American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS)
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Determinants of Infrastructure Project Delays and Cost Escalations: the Cases of Federal Road and Railway Construction Projects in Ethiopia
Get PDFConstruction project objective achievement measured by whether, or not the projects are completed on time and budget. Most of the road and rail construction projects in Ethiopia exposed to extreme time and cost overruns. It becomes difficult to complete projects on time and budget. To fill gaps, the study was conducted causes of infrastructure project delay and cost escalation in the federal road and rail construction projects. Data gathered in purposive sampling technique from the targeted population of the client, contractor, and consultant of managers and engineers who have experienced delay and cost overruns. In the total of 73 questionnaires were collected, and 18 senior engineers interviewed in mixed research approaches and analyzed data using applied and descriptive statistics by aided in SPSS and RII . To investigate the real extent of time and cost overruns of the road and railway construction projects, secondary data collected from 25 roads and 3 railways projects construction completed from 2014 to May, 2018 and analyzed by using Microsoft Office Excel 2007. From the investigation, it found that 88% of the road and 100% railway construction projects suffered time performance, and 80% of the road and 100% of the railway construction projects also cost overruns from initially expected. Project delay and cost overrun can be minimized only when their causes are indentified. To analyze the major causes of time and cost overrun of the road and railway construction projects, the study classified determinants into time overrun (technical, overconfidence bias and strategic misrepresentation), and cost overrun. The top-ranked five delay factors found incomplete to study before project approval, poor project management & coordination, the right of way issues, inaccurate forecasting of schedule, psychological biases, and political interests. Inflation of material cost, the scope change with the change order, incomplete study project approval, poor bill of quantity & design, and poor project performance monitoring among top ranked cost overrun determinants. The correlation between time overrun variables/or determinants, and time & cost overrun determinants directly affecting the other time and cost overrun variables in the same project.
The research findings suggested that the project stakeholder makes sure that the road and rail projects carrying out on time and within estimated budget. Otherwise, it has found time and cost overruns, this damages client and contractor reputation, loss of profit and investment opportunities, inability to deliver the value of money and inefficient use of time, disposing of business activities and create the burden for taxpayers. The study also reminds for decision-makers and practitioners to address the road and railway construction project delay and cost overrun by rewarding well-performed contractors, improve the capacity of staff, make selective public-private-partnership, enhance performance monitoring and information sharing, and use innovative project cost and time forecasting techniques and tools
Antioxidant and Tyrosinase Enzyme Inhibition Activity of Lime Peel and Seed Ethanol Extract
Get PDFUV Light exposure and Oxidative stress can cause the accumulation of free radicals and increase melanogenesis. The various herbal plant enriches Indonesia. One of them is lime that content various phytochemicals. This study was aimed to explore antioxidants property and tyrosinase enzyme inhibition activity of lime peel and lime seed. This study used ethanol extract from lime peel and seed. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the ABTS reduction assay, while tyrosinase enzyme inhibitor activity by tyrosinase enzyme from fungi. The results of this study showed that the IC50 Value of Lime Seed (14.09 ± 0.88 µg/mL) was lower than lime peel (20.16 ± 0.23 µg/mL). Meanwhile, the IC50 value against tyrosine enzyme of Lime Peel (34.23 ± 0.93 µg/mL) was lower than lime seed (67.88 ± 3.73µg/mL). Hence lime peels potentially become a tyrosinase enzyme inhibitor agent while the lime seed has better antioxidant potential than the peel
Relationship of Bell’s Polynomial Matrix and k-Fibonacci Matrix
Get PDFThe Bell’s polynomial matrix is ??expressed as , where each of its entry represents the Bell’s polynomial number.This Bell’s polynomial number functions as an information code of the number of ways in which partitions of a set with certain elements are arranged into several non-empty section blocks. Furthermore, thek-Fibonacci matrix is expressed as , where each of its entry represents the k-Fibonacci number, whose first term is 0, the second term is 1 and the next term depends on a positive integer k. This article aims to find a matrix based on the multiplication of the Bell’s polynomial matrix and the k-Fibonacci matrix. Then from the relationship between the two matrices the matrix is obtained. The matrix is ??not commutative from the product of the two matrices, so we get matrix Thus, the matrix , so that the Bell’s polynomial matrix relationship can be expressed a
An Intelligent Obstacle and Edge Recognition System using Bug Algorithm
Get PDFObstacle avoidance is an important task in robotics as the autonomous robot\u27s aim is to reach the destination without collision. One type of autonomous robot that can detect obstacles and edges and take alternative paths free of obstacles and edges is a real-time obstacle avoiding edge detection robot. This paper proposes a robotic Robot with an intelligence built into it that guides itself whenever an obstacle comes along its way by bug algorithm. This robotic Robot is constructed using AT mega 8 families’ micro-controller (Arduino Uno R3). The ultrasonic sensor is used to detect any obstacle with edges and sends a command to the microcontroller. The micro-controller, based on the received input signal, redirects the robot to push in an alternative direction by actuating the motors that are interfaced with it via a motor driver. Depending on the situation the robot is able to choose the correct path [1]. A decision making process of obstacle avoiding edge detection occurs spontaneously here. This robot was designed to think about its day-to-day potentialities
The Role of Pakistan Against Counter Terrorism
Get PDFPakistan joined global efforts to curb terrorism right after 9/11 and kept on playing a vital role as a frontline ally. The country\u27s role in War on Terror was inevitable due to multiple factors such as geography, supply routes and intelligence sharing. Over time, Pakistan carried out numerous operations to dislodge trans-national militants in its tribal areas. After constant terror attacks, it aimed at launching comprehensive operations against terrorists hiding in every nook and corner of the country. Keeping counter-terror policies of Pakistan, the paper is divided into three eras. First, the Musharaf era (2001-2008), in which Pakistan relied on military operations, banned extremist organizations, reformed Madrasahs and drone strikes. Whereas, the second era, under Pakistan People\u27s Party encompasses the overwhelming reliance on Drone Warfare and military operations in Swat and South Waziristan Agency. During the third era, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif came up with the idea of peace talks with the militants, that went futile and operation Zarb-e-Azab was launched against militants
Revisiting the Hodrick-Prescott Filter: A New Perception of the Minimization Problem
Get PDFWhen we revisit how reflect the objective of reducing the effects of the growth rates fluctuation in the Hodrick-Prescott filter, we minimize the gap between the value of the trend at time t and a third order average around that value. The paper assesses that the obtained modified Hodrick-Prescott filter better takes into account the structure of the series and gives a stronger estimate of the turning points
Potential Approach for Fighting Against Corona Virus Disease
Get PDFA viral disease (or viral infection, or infectious disease) occurs when pathogenic viruses invade an organism’s body, and infectious virus particles (virions) attach to and enter susceptible cells [1]. There are many types of viral diseases affecting the human body as explained below. But in this approach focus on a noved viral infectious disease belongs to corona viruses group as this dangerous viruses showed a wide spread activity all over the globe. The virus has a characteristic genetic instability means genetic mutations occurs in high rate such a phenomena make the virus replicates with different genetic sequences and spread rapidly therefore, it is not easy to be controlled neither by vaccines nor by drugs. This research looking for methods to fight against corona virus through certain mechanisms that have a relationships with transforming growth factor (TGF-beta). Here comes the idea that if we could control TGF-beta, with which the virus interacts, it would be possible to get over the virus either directly or indirectly and at the same giving a chance for the immune system in terms of humeral and cell mediated immunity of the human body to be active against the disease. Taking into account that TGF-beta is a growth factor found everywhere in the body
Nurses\u27 Roles towards Patient undergoing Cardiac Catheterization at Al- Najaf Governorate: Patient Perspective
Get PDFThe study objectives to evaluate nurses’ roles toward patient undergoing cardiac catheterization and to find out the relationship between the patient perspective and demographic data (age, gender, level of education, social status, occupation, economic status, and residence). a descriptive cross-sectional design (patient perspective) was carried out through the present study in order to achieve the early stated objectives for period January 4th 2017 to August 6th 2017. The study conducted at AL-Najaf cardiac center, A convenient sample of (100) patients undergoing to cardiac catheterization patients that admitted to cardiac catheterization unites. The data were collected through the use of questionnaire, which consists of two parts, socio-demographic data, and question related to nurses\u27 roles toward patient undergoing cardiac catheterization. The data were described statistically and analyzed though use of the descriptive and inferential statistical analysis procedures. The results of present study indicate that the nurses\u27 roles toward patient undergoing cardiac catheterization was good more than 89% of patient agree with this role. The study confirms that the nurses have a good practice toward patient undergoing cardiac catheterization according to patient perspective. Nurses, who working in cardiac center, should be hired with certain qualification, which are related to the performance of such high quality practices. Special training programs should be designed and constructed for nurses in this area to reinforce their skills and promote their experience. The standards for such practices bill should be created and presented to all ties in which such practices are performed
The Surface Deformation and Earthquake History Associated with the 1975 M 6.8 Bagan Earthquake in Myanmar
Get PDFThe 1975 M 6.8 Bagan earthquake occurred on 8th July 1975, at 12:04:38 (UTC). The epicenter was at 21.50N 94.70E with the depth of 112 km (ISC) and focal mechanism is thrusting (USGS). The intensity of earthquake was severe which involved destruction of many pagodas with a loss of at least one live and one injury. Most of the pagodas were damaged with their tops falling down to the ground. Bagan, the land of temples and stupas was shaken by a series of earthquakes since ancient time and the earliest records are about 25 November,1372; 14 July 1485 A.D. and another event in 1550 A.D.by which event Shwe-gu-gyi temple was damaged. Although the 1975 earthquake was one of the significant earthquakes that have occurred along inland zone in the western Myanmar, this event has not been analyzed within the context of present-day understanding of earthquake seismology. The mode of deformation and seismic history of these earthquakes remain unresolved. Due to another large earthquake, Chauk earthquake in 2016 with M 6.8, approximate numbers of pagodas of (400) were damaged as the previous 1975 Bagan earthquake. Pagodas left intact and withstand as before. Geologists and earthquake engineers went to Bagan city and neighboring towns for damage assessment a few days after the 2016 Chauk earthquake event. People explained that the main shock was very powerful and the houses and religious building were lifted about 3 times at initial shaking and then lateral shaking continued for a minute. It is due to the ground motion that was strong enough to fling up the buildings as the fault rupture beneath it.
On the base of field investigation that was carried out to map the surface rupture associated with this earthquake event, the 1975 Bagan earthquake and 2016 Chauk earthquake are intermediate-depth subduction earthquakes and such inland intermediate-depth earthquakes are hazardous earthquakes for the area along the Rakhine Western Ranges (Indo-Andaman belt) under which the India plate is subducting beneath the Burma plate. These earthquakes are the most significant events that occurred in intra-plate subduction zone setting. 
Use of Geolocation in ACP Systems
Get PDFMobile network operators try to keep up with the growing demands of the users and use different bands and carriers, which itself increases the interference of the system and degrades the network quality. It is almost impossible to detect and resolve these issues one by one due to the scale and complexity of the system. Therefore, more and more operators are introducing the solutions that can automatically change network settings and improve network quality. Automated Cell Planning module uses different algorithms that requires optimization and efficiency improvement. This can be accomplished by splitting the cluster into small bins and selecting worst areas for brute force attack that can reduce the number of iteration hundreds of times. Reducing the number of possible settings decreases the computation time and makes the whole process more efficient. Study and simulation of our new approach is given below