Engineering and Technology

Permanent URI for this collection

https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/118

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 961

2D-Discrete Fourier Transform: Generalization of the MIA-QSAR strategy in molecular modeling
(Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 2015) Barigye, Stephen J.; Freitas, Matheus P.
Adequate alignment of chemical structure images with respect to the basic scaffold in a series of chemical compounds constitutes an indispensable requirement for constructing multivariate images (MVIs) and subsequent molecular modeling using the Multivariate Image Analysis applied to Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship (MIA-QSAR) approach. However, up to the moment, this alignment procedure has been manually performed, based on subjective ocular precision. The 2D-Discrete Fourier Transform (2D-DFT) is introduced as a strategy for creating a common base to construct MVIs for chemical structures using their magnitude spectra. The utility of magnitude spectra in QSAR studies has been evaluated through models for the antimalarial, anticancer and trichomonicidal activity of a series of 2, 5-diaminobenzophenone, 4-phenylpyrrolocarbazole and benzimidazole derivatives, respectively, yielding satisfactory results comparable to superior to those reported in the literature. It is anticipated that this strategy should enable the application of the MIA-QSAR approach to structurally diverse datasets other than a series of congeneric datasets.
3D structure design and simulation for efficient particles capture: The influence of nanofiber diameter and distribution
(Materials Today Communications, 2020) Wu, Jiajun; Akampumuza, Obed; Liu, Penghong; Qin, Xiaohong
Software simulation is a convenient and efficient way to design and check different air filter structures with high efficiency and low pressure drop. In this work, nanofiber filters of different diameters ranging from 100 to 900 nm were designed to check their influence on filtration efficiency, pressure drop and quality factor (QF). Slip-flow effect of air molecules was considered on the surface of single fiber. Then, filters with different diameter distributions were constructed to study the filtration efficiency discrepancy when the filter thickness and porosity were kept equal. With a rotation of the filters composed of nanofibers of 500 nm in diameter in the computational domain, the filtration efficiency and QF increased steadily. The simulation results were partially verified by electrospun cellulose acetate nanofiber filter, and meanwhile provide with new insights into the filter structure design of high filtration efficiency with low pressure drop.
50 Gb/s DMT and 120 Mb/s LTE signal transmission over 5 km of optical fiber using a silicon photonics transceiver
(In Integrated Photonics Research, Silicon and Nanophotonics, 2018) Rahim, Abdul; Abbasi, Amin; Shahin, Mahmoud; Sequeira André, Nuno; Richter, André; Kerrebrouck, Joris Van; Van Gasse, Kasper; Katumba, Andrew; Moeneclaey, Bart; Yin, Xin; Morthier, Geert; Baets, Roel; Roelkens, Gunther
Next-generation passive optical networks will require the use of low-cost, high-performance transceivers to cope with the increasing bandwidth demands for emerging applications such as fixed-mobile convergence for 5G. Silicon photonics is widely acknowledged as a technology that can provide manufacturing of low-cost photonic integrated circuits by using existing CMOS fabrication infrastructure. Intensity modulation/direct detection solutions can reach 100 Gb/s per wavelength, but require high-speed electronics and photonics, which adversely affects the cost. An alternative approach is to use advanced multi-carrier modulation schemes, such as Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT), a real-valued Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme. This technique uses Digital Signal Processing (DSP) to relax electrical and optical bandwidth requirements on the transmitter and receiver side. It promises high spectral efficiency and granularity, higher tolerance to fiber impairments and channel adaptation through flexible multi-level / multi-carrier coding [1]. DMT transmission at 100 Gb/s and even 4x100 Gb/s using modest bandwidth (~ 20 GHz) electronic and optical components has already been demonstrated [2-4]. Despite requiring computationally more expensive DSP compared to single carrier baseband schemes (e.g., OOK, PAM), DMT’s added advantage is that it allows transmission of a mobile data signal within its bandwidth using the same optical transceiver [5]. In this work we demonstrate the combined transmission of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G mobile communication signal (at 3.48 GHz carrier frequency) and a 50 Gb/s DMT signal using a directly modulated InP-on-Silicon Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser. Direct modulation is poised to provide low power consumption and a reduced number of optical components in the transceiver. On the receiver side, a silicon-waveguide-coupled germanium photodiode (GeSi-PD) with a co-designed trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) is used and its performance is compared with a commercial III-V photodiode and TIA.
Accuracy of using leaf blade length and leaf blade width measurements to calculate the leaf area of Solanum aethiopicum Shum group
(Heliyon, 2018) Nakanwagi, Mildred Julian; Sseremba, Godfrey; Nahamya, Pamela Kabod; Masanza, Michael; Balyejusa Kizito, Elizabeth
Leaf area is an important parameter when determining growth response under normal as well as stressed environments. No attempt had been made to come up with an affordable but accurate alternative of measuring leaf size in research neglected leafy vegetable crops. Other techniques such as use of leaf area meters are either destructive, expensive or both. A study was conducted to determine leaf area in like-shaped leaves of research neglected crop plants, taking case of S. aethiopicum Shum group (SAS) germplasm. Data was collected on 552 individual plants (including pure lines and hybrids) at eight weeks after planting where a third fully open leaf from top of each plant was considered. Leaf blade length (LBL) and leaf blade width (LBW) were linearly measured while leaf area (LA) was measured using a leaf area meter. This was followed by correlation and regression analysis of LA with LBL, LBW, and LBL þ LBW. Correlation coefficients at p < 0.001 ranged between 0.84 and 0.92, 0.79 and 0.88, 0.86 and 0.95 for total germplasm, pure lines and hybrids, respectively. The coefficient of determination (R2) ranged between 0.72 and 0.92. The best prediction for LA was obtained with hybrid plants (LA ¼ -165.82 þ 5.38LBL þ 16.17LBW) at R2 of 92%. The implication is that we can accurately and affordably predict LA from duo measurements of LBL and LBW in SAS as well as in other crops having similar leaf shapes.
Achieving Highly Selective Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction by Tuning CuO-Sb2O3 Nanocomposites
(ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2020) Li, Yangmei; Chu, Senlin; Shen, Huidong; Xia, Qineng; Robertson, Alex W.; Masa, Justus; Siddiqui, Umer; Sun, Zhenyu
The development of highly active and selective electrocatalysts with low cost and earth abundance for electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) remains an important area of interest. Here, we report the modification of CuO with other metal (Bi, Sb, Cd, and Zr) oxides to form bimetallic oxide nanocomposite catalysts exhibiting efficient ECR. In particular, CuO-Sb2O3 nanoparticles anchored on carbon black (CB) facilitated ECR selectively to CO at low overpotentials, providing a CO faradaic efficiency (FE) of up to 90.0% at −0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, in contrast to individual CuO/CB and Sb2O3/CB, which gave rise to CO FEs of less than 31.0%, outperforming many previously reported catalysts. A strong interaction between CuO and Sb2O3 is found, which likely contributes to the enhanced ECR activity.
Activation and Stabilization of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes as Electrocatalysts in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction at Strongly Alkaline Conditions
(The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2013) Zhao, Anqi; Masa, Justus; Schuhmann, Wolfgang; Xia, Wei
Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) are highly active electrocatalysts in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at alkaline conditions. However, the initial activation and stabilization of NCNTs have rarely been investigated at industrially relevant conditions. Three types of NCNTs were synthesized by catalytic growth (NCNT-growth) or posttreatment of oxygen-functionalized CNTs with NH3 (NCNT-NH3) or aniline (NCNT-aniline). The obtained NCNTs were treated in 10 M KOH at 80 °C for 5 h, and the formation of oxygen groups by alkaline treatment and their interaction with existing nitrogen groups was analyzed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the concentrations of pyridinic and quaternary nitrogen increased in NCNT-growth due to the KOH treatment accompanied by the decrease of pyrrolic nitrogen, whereas the nitrogen groups changed differently in NCNT-NH3 and NCNT-aniline. NCNT-NH3 showed the highest ORR activity before alkaline treatment. After the treatment, the activity of NCNT-growth was higher, whereas those of NCNT-NH3 and NCNT-aniline were lower. These results were found to be correlated with changes in the nitrogen groups caused by alkaline treatment. Furthermore, NCNTs showed different C═O/C–O ratios after alkaline treatment as compared to a strong increase of C–O in CNTs, indicating that the presence of nitrogen in NCNTs influences the formation of oxygen groups on carbon and surface oxidation.
Activation of Oxygen evolving Perovskites for Oxygen Reduction by Functionalization with Fe-Nx/C groups
(Chemical communications, 2014) Rincón, Rosalba A.; Masa, Justus; Mehrpour, Sara; Tietz, Frank; Schuhmann, Wolfgang
The incorporation of Fe–Nx/C moieties into perovskites remarkably activates them for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and also leads to notable improvement of their activity towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) thus presenting a new route for realizing high performance, low cost bifunctional catalysts for reversible oxygen electrodes.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Sequestrated fromWater Using Novel Mesoporous Activated Carbon Optimally Prepared from Cassava Peels
(Water, 2022) Kayiwa, Ronald; Kasedde, Hillary; Lubwama, Michael; Kirabira, John Baptist
The increasing occurrence of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in water systems coupled with their recalcitrance to conventional water treatment methods calls for research into more eco-friendly and cost-effective curbing media. Mesoporous cassava peel activated carbon (CPAC) was prepared under conditions derived from optimizing the surface area and yield with the temperature and holding time as the model inputs using the response surface methodology. The sequestration potential and mechanisms of the resultant activated carbon (AC) for active pharmaceutical ingredients from wastewater were studied using batch experiments. The CPAC adsorption kinetics and isothermal mechanisms for the three pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine (CBZ), clarithromycin (CLN), and trimethoprim (TRM)) were studied in both wastewater and Milli-Q water. The API concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS) system. The maximum removal efficiencies were 86.00, 58.00, and 68.50% for CBZ, CLN, and TRM for wastewater, which were less than those from the Milli-Q water at 94.25, 73.50, and 84.5%, respectively. The sorption process for the CLN was better explained by the Freundlich model, whereas the CBZ and TRM adsorption processes could suitably be explained by both the Langmuir and Freundlich models. At an initial concentration of 20 mgL􀀀1 for all APIs and a CPAC dosage of 2.0 gL􀀀1, the maximum adsorption capacities were 25.907, 84.034, and 1.487 mgg􀀀1 for CBZ, TRM, and CLN, respectively. These results demonstrated the potential of CPAC to remove APIs from water, with its sequestration potential being more exhibited after the removal of the organic matter owing to the lower competition for active sites by the APIs. Additionally, positive adsorbates were better removed than negatively charged adsorbates due to the dominance of anions in the cassava peel lattice.
Activity and Stability of Oxides During Oxygen Evolution Reaction‐‐‐From Mechanistic Controversies Toward Relevant Electrocatalytic Descriptors
(Frontiers in Energy Research, 2021) Zeradjanin, Aleksandar R.; Masa, Justus; Schlögl, Robert
Plotting the roadmap of future “renewable energy highway” requires drastic technological advancement of devices like electrolyzers and fuel cells. Technological breakthrough is practically impossible without advanced fundamental understanding of interfacial energy conversion processes, including electrocatalytic water splitting. Particularly challenging is the oxygen evolution reaction which imposes high demands on the long-term activity of electrocatalysts and electrode support materials. To cross the “Rubicon” and in a deterministic manner claim that we developed principles of rational catalyst design, we need first to comprehend the determinants of electrocatalytic activity as well as character of their time evolution. How reliable are reported activity and stability trends, could we interrelate activity and stability, and how meaningful that relation really is are some of the important questions that have to be tackled in building of a more comprehensive view on critically important anodic oxygen evolution.
Adhesion And Composite Micro-Hardness Of DLC And Si-DLC Films Deposited On Nitrile Rubber
(Surface and Coatings Technology, 2012) Lubwama, M.; Corcoran, B.; Sayers, K.; Kirabira, J.B.; Sebbit, A.; McDonnell, K.A.; Dowling, D.
Thin films of hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC) and silicon (Si) doped diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) have been deposited on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) using a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering ion plating system. A sputter cleaning process was integrated into the deposition process so as to reduce the likelihood of re-contamination between the cleaning and deposition stages. The deposited coatings showed excellent adherence with an adhesion rating of 4 A for films with a Si-C interlayer. The composite micro-hardness was highest for DLC films at 15.5 GPa for indentation load of 147.1 mN using a Vickers microhardness tester. Tribological tests undertaken under normal load of 5 N using a pin-on-disc tribometer for all of the samples of DLC and Si-DLC films, with and without Si-C interlayer, show a friction increase between 0.25 and 0.4 to between 0.45 and 0.6. This friction increase has been related to the micro-hardness of the films.
Adoption of Cloud Computing Services for Sustainable Development of Commercial Banks in Uganda
(Global Journal of Computer Science and Technology., 2018) Mugyenyi, Raymond
Commercial banks in Uganda have been realised to be continuously increasing in number of branches, sizes and operational activities in the last two decades. This increment has attracted high operational costs related to purchase and maintenance of IT infrastructure and even requiring larger spaces to accommodate them, which is always accompanied by poor data storage and management. Cloud computing is identified as the best and latest solution to curb the problems in commercial banks, if adopted. Cloud computing has the capacity to store and manage data on virtualized servers so that, applications, individuals and organizations around the world can have the ability to connect to data and computing resources anywhere and anytime which improves the reliability since the data and application are stored and backed up on a number of computers which reduces the chance of data and application loss. This paper aimed at studying the benefits of cloud computing to commercial institutions and how the services can be adopted by the institutions of Uganda so as to successfully overcome the continuous expanding challenges that are always reported.
Adoption Of E-Procurement Technology In Uganda: Migration From The Manual Public Procurement Systems To The Internet
(Journal of Supply Chain Management, 2018) Ahimbisibwe, Arthur; Wilson, Tusiime; Ronald, Tumuhairwe
Many public sector entities in Uganda face the challenge of delivering goods and services to consumers due to procurement constraints. The increased losses in the public procurement processes have been attributed to low adoption level of e-procurement as the ordinary manual procurement process has been blamed to be time consuming and has consistently scored low on achievement of value for money and transparency. Most Public Procuring and Disposing Entities (PDE’s) do not know how to adopt electronic procurement systems due to lack of understanding of procurement process automation. Yet, with the increased level of technology and automation, e-procurement is a necessary innovation that can increase level of efficiency and effectiveness of PDE’s. This study examines the e-procurement practices for adoption, the willingness and readiness to adopt e-procurement and investigates the challenges to the adoption of e-procurement practices in Uganda’s PDE’s. A quantitative and cross sectional survey was conducted using simple random sampling to select respondents from whom data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The research enhances our understanding of e-procurement systems as the best practice technique in modern e-procurement system, an area which has been given less attention. Practical contributions are also discussed.
Adoption of the SAMR Model to Asses ICT Pedagogical Adoption: A Case of Makerere University
(International Journal of e-Education, e-Business, e-Management and e-Learning, 2014) Lubega, T. Jude,; Mugisha, Annet Kajura,; Muyinda, Paul Birevu
For the past decade, Makerere University seen integration of ICTs as an enhancement tool in its pedagogical processes. The level of enhancement has been slow and not satisfactory considering the low number of staff that pedagogically integrate ICT for teaching and learning. Several studies had indicated in the past how e-learning has been implemented in Makerere University but there was no empirical evidence to explain the slow pedagogical ICT adoption in the University. Lack of such information contributed to the lack of concrete interventions that could be devised to transform pedagogical integration of ICT at Makerere University. Using a mixed research approach, a comparative study was undertaken to find out the actual causes of slow pedagogical integration and at the same time suggest interventions that could improve the situation from using ICT as an enhancement tool but a transformative tool as per the SAMR model. These interventions arising from this study could be utilized by any other institution which has slow adoption of ICT for pedagogical purposes.
Advanced Education and Training Programs to Support Renewable Energy Investment in Africa
(International Journal of Education and Practice, 2017) Kimuli, Daniel; Nabaterega, Resty; Banadda, Noble; Kabenge, Isa; Ekwamu, Adipala; Nampala, Paul
African countries have initiated programs to generate electricity from renewable sources such as; wind, solar, biomass and hydropower. These initiatives are intended to reduce the carbon footprint of these countries in the wake of heavy dependency on fossil fuels and also provide cheap and accessible electricity to rural areas. These renewable energy programs are expected to deliver regional development and economic empowerment. However, the lack of trained manpower for repair and maintenance of renewable energy technologies devices is likely to result in failure of these technologies, cause losses in revenue and reduction in consumer faith in renewable energy technologies. African universities must be at the core of solving these challenges by training specialized professionals in renewable energy at graduate level and through short courses to meet the increasing demands for qualified human resource to support the sector. Thus to establish the “readiness” of Universities in Africa to offer advanced education and training in renewable energy, a review of all Masters Courses, Ph.D. programs and short courses was carried out. The results identified 21 English-language Masters courses, 3 providers of Ph.D. studies and 9 short courses in or with significant renewable energy content. Generally, there is inadequate advanced training in renewable energy especially at Ph.D. level in Africa thus the need to attract more African Universities to offer such programs at both masters and Ph.D. levels.
Advanced trim-cut technique to visualize melt flow dynamics inside laser cutting kerfs
(Journal of Laser Applications, 2017) Arntz, D.; Petring, D.; Jansen, U.; Poprawe, R.
Instabilities of the laser cutting front cause loss of quality due to the formation of striations on the cut flank. The mechanisms of striation generation during laser cutting are still not yet fully understood. To visualize the laser cutting process, the trim-cut technique was invented many years ago and is being continuously improved by different authors in the last years as well as in current studies. During a trim-cut, the laser beam is moved in-parallel along an existing sheet flank and cuts off a stripe of less than a standard kerf width. The cutting front and the transition to the resultant cut flank are directly visible. Without additional measures, the cutting gas jet expands during trimming in the half space freed by the lack of a second cutting edge. To maintain a guided supersonic gas jet path along the melt film and simultaneously enable the in-situ-observation of the cutting kerf with high-speed imaging, the missing cut flank is simulated by a transparent substrate, e.g., made of synthetic fused silica. In this manner, the gas jet is guided between the transparent substrate and the opposite real cutting flank. In this paper, a comprehensive review about trim-cut studies from different authors is given. Furthermore, an automated trim-cut test bench with two fast, highly accurate x/y-tables and versatile control features, as well as recent research results on melt flow characteristics during laser cutting of 6mm thick stainless steel with 1 lm wavelength and nitrogen assist gas, are presented.
Advances in green nanobiotechnology: Data for synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles from ethanolic extracts of fruits and leaves of Annona muricata
(Data in brief, 2019) Gavamukulya, Yahaya; El-Shemy, Hany A.; Meroka, Amos M.; Madivoli, Edwin S.; Maina, Esther N.; Wamunyokoli, Fred; Magoma, Gabriel
In this data article, data obtained from an efficient, eco-friendly and low-cost method for the synthesis and recovery of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using ethanolic extracts of Annona muricata fruits and leaves as reducing, stabilizing and capping agents has been reported. 99.7% pure silver nitrate was used as the inorganic ion source. The data was obtained using different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The data is presented in form of images, Microsoft excel sheets, graphs,.raw files,.dpt files, PDF files, among others. Methods of analysis and interpretation of the data have also been presented. The data can be most useful to researchers, research students, industrialists and academicians to acquire knowledge on the green synthesis of AgNPs and related
Aflatoxins in Uganda: An Encyclopedic Review of the Etiology, Epidemiology, Detection, Quantification, Exposure Assessment, Reduction, and Control
(International Journal of Microbiology, 2020) Omara, Timothy; Nassazi, Winfred; Omute, Tom; Awath, Aburu; Laker, Fortunate; Kalukusu, Raymond; Musau, Bashir; Nakabuye, Brenda Victoria; Kagoya, Sarah; Otim, George; Adupa, Eddie
Uganda is an agrarian country where farming employs more than 60% of the population. Aflatoxins remain a scourge in the country, unprecedentedly reducing the nutritional and economic value of agricultural foods. *is review was sought to synthetize the country’s major findings in relation to the mycotoxins’ etiology, epidemiology, detection, quantification, exposure assessment, control, and reduction in different matrices. Electronic results indicate that aflatoxins in Uganda are produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus and have been reported in maize, sorghum, sesame, beans, sunflower, millet, peanuts, and cassava. *e causes and proliferation of aflatoxigenic contamination of Ugandan foods have been largely due to poor pre-, peri-, and postharvest activities, poor government legislation, lack of awareness, and low levels of education among farmers, entrepreneurs, and consumers on this plague. Little diet diversity has exacerbated the risk of exposure to aflatoxins in Uganda because most of the staple foods are aflatoxin-prone. On the detection and control, these are still marginal, though some devoted scholars have devised and validated a sensitive portable device for on-site aflatoxin detection in maize and shown that starter cultures used for making some cereal-based beverages have the potential to bind aflatoxins. More efforts should be geared towards awareness creation and vaccination against hepatitis B and hepatitis A to reduce the risk of development of liver cancer among the populace.
African Great Lakes Rural Broadband Research Infrastructure
(In IST-Africa Conference, 2012) Kahiigi, Peter; Kariuki, Eunice; Kyalo, Victor; Masinde, Muthoni; Ngarambe, Donart; Nungu, Amos; Sansa-Otim, Julianne; Pehrson, Björn
The African Great Lakes Rural Broadband Research Infrastructure (AGLARBRI) addresses the establishment of sustainable broadband markets in areas where there is demand but no supply of broadband services. The scientific objective is to validate the reproducibility, scalability and extensibility of earlier successful results from the Tanzania ICT for Rural Development program. The development objective is to accelerate the deployment of commercial last mile links by stimulating community based first mile initiatives. Under-served local communities in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern DRC are being targeted and supported by local research and higher education institutions to support capacity building. Innovative and affordable technical solutions based on off-the shelf hardware and open source software are being packaged for industrial distribution. The application focus is on inclusive ubiquitous access, and basic public services such as Healthcare, education and local administration. The project is well aligned with the new targets from the UN Broadband Commission, which clearly justify the mainstreaming of the results from Tanzania to the other neighbouring countries.
Agaricus Subrufescens Ameliorates Ovarian Dysfunction and Regulates Altered Biochemical Parameters in Rats with Letrozole Induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
(Journal of Phytomedicine and Therapeutics, 2020) Bukke, Sarad Pawar Naik; Bhushan Rao, Bharghava; Karumanchi, Srikanth Kumar; Marri, Jalaiah; Boyina, Revathi; Manchikalapati, Kavya; Bhargavi, Manchikalapati; Odoma, Saidi; Bello, Hussaini
To examine the impact of an ethonolic extract of Agaricus subrufescens on rat models of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) produced by letrozole. Methods Thirty female Wistar rats were split into five six-rat groups. Negative controls received 1 mL of 0.5% carboxy methylcellulose (CMC). Other groups received letrozole (1 mg/kg) for 21 days to induce PCOS. Positive control animals were slaughtered on day 22. The test and standard groups received treatment from the 22nd to the 36th day. The test group received Agaricus subrufescens ethanoic extract (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, p.o.) and the standard group clomiphene citrate (1 mg/kg). Estimated blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and hormonal changes like increased testosterone, oestrogen, and decreased progesterone with menstrual irregularity confirmed by vaginal smears and histopathological ovary changes in polycystic ovarian disease control. Results Agaricus subrufescens reduced blood glucose, testosterone, anovulation, and menstrual irregularity. All therapies markedly corrected SGOT and SGPT levels. Letrozole-induced PCOS rats had elevated urea and creatinine. This study suggests that Agaricus subrufescens therapy protects renal function by lowering serum urea and creatinine. In letrozole-induced PCOS rats, suppressing hepatic synthesis, increasing ovarian follicle immaturity, and boosting androgen discharges increase liver and ovary weight. Endocrine organ weight decreased in all treatment groups. PCOS control histopathology indicated more cysts and theca lutein cells. PCOS control rats had more cysts than treatment groups. Conclusion Oral letrozole produced polycystic ovarian disease in this research. It showed elevated blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and hormonal changes like increased testosterone and oestrogen and decreased progesterone with menstrual irregularity confirmed by vaginal smears and histopathological changes in the ovary of polycystic ovarian disease control. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, and testosterone levels dropped in Agaricus subrufescens treatment groups.
Agile Islands in a Waterfall Environment: Challenges and Strategies in Automotive
(2020) Kasauli, Rashidah; Knauss, Eric; Nakatumba-Nabende, Joyce; Kanagwa, Benjamin
Driven by the need for faster time-to-market and reduced development lead-time, large-scale systems engineering companies are adopting agile methods in their organizations. This agile transformation is challenging and it is common that adoption starts bottom-up with agile software teams within the context of traditional company structures. This creates the challenge of agile teams working within a documentcentric and plan-driven (or waterfall) environment. While it may be desirable to take the best of both worlds, it is not clear how that can be achieved especially with respect to managing requirements in large-scale systems. This paper presents an exploratory case study focusing on two departments of a large-scale systems engineering company (automotive) that is in the process of company-wide agile adoption. We present challenges that agile teams face while working within a larger plan-driven context and propose potential strategies to mitigate the challenges. Challenges relate to, e.g., development teams not being aware of the high-level requirements, difficulties to manage change of these requirements as well as their relationship to backlog items such as user stories. While we found strategies for solving most of the challenges, they remain abstract and empirical research on their effectiveness is currently lacking

Browse

Browsing Engineering and Technology by Title

Results Per Page

Sort Options