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In order to manage a project with integrity, a cohesive communication is needed between its various sections; possible risks, identification of stakeholders, providing the necessary resources on time and managing their availability, focusing on the approved budget and satisfactory quality the project can be successfully done. In the recent year BIM has as new aspects to engineering and architecture, and has become an accepted platform for planning and executing construction projects and contributed to integration of various fields and. also, project management standards, such as PMBOK, have come to aid construction managers. Through the basic capacities of BIM, and questionnaires according to aspects of PMBOK, the present study tries to identify the superior effects of BIM on project management. Moreover, it seeks to recognize the most significant aspects of BIM application on project management. by employing the FANP-AVIKOR decision making method to prioritize the parameters of the collected results, the study’s conclusion will indicate that almost all of PMBOK aspects equally benefit from using BIM; in addition, it will show that 3D BIM capacities, including clash detection, plan correction, are superior in comparison with 6D BIM and 7D BIM capacities.

The quadrupole moment of 14B exotic nucleus has been calculated using configuration mixing shell model with limiting number of orbital's in the model space. The core- polarization effects, are included through a microscopic theory which considers a particle-hole excitations from the core and the model space orbits into the higher orbits with 6ħω excitations using M3Y interaction. The simple harmonic oscillator potential is used to generate the single particle wave functions. Large basis no-core shell model with (0+2)ћω truncation is used for 14B nucleus. The effective charges for the protons and neutrons were calculated successfully and the theoretical quadrupole moment was compared with the experimental data, which was found to be in a good agreement.

This study aim to evaluated different vegetation indices for assessment vegetation cover change in 18 years period in desert region of west of Karkheh river. We used satellite data and For change detection, a number of 16 vegetation indices were calculated and compared with vegetation cover assessments at sampling points made during fieldwork. According to land use types and heterogeneous percent vegetation cover, the region was divided into four categories and suitable vegetation index for each land use was selected. The results show that the highest correlation between NDVI and vegetation cover percentage occurs for forest plantation (R2=0.78). It also showed that MSAVI2 had highest correlation for sandy land cover (R2=0/73), AVI (R2=0.82) and DVI (R2=0.79) indexes have highest correlation with vegetation cover percent in wastelands and arable land, respectively. The use of vegetation indexes is more suitable for the study and changes cover map preparation of these land use. Difference map were prepared in the 3 classes (loss, constant and gain). During the study period, due to desertification projects performed by government and combined plantations in order to enjoy from the people participation and also conversion of mulch-covered areas and wasteland to agricultural lands and gardens, coverage has increased., Journal of Applied Science and Environmental Studies, Vol 3, No 1 (2020)

Impaired wound healing is a serious complication of diabetes that negatively affects the patient's socioeconomic life. Multiple mechanisms contribute to impaired diabetic wound healing including deficient recruitment of wound macrophages/neutrophils and impaired neovascularization. Bee venom (BV) has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of several diseases. Nevertheless, the impacts of BV on the diabetic wound healing have been poorly studied. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying BV treatment on diabetic wound healing in a type I diabetic mouse model. Three experimental groups were used: group 1, non-diabetic control mice; group 2, vehicle-diabetic mice; and group 3, BV-treated diabetic mice. We found that the diabetic mice exhibited impaired wound closure characterized by a significant decrease in collagen and β-defensin-2 (BD-2) expression compared to control non-diabetic mice. The impairment of diabetic wound healing is attributed to increased ROS levels and abolished antioxidant enzymes activity in the wounded tissues. Additionally, wounded tissue in diabetic mice revealed aberrantly decreased levels of Ang-1 and Nrf2 (the agonist ligands of Tie-2) followed by a marked reduction in the phosphorylation of Tie2 and downstream signaling eNOS, AKT and ERK. Impaired diabetic wound healing was also characterized by a significant reduction in activities of total antioxidant enzymes followed by a marked reduction in the levels of CCL2, CCL3 and CXCL2; which led to impaired recruitment and functions of wound macrophages/neutrophils; and significant reduction in the expression of CD31, a marker for neovascularization and angiogenesis of the injured tissue. Interestingly, BV treatment significantly enhanced wound closure in diabetic mice by increasing collagen and BD-2 expression and restoring the levels of Ang-1 and Nrf2 and hence enhancing the Tie-2 downstream signaling. Most importantly, treatment of diabetic mice with BV significantly restored the activities of wounded tissue antioxidant enzymes and the levels of chemokines, and subsequently rescued wound macrophages from mitochondrial membrane potential-induced apoptosis. Our findings reveal the immune-enhancing effects of BV for improving healing process of diabetic wounds and provide the first insight concerning the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Aim: The composition and activity of honey depend on its floral origin. Honey collected from Tulkarm was evaluated for physicochemical property and antioxidant content as well as a diuretic and wound healing activity. Its effect on kidney function was evaluated and compared with furosemide. Materials and Methods: Honey was collected in Tulkarm, Palestine, and its phenol, flavones, and flavonol content were assessed. The antioxidant activity was determined with the use of colorimetric assays, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). Two sets of experiments were conducted. First experiment: 18 rats were used for the evaluation of diuretic activity of honey. The rats received either honey or furosemide. Renal function test, uric acid, and serum and urine electrolytes assay were performed. Second experiment: 18 male mice were used to evaluate the wound healing property of honey. Wounds were created on mice skin and treated daily with honey or Madecassol. Measurements of wounds were performed over a period of 12 days. Results: The physical and chemical parameters of Tulkarm honey are within the limits of the European legislation and fulfilling the criteria described in the standard codex for honey. It contains antioxidant compounds and shows antioxidant activity. Oral honey increased creatinine clearance and urine volume, sodium, and chloride without causing hypokalemia or affecting blood urea, uric acid, or serum creatinine level. The diuretic activity of furosemide was associated with hypokalemia. Topical honey application enhanced wound closure when compared with the Madecassol application. Conclusion: The study is the first to report that honey collected from Tulkarm has a considerable diuretic effect without affecting serum electrolytes or kidney function test and exhibits strong antioxidant activity and wound healing property.

Background/Aim Various honey samples exhibited protective effect against drug and chemical induced toxicity. The study was designed to determine the antioxidant content and activity of carob honey and to investigate its hepato-renal protective effect in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced kidney and liver injury in rats. Material and Methods Phenolic, flavone and flavonol in carob honey were quantified. DPPH, ABTS•+, ferric reducting antioxidant power, and total antioxidant activity were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Rats were used for the experiment, and received either intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (1 mL/kg.b.wt); honey (orally, 2 g/kg.b.wt) and CCl4; or honey. Liver and kidney function parameters were assessed. Oxidative parameters including lipid peroxidation (MDA), protein carbonyl formation (PCO), advanced protein oxidation products (AOPP), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), and ascorbic acid were measured in the kidney and liver tissues. Results CCl4 caused a significant elevation of liver enzymes, lactic acid dehydrogenase, blood glucose, uric acid, blood urea and serum creatinine as compared to the control group. Also, it significantly increased MDA, PCO and AOPP level, and markedly decreased GHS, ascorbic acid, CAT and GPx in the liver and kidney tissues. These changes were significantly ameliorated by carob honey before and after CCl4 administration. Honey alone did not cause significant changes as compared to the control group. Conclusion The data showed for the first time that carob honey has high antioxidant content, antioxidant property, and protective effect against CCl4 induced kidney and liver toxicity by maintaining the activity of antioxidant defense system.

Objective: To investigate the diuretic and renal effects of Silybum marianum L. and Cistus ladaniferus L. in normal rats. Methods: Four groups of rats were used in each experiment. The first group received water, the second group received Cistus ladaniferus L. extract (100 mg/kg b.wt), the third group received Silybum marianum L. extract (100 mg/kg b.wt), and the fourth group received furosemide (10 mg/kg b.wt). Variables including urine volume, plasma and urine sodium, potassium and creatinine, and creatinine clearance were measured. Two experiments were conducted. A single dose of each intervention was used and the variables were measured during 24 h, and the interventions were given daily for a total of 8 d and the variables were measured during various intervals. Results: The single dose of each plant extract increased urine volume at all-time intervals and increased urine sodium and potassium excretion without affecting plasma sodium and potassium (P

Objective: To assess the antioxidant content, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of various propolis samples. Methods: Seven propolis samples were collected from different locations in Morocco, which are characterized by different plant predominant vegetations. The resin, wax and balsam of hydroalcoholic extract of propolis content were identified, and the antioxidant content was analyzed with the use of HPLC and colorimetric methods. The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH, ABTS.+ and ferric reducing power assays. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against bacterial species, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, and expressed as the minimal inhibitory concentration. Results: The propolis samples showed significant variations in the chemical composition and in the antioxidant or antimicrobial activities even when the samples were collected from the same location. Propolis with high resin and low wax content had high level of antioxidant compounds, and strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Gram-positive bacteria, especially, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus were more sensitive to all propolis samples than Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans. Conclusions: The chemical composition and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of various propolis samples are different and rely on the geographic and plant origin of propolis collection. Propolis samples with low wax and high resin content might be more suitable to be used in future preclinical or clinical investigations.