Parametric modeling of blockwall assemblies for automated generation of shopdrawings and detailed estimates using BIM

The current practice of the produced shopdrawings for masonry walls lack the amount of details needed to ease out the construction process. The typical shopdrawing process is done by extracting layouts and section views from the tender BIM model and add the assembly details (such as vertical rebar, lintel beams, etc.) as 2D geometric shapes on the layouts, which bypasses the features of BIM. Moreover, using the tender BIM model for the procurement and estimation process results in inaccurate estimates, generation of much construction wastes and extra costs borne by the Contractor. Detailed masonry modeling in BIM becomes more challenging when attempting to model the assembly details which is a labor intensive process, time consuming and less rewarding for Contractors; moreover, there is no tool in the market that can automate the generation of masonry assemblies. Thus, this research introduces the development of a wall-assembly model that can automatically generate full virtual constructions of masonry walls in BIM to include all the wall-assembly details. The model could be used for easy extraction of fully detailed shopdrawings, detailed material quantity takeoff for effective procurement plans and for checking modular design issues to minimize wastes in cutting and fitting of the different wall components. The model was designed to include 19 newly developed algorithms that perform query, build and quantity takeoff functions for the different wall components; programmed in a BIM environment using parametric constraint-based modeling technique. The model was validated with a case study project where the as-built shopdrawings, the as-built quantities and the drafting time of the shopdrawings were compared to the model outputs. The results highlight the model’s robust features in terms of: accurately creating shopdrawings exactly similar to the case study’s as-built drawings, providing materials quantity takeoffs with low variances compared to the case study’s as-built quantities and significant productivity improvements in terms of the time required by engineers to draft the shopdrawings and doing quantity estimates. Thus, using this model, a Contractor could significantly improve his productivity, effectively plan for material procurement and generate potential savings in his overhead costs

The effects of glucose and fatty acids on enhanced biological phosphorus removal using a sequencing batch reactor

Two anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were used to evaluate enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). The first SBR, designated the Glucose SBR, was run for a period of four months. It received a synthetic wastewater plus glucose as a supplemental carbon source. The second SBR, the Isovaleric SBR, was run for three months. During the first month, isovaleric acid was its supplemental carbon source while for the remaining time period, no supplemental carbon source was added to the feed. Steady-state data from the SBR receiving isovalerate yielded the highest phosphorus (P) removals observed during the study, with a mixed liquor volatile suspended solid (MLVSS) P content of 7.2%. The next highest removals were observed when prefermented glucose was received, which yielded a MLVSS P content of 6.4%. The lowest removals were observed when no supplemental carbon source was added to the SBR influent, with at 4.4% MLVSS P content. Batch experiments were also conducted to quantify the effect of EBPR of glucose and the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) acetic acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid. Compounds giving the largest anaerobic P release ultimately yielded the lowest effluent P concentrations. At 0.80 mmoles/l, isovaleric acid resulted in anaerobic P released 9.5 mg/l greater than an equal amount of glucose or propionic acid, but ultimately gave effluent P values roughly 4 mg/l lower than either. Ratios of aerobic P uptake/anaerobic P release were found to be roughly equal for all the VFAs when the VFAs were compared on a molar basis. Propionic acid had aerobic P uptake/anaerobic P release ratios similar to the other VFAs. It also behaved the same as all the other VFAs with respect to the effect of concentrations added to the batch experiment; however, the magnitude of its removal was significantly lower than all the other substrates. Glucose, on the other hand, behaved differently from all the VFAs. Glucose aerobic P uptake/anaerobic P release ratios varied with concentration, which was not the case for the others substrates. Also, glucose P net removals decreased at concentrations higher than 0.60 mmoles/l. Glucose also resulted in net P removals roughly 2mg/l higher than propionic acid, but ultimately gave lower net P removal than isovaleric, valeric and acetic acids

Time-cost tradeoff model for multiple asphalt paving projects using genetic algorithms

[abstract not available]https://fount.aucegypt.edu/faculty_book_chapters/1379/thumbnail.jp

INFLUENCE OF SPRAYING WITH GA3 AND SOME FERTILIZATION TREATMENTS ON QUALITY AND FLOWERING OF BOUGAINVILLEA GLABRA CHOISY PLANTS

A pot experiment was consummated under open field conditions at the nursery of Hort. Res. Inst., ARC., Giza, Egypt during 2015 and 2016 seasons to study the effect of spraying with gibberellic acid at 0, 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm concentrations (as a foliar spray 6 times with one month interval) and some fertilization treatments (without fertilization, NPK at 2 g/pot and phosphorein at 5 g/pot as soil drench) and their interactions on vegetative, flowering, root growth and chemical composition of 3-months-old Bougainvillea glabra plants grown in 20-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with a mixture of sand, loam and peatmoss (1:1:1, v:v). The obtained results indicated that all fertilization treatments significantly improved all vegetative, flowering and root growth traits of the plants compared to control, especially the interaction treatments between NPK at 2 g/pot and gibberellic acid at 1500 ppm in all vegetative growth characters, leaves content of chlorophylls a and b, carotenoids and total carbohydrates, N, P and K % followed by the plants treated with phosphorein at 5 g/pot as a soil drench and GA3 at 1500 ppm. Hence, in order to get the best growth and high quality plants, it is recommended to treat the plants with NPK at 2 g/pot and spraying the foliage till run-off with 1500 ppm of GA3 solution 6 times with one month interval

Učinak zamjene obroka od pšeničnih mekinja obrokom sa sjemenkama kima na nesenje, kvalitetu jaja i masnokiselinski profil u kokoši nesilica

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of substituting wheat bran (WB) with cumin seed meal (CSM) on laying performance, egg quality characteristics and egg-yolk fatty acids profile in laying hens. A total of 180 Bovans hens at 55 weeks of age were divided randomly into three treatments. The CSM was incorporated into a standard corn- and soybean meal-based diet by replacing 0, 50, and 100% of WB [i.e., 100% WB (control), 50% WB+50% CSM and 100% CSM] from 55 to 61 weeks of age. Body weight was measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Feed intake, hen-day egg production and egg weight were recorded daily. At 61 weeks of age, 30 eggs were taken at random from each treatment group to determine the egg quality characteristics. Replacing 100% of WB by CSM did not affect body weight, however, hen-day egg production, egg weight and egg mass significantly increased, while feed conversion ratio significantly decreased (P<0.05). Haugh unit, shell thickness and yolk color significantly increased by CSM substitution in comparison with 100% WB. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) significantly decreased by replacing WB with CSM, while, plasma HDL-cholesterol significantly increased. Furthermore, the liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration significantly decreased, while vitamin E, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid significantly increased (P<0.05) due to CSM inclusion. Therefore, it could be concluded that substitution of WB with CSM could improve laying performance and egg quality characteristics, and reduce lipid peroxidation in laying hens.Cilj ovoga rada bio je istražiti učinak zamjene obroka s pšeničnim mekinjama (WB) obrokom sa sjemenkama kima (CSM) na nesenje, kvalitetu jaja te profil masnih kiselina u žumanjku jajeta kokoši nesilica. Ukupno je 180 Bovans kokoši u dobi od 55 tjedana slučajnim odabirom podijeljeno u tri pokusne skupine, u kojima su sjemenke kima dodane u standardni obrok s kukuruzom i sojom zamjenjujući 0, 50 i 100 % pšeničnih mekinja. Tako je kontrolna skupina hranjena obrocima sa 100 % pšeničnih mekinja, druga skupina s 50 % obroka s pšeničnim mekinjama i 50 % obroka sa sjemenkama kima, a treća skupina obrokom koji je sadržavao 100 % sjemenki kima. Pokusno razdoblje je trajalo od 55. do 61. tjedna starosti nesilica. Tjelesna je masa mjerena na početku i na kraju pokusa. Unos hrane, dnevna proizvodnja jaja i njihova masa bilježili su se svaki dan. U dobi od 61 tjedna iz svake je skupine slučajnim odabirom uzeto 30 jaja kako bi se odredila njihova kvaliteta. zamjenjujući 100 % obrok od pšeničnih mekinja sjemenke kima nisu utjecale na tjelesnu masu, no ipak su dnevna proizvodnja, težina i masa jaja znakovito porasle, dok se stopa konverzije hrane znakovito smanjila (P<0,05). Haugh-ova jedinica, debljina ljuske i boja žumanjka znakovito su porasle u skupinama u kojima su pšenične mekinje zamijenjene sjemenkama kima u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Ukupni kolesterol, trigliceridi, LDL-kolesterol i glutaminska oksalooctena transaminaza (GOT) znakovito su sniženi u skupinama u kojima su pšenične mekinje zamijenjene sjemenkama kima, dok je HDL-kolesterol znakovito povišen. nadalje, koncentracija malondialdehida (MDA) u jetri znakovito je snižena, dok su vitamin E, linolna i alfa-linolna kiselina znakovito porasli (P<0,05) uslijed dodanih sjemenki kima. Može se zaključiti da zamjena obroka s pšeničnim mekinjama obrokom sa sjemenkama kima može poboljšati nesenje i kvalitetu jaja te smanjiti lipidnu peroksidaciju u kokoši nesilica

Preoperative Serum IL-12p40 Is a Potential Predictor of Kasai Portoenterostomy Outcome in Infants with Biliary Atresia

The standard-of-care treatment for biliary atresia (BA) is surgical restoration of bile flow by Kasai portoenterostomy. We aimed to study serum interleukin- (IL-) 12p40, a natural antagonist for the proinflammatory IL-12p70, and its relation to surgical outcomes of BA. The study included 75 infants with neonatal cholestasis: BA group (n=25), non-BA cholestasis group (n=30), and neglected BA group (n=20), in addition to thirty healthy neonates serving as controls. IL-12p40 was measured by ELISA in all individuals and a second assessment was performed 3 months postoperatively in the BA group. The surgical outcomes were classified as successful (bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dl) or failed (bilirubin > 2 mg/dl). IL-12p40 was higher in BA compared to that in the non-BA and control groups (P values were 0.036 and <0.0001, resp.) but comparable to that in the neglected BA group. Preoperative IL-12p40 levels in BA patients were significantly higher in successful Kasai compared with failed Kasai and a cutoff level of 547.47 pg/ml could predict the successful outcome with 87.5% sensitivity and 82.4% specificity. Three-month postoperative IL-12p40 tended to decrease in both the successful and failed groups. In conclusion, preoperative serum IL-12p40 is a potential predictor of Kasai outcome. Serial postoperative measurements may anticipate the failure of an initially successful operation, hence the need for liver transplantation

Intravitreal methotrexate infusion for prophylaxis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Background: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the leading cause of recurrent retinal detachment after surgical repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Our study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of intravitreal methotrexate infusion (IMI) for the prevention of PVR after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in eyes with RRD. Methods: This prospective comparative interventional study was conducted from September 2020 to November 2021 at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Egypt. We recruited a consecutive, non-randomized sample of 47 eyes of 47 patients with RRD undergoing PPV. Participants were allocated to a control group or an intervention group that received IMI during surgery. Each group was subdivided into subgroups of eyes at high-risk of developing PVR and eyes with established preoperative PVR grade C. Outcome measures at the 3-month postoperative follow-up were the rate of retinal attachment, incidence of PVR, reoperation rate to flatten the retina, and changes in the retina and/or optic nerve function as assessed by full-field electroretinogram and flash visual evoked potential. Results: Data from 47 eyes (23 and 24 eyes in the intervention and control groups, respectively) were evaluated. Subgroups IA, IB, and IIB each included 12 eyes, subgroup IIA included 11 eyes, and all subgroups had comparable sex ratios and age distributions. Postoperative PVR at 1 month and between 1 and 3 months was present in 13% and 4% of eyes in the intervention group, respectively. Reoperation to flatten the retina was required in 2 (9%) eyes in the intervention group, while 22 eyes (96%) had complete flattening of the retina at 3 months. No significant differences were found between the study groups and the corresponding subgroups regarding the outcome measures (all P &gt; 0.05). No adverse events attributable to IMI were detected up to 3 months postoperatively. Conclusions: Although IMI was safe for intraocular use in eyes with RRD and PVR grade C or a high risk of developing PVR, it did not affect the anatomical success rate or development of PVR up to 3 months after PPV. Further multicenter randomized clinical trials with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes are needed to verify these preliminary outcomes

Biallelic mutations in valyl-tRNA synthetase gene VARS are associated with a progressive neurodevelopmental epileptic encephalopathy.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) function to transfer amino acids to cognate tRNA molecules, which are required for protein translation. To date, biallelic mutations in 31 ARS genes are known to cause recessive, early-onset severe multi-organ diseases. VARS encodes the only known valine cytoplasmic-localized aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Here, we report seven patients from five unrelated families with five different biallelic missense variants in VARS. Subjects present with a range of global developmental delay, epileptic encephalopathy and primary or progressive microcephaly. Longitudinal assessment demonstrates progressive cortical atrophy and white matter volume loss. Variants map to the VARS tRNA binding domain and adjacent to the anticodon domain, and disrupt highly conserved residues. Patient primary cells show intact VARS protein but reduced enzymatic activity, suggesting partial loss of function. The implication of VARS in pediatric neurodegeneration broadens the spectrum of human diseases due to mutations in tRNA synthetase genes

Mutations in LAMB1 Cause Cobblestone Brain Malformation without Muscular or Ocular Abnormalities

Cobblestone brain malformation (COB) is a neuronal migration disorder characterized by protrusions of neurons beyond the first cortical layer at the pial surface of the brain. It is usually seen in association with dystroglycanopathy types of congenital muscular dystrophies (CMDs) and ocular abnormalities termed muscle-eye-brain disease. Here we report homozygous deleterious mutations in LAMB1, encoding laminin subunit beta-1, in two families with autosomal-recessive COB. Affected individuals displayed a constellation of brain malformations including cortical gyral and white-matter signal abnormalities, severe cerebellar dysplasia, brainstem hypoplasia, and occipital encephalocele, but they had less apparent ocular or muscular abnormalities than are typically observed in COB. LAMB1 is localized to the pial basement membrane, suggesting that defective connection between radial glial cells and the pial surface mediated by LAMB1 leads to this malformation