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Reliability Analysis of Process Systems Using Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set Theory
No full textYesIn different engineering processes, the reliability of systems is increasingly evaluated to ensure that the safety-critical process systems will operate within their expected operational boundary for a certain mission time without failure. Different methodologies used for reliability analysis of process systems include Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Bayesian Networks (BN). Although these approaches have their own procedures for evaluating system reliability, they rely on exact failure data of systems' components for reliability evaluation. Nevertheless, obtaining exact failure data for complex systems can be difficult due to the complex behaviour of their components, and the unavailability of precise and adequate information about such components. To tackle the data uncertainty issue, this chapter proposes a framework by combining intuitionistic fuzzy set theory and expert elicitation that enables the reliability assessment of process systems using FTA. Moreover, to model the statistical dependencies between events, we use the BN for robust probabilistic inference about system reliability under different uncertainties. The efficiency of the framework is demonstrated through application to a real-world system and comparison of the results of analysis produced by the existing approaches
Evaluation of new succinimide-based small molecules as alphavbeta3 integrin antagonists: from design to preliminary biological testing
No full textIntegrins are a family of cell surface protein receptors consisting of two subunits, called α and β, involved in several biological processes, including regulation of signalling between cells and other cells or ECM.
Integrins are overexpressed in diseases, first of all cancer. Being able to bind several ligands which contain the endogenous peptidic motif, RGD, αvβ3 is the most important of the family, associated with angiogenesis and aggressiveness of the tumour. However, molecules designed as antagonists based on RGD have shown partial agonism. This limit may be overpassed by switching from RGD to isoDGR motif.
Here, some isoDGR analogues prodrugs have been designed and synthesised, by a multi-step route to obtain the different fragments (isoAsp, Gly and Arg) subsequently connected together [Fig. A.01].
The molecules have been tested in ex-vivo metabolism assay in liver, kidney and tumour tissues. Cytotoxicity has been tested for all compounds in M14 and DLD1 cell lines: no effect was observed in MTT assay. Migration inhibition has been evaluated by performing scratch assay on M14 and DLD1 cell lines.
Compound 4 has shown the best migration inhibition, with IC50 = 4.62 ± 1.70 μM at 12h and IC50 = 5.63 ± 1.77 μM at 24h. [Fig A.01]
The work made in this project can be used as preliminary evaluation for a deeper investigation in succinamides-based prodrugs as integrins
antagonists
Diversity Management in a Post-colonial Multi-ethnic Context in the Global South. The Case of the Nigerian Public Service
Get PDFDiversity management (DM) in post-colonial multi-ethnic countries of the Global South has tended to rely on employment quotas to achieve DM objectives such as equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This study explores employees’ lived experiences of DM in public service organisations in Nigeria. It provides insight into employees’ perceptions of the resulting justice and fairness of DM policies, including that of the Federal Character Principle (FCP), through employees’ voices and narratives of encounters and lived experiences of EDI practices in the workplace.
A qualitative case study was undertaken with data collected by interviews and vignettes (or vignette-elicited interviewing) from thirty employees in two Federal Civil Service organisations in Nigeria. These were designed to elucidate current practices and nested meanings within specific historical, social, and cultural settings. Additional data were obtained from government documents and national and local media
publications. These data were analysed using thematic analysis, with all emerging themes further analysed through McCall’s intersectional framework.
This study contributes to the HRM literature by elucidating the influence on perceptions of justice and fairness of employees in multi-ethnic Nigeria and the actions of line managers when executing human resource (HR)-delegated practices aimed at
achieving DM outcomes. The findings further contribute to the EDI literature by revealing how intersectional factors influence ethnically diverse employees’ experience of DM policies and practices. Moreover, it discloses that diversity-HRM policies driven by universal “best practices” to specific contexts may be constrained and challenged by unique socio-historical, socio-cultural, and relational factors
Owner-managers failure experience and business model innovations in B2B firms: The roles of coopetition, managerial persistence, and financial resource slack
Get PDFYesThis study proposes and tests a model of how and when previous failure experience can impact on subsequent business model innovation of business-to-business (B2B) SMEs. Analysis of survey data from a sample of 182 B2B SMEs in Ghana indicates that failure experience is positively related to business model innovation – and that coopetition capability mediates this failure experience. Further analysis of boundary condition effects reveals that high levels of financial resource slack strengthen the positive relationship between coopetition and business model innovation, while the level of managerial persistence has no effect on failure experience and coopetition relationship. We discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of these findings
Metal-organic frameworks and their biodegradable composites for controlled delivery of antimicrobial drugs
Get PDFYesAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global crisis with an increasing number of untreatable or exceedingly difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, due to their growing resistance to existing drugs. It is predicted that AMR will be the leading cause of death by 2050. In addition to ongoing efforts on preventive strategies and infection control, there is ongoing research towards the development of novel vaccines, antimicrobial agents, and optimised diagnostic practices to address AMR. However, developing new therapeutic agents and medicines can be a lengthy process. Therefore, there is a parallel ongoing worldwide effort to develop materials for optimised drug delivery to improve efficacy and minimise AMR. Examples of such materials include functionalisation of surfaces so that they can become self-disinfecting or non-fouling, and the development of nanoparticles with promising antimicrobial properties attributed to their ability to damage numerous essential components of pathogens. A relatively new class of materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), is also being investigated for their ability to act as carriers of antimicrobial agents, because of their ultrahigh porosity and modular structures, which can be engineered to control the delivery mechanism of loaded drugs. Biodegradable polymers have also been found to show promising applications as antimicrobial carriers; and, recently, several studies have been reported on delivery of antimicrobial drugs using composites of MOF and biodegradable polymers. This review article reflects on MOFs and polymer-MOF composites, as carriers and delivery agents of antimicrobial drugs, that have been studied recently, and provides an overview of the state of the art in this highly topical area of research
Management of COPD and Comorbidities in COPD patients by Dispensing Pharmaceutical Care following Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease-Guidelines (GOLD guidelines 2020): A study protocol for a Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial
Get PDFYesCOPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a medical condition that encompasses several
chronic, progressive, and severe respiratory illnesses, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
COPD is the 4th most deadly disease in the world and its prevalence is expected to increase.
Despite the abundance of information on the disease’s etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment
possibilities, it has long been underdiagnosed and underreported for a long time, particularly in
developing countries. The symptoms of COPD result in significant impairments and significant
impact on quality of life. COPD is the third leading cause of death in Pakistan. According to the
published literature, COPD has been found to be associated with a serious economic burden,
either the direct cost to healthcare systems in the form of frequent hospital admissions or indirect
costs to patients suffering from COPD. Despite the availability of excellent medication, COPD
treatment goals are frequently not achieved resulting in poor management of COPD. The recent
studies revealed that due to the missing role of Pharmacists in most of the public sector hospitals
of Pakistan, the COPD disease management protocols are not being properly followed. Pharmacists
can help the healthcare system by implementing these management protocols that focus on
patient education about the disease, prescribed medications, and proper inhalation techniques.
Furthermore, the pharmacists as an effective healthcare’s team member properly educate the
patients about the ongoing assessments and their willingness to follow treatment.Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSP2023R161), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We are also thankful to Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan for providing grant under the National Research Program for Universities- NRPU Ref No. 20–14413/NRPU/R&D/HEC/202
Evolution of the rare earth trade network: from the perspective of dependency and competition
No full textYesAs a global strategic reserve resource, rare earth has been widely used in important industries, such as military equipment and biomedicine. However, through existing analyses based on the total volume of rare earth trade, the competition and dependency behind the trade cannot be revealed. In this paper, based on the principle of trade preference and import similarity, we construct dependency and competition networks and use complex network analysis to study the evolution of the global rare earth trade network from 2002 to 2018. The main conclusions are as follows: the global rare earth trade follows the Pareto principle, and the trade network shows a scale-free distribution. China has become the largest country in both import and export of rare earth trade in the world since 2017. In the dependency network, China has become the most dependent country since 2006. The result of community division shows that China has separated from the American community and formed new communities with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. The United States of America has formed a super-strong community with European and Asian countries. In the competition network, the distribution of competition intensity follows a scale-free distribution. Most countries are faced with low-intensity competition, but competing countries are relatively numerous. The competition related to China has increased significantly. The competition source of the United States of America has shifted from Mexico to China. China, the USA, and Japan have been the cores of the competition network.This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China Humanities and Social Sciences Youth Foundation (Grant No. 22YJC910014), the Social Sciences Planning Youth Project of Anhui Province (Grant No. AHSKQ2022D138), and the Innovation Development Research Project of Anhui Province (Grant No. 2021CX053)
The early lives of the Islanders: Stable isotope analysis of incremental dentine collagen from the prehispanic period of the Canary Islands
No full textYesObjectives: This study presents isotopic information for incremental dentine collagen and bone bulk collagen from individuals from the Canary Islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) to explore dietary differences during childhood life.
Materials and Methods: Eight individuals have been studied, which comprises 122 δ15N and δ13C incremental dentine measurements and eight bulk bone collagen analyses. A baseline of potentially consumed food sources has been developed for comparative purposes. A FRUITS model of probable contributions of each food source towards the diet of each individual has been developed. All samples but one belongs to the later period of indigenous occupation of the archipelago.
Results: The dentine collagen data are presented in correlated δ13C and δ15N plots per individual, showing the isotopic changes throughout time. δ15N values for each individual tend to be variable whereas δ13C data are generally more stable with a range of +9.1 to +14‰ for δ15N and –17.4 to –20.8‰ for δ13C.
Conclusion: The isotopic analysis allows for the reconstruction of 8 dietary profiles, which allow us to estimate the different dietary protein sources. The FRUITS model shows different percentages of the primary food sources for each individual. Where both δ13C and δ15N are elevated, this could be indicative of a higher marine contribution to the diet. There appear to be two main dietary profiles identifiable in the dataset and these may be related to changes in status or place of residence. Short-term variations in δ13C and δ15N and opposing co-variance of isotopic values can be indicative of nutritional stress, although metabolic changes during growth are also considered.PhD grant from Universidad de La Laguna—Fundación La Caixa (“Contratos Predoctorales para la formación de doctores ULL-2015”), MINECO (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad) project “Guanches y europeos en Las Cañadas del Teide, Ocupación, Producción y Comunicación” (HAR2015-68323-P), “Erasmus+ Scholarship” given by the University of La Laguna, ERC Starting Grant project IsoCAN (grant 851733, European Comission) and the projects RTI2018-101923-J-I00 and RYC2019-028346 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
A systematic review on water accessibility and safety in Ghana: The plausibility to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 by 2030
Get PDFYesWater is essential in everyday life hence, there is a need for it to be available in
quality and quantity to all. This study aimed to review relevant published studies on water
accessibility and safety in Ghana from 2015 to 2022 to determine the plausibility of Ghana
achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 by 2030.
METHODOLOGY
A systematic review was conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines using four
databases including ProQuest, Science Direct, Web of Science and Scopus. Studies with
data on specified keywords and published in English from January 2015 to June 2022
were included in this study. Duplicated titles were removed and the title, and full
text of remained studies were reviewed by two independent coders. Thematic analysis was
conducted to identify themes.
RESULTS
Ten studies met the criteria and the majority of them used qualitative design
(60%). Five main themes were identified including; causes of water contamination, the
prevalence of waterborne diseases, types of water sources, implemented policies and
challenges for policy implementation. The government implemented policies to provide
safe and potable drinking water for the citizen and now, about 72% of the population
have access to treated pipe water. Some challenges facing implemented policies include
political interest in illegal mining, inadequate waste disposal facilities, and poverty.
CONCLUSION
This study shows that Ghana can achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6.1
which is "Access to clean and affordable water for all" by 2030. The government, public
health organizations and stakeholders should work together to alleviate the challenges
faced in achieving this goal