6,998 research outputs found
Balancing contractual and relational approaches for PPP success and sustainability
No full textUseful synergies are targeted by proposing a convergence of hitherto parallel international endeavours towards: (1) developing better and sustainable relationships for more productive construction project teams, in general; and (2) optimising the necessarily long term contractual arrangements of PPPs in particular. Examples are drawn from Africa and Latin America to reinforce reported PPP experiences from other regions, in building up a case for injecting ‘relational contracting approaches’ in order to develop more productive and sustainable PPPs. Strong and sustainable relationships are shown to be essential, and complementary to appropriate contractual incentives, that would together empower PPP project teams to focus on developing sustainable infrastructure and ultimately on overall sustainable development. These propositions are merged into a basic model that merits further investigation and development, in order to ensure that planned PPPs benefit the community at large, in respect of both present and future generations
Isolation of Bacillus spp. from soil and an evaluation of their sensitivity towards different extracts and essential oils of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)
No full textThroughout the present study, some Bacillus spp. were isolated from soil, and the effectiveness of the medicinal plant Cuminum cyminum L.'s essential oil extracts were tested against the isolated bacteria. The Bacillus spp. were identified through 16S rDNA sequence analysis and the antibacterial activity of various organic solvent extracts as well as the essential oils of C. cyminum L. determined in vitro using agar diffusion method and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) tests. The hydrodistilled essential oil was analyzed through GC-MS. Twenty-seven compounds representing 92.61% of the total oil were identified. Oxygenated monoterpenes and scsquiterpene hydrocarbons constituted the major components of the oil. The inhibition zones of essential oil (extracted through organic solvent) against the tested bacteria were found within the range of 14.4 to 20.2 mm. Organic extracts of C. cyminum L. also revealed a great potential of antibacterial activity against Bacillus spp. Among all the extracts, ethanol extract showed the highest activity against Bacillus megaterium with an inhibition zone of 22.9 mm and MIC value of 500 μg ml-1. In most cases, the essential oil and organic extracts exhibited either similar or higher antibacterial activity in comparison with the standard drug Erythromycin. The results finally suggest that the essential oil as well as organic extracts of C. cyminum L. can act as sources of natural antimicrobial agents with potential applications in food and pharmaceutical industries
Osteobrama cotio Rahman & Norén & Mollah & Kullander 2018, sensu stricto
No full textMaterial examined. Osteobrama cotio sensu stricto : India. Brahmaputra River drainage: NRM 40331, 12, 26.7–43.3 mm SL; Assam, about 30 km SW of Dibrugarh, Sessa River close to Patiola village, 27°18ʹ47ʺN 94°49ʹ46ʺE; 21 Jan 1998. F. Fang & A. Roos (FANG-98-006).— — Ganga River drainage: NRM 40479, 8, 32.8–37.5 mm SL; Bihar, roadside ditch about 8 km on road Lukeesarai–Munger, 25°13ʹ52ʺN 86°3ʹ27ʺE; 28 Jan 1998, F. Fang & A. Roos (FANG-98-018). — Bangladesh. Meghna River drainage: NRM 68828,1, 49.1 mm SL; NRM 68885, 8, 37.4–66.9 mm SL; Sylhet Division: Sylhet District: Golapganj: Surma River left bank, at Kheaghat point, 1.5 km upstream from Golapganj, 24°51ʹ40ʺN 91°59ʹ37ʺE; 23 Mar 2016, M.M. Rahman, et al. (SRL-2016-013).— NRM 66129, 1, not measured; DU 9031/ NRM 69352, 1, not measured; NRM 68929,1, 64.6 mm SL; Dhaka Division: Khishoreganj District: Ashuganj, Meghna River at Ashuganj Point, 24°2ʹ47ʺN 91°0ʹ20ʺE; 20 Mar 2016. M.M. Rahman, et al. (SRL-2016-005).— NRM 68904, 2, 53.9– 47.4 mm SL; NRM 69284, 1, 45.7 mm SL; NRM 69291, 1, not measured; NRM 68948, 2, 55.9–58.6 mm SL; Sylhet Division: Sylhet District: Fenchuganj, Kushiyara River left bank in Fenchuganj at junction with Juri River, 24°42ʹ19ʺN 91°57ʹ16ʺE; 22 Mar 2016. M.M. Rahman, et al. (SRL-2016-008).— NRM 68918, 3, 43.7–46.2 mm SL; NRM 68995, 1, not measured; Sylhet Division, Sylhet District, Goyanghat, Piyain Goyan River near Goyanghat, 25°5ʹ18ʺN 91°58ʹ53ʺE; 25 Mar 2016, M.M. Rahman, et al. (SRL-2016-020).— Padma River drainage: DU 6149, 1, 41.6 mm SL Dhaka Division: Munshigonj district: Arial Beel, 23°34ʹ47ʺN, 090°16ʹ20ʺE; 10 Oct 2014, M.M. Rahman. — NRM 67729, 4, 38.5–39.6 mm SL; Dhaka Division: Sreenagar: fish market in Shonbari, Sreenagar, [23°32ʹ38ʺN 90°17ʹ47ʺE]; 2 Dec 2014. M.M. Rahman, et al. (SRL-2014-018).— Feni River drainage: DU 6112, 4, 33.8–61.4 mm SL; Chittagong Division, Feni District: Feni River and Shitakunda Hillstream: Kohua River, 22°54ʹ42ʺN, 091°30ʹ10ʺE; M.M Rahman, 29 May 2015 (SL-6). Osteobrama cotio sensu lato : Bangladesh. Karnafuli River drainage: DU 9031/ NRM 66545, 1, not measured; NRM 67721, 1, 59.0 mm SL; Chittagong Division: Rangamati District: Rangamati, town fish market, fish from Kaptai Lake; 22°38ʹ59ʺN 92°11ʹ1ʺE. 27 Nov 2014. M.M. Rahman, et al. (SRL-2014-001).— NRM 67707, 9, 52.0– 74.4 mm SL; NRM 70222, 9, 29.6–53.9 mm SL; NRM 70230, 2, 43.0–50.0 mm SL, cleared and stained; Chittagong Division: Rangamati District: Rangamati, fish landing pier, fish from Kaptai Lake, 22°39ʹ0ʺN 92°11ʹ9ʺE; 27–28 Nov 2014, M.M. Rahman et al. (SRL-2014- 002).— Sangu River drainage: NRM 67175, 48.2 mm SL; Chittagong Division: Bandarban District: Sangu River at Dhopachari, 22°12ʹ22ʺN 92°8ʹ2ʺE. 13 May 2015. M.M Rahman et al. (SRL-2015-025).Published as part of Rahman, Md. Mizanur, Norén, Michael, Mollah, Abdur Rob & Kullander, Sven, 2018, The identity of Osteobrama cotio, and the status of " Osteobrama serrata " (Teleostei: Cyprinidae: Cyprininae), pp. 105-118 in Zootaxa 4504 (1) on page 108, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4504.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/260888
Environmental toxicity, redox signaling and lung inflammation:the role of glutathione
No full textGlutathione (gamma-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine, GSH) is the most abundant intracellular antioxidant thiol and is central to redox defense during oxidative stress. GSH metabolism is tightly regulated and has been implicated in redox signaling and also in protection against environmental oxidant-mediated injury. Changes in the ratio of the reduced and disulfide form (GSH/GSSG) can affect signaling pathways that participate in a broad array of physiological responses from cell proliferation, autophagy and apoptosis to gene expression that involve H(2)O(2) as a second messenger. Oxidative stress due to oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and also due to environmental oxidants is an important component during inflammation and respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and asthma. It is known to activate multiple stress kinase pathways and redox-sensitive transcription factors such as Nrf2, NF-kappaB and AP-1, which differentially regulate the genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the protective antioxidant genes. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms for the induction of antioxidants, such as GSH, versus pro-inflammatory mediators at sites of oxidant-directed injuries may allow for the development of novel therapies which will allow pharmacological manipulation of GSH synthesis during inflammation and oxidative injury. This article features the current knowledge about the role of GSH in redox signaling, GSH biosynthesis and particularly the regulation of transcription factor Nrf2 by GSH and downstream signaling during oxidative stress and inflammation in various pulmonary diseases. We also discussed the current therapeutic clinical trials using GSH and other thiol compounds, such as N-acetyl-l-cysteine, fudosteine, carbocysteine, erdosteine in environment-induced airways disease
Mapping inundation from sea level rise and its interaction with land cover in the Sundarbans mangrove forest
No full textThe sea level rise (SLR) in the Sundarbans areas is higher than the global-average rate of sea rise, and many studies assume that most of the dry land of the Sundarbans will be inundated by the end of the twenty-first century. This study aims to analyze the amount of dry land that can potentially be inundated by SLR in Sundarbans and the impact under different land cover conditions. Four SLR scenarios, a digital elevation data grid, and net subsidence data are used to map areas that will be potentially inundated by 2100. Results for the low (35 cm), mid (52 cm), high (70 cm), and extreme (147 cm) SLR scenarios indicate that the Sundarbans landmass area will be flooded up to 40 km(2) (1%), 72 km(2) (1.8%), 136 km(2) (3.4%), and 918 km(2) (23%), respectively, under the current net subsidence rate of -2.4 mm/year by 2100. Except for the extreme scenarios, the low, mid, and high SLR will result in riverbank and beach areas to be covered by water. The potential inundation areas of different vegetation cover classes that already exist today (2020) will be nominal for the low, mid, and high SLR scenarios. We also analyzed the sensitivity of the results through station-based SLR data, which fits with the low (35 cm) SLR scenarios under the -2.4 mm/year subsidence rate. This study concluded that the inundation aspect of SLR will not directly affect the Sundarbans; however, indirectly related threats and anthropogenic disturbances can be major drivers of the Sundarbans' degradation by the end of the twenty-first century. This work discusses reasonable inundation scenarios integrating SLR and subsidence with a custom land-cover map that includes three forest-density categories. The study's findings contribute to forest management planning and support the UN goals of the Bangladesh Delta Plan
Current concepts on oxidative/carbonyl stress, inflammation and epigenetics in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
No full textChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health problem. The current therapies for COPD are poorly effective and the mainstays of pharmacotherapy are bronchodilators. A better understanding of the pathobiology of COPD is critical for the development of novel therapies. In the present review, we have discussed the roles of oxidative/aldehyde stress, inflammation/immunity, and chromatin remodeling in the pathogenesis of COPD. An imbalance of oxidants/antioxidants caused by cigarette smoke and other pollutants/biomass fuels plays an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD by regulating redox-sensitive transcription factors (e.g., NF-κB), autophagy and unfolded protein response leading to chronic lung inflammatory response. Cigarette smoke also activates canonical/alternative NF-κB pathways and their upstream kinases leading to sustained inflammatory response in lungs. Recently, epigenetic regulation has been shown to be critical for the development of COPD because the expression/activity of enzymes that regulate these epigenetic modifications have been reported to be abnormal in airways of COPD patients. Hence, the significant advances made in understanding the pathophysiology of COPD as described herein will identify novel therapeutic targets for intervention in COPD
Editorial
No full textThe Editorial Board of Geotechnical Research extends a warm invitation for article submissions to a themed issue centred around ‘Recent advances in biogeoscience applications in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering’. Biogeoscience techniques, such as bioprecipitation (microbial-induced and enzyme-induced calcite precipitation), biomineralisation, biocementation, bioremediation and bio-geopolymerisation, have gained considerable popularity in the fields of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering.No Full Tex
Editorial
No full textOn behalf of the Editorial Board of Geotechnical Research(GeoRes), we welcome submissions to the themed issue currently being championed by the journal, namely ‘Recent advances in biogeoscience applications in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering’. Two papers by Omoregie et al. (2023a, 2023b) have already been published online ‘ahead of print’ for this themed issue. Submissions are welcome before 31 December 2023.No Full Tex
Editorial
No full textOn behalf of the Editorial Board of Geotechnical Research (GeoRes), we welcome our readers to the fourth issue of volume 8 (2021). GeoRes, being the first gold Open Access (OA) journal of the Institution of Civil Engineers, maximises the impact of research articles and knowledge-based case studies in a wide range of geotechnical challenges. Like most other OA journals, authors have to pay a publication charge for publishing in GeoRes. However, the journal offers a range of discounts for disadvantaged groups of researchers, particularly researchers from the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) countries. Such a discount policy aims to partially eliminate an economic barrier for disseminating research output from developing countries. Form 2022, the editors of GeoRes may offer up to six fee waivers for outstanding papers.No Full Tex
Recent changes in ecosystem services and human well-being in the Bangladesh coastal zone
No full textThis study takes an historical approach in order to establish how the form and function of the social-ecological system that represents the Bangladesh south-western coastal zone has changed over recent decades. Time series data for a range of ecosystem services and drivers are analysed to define the range of trends, the presence of change points, slow and fast variables and the significant drivers of change. Since the 1980s, increasing gross domestic product and per capita income mirror rising levels of food and inland fish production. As a result, the size of population below the poverty line has reduced by ~17 %. In contrast, non-food ecosystem services such as water availability, water quality and land stability have deteriorated. Conversion of rice fields to shrimp farms is almost certainly a factor in increasing soil and surface water salinity. Most of the services experienced statistically significant change points between 1975 and 1980, and among the services, water availability, shrimp farming and maintenance of biodiversity appear to have passed tipping points. An environmental Kuznets curve analysis suggests that the point at which growing economic wealth feeds back into effective environmental protection has not yet been reached for water resources. Trends in indicators of ecosystem services and human well-being point to widespread non-stationary dynamics governed by slowly changing variables with an increased likelihood of systemic threshold changes/tipping points in the near future. The results will feed into simulation models and strategies that can define alternative and sustainable paths for land management
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