A SWARA-COPRAS approach to the allocation of risk in water and sewerage public–private partnership projects in Malaysia

In a situation of growing water demand, inadequate public funding, poor asset condition and lack of maintenance in developing countries, public-private partnerships (PPPs) play an important role in the development of infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage services. The purpose of this study is to develop a quantitative approach to appropriate risk allocation, with attention directed to the impact of positive and negative factors in water and sewerage projects. The paper presents a hybrid SWARA-COPRAS approach to examine risk allocation, particularly for PPP water supply and sewerage projects in the context of Malaysia. In addition to PPP infrastructure projects, the approach has the potential to be adapted to other applications. The proposed method enables decision makers to utilise qualitative linguistic terms in the allocation of risk between the public and private sector, and to select the best strategy for risk allocation in a contract. Finally, 24 significant risks were identified: six risks would preferably be allocated to the public sector, while seven risks would be assigned to the private sector, and eleven risks would preferably be shared by both parties. The finding from this study can help the government of Malaysia to determine an attractive political strategy for private investors to support a PPP water and sewerage infrastructure project

Effect of Aquatic Extract of Ferulago angulata Boiss With Aerobic Exercises on Serum Levels of Interleukin-10 and C-Reactive Protein of Obese Males

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impacts of chavir aquatic extract (Ferulago angulata Boiss) along with aerobic exercises on serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) of obese males. Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 males with body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m(2) and average age of 33.63 +/- 4.78 years were randomly categorized into 4 groups of 10 individuals as control, combination (using the aquatic extract of chavir along with aerobic exercises), consumption of chavir aquatic extract, and aerobic exercises. The aerobic exercises in both groups of combination and aerobic exercises consisted of running on treadmill for 20 minutes in 60%-70% maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). The aquatic extract consumption and the combination groups had to take 50 mg/mL/d of chavir aquatic extract every time. The control group received no intervention. Results: Based on intragroup comparisons, body weight and BMI significantly decreased in the combination group; the content of body fat and waist-hip ratio (WHR) also reduced significantly in the aerobic, combination, and aquatic extract groups. In intergroup and intragroup comparison, CRP faced with a significant decrease in all groups (aerobic exercises, Ferulago aqueous extraction, and combination groups) and a considerable increase was also observed in the combination group regarding IL-10 variable. Conclusions: Therefore, the effectiveness of the combination group regarding increasing IL-10 and decreasing CRP is more than other groups. As a result, using aqueous extract of F. angulata and doing aerobic exercise for 3 months reduced risk factors-cardiovascular, body composition, and increasing anti-inflammatory in obese men. Consequently, the effect of combination group to reduce the proinflammatory indexes and body factors of obese males was more compared to that of the other groups

Therapeutic Efficacy of Aerobic Exercise Training along with Oak Husk Hydroalcoholic Extract for Amelioration of Inflammation in Obese Elderly Male Mice

Background. Fibrinogen and interleukin-1β as a proinflammatory cytokine and interleukin-10 and nesfatin-1 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine have an important role in the development and prevention of systemic inflammation and incidence of obesity-induced diseases. Thus, this study is aimed at the interaction effects of aerobic training and oak husk hydroalcoholic extract consumption on plasma levels of fibrinogen, interleukin-1β, nesfatin-1, and interleukin-10 in obese elderly male mice. Materials and Methods. In this experimental study, 40 fat male mice were fed a high-fat diet for 4 weeks to induce obesity, and subsequently, they were divided randomly into four groups: control, supplement, exercise-placebo, and exercise-supplement. The training groups performed aerobic exercise 5 days a week for 6 weeks (approximately 80-75% VOmax2). The supplement groups received a solution of oak husk hydroalcoholic extract at a dose of 20 milligram per kilogram of body weight for 6 weeks. Blood samples were taken 48 h after the last training session, and the levels of IL-10, fibrinogen, IL-1β, and nesfatin-1 were measured. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and LSD post hoc tests. Results. The results showed that six-week training and oak husk hydroalcoholic extract consumption significantly increased the levels of IL-10 and nesfatin-1 in experimental groups (P<0.001). Also, the levels of fibrinogen and IL-1β decreased significantly in training groups. Averages between group variations of all indicators were statistically significant, and they were more meaningfully pronounced in the exercise-supplement group than other groups (P≤0.05). Conclusions. Considering the results of the present study, the use of moderate aerobic exercise and oak husk hydroalcoholic extract is recommended to reduce the risk of obesity; it may also have a positive effect on inflammatory factors