnosis of hemolytic uremic syndrome induced by EHEC infection and 24 healthy children as a control group. Serum samples were obtained from healthy control group and patients with EHEC-induced HUS at time of diagnosis. Serum samples from the patients were obtained for analysis for angiopoietin-1 and -2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Our findings indicated that, serum Ang-1 levels might be useful for the prediction of the development of HUS. In HUS phase, in addition to more significant decrease of serum Ang-1 levels, serum Ang-2 level increased. These changes might be useful for the diagnosis of HUS and also be useful as a marker of disease activity of HUS.Conclusion: Serum angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 levels and the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio may be promising indicators of disease activity in HUS