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Quantity Surveying (QS) is a process concerned with controlling and managing the costs of construction projects. QS Measurement relies on sophisticated measurement rules that are understood by experienced practitioners. Traditional QS systems, such as standard paperwork, are time-consuming and only approximate the cost estimate. This paper aims to design and deploy a web-based framework for automating the cost estimation of concrete construction, using ASP.NET. It introduces a user-friendly interface, which ensures that the work is completed in the chronological order of the construction phases. The proposed QS framework offers a reliable and time-efficient estimation method, in comparison to other methods (i.e., human labor using paper or Excel), which was tested using real data and was validated by experts and consultant companies. Furthermore, it automated the reading of project information from construction maps, which reduced errors when estimating costs. It could also automatically determine the project location using Google Maps and could quickly guide the user to the location. The proposed QS framework automated the manual and Excel work of cost computing with an accuracy of 99%, reducing human calculation errors. It also effectively reduced the calculation time to only three days (compared to 114 days of manual work or 19 days of Excel work). The comparison result of the Quantity Surveyor’s average paid salary indicated that using web-based QS framework helps in reducing the cost estimation time and labor costs.

The purpose of this research work is to present in a systematic way the use of the integration method comprising the information system and prediction model towards optimizing the accuracy of Quantity Survey (QS) calculation. The main attention is paid to applied value of the considered methodology, to profitable interpretation and clarification of the results obtained. In order to achieve the goals, information system with the prediction model has been developed and integrated, which predicts the volume of concrete and steel materials using comprehensive experiments over a set of prediction shared algorithms. A new approach to prediction is proposed, based on the use of results of an automatic Information system capable to generate featured to improve the accuracy in the prediction problem. It was experimentally shown that in some cases this approach can be quite effective to significantly improve the quality of prediction and classification.

Proteasome inhibitors disrupt multiple pathways in cells and the bone marrow microenvironment, resulting in apoptosis and inhibition of cell-cycle progression, angiogenesis, and proliferation. Bortezomib is a first-in-class proteasome inhibitor approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma after one prior therapy. It is also effective in other plasma cell disorders and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The main mechanism of action of bortezomib is to inhibit the chymotrypsin-like site of the 20S proteolytic core within the 26S proteasome, thereby inducing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. The pharmacokinetic profile of intravenous bortezomib is characterized by a two-compartment model with a rapid initial distribution phase followed by a longer elimination phase and a large volume of distribution. Bortezomib is available for subcutaneous and intravenous administration. Pharmacokinetic studies comparing subcutaneous and intravenous bortezomib demonstrated that systemic exposure was equivalent for both routes; pharmacodynamic parameters of 20S proteasome inhibition were also similar. Renal impairment does not influence the intrinsic pharmacokinetics of bortezomib. However, moderate or severe hepatic impairment causes an increase in plasma concentrations of bortezomib. Therefore, patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment should start at a reduced dose. Because bortezomib undergoes extensive metabolism by hepatic cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2C19 enzymes, certain strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inducers and inhibitors can also alter the systemic exposure of bortezomib. This article critically reviews and summarizes the clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bortezomib at various dosing levels and routes of administration as well as in specific patient subsets. In addition, we discuss the clinical efficacy and safety of bortezomib.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on the host, when administered in adequate amounts. Mostly, probiotics affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the host and alter the composition of gut microbiota. Nowadays, the incidence of hip fractures due to osteoporosis is increasing worldwide. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats have fragile bone due to estrogen deficiency and mimic the menopausal conditions in women. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) on bone mass density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone remodeling, bone structure, and gene expression in OVX rats. The rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups (sham, OVX, and the OVX group supplemented with 1 mL of B. longum 108–109 colony forming units (CFU)/mL). B. longum was given once daily for 16 weeks, starting from 2 weeks after the surgery. The B. longum supplementation increased (p<0.05) serum osteocalcin (OC) and osteoblasts, bone formation parameters, and decreased serum C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) and osteoclasts, bone resorption parameters. It also altered the microstructure of the femur. Consequently, it increased BMD by increasing (p<0.05) the expression of Sparc and Bmp-2 genes. B. longum alleviated bone loss in OVX rats and enhanced BMD by decreasing bone resorption and increasing bone formation.

Both tocotrienol and statins are suppressors of the mevalonate pathway. Supplementation of tocotrienol among statin users could potentially protect them against osteoporosis. This study aimed to compare the effects of tocotrienol and lovastatin co-supplementation with individual treatments on bone dynamic histomorphometric indices and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) gene expression in ovariectomized rats. Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized equally into six groups. The baseline was sacrificed upon receipt. All other groups were ovariectomized, except for the sham group. The ovariectomized groups were administered orally daily with (1) lovastatin 11 mg/kg/day alone; (2) tocotrienol derived from annatto bean (annatto tocotrienol) 60 mg/kg/day alone; (3) lovastatin 11 mg/kg/day, and annatto tocotrienol 60 mg/kg/day. The sham and ovariectomized control groups were treated with equal volume of vehicle. After eight weeks of treatment, the rats were sacrificed. Their bones were harvested for bone dynamic histomorphometry and BMP-2 gene expression. Rats supplemented with annatto tocotrienol and lovastatin concurrently demonstrated significantly lower single-labeled surface, but increased double-labeled surface, mineralizing surface, mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate compared to individual treatments (p < 0.05). There was a parallel increase in BMP-2 gene expression in the rats receiving combined treatment (p < 0.05). The combination of annatto tocotrienol and lovastatin exerted either additively or synergistically on selected bone parameters. In conclusion, tocotrienol can augment the bone formation and mineralization in rats receiving low-dose statins. Supplementation of tocotrienol in statin users can potentially protect them from osteoporosis.

Statins are HMGCoA reductase inhibitors and had been demonstrated to stimulate bone formation in rodents after high oral doses. Observational studies on patients treated with oral statins were varied. Delta-tocotrienol had been found to stimulate the cleavage of HMGCoA reductase and inhibit its activity. Tocotrienols were found to have both catabolic and anabolic effects on bone in different animal models of osteoporosis. The current study aimed to ascertain the effects of delta–tocotrienol and lovastatin combination on biochemical and static bone histomorphometric parameters in a postmenopausal rat model at clinically tolerable doses. 48 Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: (1) baseline control group; (2) sham-operated control group; (3) ovariectomised control group; (4) ovariectomised and 11 mg/kg lovastatin; (5) ovariectomised and 60 mg/kg delta-tocotrienol; (6) ovariectomised and 60 mg/kg delta-tocotrienol + 11 mg/kg lovastatin. These treatments were given daily via oral gavage for 8 weeks. Delta-tocotrienol plus lovastatin treatment significantly increased bone formation and reduced bone resorption compared to the other groups. Therefore, the combined treatment may have synergistic or additive effects and have the potential to be used as an antiosteoporotic agent in patients who are at risk of both osteoporosis and hypercholesterolemia, especially in postmenopausal women.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of annatto tocotrienol on indices of bone static histomorphometry in orchidectomized rats. Forty male rats were randomized into baseline (BL), sham (SH), orchidectomized (ORX), annatto tocotrienol-treated (AnTT) and testosterone enanthate-treated (TE) groups. The BL group was sacrificed upon receipt. All rats except the SH group underwent bilateral orchidectomy. Annatto tocotrienol at 60 mg/kg body weight was administered orally daily to the AnTT group for eight weeks. Testosterone enanthate at 7 mg/kg body weight was administered intramuscularly once weekly for eight weeks to the TE group. The rat femurs were collected for static histomorphometric analysis upon necropsy. The results indicated that the ORX group had significantly higher osteoclast surface and eroded surface, and significantly lower osteoblast surface, osteoid surface and osteoid volume compared to the SH group (p < 0.05). Annatto tocotrienol and testosterone enanthate intervention prevented all these changes (p < 0.05). The efficacy of annatto tocotrienol was on par with testosterone enanthate. In conclusion, annatto tocotrienol at 60 mg/kg can prevent the imbalance in bone remodeling caused by increased osteoclast and bone resorption, and decreased osteoblast and bone formation. This serves as a basis for the application of annatto tocotrienol in hypogonadal men as an antiosteoporotic agent.

This study aims to assess the influence of internal and external factors on the Efficiency of banks in Pakistan using the Data Envelopment Analysis Approach (DEA). Bank’s Efficiency is measured through DEA Model using input and output variables. The input variable includes the number of employees, number of branches, administration expenses, non-interest expenses, and loan loss provisions. In contrast, the output variable consists of net interest income, net commissions, and total other income. This study considers the internal determinants of the bank’s Efficiency as corporate governance, enterprise risk management, ownership structure (state, foreign, and domestic ultimate owned banks), return on equity, financial leverage, and the size of the bank. The external determinants of the bank’s Efficiency include banking structure and macroeconomic conditions. The study has used data from seventeen commercial banks over the period of 2011 to 2020. The study used the Data Envelopment Analysis Approach (DEA) and Logit and Probit Regression Model to evaluate research hypotheses. The Logit model results show that corporate governance, ultimate global ownership, and return on equity have a statistically significant and positive impact on the bank’s Efficiency. Enterprise risk management and financial leverage adversely affect the bank’s Efficiency. Better corporate governance can help banks to control the risk and cost of capital and enhancement the effectiveness of capital. Similarly, better risk management of banks can lead to better operational and strategic decisions in the competitive banking environment.

This study presents the synthesis and utilization of a conductive polymer/clay nanocomposite for the adsorptive removal of an azo dye, methyl orange (MO), from artificial wastewater. The PANI-CLAY nanocomposites were synthesized by means of the oxidative polymerization route and characterized using the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-Transform Infrared spectra and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The surface area of the clay mineral decreased from 37.38 to 13.44 m2/g for 10 g of PANI/CLAY when made into a composite with PANI. Such behavior is most likely due to the possible coverage of the clay surface by a layer of PANI. Further, TGA revealed that incorporating CLAY significantly improved the thermal stability of PANI. The effects of adsorption process parameters such as adsorbent dosage (0.006–0.4 g), solution pH (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13), initial dye concentration (50–300 ppm), contact time (1–80 min) and temperature (25 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C and 40 °C) on the % removal efficiency were investigated. The experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum uptake capacity (qmax) values increased from 42.017 mg/g (PANI/CLAY 10 g) to 55.87 mg/g for PANI alone. The uptake capacity implies that the prepared adsorbents possess excellent adsorption characteristics with high affinity towards organic dye removal.