HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD CONSUMPTION ACTIVITIES

Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Tools and techniques for multi-valued networks using rewriting logic

PhD ThesisMulti-valued networks (MVNs) are an important, widely used qualitative modelling technique where time and states are discrete. MVNs extend the well-known Boolean networks by providing a more powerful qualitative modelling approach for biological systems by allowing an entity’s state to be within a range of discrete set of values instead of just 0 and 1. They provide a logical framework for qualitatively modelling and analysing control systems and have been successfully applied to biological systems and circuit design. While a range of support tools for developing and analysing MVNs exist, more work is needed to develop tools to support the practical applications of those techniques. One of the frameworks that have been successfully applied to biological systems is Rewriting Logic (RL), an algebraic specification framework that is capable of modelling and analysing the behaviour of dynamic, concurrent systems. The flexibility of RL techniques such as implementation of strategies has allowed it to be successfully used to model a wide range of different formalisms and systems, such as process algebras, Petri nets, and biological systems. RL specification, programming and computation is supported by a range of powerful analysis tools which was one of the motivations for choosing to use RL. We choose Maude as a tool in our work here which is a high-performance reflective language supporting both equational and RL specification. Maude is going to be used through this thesis to model and analyse a range of MVNs using RL. In this thesis we aim to investigate the application of RL to modelling and analysing both synchronous and asynchronous MVNs, thus enabling the application of support tools available for RL. We start by constructing an RL model for MVNs using a translation approach that translates an MVNs set of equations into rewrite rules. We formally show that our translation approach is correct by proving its soundness and completeness. We illustrate the techniques and the developed RL framework for MVNs by presenting a range of case studies which provides a good illustration of the practical application of the developed RL framework. We then introduce an artificial, scalable MVN model in order to allow a range of model sizes to be considered and we investigate the performance of our RL framework. We analyse a larger regulatory network from the literature using our RL framework to give some insights into how it coped with a larger case studyMinistry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabi

The performance of modified jatropha-based nanofluid during turning process

The industry's extensive use of petroleum-based metalworking fluid (MWF) harms the environment and humans. The production of bio-based MWF, especially from crude jatropha oil (CJO), has therefore taken numerous initiatives. This aimed to formulate newly modified jatropha oil (MJO) with the addition of 0.05wt.% hBN and 0.05wt.% MoS2 as the nanofluid for MWF. The performance of the nanofluids was determined through the turning process in terms of cutting temperature, workpiece surface roughness, tool life and tool wear of the tool lubricated by the nanofluids. The performance of the nanofluid samples was compared with the synthetic ester (SE). From the results, after conducted 100mm axial cutting length MJO+hBN+MoS2 recorded the lowest in cutting temperature and surface roughness compared to all samples. The result shows that MJO+hBN+MoS2 has longer tool life (6500mm) compared to SE (6000mm). Abrasion and adhesion were observed as the dominant tool wear mechanism. In conclusion, MJO+hBN+MoS2 shows better machining performance and has the potential to be an environmentally friendly metalworking fluid

A meta-analysis of meta-analyses of the effectiveness of FIFA injury prevention programmes in soccer

FIFA has a Medical and Research Centre (F-MARC) which has designed a comprehensive programme targeting muscle strength, kinaesthetic awareness, and neuromuscular control during static and dynamic movements to decrease injury risk for soccer players. A number of meta-analyses now exist on how effective FIFA's programmes to prevent and reduce injury actually are, with various degrees of injury reduction reported. This research aimed to carry out a systematic review and to meta analyse the existing meta-analyses so that a conclusion can be drawn on how effective the injury programmes are. Relevant studies were identified by searching five databases for the period January 1990 till 1 July 2018. Results of each meta-analysis were combined together using risk ratios (RR) in a summary meta-analysis. QUOROM checklist and AMSTAR 2 assessment were used to assess the quality of reporting and methodology in the meta-analyses. Four meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria covering fifteen primary studies. All four meta-analyses scored quite highly on QUOROM, but two were rated by AMSTAR 2 as moderate quality and two were found to be of critically low quality. An overall risk reduction of 34% [RR= 0.66 (0.60 - 0.73)] for all injuries and a reduction of 29% [RR= 0.71 (0.63 - 0.81)] for injuries to the lower limbs were revealed by this meta-analysis of meta-analyses. Combining every previous meta-analysis into a single source in this paper produced decisive evidence that the risk of injuries while playing soccer is reduced as a result of FIFA's injury prevention programmes

Dynamic Permutations

The confidentiality integrity and authentication of anelectronic documentare necessary in many application systems The security of confidentiality integrity and authentication of an electronic document are based on nonlinear functions in which there is no directrelationship between the inputs and the outputs This means that the inputs cannot be extracted from the outputs Indeed all modern cyphers are based on the concept of substitution transposition In data encryption standard algorithm DES which consists of many functions only one nonlinear function is used in the algorithm called substitution boxes and all other functions are linear one of these linear functions is called IP initial permutation function which performs static permutations The permutations are replaced by transpositions based on predefined positions and the permutation function is used several times in DES algorith

Role of human interleukin-17 producing T cells (Th17) and regulatory (Foxp3+) T cells in graft versus host disease (GvHD)

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) remains the only curative option for a number of patients with haematological malignancies. The interplay between a number of T cell subsets including Th1, Th2, Th17 and regulatory-T cells (Treg) has been linked to the establishment of graft-versus-leukaemia (GvL) as well as its deleterious counterpart graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD). A recent study defined a subset of memory antigen-specific CD8+T cells, with the ability to efflux cytotoxic drugs through the (ABC)-superfamily multidrug efflux complex. I hypothesized that a subset of CD4+T cells, capable of drug efflux through the MDR pump also exists. I confirmed the existence of CD4+T cells with "stem-like" properties, capable of rapidly effluxing Rhodamine123 as well as cytotoxic drugs such as daunorubicin. I confirmed that the effluxing properties of these cells are through ABCB1 and ABCC1 transporters. Similar to their CD8 counterpart, the rhodamine-effluxing subset of CD4+T cells had a memory phenotype and was enriched within the CD161+T cell compartment. Lastly, using CMV and Flu as model antigens, I showed that viral-specific memory CD4+T cells are enriched within the rhodamine-effluxing CD4+CD161+T cell population. Once I characterized these cells, I hypothesized that, through effluxing corticosteroids and other immunosuppressant drugs,CD161+CD4+ T cells may also play a role in acute GvHD. CD161+CD4+ T cells are precursors of Th17 cells. I demonstrated that, whereas Tregs are prone to apoptosis when exposed to corticosteroids, CD4+CD161+Th17 cells rapidly efflux and survive exposure to corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs in vitro. Inhibition of the ABCB1 and ABCC1 with inhibitors such as vinblastine induced apoptosis of this CD4+CD161+Th17 steroid-refractory T cell subset. I observed that patients with steroid-refractory GvHD had significantly higher frequencies of CD161+CD4+ T cells compared to patients with no or steroid-responsive GvHD. I also enumerated CD161+CD4+ T cells and Foxp3+T cells in the stem cell graft and donor lymphocytes and found an association between higher CD4+CD161+ and lower Foxp3+T cells frequencies and the risk of GvHD post-transplant. These data advance our understanding of potential mechanisms of steroid-refractory GvHD and have important implications for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of this challenging group of patients

Micro-CT assessment of the sealing ability of bio-ceramic root canal sealers

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyse the sealing ability of bio-ceramic sealers by measuring root canal void percentage using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Material and Methods: Forty single-root human premolars were selected and randomly allocated into four groups. Teeth were instrumented using #10 K and then Wave One Gold Primary files. Samples were obturated using matched taper Gutta-Percha cones with single cone technique and one of the four tested sealers (n=10) (MTA Fillapex, Bioroot, Endosequence and Wellroot). Following obturation, teeth were stored in Hank’s balanced salt solution for 7 days. All samples were scanned pre-operatively and postoperatively using Micro-CT at a resolution of 13.65 µm. Voids percentages were calculated in the entire tooth length in addition to coronal, middle and apical thirds. Results: There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between Endosequence sealer and MTA Fillapex sealer as well as between Wellroot sealer and MTA Fillapex sealer in total voids percentage and coronal thirds voids percentage. Other comparisons showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in total voids percentage neither comparing middle and apical thirds of each sealer to another. Moreover, there was no significant difference comparing the three thirds of each sealer. Volumetrically, voids percentage was highest in MTA Fillapex sealer followed by Bioroot sealer then Wellroot sealer and finally Endosequence sealer. Conclusions: None of the tested sealers showed void free results. Endosequence and Wellroot sealers showed higher sealing ability compared to MTA Fillapex sealer. Micro-CT is an excellent method to study the sealing ability of endodontic sealers by showing accurate quantitative results. The single cone technique is clinically acceptable when using bioceramic sealers

Medical student’s attitudes and perceptions toward artificial intelligence applications

To evaluate medical students' perceptions in radiology and medical applications of artificial intelligence (AI). Students at 10 prestigious medical schools were issued an online survey that was created using Survey Monkey. It was divided into many parts with the goal of assessing the students' past understanding of AI in radiology and beyond as well as their attitudes about AI in medicine more generally. Anonymity of the respondents was protected. A total of 263 students—166 female and 94 male—with a median age of 23—replied to the survey. Concerning 52 percent of respondents were aware of the current debate about AI in radiology, while 68 percent said they were ignorant of the underlying technology. abnormalities in radiological scans, but they believed that AI would not be able to provide a definitive diagnosis (56 percent). In contrast to claims that human radiologists would be displaced, the majority (77 percent and 86 percent) believed that AI would revolutionize and enhance radiology (83 percent). Over two-thirds of respondents felt that medical education must include AI (71 percent). Male and tech-savvy respondents had higher levels of confidence in the advantages of AI and lower levels of fear of these technologies in sub-group analyses. In conclusion, Contrary to what has been mentioned in the media, medical students are aware of the possible applications and effects of AI on radiology and medicine and do not worry that it will replace human radiologists. The situations in which artificial intelligence has reportedly substituted human radiologists are known to medical students. Since it is their duty, the field of radiology must take the initiative in teaching students about these freshly developed tools

Effect of Polyphenol Supplementation on Memory Functioning in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Negative health consequences of obesity include impaired neuronal functioning and celldeath, thus bringing the risk of impaired cognitive functioning. Antioxidant properties of polyphenolsoffer a possible intervention for overweight people, but evidence for their effectiveness in supportingcognitive functioning is mixed. This review examined evidence from randomized controlledtrials concerning the effect of polyphenols on tasks requiring either immediate or delayed retrievalof learned information, respectively, thus controlling for differences in cognitive processes and relatedneural substrates supporting respective task demands. Searches of the PubMed/Medline,PsycInfo, and Scopus databases identified 24 relevant primary studies with N = 2336 participantshaving a BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2. The participants’ mean age for the 24 studies exceeded 60 years. Respectivemeta-analyses produced a significant summary effect for immediate retrieval but not for delayedretrieval. The present findings support a potential positive effect of chronic supplementationwith polyphenols, most notably flavonoids, on immediate retrieval in participants aged over 60years with obesity being a risk factor for cognitive impairment. We recommend further investigationof this potential positive effect in participants with such risk factors. Future research on all populationsshould report the phenolic content of the supplementation administered and be specific regardingthe cognitive processes tested